Wrestling in the 1980s was very different from wrestling in the 2020s, but the basic concepts are still the same. That is, back then there were also main eventers, mid-card wrestlers and jobbers. In theory, main events feature the best wrestlers, but in the 1980s there were several wrestlers who didn't deserve to headline WWE shows.

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We're talking about wrestlers who had mediocre in-ring skills, and some weren't even charismatic enough to justify their presence in the main event. So, without further ado, let's take a look at the 10 worst wrestlers to main event WWE shows in the 1980s.

Jim Powers Main Evented Some WWE Shows In The 1980s

Most Fans Don't Even Know Who Jim Powers Was

Jim Powers main evented some WWE shows in the 1980s, both in tag team and singles action. For example, he faced off against Brutus Beefcake in the main event of the June 15, 1985, episode of All-Star wrestling. Likewise, he teamed with Paul Roma to face The Hart Foundation in the main event of the October, 10, 1987, edition of Saturday Night's Main Event. But truth be told, Jim Powers was never a main event-caliber wrestler.

Mario Mancini Is A Forgotten WWE Wrestler

Mario Mancini Main Evented Maple Leaf Wrestling

Most fans probably have no idea who Mario Mancini was and have never even heard that name. We are talking about a jobber who worked for WWE between 1984 and 1991. His in-ring skills were mediocre, he wasn't a good seller and his character was very basic and lacked charisma.

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Still, Mancini managed to main event a WWE show. On the December 15, 1984, edition of Maple Leaf Wrestling, Mancini faced David Schultz in the main event, but lost the match.

Corporal Kirchner Main Evented WWE Superstars Of Wrestling

Corporal Kirchner Failed In WWE

Corporal Kirchner began his wrestling career in WWE in 1984 and was in the promotion until 1987. In that period, he was too green and sucked in the ring, his arsenal of moves was small, and he didn't know how to tell a story in the ring. Plus, he didn't connect with the fans. The only notable thing about Kirchner was his outstanding looks, and apparently that was enough to make him main event some WWE shows.

For example, Kirchner teamed with SD Jones (another wrestler who didn't deserve to be in the main event) to face Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy in the main event of the first episode of Superstars Of Wrestling.

Samu Is A Forgotten Samoan Wrestler

Samu Is The Rock's Cousin

The Wild Samoans Afa and Sika were outstanding wrestlers at the time, and are considered legends today. Samu, on the other hand, was not as talented.

Certainly, Samu had intimidating looks and was a powerful force in the ring, but his in-ring skills were no big deal, and he couldn't cut a promo to save his life. Samu headlined WWE shows against wrestlers like Rocky Johnson and Bob Backlund.

Tama Managed To Main Event WWE Shows In The 1980s

Tama Is Jacob Fatu's Father

Another Samoan wrestler who was not at the level of the Wild Samoans, let alone at the level of a main eventer, was Tama. He was not as talented as his brothers Umaga and Rikishi, but he still headlined WWE shows in the 1980s.

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Tama and Haku formed a team called The Islanders, and they main evented some WWE shows, like the February 6, 1988, edition of WWF on NESN, when they defeated The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and The Dynamite Kid).

Brutus Beefcake Headlined Several Shows In The Golden Era

"The Barber" Was Never As Talented As A Main Eventer

Brutus Beefcake was certainly very over at some point in his WWE run, but he was a terrible in-ring performer and really didn't deserve to be a main eventer. Still, he headlined several WWE shows in the 1980s and was always involved in important storylines.

Today, fans know well that Brutus Beefcake used his influence and his friendship with Hulk Hogan to have a relevant role in the company's roster despite not being an outstanding worker.

Jimmy Jack Funk Headlined WWE Saturday Night's Main Event

Jimmy Jack Funk Had Only 147 Matches In WWE

Jimmy Jack Funk worked for WWE for a couple of years in the 1980s. Chances are you have no idea who this guy was, but that's not surprising, because his wrestling career was pretty lackluster, and his time with WWE was forgettable, to say the least. Hard as it may seem to believe, Jimmy Jack Funk main evented WWE shows. On the January 3, 1987, edition of Saturday Night's Main Event, Jimmy Jack Funk lost to Blackjack Mulligan in the main event.

Hercules Was A Mediocre Worker

Still, Hercules Managed To Main Event Some WWE Shows

Hercules worked for WWE between 1985 and 1992. Considering that he spent seven years with the company, it is not surprising that he main evented some WWE shows. However, if we look at the basic requirements of a main eventer, Hercules didn't fill all the boxes.

Certainly, he had the look of a world champion, but nothing more. He had no charisma and couldn't talk, so he couldn't connect with the fans, not to mention his in-ring skills were average at best, and that's why he never became a top star.

Sylvano Sousa Main Evented WWE Superstars

Sylvano Sousa Had Only Three Televised Matches In The 1980s

Sylvano Sousa worked for WWE for several years in the 1970s and 1980s, but very few fans know about him. This guy had a low-key career, as he was always a filler wrestler because he didn't have the talent to be more than that.

Sousa only had three televised matches in the 1980s, and one of them was in the main event of the June 13, 1987, episode of Superstars, against The One Man Gang.

Tony Nardo Was One Of The Worst Wrestlers To Main Event A WWE Show

Nardo Had Just Three Televised Matches In WWE

Tony Nardo had just three televised WWE matches in his career, and, believe it or not, one of them was in the main event of the October 26, 1986, edition of Wrestling Challenge, losing to Kamala.

But that is not all. On the January 18, 1987, edition of Wrestling Challenge, Nardo faced George "The Animal" Steele. It was a squash match, as Steele won in one minute and 17 seconds. Tony Nardo simply didn't have what it took to appear on WWE television on a regular basis, but oddly enough, he headlined a WWE show twice.