There’s a good reason why the 1980s are classified as the “Golden Era” of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), formerly known as WWF. Many long-time fans are still nostalgic for the “Rock ‘n Wrestling” days of that decade and often debate the best wrestlers of the era.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the 10 greatest WWE wrestlers from one of the greatest periods in the legendary company’s history.
10. The Iron Shiek
Hey, some people may have old Shieky Baby higher on their top 10 WWE wrestlers of the 80s list, and I wouldn’t argue with that at all. For me, I was never a massive fan of his in-ring work, but man did he leave one heck of a memorable impression.
With his big burly physique, he was a man who looked like a legit tough guy! You could argue that a classic foreign villain like The Iron Shiek was needed to catapult Hulk Hogan and have the WWF take off the way that it did in the mid-80s.
Also Read: 10 Greatest WWE Wrestlers Of The 2000s – From Rob Van Dam To John Cena
9. Tito Santana
Next up we have Tito Santana, or “Chico” as Jesse “The Body” Ventura liked to refer to him. Tito Santana has the honor of being one of the men to open the first-ever WrestleMania, where he took on the masked Executioner. Tito Santana was a great Intercontinental Champion and his matches with Greg Valentine and Randy Savage are a ton of fun.
What is so great about Tito Santana is that back in the 80s, it was the big muscular wrestler who was larger than life who would be the star. Tito was the guy who would have great match after great match with pretty much anyone. If you bought a ticket to a WWF show in the 80s and Tito Santana was on that card, you were pretty much assured of getting a good match.
8. Ravishing Rick Rude
I am going to need you fat, out-of-shape, sweat hogs to pipe down a minute as we check out the next entry on our top 10 WWW wrestlers of the 80s list! Ravishing Rick Rude was such a great heel. He was the kind of guy that could have a good and entertaining match with anyone, plus, he was so good at his job, you always wanted to see him get his butt kicked.
The thing with Rude was that while you wanted to see him get beat, he was so good that you always knew he was a legit threat to anyone that he stepped in the ring with. He is a huge reason as to why The Ultimate Warrior got so big, as Rick Rude was his first big feud. Rude perfectly captures what a hunky tough guy in the 80s looked like.
Also Read: Top 10 WWE Moments That Sparked Legendary Runs, Including CM Punk’s Infamous Pipebomb
7. Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase
Everybody has a price! Ted Dibiase is one of the all-time greatest wrestling heels. He was so smooth in the ring and was capable of having an entertaining and exciting match with anyone. This is a character that Vince McMahon was very hands-on with. It has been said that this is the character Vince himself would have wanted to play if he were a wrestler in the 80s.
While his in-ring work was “priceless”, Ted Dibiase is also well known for his epic skits as well. From his fun vignettes with his bodyguard Virgil to the way he would mess with the fans in the arena.
6. Jake the Snake Roberts
Jake the Snake Roberts is up there as one of the best WWE wrestlers of the 80s. Jake was a guy who just “got it.” He may not have had the best body, but he was able to connect with a crowd and hold them in the palm of his hand in a way that very few other wrestlers could. He may have started as a dastardly heel, but many people fondly remember him as a fan favorite.
From his hard-hitting matches with The Honkey Tonk Man to defending his wife’s honor against Rick Rude and to scaring the heck out of Andre the Giant with Damian, Jake the Snake Roberts was involved in one epic storyline after another in the 80s.
Also Read: 10 WWE Wrestlers You Would Not Believe Got Arrested, Including Roman Reigns
5. The Ultimate Warrior
The Ultimate Warrior had such a short run in the WWE/WWF, but he is one of the biggest and most well-known wrestling stars of all time. He would come into the ring like a house on fire and he clicked with the fans right away.
His hyped-up entrance would see him hit the ring at 100 mph, shake the ropes, and just get to it was so much fun. When with the right opponent, the Ultimate Warrior could have amazing matches. Nonetheless, his charisma and intensity were incomparable and made him an 80s wrestling icon.
4. Andre the Giant
It’s a real shame that by the time the WWF blew up, Andre the Giant was not in the best of health. If you see Andre’s stuff from the late 70s and early 80s, it is crazy how fast and agile he was for a man of his size. The main reason that Andre the Giant is so high up on this list is his feud with Hulk Hogan.
WrestleMania III was such a massive event, it was the biggest of all time when it happened. It was two friends who turned enemies going head to head for the WWF Championship. The match and feud were so successful that it would last into 1988, picking up Randy Savage and Ted Dibiase as it went along and added even more momentum and money.
Also Read: 10 Best WWE Tag Teams of All Time – From Team Hell No To The Usos
3. Rowdy Roddy Piper
There is no doubt that when the WWF/WWE became the global success that it was, Hulk Hogan was the crown jewel. However, would the company have caught on as much as it did if Hogan never had Rowdy Roddy Piper to go up against?
He is one of the most iconic characters/wrestlers of all time and he is a pop culture icon too. With many non-fans at least knowing the name of Rowdy Roddy Piper. His work as a heel and rival to Hogan was legendary. However, the fans loved Piper and he would eventually become a babyface. And go on to have some very high-profile matches as a good guy.
2. Macho Man Randy Savage
“OOH YEAHHHHHH” freak out. Freak out cause the Macho Man is here. Randy Savage is one of my all-time favorite wrestlers and he is a guy that will make many people’s top ten lists. His run with Hulk Hogan as the Mega Powers, and when the Mega Powers exploded, is one of the greatest storylines in wrestling history.
Savage has one of the greatest WrestleMania matches of all time under his belt with Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat. Plus, he was the man deemed worthy to carry the WWF Championship after Hulk Hogan. With Miss Elizabeth by his side is one of the most iconic characters in the history of pro wrestling.
Also Read: The 10 greatest wrestlers in WCW history
1. Hulk Hogan
There is no way that anyone other than Hulk Hogan could top this top 10 WWE wrestlers of the 80s list. The man is partially responsible for the wrestling industry that we have to this day. The way that he was able to hold an audience in the palm of his hand was truly something special.
Many people also don’t give Hogan the credit he deserves for his in-ring work. He may not be a mat technician like Ric Flair, but he was still able to put on an entertaining “show” from bell to bell. The ultimate showman is probably the best way to describe Hulk Hogan.
The fact that he was involved in the main event of every WrestleMania from ’85 until ’93 tells you just how huge he was.
