6. Jack Tunney Called The Shots
Acting as the on-screen 'President' of the WWF from 1984 right up until the Summer of 1995, Jack Tunney was largely considered by most onlookers as the man who ran the federation's business dealings. Obviously, Vince McMahon was the real figure head, but McMahon had no desire to fulfill that role on TV, instead working primarily as a commentator when in front of the cameras. Tunney, a Canadian promoter until his association began with the WWF in the early-to-mid-1980's, was mainly used in a ceremonial fashion, only really showing up when necessary. For example, Jack made appearances to announce major title matches, suspend wrestlers, or help add corporate weight and credibility to storylines. It worked, and Jack Tunney's announcements were always met with full attention - fans knew the words coming out of Tunney's mouth would shape the big Pay-Per-View events, or storylines on television, and the entire character came across as totally legitimate. Following his departure from the company, Gorilla Monsoon was given the same role, but wouldn't quite play it the same way as Tunney, and the rules had changed by the mid-90's - many fans knew McMahon called the shots. As a consequence, the 'President' role was phased out, until 'Commissioners' and 'General Managers' became commonplace.