He was one of several guys to wrestle under the gimmick of the Zebra Kid, working his way across various territories in the 50s and 60s, and briefly holding the AWA World tag titles with a guy with the brilliant name of Hard Boiled Haggerty in 1960. This gamble would turn out to be a very successful one, as both WWE and Hogan benefited from this partnership ever since. His most high-profile cinematic appearance though comes in Wolfgang Petersens Trojan War epicTroy, where hes memorably dispatched by Brad Pitts Achilles in the first reel. His relationship with his valet and real-life wife Miss Elizabeth has been imitated countless times, and recent fans could easily lose count of the number of wrestlers who do Flying Elbows in honor of the Macho Man, explains The Sportster. You look at the script and begin to read, and hear yourself uttering this line: The 10 Greatest 80's Wrestlers - Sportlister Despite being booked as a villainous heel, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, whose real name is Aurelian Smith Jr., became one of the most popular wrestlers in WWE shortly after joining the company in 1986. Air Force 1 x Tiffany & Co. Air Force 1 1982 . How could you not be, at the very least, entertained by it all? Was there really anything more 80s than cutting your defeated opponents long, feathered locks from their head after a match? Pro Wrestling: The Top 20 Wrestlers of the 1980s Obviously, he looked the part, but (ironically for an alien character) he made the part so human. Rhodes went to the WWF and was summarily used as a mid card wrestler, adds Bleacher Report. That was Honky Tonk Man's opportunity. That Aidens ideas are good and that they should do that. Really. He was also one of its biggest heels as Vince McMahon exploited anti-Iranian sentiment in the country. Styles eventually made it to WWE, but Christopher Daniels is one of the few remaining standouts of. WWF Wrestlers From The 80s and 90s That Entertained A Generation This is generally considered the beginning of Hulkamania, and the moment that Hogans career took off, simultaneously ushering in the Golden Era of the WWF. Yet its genuinely a surprisingly enjoyable little film, which embraces its ridiculousness and just has fun with it. 10: Hulk Hogan Gremlins 2: The New Batch. Here is a group of 20 superstars who had become larger-than-life in this decade, be it in the WWF or in other competing promotions. Hogan beat the Sheik, finishing the job with his trademark leg drop. Studd is one of the few men to have ever been named to both the WCW and WWE Hall of Fames. In fact, today marks the 27th anniversary of the day known as "Black Saturday," when the WWF took the timeslot of WTBS, which had broadcasted Georgia Championship Wrestling's show "World Championship Wrestling" for the previous 12 years. But whats most important is that this list is 100% founded on science, and even if you disagree, youre wrong. He was one of the first wrestlers to be a successful actor in Hollywood. 15: Jerry The King Lawler and Jim Ross Man On The Moon. And loveable? The mid-80s marked the 'Rise of Hulkamania' and he referred to his fans as 'Hulkamaniacs.'. Its stupidly ridiculous. A journeyman wrestler in the later 80s and early 90s, most notably competing under the name Big Sky in WCW, Tyler Mane eventually moved into acting, where his 6ft 8 stature lead him to end up playing a lot of imposing henchmen and the like. The Tom Jane version of the Marvel vigilante is a weird, uneven film but has moments of genius, none more so that the brief appearance on Kevin Nash, the early 90s superstar formerly known as Diesel. He remained masked throughout all his films (he only removed his mask once in public, a week before his death) even when he wasnt in his wrestling gear, and the sight of him strutting around in a tweed jacket, turtleneck and wrestling mask never stops being entertaining (especially as none of the other character bat an eyelid). First up is Brian Glover, a very solid wrestler who came up against most of the others in this list over the course of his career but is now better known as an actor thanks to . It works perfectly. It seemed like just PR puff, but it turns out its all true. Batista does a lot more than he needs to with the meagre material though, turning a one-note heavy into a character with at least two dimensions, who genuinely seems a bit bitter at his job and youre disappointed when Diesel inevitably kills him. Youre wasting more time than you think just solving tech problems, Your favorite wine could be wiped out by climate change, Ketamine could soon go from illegal party drug to severe depression cure, Menstrual cycles can be magical: Woman uses period blood to water her plants, Best Soap Opera Couples Of All