1980s: The Golden Age of Wrestling
“Ravishing” Rick Rude. His male stripper-like motions were downright disturbing.
Real name: Richard E. Rood
Signature move: Rude Awakening
From: Robbinsdale, Minnesota
Died: 1999
The Hart Foundation
Bret “The Hitman” Hart. Part of the huge Hart family, wrestled alongside his brother-in-law, Jim Neidhart. In the Hall of Fame.
Real name: Bret Sergeant Hart
Signature move: The Sharpshooter
From: Calgary, Alberta
Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart. The father of current WWE diva Natalya.
Real name: Jim Neidhart
Signature move: Anvil Flattener
From: Tampa, Florida
Memorable moment in WWF history: Hart Foundation and Danny Davis vs. Bulldogs and Tito Santana, WrestleMania III
Greg “The Hammer” Valentine. Sometimes a good guy, sometimes a bad guy, The Hammer often fought in the “Dream Team” alongside Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake. In the Hall of Fame.
Real name: John Anthony Wisniski Jr.
Signature move: Figure four leglock
From: Seattle, Washington
Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake. A wrestler who used to cut the hair of his opponents as they lay there unconscious. The gag got old, and his interview show, the Barbershop, sucked.
Real name: Edward Harrison “Ed” Leslie
Signature move: Apacalypse
From: Tampa, Florida
Memorable moment in WWF history: Dream Team vs. Bulldogs
“The Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart. Best known as the scrawny guy yelling through a megaphone, he managed at times Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Jerry “The King” Lawler, Ted DiBiase, and The Honky Tonk Man. In the Hall of Fame.
Real name: Jimmy Ray Hart
From: Jackson, Mississippi
Bobby “The Brain” Heenan. The bad guy’s manager of managers. Was in charge of such characters as Big John Studd, Ken Patera, “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff, King Kong Bundy, Andre the Giant, The Brain Busters (former Horsemen members Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard), “Ravishing” Rick Rude, Harley Race, The Islanders (Haku and Tama), Hercules, The Barbarian, Mr. Perfect, Terry Taylor, and The Brooklyn Brawler. In the Hall of Fame.
Real name: Raymond Louis Heenan
From: Chicago, Illinois
Memorable moment in WWF history: Royal Rumble, 1988
The Rockers
Shawn Michaels. The more well-known half of the tag-team duo The Rockers. Michaels went on to have success as a solo wrestler.
Real name: Michael Shawn Hickenbottom
Signature move: Double flying headbutt (tag-team move)
From: Chandler, Arizona
Marty Jannetty. The other guy in the Rockers.
Real name: Frederick Marty Jannetty
Signature move: Double flying headbutt (tag-team move)
From: Columbus, Georgia
“The Nature Boy” Ric Flair. Didn’t wrestle in WWF during the 80s but everyone knew he was Turner’s answer to Hulk Hogan. Still a star. Wooo! In the Hall of Fame.
Real name: Richard Morgan Fliehr
Signature move: Figure four leglock
From: Memphis, Tennessee
“Hacksaw” Jim Duggan. “Hoooo!!!” This all-American wrestler made me want to march around the playground with a 2-by-4.
Real name: James Duggan
Signature move: Tackled the guy, football style
From: Glen Falls, New York
“The Million Dollar Man” Ted Dibiase. Bribed his way to victory and always followed by his bodyguard Virgil.
Real name: Theodore Marvin “Ted” DiBiase, Sr.
Signature move: Figure four leglock
From: Omaha, Nebraska
British Bulldogs. Everyone loved their mascot, Matilda.
Davey Boy Smith. Later wrestled under the name “The British Bulldog.”
Real name: David Boy Smith
Signature move: The powerslam
From: United Kingdom
Died: 2002
Dynamite Kid. The other half of the British Bulldogs, currently confined to a wheelchair.
Real name: Thomas Billington
Signature move: Swan dive headbutt
From: Golborne, Lancashire
Nasty Boys. Didn’t join WWF until the 90s but these guys kept me watching as the 80s ended.
Brian Knobbs. Hilarious on the show Hogan Knows Best.
