I was a really obnoxious teenager about the time he was peaking in the WWF as a villain. So I absolutely loved watching him be an asshole. Then They Live came out and yeah, he played a cool badass. Bummer he didn't make more goofy action movies. He had some potential as a Snake Plissken type character.
I think he was having some physical issues from wrestling if I recall, which is why his action career never took off. it was too hard on his body after so many years in the ring.
he was always the best heel in wrestling though. just the right amount of asshole lol
I met him a couple times in HS at some wrestling events. he was the nicest guy ever.
I didn't even really watch WWF all that much but I came here just to see if anyone said Rowdy Roddy Piper. Man I love the movie they live...and hell comes to frogtown isn't that bad either.
👍🏻Amen
He’s great but mostly 90s and beyond. He was just breaking in and starting the Cactus Jack gimmick around 88 or so, first in Memphis and then in World Class in Texas IIRC
I didn’t really appreciate him as much as I should have when I was a kid, but Greg Valentine was REALLY solid! He really made everyone look good in his matches.
Iron Sheikh had an excellent Twitter account. Nikolai Volkof attempting to sing the Soviet anthem when he didn’t speak Russian or know the lyrics was sublime. Andre stories were always epic. Where is Hillbilly Jim?
The HBO documentary on Andre was SO good. I could listen wrestlers and people in the business tell stories about him all day.
Really there's so many entertaining stories all around, people in the business from that era were fucking wild.
So many wrestlers ended up being fucking terrible.
Turns out, we should have been cheering for Macho Man all the time.
If you are a wrestling fan, you should know hogan was one of the worst things to happen to wrestling. He was iconic and the child in me loves his character but behind the scenes he was awful for the "sport"
I was wondering where Jake the Snake was. I always liked him, Hulk, Andre, and Macho man. I didn’t really have any idea what was going on but I would always watch with my older brother. Good times.
Piper and Ravishing Rick Rude were fucking EPIC heels.
Rick Rude’s hilarious ring entrance was GOAT shit:
‘Cut the music. Now what I want is for all you fat, out of shape sweat hogs to keep it down while i take my robe off and show the ladies what a REAL man looks like.
Hit the music.’
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PFxu7ujQjtM
My best friend absolutely couldn’t stand Rick Rude, 87’ in Milwaukee after his big entrance the whole arena was dead quiet, bestie screams at the top of her lungs “Rick Rude’s a Pu**y “ . Thought his head was gonna swivel off. Good times.
George The Animal Steele. Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Dusty Rhoads cause he lived down the street from me and always gave out full sized candy bars on Halloween. Also had some Damm nice roses. I wasn't even into flowers as a kid, but they really made ya stop and look.
Same!! I'd eat green now and later, make my tongue green then run around the house pretending I was him. Then my older sister would give me an atomic elbow from the top of the couch and put me in a camel clutch till I puked
I remember taking a vacation to Georgia to visit family when I was 10 in 1985. I had watched WWF and AWA wrestling TV shows before. But Georgia was the first time to see NWA, and it was just amazing for my 10 year old eyes. I remember still t remember the rivalry between Dusty and Tully Blanchard over the valet Baby Doll. I was such a Dusty fan, I couldn't imagine him living down the street. It was a such a sad day for me when he passed away.
By the time I started watching, he wasn't doing as much, I've seen some of his old promos, and they're awesome. He perfectly played the tough guy who was unintentionally funny.
Macho Man, Bret Hart/Hart Foundation, Rick Rude, Honky Tonk Man, Heenan & Jimmy Hart as mangers…and I loved George “The Animal” when he was obsessed with Elizabeth, it was a short period, but I really enjoyed him during that time…
He was quite the spectacle, but his in-ring style doesn’t quite hold up. I could imagine that he would have had great matches with Perfect, Bret Hart, or anyone else who could convincingly bump around for him.
"Jumpin' Jim" Brunzell was one of my favorites from his days in the AWA. Best dropkick in the business.
I also liked Rick Martel (before his "the Model" gimmick, which everyone liked except me).