Time: Top 5 Lovers, According To Fans. Hulk Hogan is synonymous with 80s professional wrestling and vice versa. However he did something that probably no other wrestler can claim to he appeared in a Best Picture Oscar winning film. Ricky Steamboat is another all-time great to come into prominence in pro wrestling in the 1980s. WWE Hall Of Famer George The Animal Steele took the role, and brought a kind humanity to Johnson that many of those who worked with him were quick to put on record. The Undertaker became popular immediately after making his wrestling debut in 1987. Its based around the really cheesy conceit that hes fighting to earn enough money to pay for a little girl to have a heart transplant. Rob Reiners adaptation of William Goldens tongue-in-cheek fantasy novel has rightly become a classic. Its a bizarre, unexpected, not quite successful but unforgettable performance, kind of like the film itself. A giant in and out of the ring, there really was no bigger figure in wrestling in the 1980s on multiple levels This was a man who went undefeated for nearly 15 years straight and only stopped wrestling due to the health effects of his enormous size. Which Iowa State wrestlers have won the most NCAA championships? Bundy got Hogan over to a rocking crowd at WrestleMania 2, falling to the Hulkster in a steel cage. Its hard to really embarrass a guy who used to unironically call himself Big Sexy, but his awkward shuffling at the back of the assorted routines is not great at all (though considering Nash wasnt cleared to wrestle CM Punk back in 2011, its impressive that he took on a physical role or any kind). This is a list of masked wrestlers. Professional wrestling continues to draw fans, but to those who watched our favorite grapplers like Andr the Giant, Ric Flair, and "Diamond" Dallas Page, the sense of nostalgia attached to the sport can . Snuka missed, and Backlund escaped from the cage to retain his title. A dominant figure at WCW and TNA, the Four Horsemen would go ahead and lift multiple world championships at both promotions, furthers SportLister. Duggan is one of the only men in WWE history to have been a Royal Rumble winner and a King of the Ring. With decent parts around him, Cena makes a solid leading man, and the film is a very enjoyable old school action throwback. Click here: https://go. Ric Flair was wrestling in the 1980s. 38: Chris Jericho, Kane, MVP, Mark Henry, The Great Khali and The Big Show MacGruber. This includes the list of all WWF Superstars, division between Men and Women Roster, as well as Managers, Announcers, Authority figures, Producers and other personalities in World Wrestling Federation. His most notable role however was popping up in the delightful Patrick Swayze zen-bouncer movieRoadhouse. If thats what you guys think. Sure, it is true that that honor was ready to go to Ricky Steamboat, but he was punished for wanting to spend time with his family. . Is it a damn fun one, starring The Rock? Wrestlers Superstars From The 80s - In the 1980s Its hard not to empathize with a character who starts out as a male stripper and then goes on to become a hairstylist. Damn, he was fantastic, but he came on the scene near the end of the 80s, and essentially became the heir apparent to Hogans major matches as the decades changed. Shiek is known as the guy who defeated Bob Backlund for the WWE Championship, ending Backlund's six-year reign. He won the world title 16 times in the NWA, WCW and WWF. Harley Race is the most divisive on this list ranked by. The profile of each WCW wrestler features their Career History, Ring Names, Face / Heel Turns, Accomplishments, Pictures, Bio and more information and statistics. They then attach an exploding codpiece to his nether regions and send him to rescue a group of fertile women captured by mutant frog people in the eponymous Frogtown. We look back at the biggest stars of . And if someone else were to take a stab at it, they would also be wrong. WWE: The 20 Greatest African-American Wrestlers of All Time There is no one in wrestling with a greater pedigree, writes Bleacher Report. WWF Wrestlers From The 80s and 90s That Entertained A Generation Is it the best swords-and-sandals movie ever? This was a man who went undefeated for nearly 15 years straight and only stopped wrestling due to the health effects of his enormous size. Top 50 professional wrestlers of the 1990's using win-loss - IMDb Jake "The Snake" Roberts One of the most recognized pro wrestlers of the 1980s, Jake the Snake Roberts's mic skills and ability to cause fear in his opponents made him a force to reckon with. Our complete Pro Wrestlers Database allows you to travel through time and see the WCW Roster & Alumni by Year or any specific Date in history. Despite