How Well Do You Know Your ’80s Wrestling Trivia?

By: Gavin Thagard
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
How Well Do You Know Your ’80s Wrestling Trivia?
Image: Steven Errico / DigitalVision / Getty Images / Wiki Commons by Journalist 1st Class Kristin Fitzsimmons

About This Quiz

It was known as the golden age of wrestling due to the significant boom in popularity. In the 1980s, the wrestling industry was defined by larger than life characters, title exchanges and yearly wrestling events that were growing increasingly popular. With figures like Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair leading the way, and legends like Andre the Giant and Harley Race still competing at a high level, there might never have been a better time to be a wrestling fan. 

Of course, it was cable television that had one of the most significant impacts in helping wrestling to grow during the decade. With the rise of cable television, wrestling was brought thousands of American homes each week. As the profession's exposure increased, promotions began to push the boundaries of their companies from the regional level to the national level. This expansion boosted the competition between rival promotions as some faltered behind the pressure, and others adapted and thrived. 

How well does your '80s wrestling trivia stack up against others? Are you as familiar with the decade as you might be with other eras like the "Attitude Era" or the "PG Era" of more recent times? Find out with this quiz. Be careful, though, because some of these questions might just put you down for the count. 


Miss Elizabeth
Wiki Commons by Rob DiCaterino
When "Macho Man" Randy Savage moved to the WWF, who did he take as his manager?
Jim Cornette
Miss Elizabeth
Bobby Heenan
Jimmy Hart
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Miss Elizabeth, or Elizabeth Hulette, was married to "Macho Man" Randy Savage in real life. The two had a kayfabe — or staged — wedding in 1991 as part of a storyline set up to introduce Savage's next opponent.

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A snake
Wiki Commons by Florida Supercon
Jake Roberts carried what animal with him to the ring during matches?
A snake
A hawk
An iguana
A tarantula
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jake Roberts was a master at in-ring psychology, partly because of his ability to use fear as a tactic to get under his opponent's skin during a match. One method he used to incite fear was to carry a snake named Damien to the ring with him, often unleashing the reptile on his enemies.

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A 2x4
Wiki Commons by James
Can you remember what Jim Duggan always carried to the ring with him?
A saw
A two-by-four
An ax
A hammer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With a two-by-four in one hand and an American flag in the other, Jim Duggan came to the ring for matches with the intention of defending the honor of his country. One of his biggest opponents during this era was the Russian Nikolai Volkoff, mimicking a dispute in national relations between the U.S. and Russia.

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Million Dollar Championship
Wiki Commons by Megan Elice Meadows
Ted DiBiase wanted a title for himself, so he created one and named it what?
Million Dollar Championship
Championship of the Greats
Ultimate Championship
Hardcore Championship
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After failing to win the WWF Heavyweight Championship, "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase realized there was only one belt fit for him, a belt he created out of gold and diamonds and called the Million Dollar Championship. The title rarely left DiBiase after it was created.

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Piper's Pitt
Wiki Commons by GabboT
What did "Rowdy" Roddy Piper call his infamous interview segment?
Hot Rod Talk
Piper's Pitt
The Heat
Talk Time with Piper
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

During an interview with Andre the Giant, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper claimed he could slam the Giant if he was given five minutes in the ring. Andre responded by picking Piper up by his shirt and throwing him across the set.

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Andre the Giant
WWE
Who did Hulk Hogan face at WrestleMania III to retain the WWF championship?
Andre the Giant
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
King Kong Bundy
The Ultimate Warrior
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Andre the Giant was one of the biggest draws in wrestling history, often considered bigger than the company for which he wrestled. His popularity gave him immense power within the WWF, as he was seen as the leader of the locker room.

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By cutting a wrestler's hair
Wiki Commons by John McKeon
How did Brutus Beefcake become "The Barber"?
By shaving his head
It was his signature move.
By cutting a wrestler's hair
By carrying a razor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It was at WrestleMania III that Brutus Beefcake earned the nickname "The Barber" by cutting Adrian Adonis' hair and shaving his head. Beefcake was able to cut his hair after Adonis lost a Hair vs. Hair match against Roddy Piper.

