Last Updated on April 4, 2024 by Avik Das
The 1980s was the decade when professional wrestling flourished like never before. With the strategy and smart decisions of Vince McMahon, WWE became the preliminary professional wrestling company in North America, creating some biggest 80s wrestlers of the decade. From selling out big arenas to giving birth to the biggest pay-per-views in history, including WrestleMania and SummerSlam, all those big things happened in the 1980s. This was the decade, that saw the expansion of wrestling on cable TV, and the big pay-per-views created record numbers of profits for promoters.
While Vince McMahon was the lodestar of professional wrestling in the 1980s with the incredible rise of WWE, Ted Turner’s WCW also saw enormous growth, with these two companies becoming arch-rivals eventually. On the other hand, NWA, which was a frontrunner among wrestling promotions before the 1980s, began dwindling among stiff competitors in this decade. The predominant reason for professional wrestling’s remarkable boom in that decade was the ability to create megastars whose popularity transcended the mainstream world. Their drawing capacity, talent, and promos made them must-watch larger-than-life characters on TV. In this article, we take a look at the list of 80s wrestlers who dominated the decade.
#17 Bob Backlund
Bob Backlund was famous for his run in WWE from 1976 to 1984. During his eight-year run, Backlund turned into a main event star. He was one of the longest reigning WWE Champions with one title reign lasting 2138 days. Backlund had great feuds with various 80s wrestlers like Hulk Hogan, Sgt Slaughter, Adrian Adonis, Jimmy Snuka, etc.
#15 & 16 The Road Warriors/ Legion Of Doom
Regarded as one of the greatest tag teams of any generation, The Road Warriors helped to popularize tag team wrestling in the 1980s. Both members of the tag team, Road Warrior Hawk and Road Warrior Animal, were over for their eye-catching gimmick, charisma, and signature face paint. Their popularity in the Jim Crockett Promotions or WCW led them to WWE, where they were known as Legion of Doom. However, the tag team soared in popularity in the 1980s in WCW. The iconic duo won the NWA World Six Man Tag Team Championship and the NWA World Tag Team Championship there.
#14 Dusty Rhodes
Dusty Rhodes’ celebrated wrestling career places him among the most charismatic men to ever step foot in the ring. He was a smooth talker, helping him build a character appealing to the wrestling fans. Even though he didn’t have the conventional muscular physique of a wrestler, his work ethic, charisma, and promo dexterity were unmatched at his time. He wrestled in the 1970s and 1980s in NWA. He had a four-year run in WCW before a brief run in WWE. Becoming a three-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion was his most notable achievement. The WWE Hall of Famer’s two sons, Dustin Rhodes and Cody Rhodes are two eminent names in professional wrestling today.
#13 Ted Di Biase
When we talk about the most effective heels in wrestling, especially among 80s wrestlers, Ted Di Biase’s name would be in conversation. His portrayal of the Million Dollar Man character became iconic in WWE. He played a rich million-dollar man, who even had his custom-made belt. The popular character was believed to be a wrestler’s version of Vince McMahon. Besides his success in the 1980s within the realm of WWE, his stints at NWA and UWF made him a well-known talent in the business. He was inducted into WWE’s Hall of Fame in 2010.
#12 Ricky Steamboat
Ricky Steamboat possessed talent in the ring, which put him among the best in-ring wrestlers of his generation. Due to his in-ring prowess, Steamboat had some incredible matches to his portfolio, with Ric Flair being one of his favorite nemesis. Steamboat was among the most popular 80s wrestlers because of his stints in Jim Crockett Promotions and WWE. Steamboat’s Intercontinental Championship triumph in WWE was the pinnacle of his career in the 1980s.
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#11 Honky Tonk Man
With a gimmick and look of an Elvis impersonator, Honky Tonk Man had the traits of a top guy. He was known for his villainous work, placing him among the top heels in the history of business. His dirty tricks and the ability to create nuclear heat led to one of the greatest Intercontinental Championship reigns in the 1980s. Honky Tonk Man’s epoch-making Intercontinental Title reign of 454 days stayed intact for 34 years until Gunther recently broke it.
#10 Sting
Sting is still active and wrestles for AEW. However, he is one of the few 80s wrestlers to be still around at the top level. Even though Sting’s popularity skyrocketed in the 1990s, he was still a top star in the 1980s, with his wrestling career beginning in 1985. Sting rose to stardom in the late 1980s, getting a world title shot against Ric Flair. They delivered a stupendous rivalry at that time. His face paint and surfer gimmick made him a lovable larger-than-life figure at that time.