Real name: Brian Yandrisovitz
Signature move: Running powerslam
From: Tampa, Florida
Jerry Sags. The other half of the Nasty Boys.
Real name: Jerome Saganovich
Signature move: Diving elbow drop
From: Allentown, Pennsylvania
Captain Lou Albano. In the 80s, one of the most popular good guy managers. Often seen with singer Cyndi Lauper. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996.
Real name: Louis Vincent Albano
From: Mount Vernon, New York
Bam Bam Bigelow. The big guy with the tatooo on his head.
Real name: Scott Charles Bigelow
Signature move: Diving headbutt
From: Ashbury Park, New Jersey
Died: 2007
“The Bird Man” Koko B. Ware. Always flapping his arms as he rode the back of his opponent.
Real name: James Ware
Signature move: Birdbuster
From: Union City, Tennessee
Bushwhackers. Remember these crazy Aussies (ok, New Zealanders), jerking their arms up and down? Great for kids.
Real names: Luke Williams and Butch Miller
Signature move: Battering ram
From: Aukland, New Zealand
“Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff. Bad guy who was often alongside “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. In the Hall of Fame.
Real name: Paul Orndorff
Signature move: Spike piledriver
From: Brandon, Florida
Mr. Perfect. Used to show film clips of him bowling a 300 game, running the table in pool, and hitting a shot in basketball. Wow, amazing. In the Hall of Fame.
Real name: Curt Hennig
Signature move: Perfect-plex
From: Robbinsdale, Minnesota
Died: 2003
Kamala the Ugandan Giant. At the time, taught kids that Uganda is a country.
Real name: James Harris
Signature move: Air Africa
From: Senatobia, Mississippi
“King” Harley Race. Made opponents bow and kneel before him. Yawn. In the Hall of Fame.
Real name: Harley Leland Race
Signature move: Bridging cradle suplex
From: Quitman, Missouri
Sgt. Slaughter. His popularity in the early 80s rivaled Hogan’s, and his feud with the Iron Sheik was memorable, but he was gone from 1985-1990, critical years in the WWF. Still in the Hall of Fame.
Real name: Robert Remus
Signature move: Cobra clutch
From: Detroit, Michigan
Big Bossman. The bad cop who beat opponents with his nightstick.
Real name: Raymond W. Traylor, Jr
Signature move: Bossman slam
From: Marietta, Georgia
Died: 2004
The Killers Bees. Good guys, yes, but hardly memorable other than their yellow and black-striped tights.
B. Brian Blair.
Real name: Brian Leslie Blair
Signature move: Sleeper hold
From: Gary, Indiana
“Jumpin” Jim Brunzell.
Real name: James Brunzell
Signature move: Dropkick
The Islanders. Once kidnapped the British Bulldogs’ mascot Matilda.
Haku.
Real name: Tonga ‘Uli’uli Fifita
Signature move: Savate kick
From: Nukuʻalofa, Tonga
Tama.
Real name: Sam Fatu
Signature move: Diving splash
From: California
Jesse “The Body” Ventura. In the ring in the early 80s, Ventura was the color commentator alongside Gorilla Monsoon for much of the rest of the decade. Used to always say, “Look out, Gorilla!” as a good move was happening in the ring. Love the boa, gov. In the Hall of Fame.
Real name: Jesse Ventura
Signature move: Body breaker
From: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Gorilla Monsoon. Often the play-by-play voice in the 80s. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994.
Real name: Robert James “Gino” Marella
Signature move: Airplane spin
From: New York, New York
Died: 1999
Brother Love. Red-faced manager that preached the word of ‘love’ while managing hated characters. Once came out in a kilt and argued with Roddy “Rowdy” Piper while Morton Downey Jr. was on stage.
Real name: Bruce Prichard
From: Pasadena, Texas
The Red Rooster. This guy was a joke from the start. I mean, he cockadodledooed before his matches.
Real name: Terry Taylor
Signature move: Sharpshooter
From: Atlanta, Georgia
Honkey Tonk Man. This Elvis impersonator started out as a good guy, but no one liked him, so bad he became.