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Vince McMahon
Wiki Commons by Airman 1st Class Nicholas Pilch
The World Wrestling Federation expanded from a regional territory into a national powerhouse under which owner?
Vince McMahon
Joe Blanchard
Jim Cornette
Angelo Poffo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Vince McMahon took over the WWF from his father after purchasing the company in 1982. Initially, the WWF only promoted in the Northeast, but McMahon decided to break a pack with other promotions by moving into their territories.

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Madison Square Garden
WWE
It was a major wrestling event in 1985. Where did the first WrestleMania take place?
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Nassau Coliseum
Madison Square Garden
Rosemont Horizon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Madison Square Garden is one of the most famous sporting event venues in the world. Aside from hosting the New York Knicks' home games, the arena has housed many famous boxing matches, including Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier.

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Haku
Wiki Commons by Paul Billets
Are you familiar with this wrestler who was known as one of the toughest men in the business?
Bad News Brown
Sgt. Slaughter
Haku
Tully Anderson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After Big John Studd lost the Body Slam Challenge to Andre the Giant, he continued to push other wrestlers into accepting the challenge. Haku, known as King Tonga at the time, stepped up to the plate and slammed Studd during an airing of "Championship Wrestling" in 1986.

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World Championship Wrestling
Wiki Commons by Connor Carey
Ted Turner founded which promotion in 1988 that would compete with the WWF throughout the '90s?
National Wrestling Alliance
World Championship Wrestling
Stampede Wrestling
All Elite Wrestling
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The WCW brought in some of the biggest stars in the wrestling business during its run as the top competitor to the WWF. The company even stole many wrestlers from the WWF, including Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage and Kevin Nash. WCW offices were located inside the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, shown here.

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Figure four leg lock
Wiki Commons by Matthew Glover
Ric Flair is synonymous with which submission hold?
Sleep hold
Crossface chicken wing
Figure four leg lock
Sharpshooter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There have been many wrestlers who have utilized the figure four leg lock, but none of them are as well associated with the move as Ric Flair. Opponents knew their defeat was only a matter of time whenever Flair got them in the hold, which was a major reason he held multiple championships.

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Body slam
Wiki Commons by John McKeon / Ethan
How did Andre the Giant defeat Big John Studd at WrestleMania I?
Choke slam
Piledriver
Body slam
Headlock
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Coming into WrestleMania I, Big John Studd offered Andre the Giant $15,000 if Andre could deliver a body slam to Studd. If Studd had won the bet, Andre would have been forced to retire.

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King
Wiki Commons by Cory McDonald
Harley Race started referring to himself by what name when he joined the WWF?
Cobra
The Rock
The Game
King
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The King of the Ring event was introduced in 1985, and Harley Race won the event in only its second year, which was his first year with the WWF. After the event, he began to refer to himself as "King" Harley Race, forcing his competition to bow before him once they were defeated.

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King Kong Bundy
Wiki Commons by John Mena
Can you identify the wrestler that Bobby Heenan managed in the main event of WrestleMania II?
Mr. Perfect
Rick Rude
Ricky Steamboat
King Kong Bundy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

King Kong Bundy took on Hulk Hogan in the main event of WrestleMania II with Bobby Heenan at his ringside. Hulk Hogan managed to win the match against the ruthless heel by escaping the cage before Bundy.

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Louisiana Superdome
Wiki Commons by Infrogmation
Held on the same day as WrestleMania V, where did Clash of Champions VI take place?
Cleveland Convention Center
Superdome
UTC Arena
Albany Civic Center
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With construction beginning in 1971, the Superdome has been home to the New Orleans Saints of the NFL since 1975. The team was only absent from the stadium for one season. That was in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans.

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Brawler
AWA / WWE Network
Do you know which style of wrestling Bruiser Brody popularized in the '80s?
Technical
Highflying
Submission
Brawler
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bruiser Brody's brawler style in the ring often involved the use of blading, where he would purposely cut open his forehead for the appearance of blood. His matches with Abdullah the Butcher were some of the bloodiest matches in wrestling history.

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WWF Intercontinental Championship
Wiki Commons by John McKeon
Which title belt did Tito Santana hold in 1984?
WWF World Heavyweight Championship
WWF Intercontinental Championship
NWA World Heavyweight Championship
NWA United States Heavyweight Championship
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat was the first wrestler to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship at a WrestleMania event when he defeated "Macho Man" Randy Savage at WrestleMania III. Their match is considered one of the greatest in wrestling history. Tito Santana held the belt in 1984.

