Today, many pro wrestling fans, especially older ones, look back at the 80s and consider it the greatest era of wrestling, specifically in WWE. While nostalgia certainly plays a part in that, it's hard to argue against the 80s being a golden age for WWE. That era featured some of the most iconic characters in the sport's history.
Furthermore, the 80s featured some legendary bouts. Some of those matches fall short of today's high standards. However, there's a handful of surprising 80s WWE matches that have aged surprisingly well. These particular matches would've been classics in any era of pro wrestling.
10 Hulk Hogan Vs Andre The Giant: WrestleMania 3
Hulk Hogan has been accused of being a lot of things during his wrestling career. A "great worker" was never one of them. That's not to say that Hogan was a terrible worker by any means, it's just that "The Hulkster" had a specific style of match he liked to work and rarely deviated from it. Still, it has to be pointed out that Hogan's style worked, especially if the objective was to draw money.
Without a doubt, Hogan's biggest match ever came against Andre The Giant at WrestleMania 3. While that match might've been upstaged that night by Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat, it still holds up as a classic today. There are very few high spots but the psychology used during the match was expert-level. This is still among the 10 best and most important WrestleMania matches ever.
9 Jimmy Snuka Vs Don Muraco: WWE Live Event 10/17/1983
Despite the controversy that surrounds Jimmy Snuka, WWE has never banished him and still considers him a legend. While that might rub some fans the wrong way, Snuka is responsible for one of the most memorable moments of the 80s. At a Madison Square Garden event in 1983, Snuka and Don Muraco had an incredible Steel Cage Match.
It was a brutal match with a brilliant finish, which saw Muraco fall through the cage door for the win. After the match, Snuka provided fans with an unforgettable moment as he leaped from the top of the cage onto Muraco. If this moment wasn't associated with Snuka it would be more talked about today like it was in past years.
8 Hulk Hogan & Mr. T Vs Roddy Piper & Paul Orndorff: WrestleMania 1
Today, WrestleMania is the be-all and end-all in terms of pro wrestling shows. In 1985 though, Vince McMahon and WWE took a massive risk financing the huge event. The one-of-a-kind show would be built around Hulk Hogan teaming with Hollywood actor, Mr. T, to take on Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. On paper, the main event was stacked but having a non-wrestler in it presented some risk.
Surprisingly, Mr. T delivered in that spot and helped make WrestleMania a massive success. A tag team match in the main event of WrestleMania would probably have fans losing their minds today. However, in 1985, it was exactly what the business needed. A lot of credit has to go to all four men involved who put on a surprising classic. All things considered.
7 The British Bulldogs Vs The Dream Team: WrestleMania 2
Tag Team wrestling has been having a resurgence over the last few years. For a while there during the 2010s, WWE paid very little attention to their Tag Team division. In the 80s though, WWE had arguably the greatest Tag Team division of all time. It was headlined by the likes of Demolition, The Hart Foundation, and of course The British Bulldogs.
At WrestleMania 2, The Bulldogs put on a classic match against Brutus Beefcake and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, collectively known as The Dream Team. The match was the payoff to an almost yearlong feud between the two teams. After an excellent bout that still holds up today, The Bulldogs would emerge as WWE Tag Team Champions.
6 Hulk Hogan Vs Randy Savage: WrestleMania 5
In the late 80s, Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage were undoubtedly the two biggest stars in the entire wrestling industry. In 1988, Savage would win the WWE Championship and form a super team with Hogan, The Mega Powers. Eventually, though, The Mega Powers would explode.
This led to a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 5. While Hogan and Savage would have many matches against each other throughout their careers, nothing topped WrestleMania 5. The ring work and psychology from both men were superb that night. The match becomes even more impressive when considering Savage worked it while battling a staph infection.
5 Sgt. Slaughter Vs The Iron Sheik: WWE Live Event 6/14/1984
At their core, pro wrestling matches are an art form. It's a performance art put on by two willing competitors. At times, the story these performers tell requires escalated violence. The legendary Boot Camp Match between Sgt. Slaughter and The Iron Sheik is a great example of artistic violence.
Even by today's bloodthirsty standards, this match is a hardcore classic. The match was the culmination of the blood feud between Slaughter and Sheik. It wouldn't be the first or last Boot Camp Match in WWE history but it would set a high standard for all that came after it. It certainly didn't hurt that the live audience was red-hot for it.
4 Hulk Hogan Vs The Big Boss Man: Saturday Night's Main Event
Over the years, there's been different variations of Steel Cage matches including War Games, Hell In A Cell, and to an extent, The Elimination Chamber. In WWE, standard Steel Cage matches operated a bit differently than in other promotions. A WWE Steel Cage Match adds the stipulation that the match can be won by escaping the cage.
This adds another element to the mix. One of the most surprisingly great Steel Cage matches ever took place on the 5/27/1989 Saturday Night's Main Event when Hulk Hogan squared off against The Big Boss Man. Hogan would unsurprisingly win but a Superplex off the cage would be the lasting image of the match.
3 Hulk Hogan Vs Andre The Giant: The Main Event
How do you follow up on one of the most anticipated and well-received matches of all time? By booking the rematch on free television and having one of the most unique finishes to a pro wrestling match ever, of course. After the financial and critical success of WrestleMania 3, WWE went back to the well for the 2/5/1988 Main Event.
The show featured a rematch between Hulk Hogan and Andre The Giant. The match's unforgettable finish saw an evil twin referee slide into the ring and count Hogan's shoulders down despite his kicking out. This made Andre the new WWE Champion. Was it a technical masterpiece? Far from it but it was perhaps the most ingenious finish in WWE history. That remains true to this day.
2 Hulk Hogan Vs The Ultimate Warrior: WrestleMania 6
For someone who regularly gets labeled as a "decent worker, at best," Hulk Hogan sure put on some bangers in the 80s. While Hogan's classics with Randy Savage and Andre The Giant can't be overlooked, his greatest work has got to be his WrestleMania 6 match against The Ultimate Warrior.
That night, Hogan carried one of the most limited main eventers in wrestling history to one of the greatest matches ever. In a losing effort, Hogan proved exactly why he was at the top of the food chain in pro wrestling. The exceptional in-ring work that night was paired with impeccable psychology and delivered what is still one of the greatest heavyweight bouts in WrestleMania history.
1 The Hart Foundation Vs The Brain Busters: SummerSlam 1989
No matter how good tag team wrestling gets today, many wrestling fans are of the belief that it will never be better than it was in the 80s. The absolute clinic put on by The Hart Foundation and The Brain Busters at SummerSlam 1989 might be all the proof necessary. That night, 4 of the all-time greatest performers put on a show.
Despite being handicapped by a 2 Out Of 3 Falls stipulation and the WWE Tag Team Championships not being on the line, this match was a classic. It was a back-and-forth barn burner featuring heavy tandem offense by both squads. In the end, The Hart Foundation would win the match but not the titles. That didn't matter so much at the time though as anyone who witnessed the match knew they had witnessed something special.