10 Criminally Underrated Wrestler/Manager Combos

9. The Sultan/Iron Sheik/Bob Backlund

Alright, alright, just calm down and take it easy.

Nobody is suggesting for one second that putting Rikishi in a Predator-meets-Aldo Montoya face mask was excellent stuff, but the initial idea wasn't actually too shabby. Think of it this way: The Sultan, as he was known, was put with two former WWF World Champions. That's hardly booking on the Mantaur level.

Both The Iron Sheik and Bob Backlund flanked this imposing nightmare who'd had his tongue cut out and thus couldn't talk. In another era (namely, the '80s), this might've worked. No, seriously, it may well have. The mid-'90s wasn't the right time however. Fans wanted more from their characters than cartoonish backstories.

Indeed, the gimmick was the only problem for this trio. Rikishi has always been a solid worker, Sheik and Backlund had credibility and together they should have caused a stir amongst fans. The Stinkface would've made this soar. Maybe.