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Throughout the history of professional wrestling, managers have proved to have a pivotal role in the success of some of the all-time great wrestlers. Their promos are exceptional which can get a wrestler over who is still finding their feet on the mic. Nevertheless, in some instances, some of the best Women's Champions begun their careers as a manager and transitioned to becoming a wrestler.
Moreover, there have been some managers who did not have the intention of getting involved in the squared circle actually captured the Women's Championship. They were not great wrestlers by any stretch of the imagination and definitely suited being on the outside. Unfortunately, some wrestlers have sustained injuries that have curtailed their careers but thrived in a managerial role
10 Best At Wrestling: Ivory
Ivory is one of the most underrated female wrestlers of all time. No woman in the Attitude Era captured the Women's Championship more times than Ivory. She held the prestigious Women's Title three times which is a testament to her greatness.
Before she began wrestling in WWE, she actually managed D'Lo Brown and Mark Henry in early 1999. Ivory joined the Right To Censor in late 2000 and whilst she wrestled, she would accompany her fellow stablemates to the ring. Ivory joined The Alliance in 2001, and she would manage the team of The Hurricane and Lance Storm. She thrived in both roles but Ivory was a better in-ring performer.
9 Better As A Manager: Debra
Women's wrestling was massively overlooked in the Attitude Era but that did not stop untrained wrestlers from getting their hands dirty. Debra became the Women's Champion in May 1999 after Shawn Michaels overturned a decision in a Bra and Panties match.
The title was a laughing stock in the Attitude Era which was a shame. Nevertheless, Debra did a remarkable job by managing Jeff Jarrett. She was the more popular of the pairing but she led Jeff Jarrett to multiple Intercontinental Championship reigns. Unquestionably, Debra was comfortable in a managerial position instead of featuring in the ring.
8 Best At Wrestling: Michelle McCool
Another exceptional female wrestler in the Ruthless Aggression Era is Michelle McCool. The first-ever WWE Divas Champion was originally a part of the 2004 Divas Search. However, McCool resurfaced a couple of years later, as a manager of the team of KC James and Idol Stevens. Stevens is better known to wrestling fans as Damien Sandow.
McCool wasn't the best at the start of her career but she certainly improved over time. McCool captured the Women's Title twice and a second Divas Championship victory came at Night of Champions 2010. Her in-ring work certainly outweighs her time as a manager.
7 Better As A Manager: Lita
There's an argument that can be made for Lita whether she was a better in-ring performer or a manager. The WWE Hall of Famer unquestionably did a magnificent job in both roles. Lita's work as an in-ring wrestler was great but sadly she sustained several injuries which forced her on the shelf quite a lot.
Lita managed Essa Rios to the Light Heavyweight Championship in early 2000. However, she was the bigger star and once she teamed up with The Hardy Boyz as Team Xtreme they were off to the races. Lita never shied away from physically getting involved in The Hardys' legendary TLC matches. Ultimately, Lita turned heel when she joined forces with Edge in 2005 and she played a crucial role in Edge becoming a world champion. Lita was an exceptional heel and she still had success in the ring whilst she was with The Rated-R Superstar.
6 Best At Wrestling: Natalya
Natalya is still going strong on the main roster, and she has had many highs and lows during her WWE career. The daughter of Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart is one of the best female wrestlers on the card. Natalya has a lot in her repertoire with tons of experience.
Her managerial record isn't too shabby either. There was huge interest when she managed The Hart Dynasty comprised of her real-life husband Tyson Kidd and David Hart Smith to the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship. Natalya is an exceptional manager but she is a huge asset to the women's division.
5 Better As A Manager: The Sensational Sherri
It's easy to forget that The Sensational Sherri was an established wrestler before she became a legendary manager. Sherri held the coveted WWE Women's Championship for an outstanding 441 days in the late '80s.
Once Sherri's days inside the ring began to wind down she went on to become one of the greatest managers of all time. Sherri and Randy Savage were a match made in Heaven with a partnership that spanned two years. Sherri also guided Shawn Michaels in the early days of his singles career. In WCW, Sherri managed one of the all-time great tag teams in Harlem Heat who went on to win the WCW Tag Team Titles on 10 different occasions.
4 Best At Wrestling: Chyna
The woman that broke down barriers for women in WWE is Chyna. The Ninth Wonder of The World originally debuted as the bodyguard of Triple H. She slowly transitioned into becoming an integral part of D-Generation X and managed the likes of Shawn Michaels, The New Age Outlaws, and X-Pac. Chyna was like an insurance policy as she wouldn't hesitate to get involved in the action.
In 1999, Chyna got the opportunity of a lifetime as she wrestled with the men. Chyna became a two-time Intercontinental Champion which is an extraordinary achievement. She added the Women's Title to her collection at WrestleMania X-Seven. Chyna's relationship with Eddie Guerrero in 2000 showed an entertaining side of Chyna.
3 Better As A Manager: Sable
Arguably another woman who was just as popular as Chyna in the Attitude Era was Sable. Sable is a former WWE Women's Champion in her own right and she captivated audiences. However, before Sable became a regular in-ring competitor she was introduced as the valet of Triple H.
In an interesting turn of events, Sable managed her real-life husband Marc Mero but she was the star of this partnership. Mero's career languished whilst Sable was on an upward trajectory. Despite Sable featuring in the ring more from late 98-early 99, Sable wasn't able to sustain a high level. She performed far better in a managerial capacity.
2 Best At Wrestling: Trish Stratus
Trish Stratus is often regarded as the greatest women's wrestler of all time. Before the WWE Hall of Famer went on to claim seven Women's Titles in a remarkable career, she managed Test and Albert. Trish's alliance with T&A was the majority of 2000 was great but she did not lead them to the Tag Team Titles. Moreover, she had an impactful influence on Val Venis' push as he captured the Intercontinental Title and reached the semifinals of the King of the Ring.
Nevertheless, once Trish branched out on her own the sky was the limit. Trish's in-ring skills improved drastically and she had memorable bouts with the likes of Lita and Victoria. It didn't come easy for Trish but she deserves all the plaudits for the hard work that she put in.
1 Better As A Manager: Stephanie McMahon
When it comes down to all-time great heel female managers, Stephanie McMahon usually comes to mind. The Billion Dollar Princess' alliance with Triple H was crucial to The Game's success. The real-life husband and wife complemented each other well which is why their partnership worked.
McMahon is incredible on the mic and she knows how to garner heat. However, just like her father and brother, Stephanie has had a few matches under her belt. Stephanie captured the Women's Championship on the penultimate SmackDown before WrestleMania 2000. Whilst, Stephanie isn't a great wrestler, she is a brilliant manager and has managed the likes of Triple H, Kurt Angle, and Chris Jericho.