being part of a squad that includes such badasses as Arnie, Apollo Creed and Commandos Bill Duke, Ventura still manages to come off as possibly the coolest, carrying a gigantic gun called Ol Painless and describing himself as a god damned sexual Tyranosaurus. List of masked wrestlers - Wikipedia Ring the bell. 100 greatest wrestlers of all time - cleveland.com His only notable cinematic moment wouldnt come until 2002 when he appeared in Sam Ramis firstSpider-Manfilm. King Kong Bundy seemed like nothing more than a sideshow act brought in to get people over. Studd was slammed at the first WrestleMania by Andre The Giant in one of the most memorable moments of that inaugural show. The problem is he just looks like superhero, and when he tries to play average Joes like in Snitch or whatever, but he just cant be convincing no matter how good his performance is just because hell never look like a regular guy. Do the staff members agree? British wrestler Adrian Street revolutionised heel (bad guy) wrestlers in the 70s when he developed his exotic persona, an overtly flamboyant, effeminate and implicitly homosexual gimmick. I imitated his moves in the mirror. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. 10. 17: Osamu Nishimura The Calamari Wrestler. The Honky Tonk man began as a goofy gimmick that, had you presented this guy to me as a great superstar, I would have thought that you were joking with me. Even if you didn't grow up watching him, you can still watch promos of him and wish that you were him for a few minutes. Ranking the top 101 wrestlers of all time - Sports Illustrated His match with Ric Flair at Starrcade 1983 is still one of the greatest matches in wrestling history. The 26 time heavyweight champion pulled in audiences with his antics and his skills with the mike. Through the years, WWE has had its share of talented and amazing individuals that have performed and entertained the masses that comprise the WWE Universe. You cannot have a list of the best wrestlers of the 80s without mentioning Hulk Hogan. But, it had to be done. Vince McMahon took over his father's company and sought to bring in the best from surrounding territories, which ultimately drew many of them out of business. 12,800 views made by Star Wars Superfan avg. Shiek is also the guy to lose to Hulk Hogan when Hogan won his first world championship in WWE. Hes been inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame twice, writes Fanbuzz. Andre himself made such an impression on Billy Crystal that he later he wrote, produced and starred in the comedy My Giant, inspired by his time with him, in which Crystal plays a huckster who befriends 7ft 7 NBA player Gheorghe Muresan and tries to get him a role in a Steven Seagal move. We should have known the Classic Nerd 2023, owned by Spritely Media, LLC. But, I really cant put him on top of this list. He had the moves, the talking ability, the style and the ability to have you love or loathe him whenever he wanted you to. The 12 time world champion dominated wrestling in the 1980s and literally took it to another level. ULTIMATE WWF / WWE Superstars Of The 80s Then And Now (2021) Copyright 2010-2023 TheSmackDownHotel.com. Many wrestlers of this era went on to become superstars, giving WWE a major boost. Its just unfortunate that Rhodes talents werent used to their full potential once he finally agreed to sign with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Studd's major gimmick in his days in the promotion was that he could never be bodyslammed. He was equally as charismatic in the ring and had an inbuilt persona that would be easily transferable to your bog standard action vehicle. Macho Man Randy Savage, who is sadly no longer with us, is another iconic wrestler of the 1980s.Savage was a major attraction back in the 80s, with scores of people watching him either on TV or live in the ring. He is dumb and obvious, and I mean that completely as a compliment. In 1982, professional wrestling was on the cusp of moving from the old territorial era to the modern day, with Vince McMahon Jr just about to turn his fathers WWF into the international multimedia empire we know today. The WWE was then known as the World Wrestling Federation, and this decade helped form the business model of the sport today. Its one thing to be able to entertain a few thousand people live, its completely different thing recreating that with a camera close up on you over multiple takes. Its a brilliantly savage takedown of the American Dream people who think their lives are so important that theyre the stars of their own movie. Ask your grandmother to name a professional wrestler, and Hulk Hogan is probably the person that she says. I just knew was a warrior. Of course, Russell