10 WWE Managers Who Totally Outshone Their Wrestlers
1. Lita (Essa Ríos)
Essa Ríos began his WWE career with promise. He was hired under the ring name Águil at just 18 years old. He was one of the stars of the company's 1997 relaunch of its Light Heavyweight division, winning Wrestling Observer Newsletter's Rookie of the Year.
As Essa Ríos he re-debuted with Lita by his side on 13 February 2000, defeating Gillberg for the Light Heavyweight Championship on Sunday Night Heat. The match lasted under one minute, but the seeds of Lita upstaging her client were sown. Commentary declared their love for Lita while botching Ríos' name. Also, after Ríos defeated Gillberg with a moonsault, Lita took to the top rope and delivered a technically better version of the move, followed by Ríos counting a pin.
After losing the Light Heavyweight Championship, Ríos took a baby-step up the card, challenging Eddie Guerrero for the European Championship at Backlash 2000. This was Ríos' peak. In repeated DEFEATS, he soon became the cliché abuser, with The Hardy's coming to her defence. Lita, Matt, and Jeff formed Team Xtreme, while Ríos was dragged into obscurity.
In addition, Lita had a Hall of Fame solo career, winning four Women's Championships. Along with her real-life best friend Trish Stratus, she redefined women's wrestling in the West.