5 80's wrestlers that could be successful today

The 1980’s was the pinnacle of professional wrestling. It was the turning point – from a moderate entertainment source to popular culture.Wrestling expanded leaps and bounds in the period, and it spawned some of wrestling’s most iconic figures ever. However, it’s fairly safe to say that most of these figures would't work in modern wrestling.Many gimmicks, at the time, seemed like they came out of a cartoon series, and were often unrealistic, overblown versions of something. If a heel had to be portrayed, he or she would be portrayed as the worst person on the planet, and a babyface would be made to look like someone who has nothing wrong with them at all.However, sometimes these gimmicks were great, considering the new definition of a great. If they were portrayed today, it could work well, and could be popular. This article looks at five wrestlers with gimmicks or styles that could be successful if done now.

#1 Ricky \'The Dragon\' Steamboat

Steamboat with the Intercontinental Championship

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Perhaps Ricky Steamboat is on this list simply because his gimmick wasn’t a full-blown cartoon.

The Dragon was, in his WWE career, a defiant babyface, who wasn’t the biggest guy, or strongest. He was an exceptional wrestler, though. The biggest memory we all probably have of Ricky is his show-stealing match with Randy Savage at WrestleMania III.

Emotions were high when Steamboat rolled up and pinned Savage for the win, and for the Intercontinental Championship. It was a moment of redemption and revenge, for having his neck injured at the hands of Savage, and the crowd was behind him.

This would arguably be successful in the modern day for two reasons. A similar gimmick belongs to someone else, who previously also had the ‘Dragon’ monicker, and his name is Daniel Bryan.

Daniel Bryan is arguably the most popular wrestler right now, at least, when he isn’t injured. Another reason that Bryan is so popular is that he is a great technician in the ring, as was Steamboat. It seems like a perfect match.

#2 Ted DiBiase

The Million Dollar Man’s son may not have been the most successful in WWE, but if his father was performing at the same time, he could have been.

Ted DiBiase had a gimmick that was an all-out heel’s. He was filthy rich, and he wasn’t afraid to show it. He flaunted a visibly expensive suit to the ring, had his own “Million Dollar Championship”, and had his own ‘bodyguard’, Virgil, who he would look down upon, and make him do things like rubbing his boss’ feet.

He attracted hate towards him at all times, mostly because he was painted as someone who thought he was above everybody else.

This simplicity in his character, and the theatricality of his gimmick could be a huge selling point. Someone else who used to attract a lot of heat because of the way he used to boast his wealth, more recently, was Alberto Del Rio, and for the most part, the gimmick worked.

DiBiase could have been a great asset to WWE if he was of wrestling age now.

#3 Mr Perfect

In an age of highly demanding wrestling fans and intense technical competition, it would seem like a great place for Curt Henning to be.

Mr Perfect was known for his incredible in-ring ability, and it appears as if that is the most important criteria in judging a modern wrestler, according to internet fans. One could already start fantasising about dream matches, such as Dolph Ziggler vs Mr Perfect, or even against Daniel Bryan.

While the above mentioned may already be a strong factor for Henning, another reason for his inevitable success, which he could have had had he still been alive right now, is his character.

Another wrestler with a similar character to him, right now, is Dolph Ziggler, and if one judges by how the internet talks about Ziggler, it would be well known that he is immensely popular. This would have him over with fans, and would make him a great resource for WWE.

#4 \'Rowdy\' Roddy Piper

Roddy Piper was the definitive heel of the era, just like CM Punk for the modern era. He had it all about him. He was a good wrestler, and probably is as associated with a microphone as anyone can be.

The “Piper’s Pit” is arguably the most popular wrestling talk show in history, and carried on through his wrestling retirement, until his eventual demise.

Roddy Piper had a character that went to all heights with his deeds. He went toe-to-toe with Mr T! Modern wrestling needs that. The ones who push the boundaries much more than others are the most successful.

He didn’t attract hate towards him, the hate attracted him. In a time when people get offended by the smallest things, Piper could have been the talking point with a lot of controversies, and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Heels need that sometimes.

#5 \'Macho Man\' Randy Savage

Randy Savage is on this list for a number of reasons, not just one. He was an exceptionally talented wrestler, and could put on a show-stealing match with a pencil (which, considering this is professional wrestling, has actually happened before when Brian Pillman wrestled a giant pencil).

Randy Savage was more than just a great wrestler. He was an entertainer in the purest form of the word. He could pull off some of the greatest promos ever, in his own trademarked way.

He seemed to have a chemistry with almost anyone, and his character was great too. He was a maniac, who was also, strangely, a romantic (kind of) person for Ms Elizabeth. This was a mainstay in popular culture.

This diversity in character, and an amazing amount of skill is exactly why Savage would fit in today. The world demands only the most talented, and he fits into the internet’s “size” for a wrestler.

Edited by Staff Editor