Top 10 80's wrestlers

  • JoltCola
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    • 5 years 8 months ago
    • Posts: 260
    		 Piles and piles of Top-Ten Lists is kinda compelling, but list after list can get a bit tedious. I'd like to explain WHY I like the 80's fighters that I like, so as to help us better understand what a classic 80's wrestler SHOULD have been.

    KAMALA. . . the Ugandan Giant had a backstory that I really got caught up in. His handler Kimchee was the only one that Kamala listened to, and thank gawd he was there, too. Kamala had intense mobility for a man of four hundred pounds, and I love when he'd do his killer splash from the top rope, then lay on his opponent, as if he didn't understand the concept of pinning. Kamala also had his obligatory "Achilles heel" in that he was deathly afraid of snakes, which Jake the Snake took full advantage of on more than one occasion.

    PAPA SHANGO. . . Before we were "blessed" with The GodFather character, there was Papa Shango, a large, strong guy with a voodoo feel to him. Odd necklaces, fur, a black top hat, face painted to resemble a skull, and a smoking skull on a chain in his hand. . . . .almost too cool an image for words.

    BERSERKER. . . . This guy wasn't used as often as I would have liked. A giant of a man, the Berserker was a Viking-type warrior who seemed to speak no English at all, but grabbed his wrist with his other hand and repeatedly said "Hef, hef, hef" (I don't speak Viking, and I doubt you do, either). He carried a sword and wore fur to the ring, so the theatrics of it all just really got my attention at the time.

    DOINK. . . . I'm willing to bet that this character took advantage of the popularity of Stephen King's IT book/movie to bring us a scary clown character to love. While his multicolored costume, wig, and makeup were clearly that of a circus clown, he manuevered more like the circus strongman, twisting his opponents into crazy "balloon animals" and forcing many of them to submit. Good stuff.

    JIM NEIDHART. . . . .This former NFL athlete took to wrestling like a duck to water. Unfortunately, he had to play second fiddle to his tagteam partner, Bret Hart. It's a shame, too. . . since Neidhart had dexterity and piles of brawn to back it up. His awesome goatee and flat-top were his trademark, and he was also one guy who NEVER, EVER shaved his back or chest, so he gets the Arn Anderson Sasquatch Award for being manly and not caring about being shiny! Honorable Mention for this award: Ted Dibiase.

    ULTIMATE WARRIOR. . . . . Easily, my favorite wrestler of all time. He had no real weaknesses, he had superhuman strength, he was fast as a sprinter, and he never did anything halfway. And what's more. . .he influenced lots of fans and even other wrestlers, including The Rockers, who were basically just Lil' Warriors, right down to the arm tassels. When Warrior fought and beat Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania Six, it was like Ali-Frazier (except Ali and Frazier really hit each other!).

    I was going to write an article about this, but someone started this thread, so this is as good a place as any.
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  • JoltCola
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    • 5 years 8 months ago
    • Posts: 260
    		 And for the record, for my money it gets no better than:

    IRON SHEIK'S finishing move, the Camel Clutch

    GREG VALENTINE'S killer fight-ender, the Figure-Four Leglock

    and. . .

    TITO SANTANA'S Flying Forearm

    However, the absolute RINNACLE of finishing moves still belongs to Macho Man, with his Elbow Smash from the top rope.
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  • 19PK74
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    • 5 years 8 months ago
    • Posts: 107
    		 I was going to explain mine as well but was too lazy to do so at the time...so here it is now...


    10)George "The Animal" Steele-The quintessential underdog. This man really knew how to get a crowd behind him and buy into the "mindless beast" gimmick and at the same time was able to draw sympathy when he was played for the "fool" by heels. On top of everything Steele was an adjunct English professor!
    9) Arn Anderson-Anderson is probably one of the most underrated workers in the history of the business. The man knew how to tell a story in the ring...was an incredible talker...and the best tag wrestlers ever.
    8) Randy Savage-The man lived his gimmick and still does for that matter! He was an amazing in ring worker and had that incredible ability to make lesser wrestlers look good in the ring with him.
    7) Dynamite Kid-He was Chris Benoit before Chris Benoit ever set foot in the ring. A man with amazing endurance...a versatile wrestler (meaning he could work a power style or technical style match) and if he hadn't had a career ending injury...may still be working today.
    6) Ted Debiase-One of the best wrestlers to never have a major world title. A great worker as well as talker, Debiase elevated the talent around him and knew how to get true heel heat from a crowd.
    5) Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka-Another great to never wina major title. He was a "cruiser weight" before they exsisted and brought a new style of wrestling to American audiences.
    4) Nakita Koloff-The only "Russian" wreslter that could actually wrestle!
    3) Roddy Piper-Quite possibly the best heel of all time and the man people loved to hate and simply loved at the same time. He was ok with never being a world champion but he could elevate a new face with one match.
    2) Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat-The man could tell a story like no other in the ring. He could be a power, high-flyer, or technical wrestler...he had no over blown ego...and could go hours in the ring. His matches with Ric Flair and Randy Savage are something of legend!
    1) "The Nature Boy" WHOOOO!!! Ric Flair!!!-What else do you need to know??? He's Ric F'ing Flair!
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  • JoltCola
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    • 5 years 8 months ago
    • Posts: 260
    		 Way to "back it up". . . .good stuff

