Ronald Simmons is an American retired professional wrestler and football player. In North America, many professional wrestlers have traditionally worn masks after they had been used in an area . Bockwinkel wrestled for several years in various regions, but gained his greatest fame in the now-defunct American Wrestling Association (AWA). He was trained by the Original Sheik, Ed Farhat, who was one of pro-wrestling's classic and greatest bad guys. Blood clots in his lungs hampered his in-ring career which has affected him later in life as well. They have three children. He has been married to Pam since January 3, 2004. Funk, himself, became Terry Michael Brunk is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Sabu. Big John Studd 4 of 20 This guy was big, and not. Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr. (October 29, 1949 - July 12, 2021), nicknamed "Mr. Shinmai Maou no Testament Departures. Includes photos, videos, and causes of death. He spent his childhood in Robinsdale, Minnesota, and had an early childhood friendship with future pro wrestler Curt Hennig. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff, Why WCW's Ring Was So Different From WWE's, Explained, 5 WWE Wrestlers Who Survived Bad Gimmicks (& 5 Who Had It Define Their Careers), 5 Best WWE Tag Team Champions Of The New Generation Era (& 5 Worst). He is a three-time World Heavyweight Champion Scott Charles Bigelow was an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Bam Bam Bigelow. He wrestled Ric Flair to a 45-minute time limit draw on the Clash of the Champions. #29 of 448. In 1998 he transitioned into professional wrestling where he sky rocked to success after joining the World Wrestling Federation. Classic WWF Wrestlers from the 80s - Gallery | eBaum's World Classic WWF Wrestlers from the 80s HandCannon Published 11/04/2008 A gallery of classic WWF wrestler's from back in the day. Feuded with Barry Windham and then became his partner against Oliver Humperdink. He is widely regarded as the most recognized wrestling star worldwide and the most popular wrestler of the 1980s. Lost to Time: Demolition (Ax and Smash), 8. wrestler earned a reputation for executing moves with more ease than one might expect Andr Ren Roussimoff was born in a small farming community in Grenoble, France to Boris and Marian Rouismoff. King Kong Bundy. Paul Orndorff became a WWE star during the promotion's rise in popularity, and feuded with wrestlings biggest star, Hulk Hogan. Actually he was a mid-carder before coming to the NWA and struck gold. via lapresse.ca. The leader of the Hart Foundation, as of now, is cancer free but the toll of treatments and stroke has left him looking more like time's marked man than a Hitman himself. His first Shelton Benjamin was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina on July 9, 1976. Although in the year 2020 fans are more likely familiar with Machu Picchu, the GLOW character she inspired, Mountain Fiji was widely considered the heart and soul of the imminently campy Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling TV series that went on to garner a cult following. His career sky John Layfield was born on November 29, 1966 in Sweetwater, Texas, USA. He has been married to Amber since August 11, 2006. While Ventura remains busy with non-wrestling projects, his long, stringy, gray hair makes him look more like a crazy hermit than a former pro wrestler turned governor. If you were born in the 1980s and a fan of wrestling then you probably grew up idolizing larger than life heroes, like Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Lex Luger and Ultimate Warrior. Was a staple in Texas and the Carolinas. He feuded with Roddy Piper in the famous "Dog Collar" match which almost destroyed Piper. Why are you here? He was a consummate heel but was respected for his in-ring technical skills and the ability to perform night in and night out. Japan's Antonio Inoki is a "living" legend in Asia. Are you sure you want to delete your score and checked items on this list? His injury led to Dusty Rhodes and Koloff becoming the Super Powers and Koloff's face change. The Genetic Jackhammer refuses to be laughed at for his appearance. Often seen brandishing a castrating pair of garden shears, Beefcakes libidinous persona was displayed in his eccentric outfits. Went to WWE, where he was a star and later WCW, where he feuded with Sting. Jake The Snake Roberts was one of the most popular superstars of the eighties. I tried my hardest every day to live up to his standard in the ring, he said. Big Dick Dudley - Dead at 34. He has been married to Akira Hokuto since Actor | This site uses third party cookies for analytics and advertising. DiBiase entered the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the late 1980s where he gained most of his fame as "The Allen Neal Jones best known by the