Professional wrestling authority figures

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This is a list of authority figures, people who hold on-screen power, in selective professional wrestling promotions or brands within North America. Authority figures are portrayed as responsible for making matches, providing rules and generally keeping the law and order both in and outside of the ring. The role can also vary over their disposition. A face authority figure tends to give what the fans want and favors fellow face wrestlers. An example of this is Mick Foley. Heel authority figures tend to run their shows out of their own self-interest. An example of this type is Vince McMahon's Mr. McMahon gimmick.

[edit] World Wrestling Entertainment authority figures

Upon splitting the WWE into two separate brands, on-screen co-owners Vince McMahon and Ric Flair proceeded to draft WWE wrestlers into two separate rosters. Flair was given ownership of RAW, while McMahon controlled SmackDown. After McMahon regained control of the entire company, he removed Flair from having control of RAW, relinquished his own position, and appointed General Managers to take their places in controlling the various brands.

[edit] Presidents (CEO)

In real life, Linda McMahon has been on the board of directors for WWE since 1980, and was appointed CEO in 1994 by husband Vince McMahon during the WWF steroid scandal.

[edit] Commissioners

[edit] Raw brand authorities

[edit] Owners

[edit] General managers

[edit] Temporary/Honorary General Managers

1 They were made General Managers of RAW for one night only by Eric Bischoff.

2 The four had a one-time-only opportunity at General Manager when their team won at Survivor Series 2004, while full-time General Manager Eric Bischoff was on vacation.

3 Mr. McMahon had been interim General Manager, taking over until the vacant position was filled. On May 29, 2006, Vince said he would not fill the position, instead making Jonathan Coachman his Executive Assistant, which carries the same powers of a GM. Was officially named as Acting GM on June 19, 2007 following Vince McMahon's limo incident.

4 Mr. McMahon made all five members of the Spirit Squad co-general managers for one night, due to their help in his match against Shawn Michaels at Backlash.

5 DX took over RAW for the night after they put Jonathan Coachman in a garbage bin and wheeled him away

6 Bischoff was granted GM powers for one night after the refereeing job he did at Cyber Sunday 2006, by Mr. McMahon.

7 Make-a-Wish Foundation service with Mick Foley.

8 Executive Assistant and Acting GM Jonathan Coachman placed Regal in charge for the night while he took a vacation, Regal won the job full time when he won a battle royal on the August 6, 2007 edition of RAW.

9 Coachman filled in as Acting GM from September 3 - October 1, 2007 while Regal recovered from being attacked by John Cena.

10 GM William Regal granted each of the participants in the Wrestlemania XXIV WWE Championship Triple Threat Match the right to book matches for themselves and their opponents, with control rotating over 3 weeks.

[edit] SmackDown! brand authorities

[edit] Owners

[edit] General managers

1 Guerrero had been Assistant GM since May 18, 2007. She was promoted to General Manager by Vince McMahon on September 28, 2007 following Teddy Long's (kayfabe) heart attack.

2 Long returned to SmackDown! on November 30, 2007. Upon returning, Long was named as Guerrero's assistant. Long resigned from the post on May 16, 2008.

[edit] Miscellaneous authority figures

[edit] ECW brand authorities

[edit] Owner

[edit] General managers

[edit] World Championship Wrestling authority figures

Eric Bischoff, former WCW CEO & on-screen President as well as former WWE RAW General Manager
Eric Bischoff, former WCW CEO & on-screen President as well as former WWE RAW General Manager

[edit] Commissioners

[edit] Temporary/Honorary Commissioners

[edit] On-screen presidents

[edit] On-screen owners

1 This was during The Invasion storyline.

2 Appointed acting Commissioner by Kevin Nash while Nash was out with injury.

3 Sting defeated Ric Flair for the presidency July 19, but didn't take the job because he just wanted Flair out of the position rather than wanting the power for himself.

[edit] Total Nonstop Action Wrestling authority figures

[edit] Directors of Authority

The Director of Authority was the on-screen authority figure for the company.

[edit] NWA Championship Committee

TNA Wrestling also maintains a championship committee that was established in 2004 to help the Director of Authority book matches and keep contenders in proper order. They also served as guest judges for TNA iMPACT! when it was on Fox Sports Net, as all matches had a time limit and if the match went to time, the judge had to make the call as to who won, similar to boxing.

The committee consisted of:

  • Dusty Rhodes (founder, original member, November 2004 - June 2005)
  • Harley Race (original member, November 2004 - ???)
  • Terry Funk (original member, November 2004 - March 2005)
    • Funk was never seen on-screen in TNA.
  • Roddy Piper (replacement for Funk, March 2005 - ???)
  • Larry Zbyszko (original member, November 2004 - October 2006)


[edit] Management Director

[edit] Notes and references