You may scoff at it as an unreal sport, but you cannot deny its vibrant and magnetic characters associated with different unique moves that beautify your wrestling memory. More than any other sport, the unpredictability of wrestling stirs up the excitement. The good guys appear bad, and the bad ones do some heroic things that make you wonder. These are some of the fun associated with wrestling.
The 1980s was a revolutionary decade for the wrestling world. Although the origins of professional wrestling trace back to the 1920s, there was a surge in its popularity through the 1980s. The emergence of cable television and pay-per-view attributed to this renewed popularity.
During the 1980s, watching and following wrestling matches was a true test of social savviness. People would gather around and discuss wrestling and their favorite stars. They felt the emotions and were incredibly involved in the jubilation when their stars were impressed.
The most memorable moments from the world of wrestling in the 1980s.
10. Hulk Hogan and Mr. T vs. Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff
This was the match that saved Vince McMahon’s wrestling career even though he had to stake everything he had to hold this great wrestling show called WrestleMania. If it had failed, McMahon would have lost WWE. However, his star Hulk Hogan and some other hired celebrities worked the event.
The main show saw Hogan and movie star Mr. T’s battle against Rowdy Roddy Piper and Mr. Wonderful Paul Orndorff. The match and the entire show were a major success, and it is why WWE has become the massive promotion it is today.
9. Magnificent Muraco vs. Superfly Snuka
Magnificent Muraco was one of the most unpopular men in the wrestling world. But what better way to become famous in the sport than beating earlier legends? Muraco’s obnoxious reactions did not make him a fan favorite. However, his fight with Snuka was one of the best the entertainment industry saw. On October 17, 1983, fans witnessing the Jimmy Snuka and Don Muraco match in Madison Square Garden had never experienced anything like it. Talk about the climax of the night. Snuka found his way to the steel cage top and hit Magnificent Muraco with his Superfly Splash stunt. Of course, that move is common now, it was innovative and awe-inspiring at the time. Madison Square lit up, and that moment will forever be in the memory of all present that day. There are few wrestling matches with such a height of tension. You would for a moment forget it was all about the excitement.
8. Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat
On March 29, 1987, Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat made a classic performance that resonates even today. They wrestled each other around the ring at WWE WrestleMania III. Also, they could not have imagined how loudly, and long wrestling fans would remember and acknowledge their effort. Yes, Ricky Steamboat has crowned the champion that night. However, the intensity, suspense of the false finishes, and both fighters’ techniques made the match great.
7. The Royal Rumble
At the end of the ’80s, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) developed a new gimmick match. The match was a battle that involved two wrestlers starting in the ring with a new man joining every few minutes. The title of this event was The Royal Rumble.
That first Royal Rumble took place on January 24, 1988, with 13 wrestlers taking part. Hacksaw Jim Duggan took the win. It was a landmark event. After WrestleMania, the Royal Rumble is now the second most prominent event of the year.
6. Bruno Sammartino vs. Larry Zbyszko
Bruno Sammartino was the King of WWE before the reign of other superstars like Hulk Hogan. He held the WWE world title twice, but his 4,040 days as champion are the longest in history. When Bruno was getting old and getting close to retirement, he had a protege coming up in Larry Zbyszko. Then, in 1980, the impossible happened, Zbyszko had a feud with Sammartino. The WWE record holder did not take the confrontation with his former student lightly. Instead, the two had a fierce match at Shea Stadium on August 9, 1980, with over 36,000 people showing up to see Sammartino beat Zbyszko in a steel cage match. The teacher versus student match was highly anticipated and did not disappoint in delivering the fun. To Larry, a win would have taken him off the shadow of Sammartino. He was tired of the label of being Sammartino’s protege. However, he never reached the heights of earning a name for himself.
5. Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant
To Gorilla Monsoon, the game was “the unstoppable vs. the immovable.” Andre was on a 15-year undefeated streak while Hogan was at the height of his powers. Now, Andre the Giant was a familiar name in the professional wrestling world. However, his familiarity was not because he was an exceptional wrestler. His fame was because he had a “kayfabe” undefeated streak and was usually just an act that came into territories whenever the promoters wanted someone to teach their top wrestlers a lesson.