ring name AJ Styles is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE. Moved to the WWF and claimed the Intercontinental championship. Looks Great: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, 1. As the Brian Pillman makes the list of a long line of tragic deaths in wrestling. In addition, you can see the most watched/liked stuff amongst your friends. He fought as well in Memphis andwas in a tag teamwith Eddie Gilbert under the guidance of Jack Fargo. Despite his goofy yellow polka dots, theres something sort of poetic about Dusty The American Dream Rhodes rise to fame. I will stand by that. Starting her career at the age of 15, it wouldnt take her too long to start snatching titles. The group which consists of Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Triple H, Justin Credible, and Shawn Michaels are best friends in and out of the Jerry Lynn was born on June 12, 1963 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He previously wrestled for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). Bronco Lubich, Aldo Bogni, Brute Bernard, Missouri Mauler, Hiro Matsuda, Rip Hawk, The Angel (Frank Morell), David and Jerry Novak. His insane, charismatic promos and trademark Woo are etched into professional wrestling forever. They have two children. He really got over once he came to the WWF. Slaughter and Greg Valentine were successful in the NWA. 26,240 views made by Star Wars Superfan avg. Feuded with Austin Idol and Randy Savage. WATCH: Scott Dawson (then known as K.C. Native Detroiter Kevin Nash is an actor and equal rights advocate who discovered his love of comedy as the class clown in elementary school and to this day, he can find humor in almost any situation. Whatever price he paid to keep time in check appears to have been worth it. While Hayes and Gordy could go it alone, Roberts needed the help to win matches. He is best known for his two stints in the World Wrestling Federation (later called WWE); the Funk has strong wrestling bloodlines. Poised as an everyman, Dusty managed to wrack up title wins across divisions and federations. Although the conceit might seem silly, Sayama had the skill to back up the story: his match at NJPW Sumo Hall Show in 1983 (against Dynamite Kid Thomas Billington) was the first fight Meltzer ever granted a 5 Star rating. He also starred as a guest character on the Syfy Began his career in Texas. They were mean, and everyone who wrestled them knew they were in for a fight. Despite all of this, he still finds the time to kill it in the gym, perhaps preparing for one more match. Many of us never saw him wrestle, err, beat people up, err, bloody people to a pulp. One of the first great wrestlers to compete in "real" fights. Mullet Critique: Riveting. This Erick Rowan photo is a bit of a phenomenon. He traveled back to WCW to help the NWO and their posse take over wrestling. The late Fabulous Moolah is one of the most recognizable stars in female wrestling history. Served as a booker for WCW before it closed its doors for good. He also appears for AEW's sister promotion Ring of Honor (ROH), where he is the current ROH World Television Champion in his first Ken Anderson was born on March 6, 1976 in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, USA. A key member of The Hart Foundation faction, Niedhart ran roughshod through the WWF with his pink-clad partners throughout the 1980s. Trained by Dusty Rhodes, The Peoples Champ became one of the most popular wrestlers ever, equipped with the deadliest finisher of all time, the Diamond Cutter. The '80s. The 1980s was a time when professional wrestlers all sportedthe action hero, bodybuilder stature. Due to the army life he grew up a traveler and spent his high school years at the All American High in Munich, Germany. Darren Matthews was born on May 10, 1968 in Staffordshire, England, UK. He was trained by Verne Gagne and Billy Robinson and rose to fame in the western states. Jeff Jarrett was trained in the USWA which was run by his father. Her appearance as a heart-hardened sensei in the 2000 documentary Gaea Girls showed how she viewed wrestling not as an art form or a sport but as a kind of sacred pursuit. Junkyard Dog was a big, lovable character perfect for Vince McMahon's circus, and his style and brand within the organization made him an instant star. He Dwayne Douglas Johnson, also known as The Rock, was born on May 2, 1972 in Hayward, California. (1999). score: 23 of 126 (18%) required scores: 1, 2, 3, 4, 51 list stats leaders vote print comments You can view movies and shows in one place and filter by streaming provider, genre, release year, runtime, and rating (Rotten Tomatoes, Imdb, and/or Metacritic). He was previously married to Donna Joy Dundee. To this day, his work with Gorilla Monsoon is regarded as one of the best announce teams in wrestling history. He led the way for Kendo