WWE Raw General Manager Countdown #8 - Sgt. Slaughter

Continuing the countdown of the Top Ten GM's Raw has ever had, we make our way through with a WWE Legend amongst the ranks. After Shawn Michaels made the number 9 spot, a famous enemy of the Degenerate slips into the shoes of number 8...

Sgt. Slaughter: August 1997 - November 1998

Sgt. Slaughter is a former WWF Champion and WWE Hall of Famer. A man who was once one of the most hated characters in wrestling and has since become one of the most loved. Becoming the WWE's first ever Commissioner, Slaughter returned to the WWE after an almost five year hiatus in 1997. His role was to book various matches and be the point of authority. The then WWF felt that a voice was needed to instil some form of direction to their shows, rather than matches already being dictated before hand with no physical presence directing the events. Triple H having called out Sgt. Slaughter...

'The next time you stick your nose or should I say chin in DX's business, it's gonna be the last thing you do... From what I hear your having a little problem going past half mast... Now you stick your chin in DX's business again, I'm gonna have to take a swing by your house and show her (Slaughters wife) my Lance Corporoal and show her what standing to attention is all about!'

Taking up the position to much fanfare, the crowd welcomed the new face of authority, cheering for his rulings and decisions as he laid down the law. Yet before long the rising duo of Degeneration X had become Slaughter's public enemy number one, culminating in Sgt. Slaughter being as much the catalyst for DX's success as they were for themselves. His rivalry with Triple H and Shawn Michaels in which he was constantly being outdone by the two made for entertaining TV. The pair belittled the Commissioner on a weekly basis, from using riot helmets with wipers to nicknaming the former Champion Sgt. Slobber. At one point Sarge thought he had actually got one over on the pair by pitting Hunter against Michales in a match with Shawn's European Title on the line. Making a complete mockery of the situation the two in true DX style made it a comedic affair, Triple H in a knock back to the Ultimate Warrior ran the ropes multiple times before splashing Shawn Michaels who had laid down in the ring for his Degenerate buddy. The pair had outdone the Comish once again. From sexual innuendos to chin jokes, DX constantly belittled and made fun of the Sarge. The chemistry between the two of them was exceptionable and the way both Michaels and Triple H played off Slaughter left little to the imagination. Also crossing paths with the Sarge was non other than Stone Cold Steve Austin. Whilst their feud was a brief encounter it also paved the way for the most famous battle of all time, Austin vs McMahon. Following Vince's direction to a more prominent on air talent, Sgt. Slaughter was silently relieved of his position, while he still held the title it was Mr McMahon that was now pulling the strings. Sgt Slaughter making a statement on Stone Cold's return...

'As the Commissioner I must act in the best interests for the World Wrestling Federation and more specifically, the superstars and that Mr. Austin not be allowed to return to action until he has completed succesful rehabilitation, simply put Steve Austin has more guts than he does brains.'

Ultimately Slaughter's time came to pass when he was succeeded by his former rival Shawn Michaels. Admittedly good old Sarge wasn't the longest serving GM or Commissioner WWE has ever had and his involvement was more direct at Triple H and Michaels than anything else. But what he had was a hand in creating and putting over talent. His time as Commissioner was both eventful and entertaining, his rivalry with DX brought out the best of his official character and helped the Degenerates become the memorable pair that they are today. He helped launched the legacy which the WWE fans have such fond memories of and look forward to every time the pair reunite. Sgt. Slaughter makes the spot more for his involvement than his authority, being part of the seed that helped launch the Attitude era, he was the sheep that had been fed to the wolves and helped initialize the march of the Stone Cold band. The infamous European match of Triple H vs Shawn Michaels http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTY_M1qeyV8 Stone Cold stuns Commissioner Slaughter http://youtu.be/nNsZuTf_MUU