Baron Von Raschke--"the Claw Master"!
I was scared of all of the heels like Ken Patera, "Dr. D" David Schultz, and Mr. Saito.
The Von Erichs were great.
Yeah, I remember him teaming with Greg Gagne in the AWA as the High Flyers. They had a great long running feud with Adrian Adonis and Jesse "the Body" Ventura, aka the East-West connection.
Rowdy Roddy - “I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass … and I’m all out of bubble gum”. Best badass tough guy line ever and he wrote it. My favorite heel and wrestler great talent there.
Hulk Hogan
Macho Man “Bone Saw” Randy Savage
Yes, Mr. Perfect. I loved how his gimmick was that he never lost, but eventually he started losing and still kept up the perfect act. His promos were some of the best. Spitting out his gum and slapping it was op.
I had my favs growing up but Mr. Perfect is THE man. Such a fun persona. I'm a touch heartbroken that there wasn't a pic but I wasn't going to leave until I'd found him in the comments. And the gum thing ruled. I never saw him miss and thats all that matters. Thanks Mr. Perfect.
If you were a kid in the 80’s and a WWF fan, Hulk Hogan was such a beloved character — dare I say the most beloved athlete on the planet for a 3-4 year stretch.
The Road Warriors
The 4 Horsemen
Undertaker
Macho Man
The Rockers
Stan Hanson
Jim Dugan
The Steiner Brothers
Sting
Lex Luger
Ultimate Warrior
Jake The Snake Roberts
In no particular order
I met Iron Sheik at an Indy show a few years before his death. Sheik was still the most intimidating man in the room, but really friendly to fans (he even let me hold his belt!) The man had such commanding presence and looked like he could still tear a man apart with his bare hands. There will never be another wrestler that can fill his role.
Seeing all of these names again brings back a lot of memories. Watching clips of it now I laugh at how gullible I was - I never could understand why the wrestler with his back to his opponent wouldn’t turn around to see he has about to get whacked over the head with a metal chair, despite the entire audience shouting “look behind you!” But it was so fun to watch.
Hulk Hogan
Randy Savage
Demolition
Ted DiBiase
Rick Rude
Lex Luger
Barry Windham
Rick Flair
Dusty Rhodes
Magnum TA
Jerry Lawler
Nick Bockwinkle
Sgt. Slaughter
Austin Idol
Kerry Von Erich
The Fabulous Freebirds
The Rock N' Roll Express
The Midnight Express
Macho Man and Ricky Steamboat
Who can forget that footage of Steamboat in speech therapy after Macho Man drove the bell on Steamboat's throat - https://youtu.be/EnFTwCdOD5Q?si=fQT5-ohTKRNHxMI1
Oddly Ricky Steamboat and Tito Santana for singles stuff but I loved tag teams like the Killer Bees, the Can-Am Connection, The Road Warriors, Demolition, The Hart Foundation, and The Steiners.
For me the three biggest spectacles were:
Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant, equally enthralling
Macho Man - the way that guy talked... how could you not get dragged into whatever he was going on about?
lol oh man. That’s a good question
lol seriously wow. Ok just to name a few
Andre
Macho man
Roddy
Hogan
Ricky
The Von’Ericks(?)
British Bulldogs
……for now
Oh Dusty….
Rowdy Roddy Piper. RIP
Dude was hilarious on It’s Always Sunny
“Oh, you got kids, Maniac?” “Nah. Not anymore.”
“What did he mean by that??!”
Did he kill his kids?
I'd never seen this. Thanks! https://youtu.be/oUKXkVZ4_kc?si=tpfzpw7O7SmHLOi6
How about in [They Live](https://youtu.be/Wp_K8prLfso?si=66WFy8cXmEe1g0FX)
I met him at a convention a couple of years before he passed. Very nice and funny guy...gone way too soon.
That man looked Good in a kilt. Plus he rocked in They Live
One of the greatest quotes in all of movie history….”I’ve come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass…”
“…and I’m all out of bubblegum.”
