Akbar or Cornette? Cornette or Akbar? Many excellent managers campaigned in Mid-South Wrestling. However, with respect to Rock Hunter, Michael Hayes, Gary Hart, Sir Oliver Humperdink and Ernie Ladd, two stand out in Mid-South. Two managers caused more hatred among Mid-South fans and blazed their signatures across the territory. Skandor Akbar and Jim Cornette were, with all due respect to the other managers listed above, the top two managers in Mid-South history.

But which was number one? I was at a loss to crown one of these fine gentlemen as the top manager in Mid-South history, until I managed to reach statistical professor Otto. M. Basil, younger brother of famed sports psychologist Sidney M. Basil (whose psychological profiles of wrestlers you’ve no doubt read in such fine publications as "Pro Wrestling Illustrated" and "Inside Wrestling"). 

Professor Basil rates as such:

1. Physicality

No contest. Akbar was a former North American heavyweight champion, and a very good pro wrestler in the 1970s. This translated well for Akbar the manager, who would issue blustery challenges to any and every foe. Cornette’s whole gimmick was that he was too wimpy to get in the ring himself. He would never call someone out for a physical challenge with him, but instead used his mouth to lure opponents out so they could receive a Midnight Express beating.

Score: 

Akbar: 10

Cornette: 1

2. Stable of talent

Cornette managed what was arguably the best tag-team in Mid-South history, Dennis Condrey and Bobby Eaton, plus he guided Hercules Hernandez for a few months. Where the Midnight Express was concerned, Cornette was a constant and vice versa. You never saw one without the other. It was always "Cornette and the Midnight Express." I don’t know that there was another manager (maybe Bobby Heenan with Nick Bockwinkel in the AWA) who was so identified with one wrestler or team. Cornette also worked in the corner of the team of Steve Williams and Cornette bodyguard Hercules Hernandez a few times and came back to Mid-South TV for one shot guiding the Guerreros against hated foes the Rock & Roll Express.

Akbar managed a stable of wrestlers that rotated fairly often, but he boasted some incredible talent over the years. In Mid-South, his charges included Kamala, The Missing Link, The Samoans, Buddy Landel, The Iron Sheik, One Man Gang, Kareem Muhammed, "Sheik" Hercules Hernandez, Mr. Olympia, Killer Khan and El Corsario, plus numerous others. Plus, he had "associate" Ted DiBiase and occasionally stood in the corner of Steve Williams when Williams teamed with one of his men.

This one’s close, with Cornette getting points for consistency, but Akbar winning out for breadth of talent.

Score: 

Akbar: 10

Cornette: 7

3. Dastardly deeds

Where to begin? Akbar set fire to Hacksaw Duggan, Ricky Morton and Mike Graham, nearly ending Duggan’s career, maiming Morton and driving Graham from Mid-South a mere week after Graham’s debut. He put bounties on Duggan, Bill Watts, Junkyard Dog and many others.