10 Criminally Underrated Wrestler/Manager Combos
3. Big Van Vader/Harley Race
Imagine if AJ Styles retired from the ring, turned into a manager for WWE's next big man monster and prolonged his career by both taking big bumps and completing his wrestler's act all at once. That's what Hall of Fame great Harley Race did when he shacked up with Big Van Vader in 1992.
Forget his previous run alongside Lex Luger. That sucked compared to the chemistry and believability of Race's work with the jaw-breaking terror from the Rocky Mountains.
As a duo, Race and Vader gave Sting more fan support, and they successfully convinced folks they might end the career of Ric Flair at Starrcade 1993. Alone, without Harley's history with Flair to fall back on, Vader wouldn't have carried quite the same menace. They were WCW's most dynamic wrestler/manager package of the day.
Race was Paul Heyman to Brock Lesnar before that was even a thing, and it's a damn travesty he doesn't get more credit for it. No, he didn't have the rambling promos, but he did demand respect. People knew Harley was tough, and so was his meal ticket.