What 80’s superstar would make it big today?

[Pinnacle Charisma]

What 80’s superstar would make it big today?


Yeah I was thinking the other day what wrestlers that where at their peak in the 80’s would still make it today if there debuted in the wwe today when they where at their peak (by peak im talking for example if a 38 year old Ric Flair debuted today in the wwe and not the old man he is now). We are judging the talent not just the gimmick as well.

Who would make it?

Roddy Piper-

I think he would be huge if Piper came on the scene today. Watching some of his old promos it would seem that his style and character would be better suited to todays more risqué standings.

Steamboat-
His wrestling ability would still be impressive today against the likes of Shelton and Benoit.

[Funky Fly]

If you're going on ability, Ted Dibiase. He'd Be a better version of JBL, who is a crappier version of himself... yeah.

[Tazz Dan]

Rick Rude. I dunno, always saw him as a star. As big a Ultimate Warior fan I was back in the day, I really wanted him to win that cage match at Summer Slam '90

[TapOut]

Tough question.

I'd say Piper. He's the only one I can really think of with the pure, natural charisma, to the point where he could cut better stuff on the fly than most guys can when it's scripted.

[Rob]

With most of their bodies, hardly any of the 80's stars would have been given a shot today, nevermind making it. DiBiase, Steamboat, Rude and a few others probably would have but the likes of Flair, Piper, Bam Bam Bigelow, Terry Gordy, etc who all have big worker reps wouldn't have been looked at.

[6to1]

they would make piper play by play guy, i rember he did that too. i watched a few weeks ago a 1983 nwa wrestling show an piper was doing play by play an he was golden.

[Nark Order]

Billy Graham. He was years upon years before his time.

[Stickman]

Jesse The Body Ventura was pretty cool. I was too young to really know if he was any good in the ring, but I remember him being decent on the mic and I love his voice.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I don't know, but it's pretty funny that 38 is considered a "young" Ric Flair.

[Joesgonnakillyou]

Dynamite kid, if benoit could....

[Watson]

Jake "The Snake" Roberts

[McLegend]

Bad News Brown

[Anybody Thrilla]

Waylon Mercy. Not exactly 80's but SO WHAT!

[St. Jimmy]

Bob Backlund. Team him with Murdoch. <3

[The One]

Tully Blanchard. He was huge in the 80's...but I think if he came around right now, he would make a name for himself as one of the all time greats (which he already is, even if most have never heard of him).

[6to1]

junk yard dog and the russian koloff who looked alot like stone cold.

[NeanderCarl]

If we're comparing the 80s to the modern day business...

if you notice in the 80s/90s, guys tended to only have short runs (particularly in the WWF) where they would come in, hang around for probably about five years, then move on. If they were particularly good they could stay at or near the top of the card for the entire time. That's why these guys are regarded as legends nowadays by longtime WWF fans... they never outstayed their welcome.

Nowadays you have a huge number of guys or gimmicks getting pushed, to various degrees, who have been in the WWE for years and years, be it continuously or with various extended absences. Here is a list of all current on-screen performers who have been with the WWE for five years or more(tenures in parenthesis, rounded up to the nearest year):

Shawn Michaels (19 years)
Undertaker (16 years)
Jerry Lawler (14 years)
Viscera (on and off for 13 years)
Hardcore Holly (12 years)
Triple H (11 years)
Steve Austin (11 years)
JBL (11 years)
Goldust (on and off for 11 years)
Mark Henry (10 years)
Mick Foley (10 years)
The Rock (if you still count him?) (10 years)
Kane (9 years)
Edge (8 years)
Matt Hardy (8 years +)
Scotty Too Hotty (8 years +)
Val Venis (8 years)
Vince McMahon as an active on-screen character (8 years)
Kurt Angle (7 years)
Big Show (7 years)
Dancin' Stevie Richards (7 years)
Lita (6 years)
Trish Stratus (6 years)
Victoria (6 years)
Chris Benoit (6 years)
Ric Flair (5 years since his return)
Rob Van Dam (5 years)
Torrie Wilson (5 years)
Booker T (5 years)
Gregory Helms (5 years)
William Regal (5 years)

Now I'm not saying all of those guys (and gals) are worthless, not at all. But a great number of those are well past their sell-by-date. And if they haven't made it big by now, chances are they are very unlikely to in the future.