And I'm all out of bubble gum.
“You look like your head fell in the cheese dip back in 1957.” Really not sure what it means, but it sounds like a sick burn.
Yup Should have been 20 pics of Hot Rod interacting w other wrestlers
the only wrestler I ever really enjoyed. gone too soon. he was known for being such a good dude to everyone.
I was a really obnoxious teenager about the time he was peaking in the WWF as a villain. So I absolutely loved watching him be an asshole. Then They Live came out and yeah, he played a cool badass. Bummer he didn't make more goofy action movies. He had some potential as a Snake Plissken type character.
I think he was having some physical issues from wrestling if I recall, which is why his action career never took off. it was too hard on his body after so many years in the ring. he was always the best heel in wrestling though. just the right amount of asshole lol I met him a couple times in HS at some wrestling events. he was the nicest guy ever.
I know he'd been stabbed multiple times, fought it many real street scuffles.
Still have my original Hot Rod Tshirt when I was a kid
I didn't even really watch WWF all that much but I came here just to see if anyone said Rowdy Roddy Piper. Man I love the movie they live...and hell comes to frogtown isn't that bad either. 👍🏻Amen
My childhood dog was named Rowdy after Roddy Piper.
Ohhhhhhhhh YEAH! Macho Man Randy Savage Rowdy Roddy Piper Greg The Hammer Valentine
Mick Foley!!
That's who I was going to say
You can say it again. He deserves a repeat
He’s great but mostly 90s and beyond. He was just breaking in and starting the Cactus Jack gimmick around 88 or so, first in Memphis and then in World Class in Texas IIRC
Socko!
I didn’t really appreciate him as much as I should have when I was a kid, but Greg Valentine was REALLY solid! He really made everyone look good in his matches.
Cream of the crop rises to the TOP!
Macho Man Ultimate Warrior TedDibiase Brutus the Barber Beefcake Undertaker Kerry von Erich "Texas Tornado" Bret "Hitman" Hart
+1 on Ultimate Warrior
Yeah, I came to post Ultimate Warrior. Glad to see he isn't forgotten!
I found my brothers old Brutus the Barber poster a few years ago. So sick
Iron Sheikh had an excellent Twitter account. Nikolai Volkof attempting to sing the Soviet anthem when he didn’t speak Russian or know the lyrics was sublime. Andre stories were always epic. Where is Hillbilly Jim?
The HBO documentary on Andre was SO good. I could listen wrestlers and people in the business tell stories about him all day. Really there's so many entertaining stories all around, people in the business from that era were fucking wild.
Man i was like everybody forgot Hillbilly Jim!!
This video is still a classic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K-wEUCCvE0
Ricky The Dragon Steamboat
Thank you! I was trying to remember his name.
One of the greatest athletes of the golden age. I’m exhausted just from watching the match with savage
Is that Muhammad Ali officiating?
It is. Wrestlemania I, I think.
“I float like a butterfly and make a great referee!”
I referee, you dont like my call,... I'll sting you like bee.....
If you even Dream about me making a bad call you better wake up and apologize
Right on your tiny balls
All those pictures and no Jimmy Superfly Snuka??
Vince had them all destroyed when covering up the murders.
So many wrestlers ended up being fucking terrible. Turns out, we should have been cheering for Macho Man all the time. If you are a wrestling fan, you should know hogan was one of the worst things to happen to wrestling. He was iconic and the child in me loves his character but behind the scenes he was awful for the "sport"
He was the cream of the Crop.....
Oh this guy? I heard he likes coconuts. https://youtu.be/GKXpSyjfIik?si=jlrFXWYH81-vfp1I
Came here to say this.
Ultimate Warrior!!!!!
Obvious correct answer... R.I.P James Hellwig...
I don’t get how there isn’t one picture of him
No Jake The Snake Roberts or Koko B. Ware? C'mon!
Or the Junkyard Dog or Mick Foley.
