I
f you look at Heyman’s role as a GM, what all did he accomplish? I’m not saying he didn’t do much but you can’t include his accolades as a head writer in his gm role like they’re one in the same.
Normally, I’d blindly say it’s damn good toss up between Stephanie McMahon and Paul Heyman with the slight edge to Heyman because I’m such a mark. Without getting his role as head-booker and Smackdown GM mixed up, Stephanie McMahon is the all around best GM in the history of Smackdown. Remembering that the GM actually holds zero authority over anyone makes it just like every other role in professional wrestling; you’re a character that must generate a good amount of crowd reaction. Stephanie McMahon fit that role better than anyone else on the list. Stephanie’s character helped develop and further storylines all the while being involved in a few memorable ones as well.
Her memorable feud with Eric Bischoff helped establish the boundaries between the RAW and Smackdown brands that would last for the better part of the decade and made the brands feel like they were in a legit competition. Stephanie was credited with the signing of Hulk Hogan to the Smackdown brand exclusively, reinstating the WWE United States Championship and the creating of the WWE Tag Team Championship which all created not only memorable matches, but some of the best feuds to date. One of the few successful baby-face authority figures, Stephanie McMahon is undoubtedly the best GM for Smackdown and one of my favorite general managers in WWE history.
Looking down the list, Teddy Long would make a decent run for second place mostly because of longevity. Booker T was ok but never memorable. Vickie Guerrero had her moments but often inserted herself into feuds a little too much. With John Laurinaitis being a complete bust there isn’t much competition to Steph’s reign as Smackdown GM.
-#hamler
