10 WWE Wrestlers Who Were Nothing Without Their Managers
1. Big Boss Man (1998)
Yes, The Big Boss Man's storylines with Al Snow and The Big Show were the height of Attitude Era stupidity and never unwelcome, but it took Vince McMahon - or more specifically Boss Man's protection of him - in 1998 to give that character renewed currency several years on from its original peak.
The pitch was an inspired reinvention. WWE were so obsessed with avoiding their past (not least because half of it was on the other side) that Ray Traylor only retained his name when he made a surprising comeback as corporate security.
The blue shirt was gone along with the ripping "Hard Times" theme, and for one month this angry and bitter piece of sh*t was perfect foil for Stone Cold Steve Austin, especially when armed with his trusty nightstick. He was a crucial component in the complex plan set up by The McMahon Family to screw 'The Rattlesnake' at Survivor Series 1998, and hung around in the tag title picture thanks to his corporate-mandated partnership with Ken Shamrock after the fact. He was, under McMahon's thumb, relevant yet again as his ruthless enforcer.