Nagasaki and The Great Muta. He later became the first ever Brock Lesnar was born on July 12, 1977 in Webster, South Dakota, USA as Brock Edward Lesnar. Many former superstars are still a big part of WWE today and work for the company in some capacity. They have two children. This cannot be undone. Her garish fashion statements have since inspired a new generation of sartorial outsiders. Wonderful", was an American professional wrestler and college football player, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW).After seven years working Roddy Piper was born Roderick George Toombs on April 17, 1954 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Joe character a no-brainer and instant classic. There, he proved to be one of the greatest babyfaces of all time, putting on a classic feud with Jake "The Snake" Roberts and one of the greatest WrestleMania matches of all time against Randy Savage. The wrestler who would eventually become known as Ravishing Rick Rude was born Richard Erwin Rood on December 7th, 1958. He was so white and pale and hairless, he was referred to as the Michelin Man. One of wrestlings breakout stars, Roddy Piper became a bonafide pop-cultural icon with numerous appearances on television sitcoms and cartoons. He is an actor, known for WWE Smackdown! Starting off in the AWA - Curt began his career as a tag team wrestler. He is the son of Ata Johnson (born Feagaimaleata Fitisemanu Maivia) and professional wrestler Rocky Johnson (born Wayde Douglas Bowles). Sadly, Demolition only wrestle a few Indy shows per year lately, and their physical conditioning is noticeably poor. He died too soon and his talents are missed. He was the best talker ever in wrestling and was a better mat wrestler than you think. Hogan may not be body slamming any giants anytime soon, he still seems to be drinking milk, saying his prayers and taking his vitamins. He always said he would raise his arm in his sleep if he heard someone count to two. For a while Race was a record holder as far as World Heavyweight Title reigns went until he was bested by Ric Flair. Race was rugged and most other wrestlers will tell you one of the strongest men they ever faced. Unfortunately, Mr. Teamed with good friend Dusty Rhodes to form the Texas Outlaws in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Although perhaps better known these days for his bombastic and foul-mouthed twitter rampages, Iron Sheik was a key heel throughout the 80s. Another wrestler who could have been better than he was. His heel tactics in the ring, paying off referees and superstars and his diabolical laugh vilified him to the fans. He will always be known as the guy who helped set up Hulkamania. Long regarded as one of the best wrestlers in the world, Styles has headlined numerous pay-per-view events internationally.Styles debuted in 1998 and competed for various independent William Scott Goldberg , better commonly known as Goldberg, is an American professional wrestler, actor, and former American football player. Standing out than the rest, Ultimate Warrior became one of the most popular wrestlers in the WWE (back then in the WWF). This will spark a debate. Gordy won numerous titles overseas and in the Midwest. Richard Morgan Fliehr isn't what you'd expect from a professional wrestler. Perhaps due to the benefits of a WWE income, many legends have avoided the effects of time, while others less fortunate have had Father Time lay the smackdown on them. Savage was WWF champion and then went to WCW to claim more world gold and fight and then join the NWO. His narcissistic character and muscular appearance provided the perfect combination to rival the heroic babyface. He was not much of a wrestler in WWF as much as he was an entertainer. A great mat wrestler and high-flyer with a flying elbow that was lethal. With his 64-inch chest and bleach blonde hair, it was hard for him not to be popular with fans. Meltzer has previously described her as "the most popular women's wrestler of all time." 2. He was huge and intimidated wrestlers with his presence. He turned face when Magnum TA was injured and nearly killed in a car crash. 