    I never thought about it, but you're right about Dynamite Kid being the 80's Chris Benoit. Same build and similar abilities, but DK's Snap Suplex was second only to the enormous arsenal of suplexes employed by the King of Suplexes, the IRON SHEIK.

    Iron Sheik, for the record, gets extra style points for being fat and muscular all at the same time. . . and for those super-cool shoes of his.
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  • kayvee
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    • 5 years 8 months ago
    • Posts: 8115
    		 Heavy Metal Sisters
    Dementia
    The Farmer's Daughter
    Tiffany Mellon
    Sunny
    Mount Fiji
    Little Fiji
    Thunder Lipps
    Homicidal Muff
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  • ltleviblue
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    • 5 years 8 months ago
    • Posts: 68
    		 For those that are interested, If you want to see how Beefcake looks now...There is a match on my main page with him about a month ago...

    Http://www.prettyboyredneck.com..Under the heros section I think

    Levi
    "And now, for something completely different"
    Http://www.prettyboyredneck.com
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  • twistedtrucker
    • 5 years 7 months ago
    • Posts: 4
    		 [LIST=WCW]
    1. Ric Flair
    2. Dusty Rhodes
    3. Arn Anderson
    4. Lex Lugar
    5. Tully Blanchard
    6. Nikieta Koloff
    7. Kevin Sullivan
    8. Rick Stiener
    9. Michal Hayes
    10. Magnum T.A.

    [LIST=WWE]


    1. Macho Man Randy Savage
    2. Hulk Hogan
    3. Jake Roberts
    4. Undertaker
    5. Brutus Beefcake
    6. Tito Santana
    7. Ricky Steamboat
    8. Ric Rude
    9. Greg Valentine
    10. Andre


    [LIST=Tag Team]

    1. Road Warriors
    2. Midnight Express
    3. Shawn Michals & Marty Gennetie
    4. The Freebirds
    5. Arn & Ole Anderson
    6. Rock & Roll Express
    7. Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard
    8. Ax & Smash
    9. The Hart Foundation
    10. Dory & Terry Funk
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  • Nomrod66
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    • 5 years 7 months ago
    • Posts: 22
    		 My list include:

    Greg "The Hammer" Valentine
    "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff
    "Superfly" Jummy Snuka
    Kurt Henning (before he became a bad guy)
    Tito Santana
    Ivan Putski
    "The Big Cat" Ernie Ladd
    Bob Backlund (before he became bad)
    Ken Patera
    Tony Garea & Larry Zbisco
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  • Nomrod66
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    • 5 years 7 months ago
    • Posts: 22
    		 if I were to include the LADIES, these are MY picks:

    The Fabulous Moolah
    Mt. Fiji
    Princess Lelani Kai
    Angel Littledove
    Colonel Ninotchka
    Cowgirl Wendy Ritchter
    The Cheerleaders
    Tina Ferrari
    Spanish Red
    The Farmer's Daughter
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  • getmelegosplease
    • 5 years 7 months ago
    • Posts: 60
    		 I have a nice wrestling item with a lot of these guys listed on a seperate thread!
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  • WARLORD1863
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    • 5 years 7 months ago
    • Posts: 1064
    		 1. Sgt. Slaughter (childhood favorite, always number 1)
    2. Rowdy Roddy Piper
    3. Hulk Hogan
    4. Dusty Rhodes
    5. Iron Sheik
    6. Jimmy 'Superfly" Snuka
    7. Ric Flair
    8. Ultimate Warrior
    9. Macho Man Randy Savage
    10. Bret "Hitman" Hart
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  • twistedtrucker
    • 5 years 7 months ago
    • Posts: 4
    		 Just to walk down memory lane, Tojo Yamamoto, Lynn Rossi, Jerry Jerrett(father to Jeff Jerrett), Mr. Wrestling...Tim Woods, Dennis Condry, Outlaw Ron Bass, These are just a few that I remember from my childhood.
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  • temyong
    • 5 years 7 months ago
    • Posts: 189
    		 I'm a fan of Hulk Hogan,Jake the Snake,Macho Man,Ultimate Warrior and The Demolition man.
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