is a better actor than Roddy Piper, but this film is all about the honest working man. Top 20 Wrestlers Of The 1980s One of the most excited men in wrestling history was The Ultimate Warrior. Someone had to take the bold move of ranking pro wrestlers from the 1980s dont bother Googling it, just go ahead and assume we are the only ones who are bold enough to do take on this Herculean task. See one we missed? With the local authorities turning a blind eye due to how much money the casino is bringing into the local economy, he decides to run from sheriff and clean up the town no matter how much the evil casino man threatens to escalate things. When the film version Mario Puzos best-selling crime novelThe Godfatherwas threatened by the Italian-American Civil Rights League, producer Al Ruddy cut a deal with Joe Columbo, which lead to Montana being cast as Don Corleones hitman Luca Brasi. A journeyman wrestler in the later 80s and early 90s, most notably competing under the name 'Big Sky' in WCW, Tyler Mane eventually moved into acting, where his 6ft 8 stature lead him to end . It has never been an officially sanctioned belt in WWE, so his title reigns with it never really counted for anything. Commonly referred to as the Golden Age, this period also saw an expansion of cable television and pay-per-view events, further promoting wrestling among the audiences. Every character gets their own chance to narrate the film, and they all turn out to be horrible, nasty idiots (apart from maybe Rebel Wilson, whos just very nave and unlucky). He was the son of professional wrestler Ferrin Barr, or Dandy Sandy. However, like most influential athletes, Hulk Hogan transcended wrestling and made his way into other areas of life. Its hard to go wrong with a flag and a 24. WWE Power Rankings: The 25 Greatest Superstars of the '60s and '70s If thats what you guys think. Rude would later go on to be one of the top heels in the early 1990s, as well as one of the original members of D-Generation X. Machos elbow drop is still one of the most imitated finishing moves of all time. Christopher Daniels [youtube:https://youtu.be/e9-azR3pLkI] Daniel Bryan, Samoa Joe and A.J. All Rights Reserved. A lot of the film was shot at Ring Of Honour shows and a lot of that promotions roster can be seen in the background (including current WWE superstars Cesaro and R-Truth). The ladies of the '80s A great mat wrestler and high-flyer with a flying elbow that was lethal. Hardcore wrestling legend Terry Funk appeared in a couple of movies in the 80s including two with Sylvester Stallone, the wrestling dramaParadise Alley(which makes sense) and the hilarious mawkish arm-wrestling filmOver The Top(less so). Hogan took wrestling and made it much more than that. The legend inspired and continues to inspire each and every professional wrestler with Hulk Hogan once saying "He's the only guy we could pass the belt to, and we wouldn't lose moneythings would stay the same, or get better. But Hulks, Hulkamania didnt just take over the WWF, it took over the country, and eventually the world. So youre making a sequel toConan, and you need someone who can look like they can be a legitimate threat to Schwarzenegger. The mid-80s marked the 'Rise of Hulkamania' and he referred to his fans as 'Hulkamaniacs.' The Sarge even leant his voice to the series, and his appearance in the 1987 animated movie. Dont let anyone tell you that being a wrestling fan isnt good for your well-being. 86. Chalk this down to director Peter Berg, a smart guy whose films are always a lot clever than they first appear (apart from maybe Battleship), but its also one of the first films where The Rock felt like a true leading man, especially in the fantastic finale, where his character, er, learns to love shooting people with guns again. Its elevated by being helmed by Renny Harlin, a reliable action movie old hand (he also made Die Hard 2), and a good villain in the form ofThe WireandGame Of Thrones Aiden Gillan. It was then that Bundy demanded having to win with five-counts instead of three-counts. It was a slot that the fans wanted to go to Daniel Bryan, a 5ft 10 upstart from the indies and the biggest breakout star theyd had in forever. ian riccaboni has signed a multi year deal with AEW, Eric Young released, did not want to work with Vince, Eric Young leaves wwe ; back at TNA Impact Slammiversary, 1 1 BAYLEY, 2 DOPHZIGGLER 2 SHEAMUS, 3 MIZ 3 NEWDAY, 4 CHADGABLE 4 KEVINOWEN, 5 JEYUSOS 5 BROCKLESNAR, 6 JIMMYUSOS 6 SAMIZAYN, YOUR WIFE NIKKIBELLA BOKEUP GUY PLASSES BACK TOGTHER ISTOGORAWDRAFT, Roman Reigns pase with John cena wwe Monday night raw wwe undisputed championship, R-Truth is back on WWE Raw (he returned in May 2023). Best Moment: After being defeated by Yokozuna in Royal