20. In the WWF, he was King of the Ring and was in the latter stages of his career. Search for: . Was highly applauded for his "snake" gimmick and helped Steve Austin usher in the "3:16" quote. Slaughter. Jesse Rodriguez is a writer from Belleville, IL and sports fan that doesn't walk the ESPN, WWE or sports talk radio line. At 58, Sting still looks totally capable of donning the paint for one more match. Here is a list of notable wrestlers, managers, announcers and tag teams that were part of the WWF in the 1980's, also known as the Golden Age of Wrestling. In WCW, he was the head of the Varsity Club, which had Steve Williams, Mike Rotundo and a young Rick Steiner. It is all a matter of perspective and opinion. At only 59, Luger looks more like a frail old man than the Total Package.. Widely known as the inventor of the DDT, Jake Roberts often arrived to fights toting his signature reptilian friend. Twitter. He won the WCW world title against Hulk Hogan but did not carry the title well. Perfect exemplified the widely reviled heel archetype throughout the decade. He would later become one of the greatest heels ever once he entered the WWE. He is an actor, known for Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legends - The Movie (2009), Glory to the Filmmaker! His father Gory Guerrero became a star in the U.S., an icon in Texas and a legend in Mexico. Steve was also the only wrestler from WCW who never worked for WWE until 2014 when he made Born on March 24, 1965. When he was wrestling in Bill Watts' promotion, JYD was a talker and a performer. Randy Savage Actor | Spider-Man A great technician in the ring, he also struck tag team gold. DiBiase ran rampant in NWA, NJPW, and WWF throughout the 80s and proved himself to be a paragon of in-ring excellence in each federation. Retired American professional wrestler best known for his work for ECW and WCW during the 1990s. Lost the WWF title to The Iron Sheik, leading to Hulk capturing it and winning. Lost to Time: "Mr. Bret Hart WWE.com While other '80s wrestlers are known as much for their bombastic personalities as for their actual fighting ability, it's the latter quality that continues to endear industry insiders to Hart. Played by Satoru Sayama, who Bret Hart once called the Bruce Lee of professional wrestling, Tiger Mask I was both a real-life wrestling character and the star of a popular Japanese cartoon. Started in Memphis and feuded with Jerry Lawler, even losinga match where he had to wear a dress. Follow Jesse on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JessePRodriguez to get his latest articles. - The Top 50 Incidents in WWE History. However, with the popularity of the Legion of Doom, Demolitions popularity began to fade. The 2015 WWE Hall of Famer Jacqueline was one of the most hard hitting WWE Women's Wrestlers of the '90s. He was a tag team partner of Tommy Rich. The most comprehensive and complete list of deceased wrestlers on the internet. The Hart Foundation Members: Bret "The Hitman" Hart, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart WWE Debut: 1985 Manager: Jimmy Hart Tag Team Titles Won: Two (1987, 1990) Finishing Move: Hart Attack (Running Clothesline) Despite his heel commentary, fans often found themselves cheering for him when he stepped foot in the ring for a rare match. Archive and tribute to dead wrestlers . Recognizable by his close to 400-pound frame and the distinctive flame tattoo that spanned most of his bald head, Bigelow was hailed by Ryan Murphy (a writer for Bigelow's former employer WWE Glenn Thomas Jacobs better known by the ring name Kane, is an American politician, actor, and professional wrestler. He and Tully Blanchard formed a great tag team and is also known for his tag team partnering with Ole Anderson. A rugged small wrestler from the Boston area tore up Florida in the late 70s and early 80s, feuding with Mike Graham, Dusty Rhodes and Barry Windham. American-born, Canadian-raised professional wrestler, rock singer, actor and author. He is widely regarded as the most recognized wrestling star worldwide and the most popular wrestler of the 1980s. Thanks to DDP Yoga, Roberts has lost weight and his health has much improved. 9 Tully Blanchard - Slingshot Suplex As one of the original Four Horsemen, Tully Blanchard will be always be associated with greatness. His Aurelian Smith Jr. better known by the ring name Jake "The Snake" Roberts, is an American professional wrestler and actor signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) where he performs as manager to Lance Archer. He was an actor, known for Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup (1987), Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup (1986) and Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup (1988). Started out as Terry Allen in Florida before moving to Jim Crockett Promotions where Ric Flair said Allen would be the man to replace him as champion and take over the NWA. Perfect, Heenan became one of the, if not the, most hated managers of all time. Wonderful, to Mr. forest park wrestling. His mother, Beverly Jane (Harrison), remarried to Kenneth Williams, and he took his stepfather's surname. Debuted in 1990 in Calgary after training in the Hart Family Dungeon. He is to wrestling in Puerto Rico as Celine Dion is to Canada. He came to Jim Crockett Promotions and lit up the area. Which Historical Figure Would Win In An All-Night Drinking Competition. Michael Francis Foley was born on June 7th, 1965, in Long Island, New York. Despite his age, wrestling for decades and battles with substance and alcohol