Real name: Roy Wayne Farris
Signature move: Guitar shot
From: Memphis, Tennessee
“Adorable” Adrian Adonis. A bad guy most remembered for cross-dressing.
Real name: Keith Franke
Signature move: Sleeper hold
From: New York, New York
Died: 1988
The One Man Gang/Akeem the African Dream. Managed by Slick, always a bad guy. Fought alongside Big Bossman.
Real name: George Gray
Signature move: 747 splash
From: Spartanburg, South Carolina
Owen Hart. Hart made a brief appearance in the 80s WWF, but the Blue Blazer, with those awesome aerial moves, didn’t get popular til the 90s.
Real name: Owen James Hart
From: Calgary, Canada
Died: 1999
Owen Hart Tribute:
Hercules.
Real name: Raymond Fernandez
Signature move: Backbreaker
From: Tampa, Florida
Terry Funk. Managed by Jimmy Hart with tag team partner Jimmy Jack Funk.
Real name: Terrence Funk
Signature move: Piledriver
From: Hammond, Indiana
Jimmy Jack Funk. Tag team partner of Terry Funk.
Real name: Ferrin Barr Jr.
Signature move: Bulldog
From: Oregon
Don Muraco. In the Hall of Fame.
Real name: Don Morrow
Signature move: Reverese piledriver
From: Sunset Beach, Hawaii
Slick. Bad, skinny pimp-like character, took over management of “Classy” Freddie Blassie’s characters.
Real name: Kenneth Johnson
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Others around in the 80s:
Powers of Pain (Barbarian and Warlord)
Demolition (Ax, Crush and Smash)
Bob Orton (In the Hall of Fame)
The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers
U.S. Express (Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham)
Dan Spivey
Butch Reed
Dino Bravo
David Samartino
Zeus
Jerry “The King” Lawler (In the Hall of Fame)
Danny Davis
Iron Mike Sharpe
Billy Jack Haynes
Wendi Richter
Sensational Sheri Martell (In the Hall of Fame)
The Fabulous Moolah (In the Hall of Fame)
The Brooklyn Brawler
Rick Martel
The Genius (Lenny Poffo)
Mr. Fuji (In the Hall of Fame)
Bad News Brown
Dusty Rhodes (In the Hall of Fame)
“Special Delivery” Jones
The little guys: Little Beaver, Little Tokyo, Lord Littlebrook, Haiti Kid
And let’s not forget, THE MAN, Eugene “Mean Gene” Okerlund (In the Hall of Fame)
Need additional Wrestling Action? Check out these links :
- 10 Awesome WWF Matches From the 80s (Uncoached)
- An Ode to Tag Teams (Angry T)
- Houston reporters think wrestling is real (Blog of Hilarity)
- WWE’s perfect Maryse Ouellet shows off her flawless temporary cast (Banned in Hollywood)
- The 10 Most Memorable Moments of Celebrities at Wrestlemania (Uncoached)
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[...] Jefferson and Ridnour on the Move? Hugging Harold Reynolds – Craig Sager Isn’t Listening Gunaxin – 1980s: The Golden Age of Wrestling Sports Rubbish – Video: GP2 Asia Crash Between Sakon Yamomoto [...]
You left out Rick Flair and Thunderbolt Patterson! Two great wrasslin’ stars of the 80’s.
George “The Animal” Steel’s signature move was the flying hammerlock not the full nelson as stated above. A great list though. Too many other great WWF wrestlers to name missing from the list but I think you got the best of the bunch.
Thanks, Jimmy
I used to watch Superstars of Wreslting late at night. That was where all the best wreslters could be seen. Hell, I’d get so pumped I’d almost wreslle someone right then and there.
actually I ran my mouth too soon XD I saw that you pretty much got them all on page 2 good job.
I didn’t see the bushwhackers. Wow, thanks for taking us back in time.
After reading this I bet you’re wondering: What would my Pro Wrestling name be? Well, there’s an answer.
Check out http://www.wrestlingname.com.
Whacha Gonna Do?!?
/self-promoting-spam :-)
i thought ultimate warrior’s move was called the gorilla press and slam? good article.
actually I ran my mouth too soon XD I saw that you pretty much got them all on page 2 good job..