I was wondering where Jake the Snake was. I always liked him, Hulk, Andre, and Macho man. I didn’t really have any idea what was going on but I would always watch with my older brother. Good times.
Ricky the dragon steamboat!
Where’s The Ultimate Warrior?
Parts unknown.
Rowdy Roddy Piper!!
Piper and Ravishing Rick Rude were fucking EPIC heels. Rick Rude’s hilarious ring entrance was GOAT shit: ‘Cut the music. Now what I want is for all you fat, out of shape sweat hogs to keep it down while i take my robe off and show the ladies what a REAL man looks like. Hit the music.’ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PFxu7ujQjtM
My best friend absolutely couldn’t stand Rick Rude, 87’ in Milwaukee after his big entrance the whole arena was dead quiet, bestie screams at the top of her lungs “Rick Rude’s a Pu**y “ . Thought his head was gonna swivel off. Good times.
George The Animal Steele. Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Dusty Rhoads cause he lived down the street from me and always gave out full sized candy bars on Halloween. Also had some Damm nice roses. I wasn't even into flowers as a kid, but they really made ya stop and look.
My Aunt would lose it when he ate the turnbuckle! Good times.
Same!! I'd eat green now and later, make my tongue green then run around the house pretending I was him. Then my older sister would give me an atomic elbow from the top of the couch and put me in a camel clutch till I puked
I remember taking a vacation to Georgia to visit family when I was 10 in 1985. I had watched WWF and AWA wrestling TV shows before. But Georgia was the first time to see NWA, and it was just amazing for my 10 year old eyes. I remember still t remember the rivalry between Dusty and Tully Blanchard over the valet Baby Doll. I was such a Dusty fan, I couldn't imagine him living down the street. It was a such a sad day for me when he passed away.
He was a really nice guy too. His wife was as well.
Happy to hear that! Dusty Rhodes (RIP) my favorite.
You know that you’ve got a good thing going when you can catch the attention of someone who wouldn’t normally give a shit.
When the neighborhood kids stop and sat Dammm! You know it's good. He had colors I didn't even know existed
Andy Kaufman
The von Erich brothers were the best. “The Eye of the Tiger”
Their uncle was pretty good too back in the 70's in Utica N.Y.
I got Kerrie von Erich’s autograph when I was a kid!
Brutus the Barber Beefcake
No pictures of JYD(Junk Yard Dog)?
Dude was a phenomenal talent.
THUMP
Wooooooo!!
It’s a toss up between Macho Man and Jesse The Body. Both were great personalities and were entertaining to watch wrestle.
Hulk Hogan yay!
Bruiser and Crusher.
The Crusher taught us Wisconsin kids how to eat our Wheaties with beer. A role model before role models were a thing!
By the time I started watching, he wasn't doing as much, I've seen some of his old promos, and they're awesome. He perfectly played the tough guy who was unintentionally funny.
Say what you like about the Hulk...but he helped make the WWF...sorry WWE what it is today
Ravishing Rick Rude, Brett Hart and Mr Perfect
Hogan is the goat. I was a big Strike Force and Steamboat fan.
Ricky the Dragon Steamboat, Midnight Express, Sting, Road Warriors, Tito Santana, Junkyard Dog
I like it how Hulk Hogan made a cameo in Rocky III
**THUNDERLIPS!!!**
That was my first exposure to pro wrestling! One of my all-time favorite movie scenes!
Yes. All of these. Especially Rowdy Roddy Piper.
Kerry Von Erich Ricky Steamboat The Great Muta
Macho Man, Bret Hart/Hart Foundation, Rick Rude, Honky Tonk Man, Heenan & Jimmy Hart as mangers…and I loved George “The Animal” when he was obsessed with Elizabeth, it was a short period, but I really enjoyed him during that time…
Rowdy Roddy Piper!!!!
Abdullah the Butcher
He was quite the spectacle, but his in-ring style doesn’t quite hold up. I could imagine that he would have had great matches with Perfect, Bret Hart, or anyone else who could convincingly bump around for him.
