About This Quiz
Wrestling has been around for decades, but the popularity of the sport exploded in the 1980s. Many franchises contributed to this, but the one that led the way was the World Wrestling Federation run by Vince McMahon. By securing television airtime, he brought wrestling into homes, not only in the United States but around the world.
But as you know, the sport would not have been such a success without the multitude of wrestlers who fought in the squared circle. And the variety was simply astonishing. Some, like Hulk Hogan, were cast on the side of good — the public loved them. Others, cast on the side of evil, had a love-hate relationship with the public. Characters come and went, with only the strongest surviving.
Marketing also played a major part in helping wrestling grow. It helped if a wrestler was not only good in the squared circle but on the mic as well. Not only did wrestlers have interesting personas and finishing moves, but they also had catchphrases as well.
And that is where you come in. Can you identify '80s wrestling superstars from just their catchphrases? Yes, some are particularly easy, with catchphrases we all remember, but others will push your wrestling knowledge to the limit. Let's see how you fare. Now climb to the top turnbuckle and launch yourself to victory!
Good luck!
Terry Bollea is known under many different stage names, the most famous of which is Hulk Hogan. He was extremely popular during the '80s and is the only wrestler ever to pick up and body slam Andre the Giant.
Aurelian Smith Jr., or Jake 'The Snake' Roberts to the wrestling fraternity, spent much of the '80s terrorizing his opponents with his pet snakes. His signature finishing move, The DDT, is one of the most recognizable moves in wrestling. Roberts is semi-retired but did return to the WWF in 2014.
"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan proved to be extremely popular, thanks to his ever-present American flag. He was the winner of the first ever Royal Rumble in 1988 which wrote him into WWF folklore.
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A stalwart of the World Wrestling Federation in the mid- to late 1980's, Dino Bravo, born Adolfo Bresciano, was generally cast as a villain. He was murdered in 1993, aged just 44.
Another wrestler who died early (aged just 40), "Ravishing" Rick Rude wrestled for four different franchises in the '80s, ending with the WWF. Sadly, he died from heart failure in 1999.
Professional wrestler Robert Remus, or Sgt. Slaughter as he was known, started his career in the early '70s. During the '80s, he moved between the WWF, National Wrestling Alliance and the American Wrestling Association.
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Ted DiBiase, or The Million Dollar Man, participated in a number of different wrestling promotions during the '80s. He returned to the WWF in 1987 with his signature finishing move, The Million Dollar Dream.
Richard Vigneault, known by his wrestling name of Rick Martel, wrested for both the WWF and the American Wrestling Association during the 1980s. In the early '80s, he was a Tag Team Champion in the WWF.
With his trademark brown floppy hat, James Morris or Hillbilly Jim was one of the WWF's most popular wrestlers in the mid to late '80s. His finishing move was the Bear Hug, and Jim was no shrinking violet. He stood 6-foot-7 inches and weighed 320 pounds.
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Diamond Dallas Paige actually started out as a manager in 1988, before he had his first professional bout in 1989. He has moved between various wrestling franchises, including WCW and the WWF/WWE.
Virgil Riley Runnels Jr. or "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes proved a popular wrestler in the 1980s. He was known for his excellent oratory skills and brilliant personality.
"Macho Man" Randy Savage (Randy Poffo) was a renowned professional wrestler during the 1980s. He held both the World Wrestling Federation Intercontinental Championship belt and the Heavyweight Championship belt during his career.
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Curt Henning, or Mr. Perfect as he was known to the wrestling world, moved between wrestling franchises in the 1980s but spent four years in the WWF during that period over two stints. He went on to become Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion in 1990.
Wayne Farris, popularly known as the Honky Tonk Man, was a professional wrestler from 1977 and still wrestles to this day on the independent circuit. He was most popular during his time with the WWF, where he was the Intercontinental Champion between 1987 and 1988.
Jim Ross is possibly the greatest wrestling commentator of all time. He started in broadcasting in 1974 and spent much of the 1980s commentating for Jim Crockett Productions and WCW. He later moved to the World Wrestling Federation.