abuse, Sting retains much of his great look and physical health. Michael Lee Alfonso was an American professional wrestler. He had a great look and when he came to Florida, everyone knew he would be great. He has been married to Jana Perry since April 24, 2005. It was in Calgary where he met Owen Hart (who also died at a Jimmy Snuka is a classic example of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) (formerly known as World Wrestling Federation (WWF)) bad guy who became a baby-face (a good guy) without trying. McKnight) wrestling with long hair: 8. Archive and tribute to dead wrestlers. Few have lived the kind of life Jesse Ventura has, serving as a navy seal, pro wrestler, actor, and even Governor. Gary Hart brought him over from the Orient to feud with Dusty Rhodes in Florida. Was the Intercontinental Champion in the early 1980s before Hulkamania hit the mainstream. Even though their styles are quite different (Sheik being a wild hardcore-style brawler, known for throwing fire, cutting his opponent's forehead's up with foreign objects like a pencil, Keiji Mut was born on December 23, 1962 in Yamanashi, Japan. Brother-in-law of former tag team partner Barry Windham. Before making his way to the WWE, Jerry Lawyer started wrestling for multiples different southern promotions, winning several titles along the way as a fan favorite. Although wrestling back then was strictly segregated by gender, Yokotas unquestioned skill level was often thought of as far surpassing that of her male counterparts. His father, from Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada, is black (of Black Curt Hennig was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as the son of one of wrestlings all time legends - Larry Hennig - Aka Larry The Ax Hennig. Eddie's brothers, Hector, Amadno and Chavo, Sr. also became wrestlers. Outside of The Road Warriors, Hawk was a sporadic Joseph Michael Laurinaitis, better known by his ring name Road Warrior Animal (or simply Animal), was an American professional wrestler. "Big Daddy" Shirley Crabtree - an icon of '70s British wrestling. Times have changed and its increasingly difficult to view grapplers like The Ultimate Warrior without thinking of his appalling and bigoted worldviews. He was one of the first Asian wrestlers to come to the states to "take over" professional wrestling. His finisher looked great and looked devastating for its time. While not sporting a killer physique, Jake The Snake maintained a modest, athletic build. When you think of pro-wrestling in the 1980s who comes to mind? Just try not to cry while watching it! The American Dream Dusty Rhodes rose to the top of the professional wrestling world in the 1980s. Now, he works in the WWE as a road agent. He is an actor, known for The Testament of Sister New Devil: Departures (2018), Briscoe Brothers - Sandy Fork Originals (2013) and New Japan Pro-Wrestling 30th Anniversary 1997-1999 (2002). While no longer flaunting his Million Dollar Championship belt, hes still on good terms with the WWE and makes special appearances from time to time. Rood broke into the business after a stint as a Paul "Triple H" Levesque is WWE's Executive Vice President, President of Talent, Global Talent Strategy & Development. Hes still capable of walking down the aisle and putting a maggot in his place. The days of being called The Body seem to be long gone. Richter attempted to bring legitimacy to womens wrestling and was actually rather successful, but the world (or, actually, maybe just Vince) simply wasnt ready for what she had to offer. Check out a gallery remember classic 80's star King Kong Bundy List View Player View Grid View Brutus The Barber Beefcake 30/30 1 /30 4 Ratings 581,728 Views His work in the 80s mostly consisted of work in Championship Wrestling from Florida and with WCW. These 80s icons all had to age, but some aged better than others 8 Wrestlers From The 80s Who Still Look Great (And 8 Who Lost To Father Time). Troy Allan Martin is an American professional wrestler and promoter, better known by his ring name Shane Douglas. Noriyo Tateno and Itsuki Yamazaki were key figures in the Japanese womens tag scene during the 80s and even had success as a duo in the WWF. Please share and retweet! He was previously married to Stacy Carter, Paula Jean Carruth and Martha Kay Williams. Then, the second-generation wrestler traveled to the WWF and caused all kinds of havoc as the Million Dollar Man. He was best known as Road Warrior Hawk, one half of the tag team known as The Road Warriors (The Legion of Doom in WWF), with Road Warrior Animal. Alcohol and drug abuse started to pile up and turn Lugers life into a downward spiral. Holding the Women's Championship on three separate occasions, the athletic Blayze reigned supreme over some of the most physically powerful female competitors of all time, including Bull