To contrast this (and to get to my actual point!), the following wrestlers spring to my mind as having arrived, made some degree of impact, and left the WWF/WWE within a five/six year period, yet are remembered as all-time WWF greats:


Bad News Brown (2 years)
Bam Bam Bigelow (second stint, mostly heel: 2 years)
Lex Luger (not classic, but remembered: 2 years)
Legion of Doom (original run: 2 years)
Yokozuna (3 years)
Honky Tonk Man (3 years)
Ravishing Rick Rude (3 years)
Andre The Giant (his final, and most remembered, run: 3 years)
Earthquake (original run: 3 years)
Diesel (3 years)
1-2-3 Kid (3 years)
The British Bulldogs (3 years)
The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers (3 years)
Razor Ramon (4 years)
Ultimate Warrior (original run: 4 years)
Big Bossman (original: 4 years)
Demolition (4 years)
Mr. Perfect (combined years as active wrestler: approx 4 years)
Macho Man Randy Savage (around 5 years as an active wrestler)
Ted DiBiase (6 years)
Jake The Snake Roberts (6 years)
Koko B. Ware (6 years)
The Model Rick Martel (6 years)
Hacksaw Jim Duggan (6 years)

These are just a few examples, and although some listed may not be technical greats, they all made an impact in some fashion during their tenures, a lot of them in the main event scene, and all of whom are remembered by long-term fans, hardcore or casual.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, trying to work out whether the old-school wrestlers would make an impact nowadays is hard to establish. Could DiBiase have kept the heat for 11/12 years? Or would be have ended up as a glorified jobber like Venis and Holly? Same with the likes of Roberts and even Savage (who went on to be successful in WCW as he was fresh to their audience). While these older guys made big impacts in short periods of time, they weren't really reknowned for their ability to reinvent themselves either, whereas the likes of Triple H, Angle and Undertaker have evolved immensely over the years.

Plus, back in the day it was more uncommon to see a face turn heel and vice versa, so it was harder for these guys to stay fresh any longer than a couple of years. And most on the list were jobbed out at the end of their runs anyway.

I'm kind of losing track of my point here.... oh well.

I think that is actually a problem with WWE today. Too many guys who have been there far too long to finally move up the ladder, so it's pointless them even being there, plus WWE restricting guys from making the same kind of instant impact they could back in the 80s. But then back in the 80s most of those guys already had vast experience in the business, whereas today they're learning on the job, so to speak. Yeah, I really lost that point didn't I...

[Pardeep 619]

Without a doubt Jake "the Snake" Roberts. Although the guy is not a technical great, his promos were well ahead of his time. He was great face and heel.

[Innovator]

Without a doubt Jake "the Snake" Roberts. Although the guy is not a technical great, his promos were well ahead of his time. He was great face and heel.I immediately thought of Jake the Snake. Right now I think he'd be the most over face in the company

[weather vane]

If we're comparing the 80s to the modern day business...

if you notice in the 80s/90s, guys tended to only have short runs (particularly in the WWF) where they would come in, hang around for probably about five years, then move on. If they were particularly good they could stay at or near the top of the card for the entire time. That's why these guys are regarded as legends nowadays by longtime WWF fans... they never outstayed their welcome.