#9 The Iron Sheik
The Iron Sheik wrestled in Jim Crockett Promotions, Mid South Wrestling, and Georgia Championship Wrestling in the 1980s, but his wonderful WWE run early in the decade made him one of the biggest 80s wrestlers. His foreign heel persona turned him into a hated character. Behind Hulk Hogan’s rise to stardom, The Iron Sheik was the reason. Their match in 1984 changed the wrestling dynamic forever starting the Hulk Hogan era in WWE. Meanwhile, he won the WWE Championship once.
#8 Jake The Snake Roberts
Jake Roberts was an unorthodox character. His dark personality, passionate promos, mind games against foes, and the use of real snakes turned him into a captivating character of the 1980s. His fame came from his six-year stint in the WWE, turning him among the most famous 80s wrestlers. Even though he didn’t have a title in WWE, his feuds with Randy Savage, Andre the Giant, Ricky Steamboat, and Rick Rude were some greatest rivalries of the decade.
#7 Rick Rude
Rick Rude’s haughtiness gave his character an edge and established him as one of the best heels in the late 1980s. Even though Rude wrestled for many promotions starting in 1982, his most memorable run was for the WWE, where he excelled as a bad guy. Rick Rude had one of the best abs in WWE. He was a former Intercontinental Champion.
#6 Andre The Giant
Known for his gigantic size, Andre the Giant was called the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’ for a reason. Standing at 7 feet and 4 inches while weighing over 500 pounds, Andre was the most popular giant among the 80s wrestlers. He was the role model for giants who subsequently came to WWE. Other than winning the WWE Championship, he captured the Tag Team Titles once with Haku. The main event between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant at WrestleMania 3 was one of the biggest wrestling events in history.
#5 Roddy Piper
Rowdy Roddy Piper defined the meaning of a top heel with his excellent character work. Piper’s impressive talking ability and undeniable charisma in the ring were two main reasons for his success. Not to mention how he effortlessly played the Scottish gimmick of wearing a kilt and carrying a bagpiper. His talk show ‘Piper’s Pit’ gave birth to many highly-rated feuds. Despite his fame and wrestling talent, he was never awarded the WWE Championship, but he captured a total of 34 titles around all the promotions he had wrestled for.
#4 The Ultimate Warrior
The Ultimate Warrior wasn’t someone who would give fans half an hour of classic matches. Even though he was sloppy in the ring and had limited move sets, his inventive character was a reason for his stardom, making him one of the most famous 80s wrestlers in the professional wrestling fraternity. The Ultimate Warrior’s powerful entrance, shredded physique, high intensity in the ring, and beautiful face paint quickly turned him into a fan favorite. Warrior was the first man to simultaneously hold the WWE Championship and Intercontinental Championship by beating Hulk Hogan.
#3 Ric Flair
Outside WWE, ‘The Nature Boy’ Ric Flair was arguably one the most recognized 80s wrestlers of his time. He put Jim Crockett Promotion or WCW on the map with an impressive 17-year run. This was the place where the ‘Nature Boy’ character and The Four Horsemen stable rose to a new height. In the 1980s, the NWA World Heavyweight Championship was won by Ric Flair multiple times and later, he captured the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.
#2 Randy Savage
Macho Man Randy Savage’s costume, raspy voice, flashy sunglasses, and flamboyant persona developed him into WWE’s megastar. Having signed for WWE in 1985, Randy Savage became the Intercontinental Champion. Randy Savage reached the peak of his career while feuding with Hulk Hogan. In the 1980s, he headlined WrestleMania as well as SummerSlam. Randy Savage had the drawing capacity that put him next to Hulk Hogan.
#1 Hulk Hogan
When we talk about the most popular 80s wrestlers, Hulk Hogan would top the list. The Hulkster was the backbone behind professional wrestling’s boom in the 1980s, and the era turned him into the most beloved babyface for every kid. From main-eventing the biggest and record-breaking pay-per-views to the most fascinating feuds, Hogan’s popularity went to the mainstream world, making him one of the greatest wrestling icons of all time.
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Avik Das is the founder of Sportsheed. He is a sports lover with broad knowledge of Professional Wrestling, MMA, Football, and Cricket. He has an English major and has previously written articles for various sports and entertainment websites