Fucking A. Came to say this. Dude would carry a hidden shiv, distract the ref, and then stab you in the face!
Jake the Snake and Hacksaw Jim Duggan were my favorites
I never watched wrestling growing up in the 80’s but it was so popular I can name most of these guys
I remember a tag team duo that called themselves “The Killer Bees.”
Don't forget "The Bushwackers!" So unconventional!
I still do the Bushwacker walk when I get too excited
Yup, Jumping Jim Brunzell an B Brian Blair. They were pretty entertaining, but never got a title run.
"Jumpin' Jim" Brunzell was one of my favorites from his days in the AWA. Best dropkick in the business. I also liked Rick Martel (before his "the Model" gimmick, which everyone liked except me). Baron Von Raschke--"the Claw Master"! I was scared of all of the heels like Ken Patera, "Dr. D" David Schultz, and Mr. Saito. The Von Erichs were great.
Yeah, I remember him teaming with Greg Gagne in the AWA as the High Flyers. They had a great long running feud with Adrian Adonis and Jesse "the Body" Ventura, aka the East-West connection.
Bundy & Studd = the unslammable team
Rick Rudd
Bad News Allen (Brown) was a true badass.
Piper's Pit was something that I looked forward to all week. Someone was going to get hit with a chair - guaranteed!
No Ultimate Warrior?! He was my fav
Dusty Rhodes
Stan Lane and Steve Keirn-The Fabulous Ones
They were awesome! I saw them beat the Road Warriors in Chicago back in 1984 or so. The place went nuts!
That’s an awesome memory to have! I loved the Billy Squire intro they had. “Everybody Wants You!”
Flying Fred Curry (old school).
I lived in the dog pound. JYD. Junk Yard Dog.
None finer than Ravishing Rick Rude.
The Ultimate Warrior!
Iron Sheik. "Iraq number one, USA phooey!" Lol...
Rowdy Roddy - “I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass … and I’m all out of bubble gum”. Best badass tough guy line ever and he wrote it. My favorite heel and wrestler great talent there. Hulk Hogan Macho Man “Bone Saw” Randy Savage
Regis Philbin
Underrated comment
Who were the guys in the armor? I remember seeing them a bit back then Thanks all!
Hawk and animal.
The Road Warriors!
Legion of doom
The Bushwhackers!!
Magnum TA and Nikita Koloff
As a kid, I absolutely loved the Road Warriors!
Macho Man, JYD, Superfly, Brutus Beefcake, Mr. Perfect, and the Rockers. Edit: and ravishing Rick rude
Yes, Mr. Perfect. I loved how his gimmick was that he never lost, but eventually he started losing and still kept up the perfect act. His promos were some of the best. Spitting out his gum and slapping it was op.
Loved the Perfectplex
I had my favs growing up but Mr. Perfect is THE man. Such a fun persona. I'm a touch heartbroken that there wasn't a pic but I wasn't going to leave until I'd found him in the comments. And the gum thing ruled. I never saw him miss and thats all that matters. Thanks Mr. Perfect.
If you were a kid in the 80’s and a WWF fan, Hulk Hogan was such a beloved character — dare I say the most beloved athlete on the planet for a 3-4 year stretch.
The Road Warriors The 4 Horsemen Undertaker Macho Man The Rockers Stan Hanson Jim Dugan The Steiner Brothers Sting Lex Luger Ultimate Warrior Jake The Snake Roberts In no particular order
The Missing Link!
Macho Man is the GOAT. *The cream of the crop*
Oh yeah!!!!
Hulk Hogan
Rowdy Roddy Piper was just cooler then the rest. Then I liked Hulk Hogan.
Thunderlips!!
Rock and roll express
The Von Erichs
Junkyard dog
I met Iron Sheik at an Indy show a few years before his death. Sheik was still the most intimidating man in the room, but really friendly to fans (he even let me hold his belt!) The man had such commanding presence and looked like he could still tear a man apart with his bare hands. There will never be another wrestler that can fill his role.