The Million Dollar Man’s Signature move was the “Million Dollar Dream” (aka cross-face chicken wing ala Bob Backlund)
What? You didn’t even mention Lex Luger. The Four Horsemen were a huge deal in the late 80s!
You forgot one of the greatest good guys. Bob Backlund.
tatanka?
[...] Anyway, on Digg this morning there was this article about the Golden Age of Wrestling. I was a pretty big fan when I was a kid. I had a Hulk [...]
i heard a rumor that ricky the dragon steamboat died during a match. is that true? on the list it doesn’t say he’s died!
just saying dog fool dog dog foolie b
[...] From:http://www.gunaxin.com/1980s-the-golden-age-of-wrestling/12052 [...]
This Article is load with in accuracies that most be corrected:
Hillbilly Jim was from Pig Slop, Arkansas
Randy “Macho Man” Savages Signature Moves was known as the ETA(it was an elbow drop off the top rope).
Andre the Giant was listed at 7′5″ but in in Wrestlemania 3 had to wear platforms in his shoes to make him look so much taller than Hogan, actual height was 6′10″
Honky Tonk Man’s Signature move was the “Shake, Rattle and Roll kneckbreaker”
Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake signature move was the “Sleeper Hold”. He would put the other wrestler to sleep before cutting his hear.
The Million Dollar Man’s signature moves was “The Million Dollar Dream.” Honestly anyone who watched wrestling in the ’80s would know this one.
The Red Rooster’s signature move was a flying forearm.
Billy, Steamboat is alive and well. Those who have watched wrestling in the past few years would have seen him appear numerous times as a backstage agent for WWE.
Three simple letters…LOD!!!! What happened to the Legion of Doom? You know, the Road Warriors!!!! They didn’t even make the Others list!!!!
OH WHAT A RUSSSSSHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Million Dollar man’s hold was a sleeper hold, Bob Backlund’s chicken wing was a shoulder lock manuver. Not the same move.
The Ultimate Warrior’s move was the goriila press slam and drop, also used consecutive running clotheslines while bouncing off the ropes, followed by a splash and pin.
And besides, the greatest wrestler of ALL-TIME is Bruno Sammartino.
This is a great list. They should make a brand new video game that is only 80’s wrestlers.
Doug,
They are making a legends of wrestlemania game:
http://www.legendsofwrestlemania.com/main.html?lang=en
Mike,
Bob Backlund’s move was the “Crossface Chicken Wing”, and Bruno was an overated clown, who has turned into a giant crybaby, that couldn’t hold Ric Flair’s robe. Harley Race was also a far superior to Bruno.
[...] 1980’s : The Golden Age of Wrestling (Gunaxin) [...]
[...] 1980’s: The Golden Age of Wrestling (Gunaxin) [...]
[...] 1980s: The Golden Age of Wrestling | Gunaxin (tags: fun) [...]
What about Ivan Putsky?
[...] 1980’s : The Golden Age of Wrestling (Gunaxin) [...]
[...] 1980’s : The Golden Age of Wrestling (Gunaxin) [...]
[...] 1980’s : The Golden Age of Wrestling (Gunaxin) [...]
Quick Draw Rick McGraw anybody? How about Tony Atlas? I remember he lifted King Kong Bundy over his head!
I used to watch Superstars of Wreslting late at night. That was where all the best wreslters could be seen. Hell, I’d get so pumped I’d almost wreslle someone right then and there..
George the animal Steele’s finisher was actually called the ‘flying chicken wing’, and consisted of a one armed half nelson in which he picked you up with and shook the shit out of. Always looked so damned painful.
I gotta say, that really brings me back. You are right when you say that it was a great time for wrestling. I don’t bother to watch any now, because it just doesn’t compare. The rivalries are far too contrived. Back in the good days, it was just so much fun.
Thanks
[...] – 1980s: The Golden Age of Wrestling | Gunaxin Anyone who grew up in the 1980s remembers watching WWF (tags: [...]
Where is The Berzerker on this list!?
HUSS
HUSS
HUSS
HUSS
HUSS
[...] The golden age of wrestling. (Gunaxin) [...]
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