Mick Foley was fired on Raw this week, bringing an ugly end to his creative yet acrimonious tenure as Raw General Manager in the nine months since last year’s Brand Extension Draft took hold. Raw Commissioner Stephanie McMahon is in the driver’s seat for the time being, but it’s unlikely she’ll leave the flagship without its first mate. So, WWE.com got to thinking: Who could potentially replace The Hardcore Legend in the GM’s seat? Here are five options.
Eric Bischoff
The controversial WCW figurehead is ostensibly back in WWE’s orbit, if not the fold, as he’ll be inducting Diamond Dallas Page into the WWE Hall of Fame. Given that Bischoff’s tenure was known for explosive matchmaking and impulsive management decisions even during his three-year stint running Raw, bringing him back would certainly maintain the air of unpredictability that Stephanie likes to cultivate on Monday nights. Of course, the last time Bischoff tried to work with a McMahon, he ended up in the back of a garbage truck. It could be an awkward job interview, but it wouldn’t be the first time a legend with a grudge ultimately found their way home.
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin
Twenty years ago, the idea of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and a McMahon working together would have been inconceivable. Times have changed, however, and though Austin might still throw a Stunner around here or there, ol’ “Stone Cold” seems to be all about business these days. Working with Stephanie McMahon would give Austin the opportunity to extend his legacy and his influence into the New Era, and help remake the locker room into the kind of risk-taking talent factory that fueled the Attitude Era. Sure, Austin would have to butt heads with Triple H every occasionally, but running the show he helped build has to be a tantalizing offer for even The Texas Rattlesnake.
Jim Cornette
The opportunity to have the legendary Jim Cornette at Stephanie’s side is one of those options that’s too bizarre not to consider. The notorious manager — who will return to induct the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017 — even has experience in this area before, having helped develop The Midnight Express into one of the most formidable tag teams in the history of sports-entertainment. Might be worth it for Cornette to dust off the ol’ tennis racket.
Edge
Arguably, Edge was always a bit more of a SmackDown guy. Yet with Team Blue thriving under the steady hands of Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan, The Ultimate Opportunist could well seize on the ultimate opportunity, helping elevate Raw the way he helped build up SmackDown during the 2000’s and nurture a generation of young talent who could benefit from his hard-won wisdom.
Kurt Angle
OK, so hear us out. Throughout his career, Kurt Angle has worn a lot of hats – sometimes literal ones of the tiny cowboy variety. Among the most pertinent of them, however, was his position as SmackDown’s General Manager for a time in 2004. Granted, Mr. McMahon put that to an end when he discovered Angle was feigning the neck issues that had led him to accept the job in the first place. Now, however, Angle is returning to WWE, and – as far as we know – he has no plans to put on the straps again. Therefore, the time is more opportune than ever for The Olympic Hero to assume the position of General Manager. Not only would Angle have plenty of wisdom to impart to a locker room that has followed the world-traveled path of his career, but the former World Champion and future WWE Hall of Famer is assured to stay true (damn true) to his past work.