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The Most Popular WWF wrestlers of the 80's

3K views 28 replies 16 participants last post by  Ghost Lantern 
#1 · (Edited)
So based on the "How Popular was Randy Savage?" thread I started thinking.

Who were the actual most popular stars in the WWF during the 80's?

As someone who was around for the entire decade I came up with this list, and posted it in the Savage thread. But I thought it might be a good discussion starter for a thread of its' own.

Am I missing someone?

So here are who I think were the most "over" guys in the WWF during the 80's. Longevity plays little here, it's solely based on how hot they were at their peak.

1. Hulk Hogan 1983-89
2. Sgt Slaughter 1984-1985
3. Ultimate Warrior 1988-1989
4. Randy Savage 1987-1988
5. Andre the Giant 1980-1986
6. Jimmy Snuka 1982-1884
7. Junkyard Dog 1984-1987
8. Ricky Steamboat 1985-1988
9. Hacksaw Jim Duggan 1987-1988
10. Roddy Piper 1989

Honorable Mentions go out to...

Paul Orndorff 1985
Tito Santana 1982-1985
 
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#6 ·
Piper may have been more popular than that, or it may just be me really liking him more than I did almost everyone else. He certainly didn't benefit from a nationalism angle. I might consider putting Backlund on there. He seemed pretty big from 80-83. Tony Atlas would be near the top 10 as well. Andre may not have been as hot, but he was more beloved than most on the list. You did do a good job on the names for the list.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Agreed on Roberts, probably overlooked him. Not sure he cracks the top ten though.

He was popular but never as widely popular as he could have been. He was a trendy "smark" popular as a heel, and there just were not as many of us back then. When he went face they never booked him strong enough IMO. It hurt his "overness".

Dibiase was never popular, he was a heel and not one that generated a lot of "smark" cheers.

@THE SHIV agreed on Atlas and Backlund too, they are in the conversation but neither had the fanatical following the others did. Bruno was still more popular in "semi-retirement" than either of them IMO.
 
#3 ·
I defiantly think Randy Savage was more popular than Warrior he always seemed like the #2 for me.
 
#14 ·
Oh another WWE fanboy on the block.

Macho Man didn't have that strong of a fanbase. He never did, Warrior was over with the crowd.

I just hate how the WWE machine can manipulate some of todays PG boys thinking otherwise.

And I didn't even like Warrior, but Warrior was more over with the crowd than Randy Savage ever was

WWE machine can manipulate all they want this is the truth - Macho Man has get overrated when he died and overglorifed like he was jesus or something.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Good thought, I would still put him at 3 at best. I just remember the crowds were beyond rampant for Slaughter. I mean for about 7 or 8 months Slaughter was easily as popular as Hogan.

I do think people remember Savage's run with "rose colored glasses" more than others, mainly because the guy was so good. He was obviously very popular, but you are right Snuka may have been hotter during his run after his face turn.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Because he was hated, duh.

This was a different era. An era where heat meant you were hated, and that was a good thing but it did not mean you were popular, it meant you were over. Maybe if Ted were wrestling today he would have his buck the system, cheer for the heel tribe, but those folks were far and few between in the 80's...fact.
 
#21 ·
1. Hulk Hogan 1983-89
2. Sgt Slaughter 1984-1985
3. Ultimate Warrior 1988-1989
4. Randy Savage 1987-1988
5. Andre the Giant 1980-1986
6. Jimmy Snuka 1982-1884
7. Junkyard Dog 1984-1987
8. Ricky Steamboat 1985-1988
9. Hacksaw Jim Duggan 1987-1988
10. Roddy Piper 1989
I love your list, I remember reading your list in my Savage thread.

I want to ask who would you consider to be the top heels in the 80s in the WWF?

I'm Guessing Piper and the Iron Shiek would be on top.
 
#24 ·
didnt JYD go like 2 full years with only a hand full of losses in the mid 80s in wwe? i like that he's on the list. sometimes forgotten how over he was.
 
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