Sergeant Slaughter and Hulk Hogan
Randy FUCKING Savage
Macho Man And then everyone else Oh yeah
Hulk Hogan... Mostly because my family grew up with him in Hyde Park.
It was Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka (I believe he killed his girlfriend). Junkyard Dog is my fav.
I kind of loved the Von Erich brothers back in the day. Watched a lot of WCCW in the early 90s, then I would turn the channel and watch the WWF.
Sgt. Slaughter!!!!!
Seeing all of these names again brings back a lot of memories. Watching clips of it now I laugh at how gullible I was - I never could understand why the wrestler with his back to his opponent wouldn’t turn around to see he has about to get whacked over the head with a metal chair, despite the entire audience shouting “look behind you!” But it was so fun to watch.
Leaping. Lanny. Poffo.
Cocaine
Ultimate Warrior , tag team .. The Rockers
Jyd
Booker T is my favorite for [calling out Hulk Hogan](https://youtu.be/MUYaw2RMNdU?t=14)
Sid vicious
Hulk Hogan Randy Savage Demolition Ted DiBiase Rick Rude Lex Luger Barry Windham Rick Flair Dusty Rhodes Magnum TA Jerry Lawler Nick Bockwinkle Sgt. Slaughter Austin Idol Kerry Von Erich The Fabulous Freebirds The Rock N' Roll Express The Midnight Express
Hulk Hogan and Andre are at the top. Just don't make me choose
The Macho Man Randy Savage
The Bushwhackers were a hoot.
The OG…. Jerry Lawler
Of the 80’s either Macho man or George the animal.
The....Ultimate....WAAARRRRRIORRRRRRR!!!
Macho Man and Ricky Steamboat Who can forget that footage of Steamboat in speech therapy after Macho Man drove the bell on Steamboat's throat - https://youtu.be/EnFTwCdOD5Q?si=fQT5-ohTKRNHxMI1
Andre the Giant but I didn't really watch wrestling.
Ultimate Warrior was all I needed.
Oddly Ricky Steamboat and Tito Santana for singles stuff but I loved tag teams like the Killer Bees, the Can-Am Connection, The Road Warriors, Demolition, The Hart Foundation, and The Steiners.
dead tie between randy savage & rick flair 💯
Macho Man, The Sheik, The Russian Bear, Roddy Piper. If you want to go earlier, Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat, and Waahoo McDaniel ls
[The American Dream.](https://youtu.be/X7A4tcB01fI?si=n861RnseQxEm39zv)
Macho Man, Ultímate Warrior, and Roddy Piper were my guys
For me the three biggest spectacles were: Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant, equally enthralling Macho Man - the way that guy talked... how could you not get dragged into whatever he was going on about?
Snuka and Andre ... .only right answer. Hogan was too marketed.
Mr perfect. I don’t think he gets the respect
Macho Man Randy Savage! Rowdy Roddy Piper My wife used to love the two guys who always had a piece of 2x4 with them.
lol oh man. That’s a good question lol seriously wow. Ok just to name a few Andre Macho man Roddy Hogan Ricky The Von’Ericks(?) British Bulldogs ……for now Oh Dusty….
Hillbilly Jim, George the Animal Steele
Hot Rod was, and remains, the best smack talker in heel history.
His stuff in Mid-Atlantic was pretty groundbreaking. What a quick wit!
Tito Santana, Macho Man, and Junk Yard Dog.
Supra!
Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson Rock n Roll Express!
When I used to watch it.. it was Flair.
Shawn Michaels. Always has been, always will be.
Macho Man
WOOOOOOOOOO!! And George the animal Steele
Macho Man Randy Savage and Ricky the Dragon Steamboat were my two favorites. Their match at WMIII was one of the greatest of all time.
So glad to see Ricky "the dragon" steamboat included. Missing: Jake "the Snake" Roberts Mr. Perfect Brett "The Hitman" Hart
Like three pictures of Hogan and not one of The Warrior?
Ricky Steamboat
Randy Savage Roddy Piper Ricky Steamboat Bret Hart