Nowadays you have a huge number of guys or gimmicks getting pushed, to various degrees, who have been in the WWE for years and years, be it continuously or with various extended absences. Here is a list of all current on-screen performers who have been with the WWE for five years or more(tenures in parenthesis, rounded up to the nearest year):

Shawn Michaels (19 years)
Undertaker (16 years)
Jerry Lawler (14 years)
Viscera (on and off for 13 years)
Hardcore Holly (12 years)
Triple H (11 years)
Steve Austin (11 years)
JBL (11 years)
Goldust (on and off for 11 years)
Mark Henry (10 years)
Mick Foley (10 years)
The Rock (if you still count him?) (10 years)
Kane (9 years)
Edge (8 years)
Matt Hardy (8 years +)
Scotty Too Hotty (8 years +)
Val Venis (8 years)
Vince McMahon as an active on-screen character (8 years)
Kurt Angle (7 years)
Big Show (7 years)
Dancin' Stevie Richards (7 years)
Lita (6 years)
Trish Stratus (6 years)
Victoria (6 years)
Chris Benoit (6 years)
Ric Flair (5 years since his return)
Rob Van Dam (5 years)
Torrie Wilson (5 years)
Booker T (5 years)
Gregory Helms (5 years)
William Regal (5 years)

Now I'm not saying all of those guys (and gals) are worthless, not at all. But a great number of those are well past their sell-by-date. And if they haven't made it big by now, chances are they are very unlikely to in the future.

To contrast this (and to get to my actual point!), the following wrestlers spring to my mind as having arrived, made some degree of impact, and left the WWF/WWE within a five/six year period, yet are remembered as all-time WWF greats:


Bad News Brown (2 years)
Bam Bam Bigelow (second stint, mostly heel: 2 years)
Lex Luger (not classic, but remembered: 2 years)
Legion of Doom (original run: 2 years)
Yokozuna (3 years)
Honky Tonk Man (3 years)
Ravishing Rick Rude (3 years)
Andre The Giant (his final, and most remembered, run: 3 years)
Earthquake (original run: 3 years)
Diesel (3 years)
1-2-3 Kid (3 years)
The British Bulldogs (3 years)
The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers (3 years)
Razor Ramon (4 years)
Ultimate Warrior (original run: 4 years)
Big Bossman (original: 4 years)
Demolition (4 years)
Mr. Perfect (combined years as active wrestler: approx 4 years)
Macho Man Randy Savage (around 5 years as an active wrestler)
Ted DiBiase (6 years)
Jake The Snake Roberts (6 years)
Koko B. Ware (6 years)
The Model Rick Martel (6 years)
Hacksaw Jim Duggan (6 years)

These are just a few examples, and although some listed may not be technical greats, they all made an impact in some fashion during their tenures, a lot of them in the main event scene, and all of whom are remembered by long-term fans, hardcore or casual.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, trying to work out whether the old-school wrestlers would make an impact nowadays is hard to establish. Could DiBiase have kept the heat for 11/12 years? Or would be have ended up as a glorified jobber like Venis and Holly? Same with the likes of Roberts and even Savage (who went on to be successful in WCW as he was fresh to their audience). While these older guys made big impacts in short periods of time, they weren't really reknowned for their ability to reinvent themselves either, whereas the likes of Triple H, Angle and Undertaker have evolved immensely over the years.

Plus, back in the day it was more uncommon to see a face turn heel and vice versa, so it was harder for these guys to stay fresh any longer than a couple of years. And most on the list were jobbed out at the end of their runs anyway.

I'm kind of losing track of my point here.... oh well.

I think that is actually a problem with WWE today. Too many guys who have been there far too long to finally move up the ladder, so it's pointless them even being there, plus WWE restricting guys from making the same kind of instant impact they could back in the 80s. But then back in the 80s most of those guys already had vast experience in the business, whereas today they're learning on the job, so to speak. Yeah, I really lost that point didn't I...

I disagree with a lot of these numbers and some of your views. I am not going to back my opinion up in any way, shape, or form.

[Pinnacle Charisma]

I disagree with a lot of these numbers and some of your views. I am not going to back my opinion up in any way, shape, or form.

Lol

Yeah I was only a kid during the late 80's so my memory is a bit fuzzy but I thought that Luger and HTM where in the wwe for a lot longer than that.

