WWE Hall of Famer Legacy
Theodore Long
From humble beginnings, Theodore Long began his career as an errand boy and member of the ring crew before being promoted to work as a referee for the National Wrestling Alliance in 1985, notably being the one to count the pin fall for Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship on February 20, 1989.
After a stint as a villainous referee upon which he was relieved of his role, a chance drive with Kevin Sullivan and Eddie Gilbert would reveal his ability in speaking as he would go on to become a manager, notably leading Ron Simmons and Butch Reed of Doom to the WCW World Tag Team Championship on May 19, 1990. Long would go on to manage many others for World Championship Wrestling including Johnny B. Badd, One Man Gang, Bobby Eaton and The Skyscrapers.
Theodore Long returned to his role as a referee for the WWE in December of 1998, and, in almost a parallel of his stint with WCW, returned to his previous success as a manager, going on to serve as a charismatic mouth piece for D’Lo Brown, Rodney Mack and Mark Henry among others. It was during this stint that the personality of Long became very much known to the audience of the biggest wrestling promotion in the world, as his swagger, way of speaking and confidence was able to add heat and emotion to whomever he became affiliated with. This personality and character would ultimately serve as the basis for his next, and arguably, biggest career step.
After Kurt Angle left the role as General Manager of Smackdown, it was Teddy Long who became his replacement, becoming the first African American Authority Figure of the WWE Brand Extension. Unlike most of his predecessors and successors however, Theodore Long in the role was a babyface, using his authority and voice to give the audience what they wanted and punishing heels for their actions as opposed to favouring them. Long would serve as the General Manager of Smackdown until the end of 2007 where he was replaced by Vickie Guerrero and during his stint, audiences saw the Smackdown debut of Mr. Kennedy, Bobby Lashley and MVP as well as the inception of the Last Ride match and the Barb Wire Steel Cage match to the WWE and the return of the King of the Ring Tournament and the Inferno Match.
After his initial stint, Theodore Long would serve the ECW brand as its General Manager before returning to Smackdown in April of 2009 as its General Manager once again, ultimately serving in the position until WrestleMania 28, where after his chosen team lost to John Laurinaitis’ team he would lose the General Manager position. Long would remain on WWE TV as a personality in on and off appearances to this day but his next appearance will be a true acknowledgement of his success in the industry as he will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017.
So what is Theodore Long’s legacy?
While Long has had stints as a manager and a referee, it is ultimately his role as an on screen Authority Figure that the audience remembers him for and it is rather amazing to see him go from manager to Authority figure.
Often times in wrestling, the transition from one role to another is difficult. In most cases, a personality becomes so attached to a certain position in the eyes of an audience that when they are then placed in a completely different position with a completely different objective they fail to break out of their previous mold.
It is indicative on an individual’s ability as a talent to end a stint as one of the many aspects in professional wrestling and begin anew and form an entirely different legacy that is just as revered and accomplished.
The late Mr Fuji retired from wrestling in 1985 to become a manager and now is not only known as a five time WWE Tag Team Champion but also as the manager of legendary champions Yokozuna and Demolition, whom still have some hope to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Theodore Long is similar in that regard: He has a legacy as a manager and as an authority figure and, despite one legacy being more notable and talked about than the other, it is his personality and character that makes both well known.
But ultimately, the biggest contribution Theodore Long brings in his role as an Authority Figure is his alignment.
Long is an example of a rare babyface Authority Figure in an industry that has since seen a surplus, and in my opinion oversaturation, of heel authority figures. He would book neutrally, although leaning towards babyface favours, and for the benefit of giving the villains their comeuppance. And because of this, I view Theodore Long as an example of a babyface Authority Figure done right.
By being a babyface, Long rarely became directly involved in the feuds and matches shown on Smackdown and would only show up when an announcement needed to be made in anticipation for Smackdown or a upcoming PPV, he would say what he needed to say with fire and character and then leave while not risking overstaying his welcome, in a way applying the Jack Tunney appearances of the 80’s Golden Era to a weekly show and monthly PPV format. It was Long’s job to put heat on the heels through his actions and words and he did it with such ability that when this small and often goofy suit finally put his foot down and gave an ultimatum to a heel, it felt satisfying for an audience to see.
In wrestling one of the big payoffs is the reaction of wrestlers when certain events occur: When you saw Theodore Long force Booker T to defend his United States Title or forfeit it after months of cheating and faking injuries…the reaction felt earned which Long complimented and resonated.
And it is for this contribution and personality that Theodore Long will be acknowledged as one of the great and enduring characters of the industry when he is inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. With a dance and a fancy suit playa.
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[Zak Fellows wishes he could have those suits]
Say what you want about those tag matches and the Undertaker but we still talk about it.