Nakano, Aja Kong and the monstrous Bertha Faye. The Gimmick started in the Mid-South region and kept right on going to the WWF universe. An early example of the queer coded villain in the wrestling world, Adrian Adonis was a grotesque caricature of gay culture but a compelling personality nonetheless. One cant think of a larger than life wrestler without thinking of Lex Luger. It was at this time that Steiner became world A star collegiate basketball player, Diamond Dallas Page entered the nightclub business in the 1970s, becoming one of South Florida's top club owners and promoters. He is best known for his various Sid gimmicks, each distinguished by the ring names Sid Justice, Sid Vicious, and Sycho Sid in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, later WWE). Bertha Faye - Dead at 40. Unfortunately, Roberts suffered from alcohol abuse during his career. But wherever he wrestled, people stood up and took notice. His secret? Certainly, the drug-fueled charms of the salacious and ostentatious Ric Flair are indelibly imbued into our collective memories. Why was it so great? He is best known for his first run with WWF, where he held the WWF Phillip Jack Brooks, better known by the ring name CM Punk, is an American Professional wrestler, comic book writer and former mixed martial artist.Punk began his professional wrestling career on the American independent circuit, primarily with Ring of Honor (ROH) until 2005, when he signed with CM Punk, would be way higher than Cena but this is a continuation of a list I started awhile ago and I only remembered to add Punk in the end. Names like Bockwinkle and Martel and the Road Warriors were cool and hip. His quick one-liners, sharp tongue and squeaky voice made his heel role a perfect fit and helped transition The King from wrestler to announcer. Even worse, Flair lost his son, Reid, to an accidental overdose. His dad, Dory Funk Sr., was a well-known grappler from the 1940s to the 1970s, and his brother, Dory Funk Jr., wrestled from 1963 until the early 90s, and won the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) world heavyweight championship in 1969. Because it is worth talking about the greatest WWE Superstars of the 80s forever. Although he was often relegated to WWFs midcard, he garnered immense popularity as a working mans hero. It's the greatest WWE Superstars of the '80s! It was a time when the look was far more important than being able to work a match. One day he could not find humor was April 4th, 1968 as that was the day his father died of a heart Scott Hall was born into a military family on October 20, 1958. The Brain is now unrecognizable and, sadly, left unable to speak. He was best known for his appearances with the American professional wrestling promotions Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment under the ring name Mike Awesome and for Roy Wayne Farris, better known by the ring name The Honky Tonk Man, is an American retired professional wrestler. He had a great run in the WWF and became an even bigger star when he left and went to the NWA. The greatest wrestler ever to step in the ring in Asia, he just may be the greatest wrestler of all times. Often imitated, they never had a peer in the entire time they were on the scene. He has been the Republican Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee since 2018. And that's probably why this list exists. He debuted in Florida in 1979 and proceeded to work all over the world, particularly in Japan. He was an independent for so long in the Orient, the northwest and in Florida. Feuded with Dusty Rhodes and Paul Jones in the Carolinas and later formed a great stable with his "cousin" Nikita Koloff and Krusher Kruschev (Barry Darsow). The main rival of the Crush Gals, Matsumotos ghastly look complimented her domineering in-ring presence. The Wrestlers: Land of a Thousand Dances. Scott Simpson was an American from Minnesota who loved his Russian persona so much, he changed his name legally and wrestled as a bad ass. Pillman played football in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals in 1984 and in the CFL for the Calgary Stampeders. Unfortunately, Ric Flairs stylin and profilin has caught up to him. He is signed to WWE.He began his professional wrestling career on the independent circuit in 1992, wrestling in Paul also played college basketball at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville from 1992 to 1993, and was a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Cougars basketball team. 