[LIC098]

the ultimate warrior , mr wonderful , paul roma ,

[tucsonspeed6]

I disagree with a lot of these numbers and some of your views. I am not going to back my opinion up in any way, shape, or form.


I'll back them up for you.

The WCW hasn't been in business in 5 years. Therefore, you're gonna have a lot of guys who would normally move back and forth from one company to another who are forced to work for WWE or just recently to take the option of moving to TNA. The reason a lot of workers have been with the WWE for more than 5 years these days is because they have nowhere else to go. As for in the 80's, these wrestlers may have only been with the WWE for a few years, but that doesn't mean they weren't already established as wrestlers elsewhere. WWE wasn't necessarily the top dog at the time, so a wrestler who worked for just about any other regional company would be fairly known.

Plus you've also got to take into account that the 80's stars have had the WWE talking about them as "legends" for over 15 years now. Everybody's memory could be a little fuzzy. Who could remember if a wrestler got a response in a match they watched when they were 5 years old?

[94 SVT Cobra]

My orginal first favorite wrestler....and mentioned already...Jake the Snake Roberts. Watching his dvd, my gf, who wasnt even a wrestling fan till 04, was like "wow, it looks like it was so much better back then, this guy seems like hed fit in now".

[Avenger]

Tully Blanchard. He was huge in the 80's...but I think if he came around right now, he would make a name for himself as one of the all time greats (which he already is, even if most have never heard of him).Always, in my opinion, overlooked as one of the greats. Tully had it all and then some.

[BobBitchen]

Andre the Giant

[NeanderCarl]

I'll back them up for you.

The WCW hasn't been in business in 5 years. Therefore, you're gonna have a lot of guys who would normally move back and forth from one company to another who are forced to work for WWE or just recently to take the option of moving to TNA. The reason a lot of workers have been with the WWE for more than 5 years these days is because they have nowhere else to go. As for in the 80's, these wrestlers may have only been with the WWE for a few years, but that doesn't mean they weren't already established as wrestlers elsewhere. WWE wasn't necessarily the top dog at the time, so a wrestler who worked for just about any other regional company would be fairly known.

Plus you've also got to take into account that the 80's stars have had the WWE talking about them as "legends" for over 15 years now. Everybody's memory could be a little fuzzy. Who could remember if a wrestler got a response in a match they watched when they were 5 years old?

Like I said, I realise the business is a different beast nowdays, but that doesn't mean that the fans don't get tired of the same guys over and over. Back when you had many different companies, I would guess that predominantly the companies had their own loyal fanbases. Okay, there were fans who liked, say, both WWF and WCW. But on the whole, different styles and different audiences.

[NeanderCarl]

But anyway, I think Jake Roberts had the TOOLS to make it in today's business... however, I don't think he would have gotten the opportunity. He didn't have a great body, nor was he a pretty boy. As that is what WWE seems to be looking for nowadays, he wouldn't have stood a chance.

Shame, because he truly is an all-time great.

Plus, do you really think Triple H would have let an awesome heel like Jake Roberts steal his thunder??? PLus the WWE's "scripted interviews" would never have been as creative as Jake's own warped mind.

[ClockShot]

Jake "The Snake" Roberts. The gimmick was perfect and gave us the DDT, fans loved the man from Stone Mountain, GA.

Ted DiBiase. Now that he's popping up here and there recently, (This past monday on WWE UNLIMITED), I'd go nuts if Vince brought him back in a management role, or, to take it up a notch if McMahon hasn't forgot, GM. Throw a couple up and comers beside him as enforcers and he'd be great.

And for my left field, late 80's- early 90's suggestion. The Mountie. One of the greatest wrestling themes ever. And that taser he always carried scared me to death as a kid.

[NeanderCarl]

The Mountie was amazing. I AMMMMMMMM THE MOUNTIIIIIIIIIIIIIE!

Bring that dude back!