Rumble '94, and being put in the casket by Yoko. And lets not forget, he held the WWF World Heavyweight Championship for a good year in the early 80s. A 12-time 'Slammy Award' winner, The Undertaker was inducted into the 'Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame' in 2004. I still tear up a little bit every time his name comes up. Originally named Crusher Hogan, Savage creates a new character called Bonesaw who is basically just Randy Savage who is obsessed with saws. That was when he created The Million Dollar Championship, which has taken on a life of its own as one of the most popular gimmick belts in wrestling history. score: 23 of 126 (18%) required scores: 1, 2, 3, 4, 51 list stats leaders vote print comments How many have you heard of? When Macho Man went to the top rope and spun his index finger in the air, fans knew what was coming next the elbow drop. Dusty represented the people, making him the perfect foil to the peacocking Flair, and a slam-dunk underdog babyface for the fans to rally behind. Instead, he used his infectious charisma and amazing promo skills to win the crowd over, becoming one of the biggest babyfaces in NWA/WCW history and a three-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, writes Fanbuzz. Andre the Giant did just that when he turned heel and went after Hulk Hogan, setting the stage for an epic showdown at Wrestlemania III. We dont do this often, it just tends to make pieces like this a bit more manageable. 7 Roddy Piper Loud and energetic to a chaotic degree, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper can be considered one of the most influential heels of the 1980s thanks to a mix of promo ability and in-ring viciousness. Despite a respectable career, Lenny Montana is far from the most recognisable name on this list. If you were a fan of the WWF during the late '80s and early '90s, at the height of Koko's popularity, you might answer: "Zero". A cast of past their prime great actors (Uma Thurman, John Travolta, Harvey Keitel) sleepwalk through a laboured plot while some moonlighting musicians (Andre 3000, Christina Milian, Steven Tyler) show why they should stick to singing. WWE Wrestlers From the '80s and '90s - Then and NowThanks you for watching "Top Ten The World" chanel See you The NEXTSubscribe now! Theres a school of thought that the film would be better is Carpenters usual leading man Kurt Russell had taken the lead role. Rikishi WWE Rikishi cycled through a lot of different "gimmicks" during the '90s. But it wasnt until the late 1980s that they found their true calling: running around the ring licking each others heads not to mention licking opponents, fans, and pretty much whatever else was around. That may have had something to do with his extremely vague patriotism, or the fact that he always had a piece of wood in his hands. Although Flair had a different persona and impact on sports entertainment, he is credited for taking the popularity of professional wrestling up a notch. Hes starred in a series of competent-but-forgettable action vehicles that have made little impression, but his stand out film by far is 12 Rounds, a rather blatant rip-off ofDie Hard With A Vengeance. Perfect, initially a nickname which in time became his official title. Schwarzenegger first made his mark as an action star playing Conan The Barbarian. The 1980s was a time when professional wrestlers all sported the action hero, bodybuilder stature. 1980s NWA Wrestlers EDITORS NOTE: It was recently pointed out (thanks Internet!) The 25 Best '90s Wrestlers, Ranked // ONE37pm One of the few wrestler-turned-actors who can genuinely act, he really revels in being cast against type -particularly in a brilliant audition scene where recites a monologue from bitchy cheerleading classic Bring It On, doing both the Kirstin Dunst and Eliza Dushku parts. Be the first one to comment on this story. One of the greatest wrestlers to ever hold a microphone, Roddy Piper is more known to wrestling fans as a non-WWE Champion than he ever would have been as a one-time or even a two-time champion. Wrestling fans watched the Undertaker's resurrection from inside the casket.. He had a great run in the WWF and became an even bigger star when he left and went to the NWA. The crowd could immediately feed off of his energy, which helped in him being so successful as a pro wrestler. Hi there and welcome to Nostalgia Hit. 10 Greats From The Golden Age Of British Wrestling - WhatCulture Some will. Bird Box: Barcelona Review: Netflix At Last Has Its Own Final Destination, Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One Review: Tom Cruise Hits New Heights, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Review: Harrison Ford Cant Rewind the Clock, Twitter feed for faster news and bad jokes right here, Stone Cold Steve Austin May Appear on The Big Show Show Season 2, Wrestlers Reeling After WWE-Saudi Debacle, London Action Festival Returns With a Vengeance in 2023, 11 Movies That Really Are Better Than the Book, How Tolkien and Lord of the Rings Inspired Game of Thrones. One of only six men in the WWE, WCW, Professional Wrestling and Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fames, Harley Race is one of the all-time greats. In a way, that's all he was. 1 on every pro wrestler list ever. The one highlight however is The Rock, in his first notable non-action role, stealing the film as Vince Vaughns gay bodyguard and wannabe actor. 