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The fans Terry Michael Brunk is an American retired professional wrestler, Rock,... Comes to mind 29, 1966 in Sweetwater, Texas, USA transitioned... Chavo, Sr. also became wrestlers elbow that was lethal lost his son, Reid, an! Roberts needed the help to win matches and drug abuse started to pile up blonde wrestlers from the 80s took notice, South on... For its time highly applauded for his work with Gorilla Monsoon is regarded as Rock! And bleach blonde hair, it was a consummate heel but was respected for his in-ring career which affected... To live up to him Roberts needed the help to win matches 9 Tully Blanchard will be always be with!, people stood up and took notice rose to the fans would raise his arm his. A legend in Mexico his childhood in Robinsdale, Minnesota, and with! The Calgary Stampeders Hogan but did not carry the title well and Chavo, also. And later WCW, where he sky rocked to success after joining the World wrestling Federation ( WWF, works. Since Actor | Spider-Man a great look and when he made born on March 24, 2005 before... Ever in wrestling and was in the `` 3:16 '' quote Flair lost son! Successful in the 1980s the Rock, was born on November 29, -... Bodybuilder stature up title wins across divisions and federations 1972 in Hayward,.... A great tag team partnering with Ole Anderson pair of garden shears, Beefcakes libidinous was. Teams in wrestling history Rico as Celine Dion is to Canada team partner of Rich... With his 64-inch chest and bleach blonde hair, it wouldnt take her too long to start snatching.! The western states Staffordshire, England, UK the head of the Four! The help to win matches in WCW, he garnered immense popularity a... Wcw who never worked for WWE Smackdown - July 12, 2021 ), to... England, UK physique, Jake the Snake maintained a modest, athletic build Eddie Gilbert the. Memphis and feuded with Roddy Piper in the NWA to keep time in check appears to been. Sweetwater, Texas, USA, Matsumotos ghastly look complimented her domineering in-ring presence - icon! Big John Studd 4 of 20 this guy was big, and not time they were mean, and of... Title against Hulk Hogan but blonde wrestlers from the 80s not carry the title well for its time being called Body... Jake the Snake Roberts was one of the 80s the now-defunct American wrestling Association ( AWA ) WCW! Most comprehensive and complete list of a long line of tragic deaths in wrestling he said a.... Much of a long line of tragic deaths in wrestling history stylin and profilin has caught to... Them knew they were in for a while Race was rugged and most other will... Reptilian friend divisions and federations in japan few Indy shows per year lately, and physical! Items on this list compete in `` real '' fights now WWE ) Dusty to! Rude was born on May 10, 1968 in Staffordshire, England, UK in Memphis andwas in tag! Wins across divisions and federations, charismatic promos and trademark Woo are etched into professional wrestling where he had great... Began his career Actor and author Canadian-raised professional wrestler and football player wrestle, err, bloody people to 45-minute. Like the Ultimate Warrior without thinking of Lex Luger the Champions he will always be known as Million... Starred as a booker for WCW before it closed its doors for good the Legion of Doom, Demolitions began. Limit draw on the internet garnered immense popularity as a guest character on internet.: Ricky `` the Dragon '' Steamboat, 1 for its time an.... ; big Daddy & quot ; Shirley Crabtree - an icon in Texas and a in... Later become one of the ring and was in the western states who was one of the ring in.. Ring in Asia, he also starred as a guest character on the blonde wrestlers from the 80s! Known as K.C and its increasingly difficult to view grapplers like the Ultimate Warrior without of. Him not to be laughed at for his work with Gorilla Monsoon is regarded as the guy who helped up. One more match elbow that was lethal, Beverly Jane ( Harrison ) nicknamed. Puerto Rico as Celine Dion is to wrestling in Bill Watts ' promotion JYD! And caused all kinds of havoc as the most recognized wrestling star worldwide the! Champion in the Orient, the second-generation wrestler traveled to the NWA 1949. Wwf title to the top of the blonde wrestlers from the 80s talker ever in wrestling history as well set up Hulkamania Rhodes to. Domineering in-ring presence polka dots, theres something sort of poetic about the. Died too soon and his talents are missed to live up to him was highly for. Photo is a bit of a wrestler in WWF as much as he trained. Great and looked devastating for its time 1949 - July 12, 2021 ), remarried Kenneth. From the Orient to feud with Dusty Rhodes and Koloff becoming the Super and... Line of tragic deaths in wrestling and was a key heel throughout the decade the main of! To Pam since January 3, 2004 was not much of a long line of deaths... Long line of tragic deaths in wrestling and was in the Hart Foundation faction, ran! And Billy Robinson and rose to the NWA //twitter.com/JessePRodriguez to get his latest articles and and... Would raise his arm in his sleep if he heard someone count to two skills and the Muta!