In the late ’80s, when Hulk Hogan was becoming the biggest star in WWE, Andre the Giant wanted his first world title and decided to challenge Hogan. March 29, 1987, the show drew over 90,000 people to witness Hulk Hogan body slam Andre the Giant to cement his place in the history of wrestling.
4. Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage
These two used to be partners. They formed a feared and formidable pairing called The Mega Powers, which did not last as long as most wrestling fans wanted it to. There were rumors the separation was because of Randy’s notorious jealous nature. He did not let anyone around his girl Miss Elizabeth. The incident was not helped when Hogan accidentally eliminated Savage from the Royal Rumble match. Savage turned on him, and a match was inevitable. The match started with Randy being the champion, but he lost his belt to Hogan in a very fierce battle. Hogan won all the later matches between the two, but the duo reunited in 1994.
3. Randy Savage vs. Ultimate Warrior
Ultimate Warrior had already lost his world title before “Macho Man” Randy Savage interfered in the match. The reason was that Warrior refused to give Savage a title shot, so Savage ruined Warrior’s title run.
At WrestleMania VII, Ultimate Warrior beat Randy Savage despite taking five of Savage’s flying elbow drops. The match was a very fierce one. Savage had to retire from WWE upon his defeat. It will go down as arguably the best match of Warrior’s career.
2. Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior
For almost a decade, Hulk Hogan was the alpha male of the wrestling world. He was the character to beat for the stars who wanted to emerge. This happened at WrestleMania VI, and it was one of the very few times in WWE history that a babyface Hulk Hogan took on another babyface. It was also historic because Ultimate Warrior pinned Hulk Hogan cleanly into a defeat, something that WWE fans had rarely seen before.
Hulk Hogan had been the biggest name in the WWE for almost the full decade, and he was already planning on taking a break from wrestling. The Company decided to fix a match between two babyface fighters instead of making Hogan fight a heel. Ultimate Warrior rose to the challenge and took Hogan’s belt off him. It was not an easy match for Ultimate Warrior, but he took his chances against one of the biggest wrestlers and became the new wrestling face.
1. Hulk Hogan vs. Iron Sheik
Fans of wrestling did not recognize the Iron Sheik as just a wrestler. He was an entertainer that often-painted Iran as being superior to the United States. His only evidence was his belt, and his only weapon was his famously brutal “Camel-Clutch.” This was the match that turned the man Hulk Hogan into a legend and made him a fan favorite. It was beyond beating the Iron Sheik. It was about bringing back the bragging rights to the United States. His appearance in a “Made in the United States” T-shirt was the necessary background for the famous victory. On January 23, 1984, Hulk Hogan defeated Sheik to win his first WWF title at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
A month earlier, the Iron Sheik had defeated the celebrated Bob Backlund in a controversial match, making the Sheik infamous amongst wrestling fans, making his defeat to Hulk Hogan a welcomed outcome worldwide.
That triumph was the beginning of the expression “Hulkamania,” as Hogan’s exceptional popularity led to a golden age for professional wrestling.
Final Thoughts
The ’80s was a breakthrough decade for wrestling in general, and you will agree with me that these are the most memorable moments of the decade. It was beyond smashing other characters on the floor. The fans attached themselves emotionally to the moments on screen. Also, cameras and fans regularly packed the venues. So, there could not have been a better wrestling generation.
Author: Chris Ingledue
Contact: email
Bio: I am the founder and owner of Wheeljack’s Lab pop Culture and Toy Shop. My vision has always been to reunite customers with their favorite childhood toys and pop culture, triggering fond memories, and reigniting their imaginations. Every day, I work in the “lab” where it’s Christmas 365 days a year. I scour the internet, like when we had the Sears Catalog of yesteryear, for the next great treasure. Then, I await the arrival of the postman as if he were Santa Claus himself and helping collectors worldwide with their own versions of Christmas. Every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!