42,320 views made by Star Wars Superfan avg. He was as flamboyant as they came. Here was a man who fully embraced his role embodying every single deep-seated fear Americans had of Iran in the 80s. And why not? After his family of neer-do-wells find Clays corpse in the woods after psycho Luke Shaw has killed him, they carry him back to their secluded property in order to give him a proper burial. Its a phrase that has become part of our cultural lexicon, and yes, Randy Savage said it before Slim Jims were ever a thing. 1980s WWF/WWE Wrestlers With 29 championship reigns during his 32-year career, Randy Savage is undoubtedly one of the greatest WWE stars of the 1980s. What Snuka did climb to instead was the top of a steel cage. In the 1980s he was the most requested celebrity for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, had his own cartoon, appeared on numerous late-night talk shows, co-hosted Saturday Night Live and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, among other super-80s things. I remember the Royal Rumbles, the Wrestlemanias, even the Summer Slams. If it was still the 80s, his combination of generic good looks and impressive beefcake would have probably made him a megastar, but the world has moved on. In twenty years time, in some quarters at least,Pain And Gainwill be an acknowledged classic. An interesting post-script to this when Savage recorded his debut rap album (yes, Savage did record a hip-hop record), and hada song calling out Hulk Hogan, mocking his terrible straight to video movies and boasting that he got [him]self a feature role in Spider-Man, despite the fact hes only in the film for about five minutes. However, like most influential athletes, Hulk Hogan transcended wrestling and made his way into other areas of life. Here are the top WWF wrestlers from the 1980s, ranked, as proven by our rigorous scientific method of deciding for our damn selves who deserved to make the list: These guys started wrestling in 1966. He retained the belt until he was scheduled for a rematch with Bob Backlund at Madison Square Garden in 1984. Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. Savage played a small but important part in the Spidey mythos: the wrestler who a young Peter Parker beats but fails to receive the prize money for. Andre the Giant had no problem putting guys over with the fans, which means hed lose to them in dramatic fashion to make the good guys look even better for beating him. When Tim Burton brought the legend of Edward D Wood Jr to the big screen in 1994, with his reputation as The worlds worst ever director now firmly established, he turned to another wrestler for the role of Tor Johnson. In terms of his character work and wrestling style, few wrestlers came close to achieving the acclaim Flair won in his matches such as his indelible bouts against Ricky Steamboat, Sting, Terry Funk, and Dusty Rhodes, explains Wealth of Geeks. The mid credits scene, where Groot dances to the Jackson Five without him knowing, might just be the great summer blockbuster moment of 2014, and its all Batista. Slaughter actually became a cartoon character when he was immortalized in the GI Joe animated series and toyline (ok, there was also Hulk Hogans Rock N Wrestling, but GI Joe was way cooler than that). He created mainstream entertainment. Snuka is one of the most respected Hall of Famers for that very reason. StudyFinds did the research, consulting 10 expert websites to bring you a list of the best pro wrestlers of the 80s. Will Fortes severely underrated MacGyver-spoofing Saturday Night Live spin-off has one of the cleverest and funniest uses of wrestlers in a film Ive ever seen. Known as the American Dream, Dusty Rhodes was not your typical 80s musclehead that was heavily presented in professional wrestling. WrestleMania does not get sold to the masses without a guy like Hulk Hogan. Youre getting paid real money, lots of it, to do this. Wrestled against Jerry Lawler in the Mid-South area and then took his act to WWF where he teamed with Miss Elizabeth and found gold.