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Bret "The Hitman" Hart, a member of the fabled Hart family of wrestlers, started his career in the mid-1970s with Stampede Wrestling. By the mid-1980s, he had caught the attention of the WWF and moved stables. He was extremely popular in the WWF and became a multiple champion in the early '90s.
Jerry Lawler had an interesting wrestling career, starting out in Memphis where he wrestled from 1974 to 1992. This included a feud with Andy Kaufmann, the comedian which proved all to be staged at the time. Lawler later moved onto the WWF and is now a commentator.
Ricardo Santana Ortiz kept his wrestling name of Ricky Santana pretty close to the original. He fought in a number of different wrestling bodies including the WWF. Santana made his debut in 1982.
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The CEO of the WWF/WWE, wrestling has made Vince McMahon one of the biggest names in the sport. In the 1980s, he turned the sport into a TV phenomena and it has remained there to this day with many top events pay-for-view. McMahon has even wrestled himself, but it's his iconic catchphrase of "You're fired" that wrestlers really fear.
Wooo! Rick Flair's signature call still rings out around wrestling shows today. One of the most respected wrestlers in the world, Flair's career encompasses 40 years in the squared circle. He is a 16-time world champion.
At 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 390 pounds, Scott Charles Bigelow, or Bam Bam, was a massive unit. He started in the wrestling scene in the mid-'80s, quickly progressing to the ever-growing WWF. More stable changes followed in the '90s. Bigelow died in 2007, aged just 45, from an overdose.
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Davey Boy Smith, better known as the British Bulldog, proved to be a popular foreign import into the WWF in the '80s. He died in 1999, aged just 39, after suffering a heart attack.
Born Roderick George Toombs in Canada in 1954, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper made use of his Scottish heritage to build his wrestling persona. He always came to the ring accompanied by bagpipe music and wearing a kilt. Piper was extremely popular in the 1980s, particularly in the WWF. He died in 2015.
Two-time heavyweight champion Bob Backlund was extremely successful during the 1980s. His signature move was the cross-faced chicken wing, which won him many matches.
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The Road Warriors were one of the most popular wrestling tag teams from the 1980s. With their scary face paint, interesting costumes and names, "Hawk" and "Animal" captured the attention of the wrestling public. Many pundits believe they are the greatest tag team ever.
Without a doubt, Jesse Ventura has lived an interesting life filled with wrestling and politics. He performed in the squared circle for a number of stables including the WWF and later became a commentator for the franchise and governor of Minnesota.
Born James Wiley Smith, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka's wrestling career began in the late '60s. During the '80s he fought in both the WWF and the American Wrestling Association. His signature finishing move was the SuperFly Splash.
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Part of the legendary Hart family out of Canada, Owen Hart started his career in the WWF in 1988. He tragically died in 1999 when his entrance into the ring (where he was lowered from the roof) went horribly wrong.
One of the most popular wrestlers of the 1980s, the Ultimate Warrior (James Brian Hellwig) built his name in WCW before moving to the WWF in 1987 where he went on to become the Intercontinental Champion and World Heavyweight Champion.
One of the most recognized wrestlers in the world, The Undertaker started out his career in the late 1980s and went on to become one of the greatest athletes in the sport.
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Josip Hrvoje Peruzović, better known as Nikolai Volkoff, was often the villain during his wrestling career in the 1980s. He partnered with another villainous character, the Iron Sheik, to win the Tag Team Championship in the mid-1980s.
Born in Tehran in 1942, Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, better known as the Iron Sheikh, had a colorful wrestling career which saw him crowned WWF Champion in 1983. He is considered one of the best villains in wrestling history. One of his finishing moves was the Camel Clutch, a submission hold.
Shawn Michaels began his wrestling career in the 1980s, becoming extremely popular in the WWF from the middle of the decade as part of the tag team "The Rockers." He went on to win many accolades in the 1990s.
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Born Ray Washington Taylor Jr, Big Boss Man was a successful wrestler whose career grew when he joined the World Wrestling Federation in 1988. He went on to hold their Hardcore Championship on four occasions. Taylor died in 2004 from a heart attack at the age of 41.
Born André René Roussimoff, this '80s wrestling superstar stood 7 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 520 pounds. He wrestled all around the world but made a name for himself in the World Wrestling Federation. He died in 1993, aged just 43, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in the same year.