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Greg Valentine
Wiki Commons by John McKeon
Which of these wrestlers was never a member of The Fabulous Freebirds?
Greg Valentine
Michael Hayes
Terry Gordy
Jimmy Garvin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Nicknamed "The Hammer," Greg Valentine was a skilled and tough competitor who held multiple championships throughout the '80s. He competed for multiple companies and took part in both the first Starrcade with the NWA and WrestleMania I with the WWF.

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A steel cage match
Wiki Commons by Mrdames / Paparazzo Presents
n 1983, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka used his signature move, "Superfly Splash," against Don Muraco during which type of match?
A ladder match
A tables match
A hardcore match
A steel cage match
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The steel cage match between Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka and Don Muraco was one of the most influential matches in wrestling history. The match pushed what it meant to take a bump when Snuka flew from the top of the cage onto Muraco down below.

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Elvis Presley
Wiki Commons by Mark Hodgins
The Honky Tonk Man based his character on which famous music star?
Johnny Cash
Hank Williams Jr.
Elvis Presley
George Jones
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Unlike Elvis Presley, Honky Tonk Man's music wasn't popular with the audience, but that didn't stop him from performing for them. Never afraid to take a cheap shot with his guitar, he was one of the most hated villains in the business.

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The Rockers
Wiki Commons by John McKeon
Are you familiar with the tag team formed by Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty?
The Rock 'n' Roll Express
The Hart Foundation
The British Bulldogs
The Rockers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Rockers were popular in the '80s for their highflying style of wrestling that incorporated athletic moves, a contrast to the big men in the business. Eventually, the tag team split up, and Shawn Michaels went on to have a stellar singles career in the WWF.

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Von Erichs
Wiki Commons by Wrestlehut
Can you identify the wrestling family that ran World Class Championship Wrestling?
Harts
Hennigs
Poffos
Von Erichs
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

They were some of the biggest names in the wrestling world at one time, but the Von Erich family story ended in tragedy. Not only did their wrestling promotion go under, but most of them died tragically at very young ages.

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Akeem
Wiki Commons by Mike Kalasnik
What did One Man Gang start calling himself after "embracing his roots" in 1988?
Akeem
Big Boss Man
The Ultimate Warrior
The British Bulldog
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

One Man Gang completely changed his voice and style when he transformed into Akeem "The African Dream." Not long after his transformation, he teamed up with Big Boss Man to form The Twin Towers.

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Mr. T
Wiki Commons by John McKeon
Who partnered with Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania I to take on Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff?
Ric Flair
Mr. T
"Macho Man" Randy Savage
Honky Tonk Man
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After his appearance in "Rocky III," Mr. T's popularity soured in the 1980s, which eventually led him into the wrestling business. However, he was disliked by many other wrestlers, like Roddy Piper, because he never worked his way up, instead using his popularity to gain main event status.

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Mid-South Wrestling
Wiki Commons by John B. Henderson / Adam.J.W.C.
Junkyard Dog rose to prominence in the '80s as a babyface with which promotion?
American Wrestling Association
Championship Wrestling from Florida
Georgia Championship Wrestling
Mid-South Wrestling
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Following the growth of the WWF, owner Bill Watts of Mid-South Wrestling tried to transform the company from a regional promotion into a national promotion. He renamed it the Universal Wrestling Federation, but it went under by 1987 and was sold to Jim Crockett Promotions.

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Ric Flair
Wiki Commons by Cory McDonald
Which wrestler was Dusty Rhodes supposed to face when he delivered his "Hard Times" promo?
Harley Race
Ric Flair
Terry Funk
"Superstar" Billy Graham
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dusty Rhodes pitched himself as "The American Dream" because he was the son of a plumber who rose to the top of the wrestling world. His promo, "Hard Times," delivered against Ric Flair depicted a man of the people taking on a man of luxury.

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The British Bulldogs
Wiki Commons by James / Dianes Digitals
Davey Boy Smith teamed up with Dynamite Kid to form what tag team from the '80s?
The Rock 'n' Roll Express
The Legion of Doom
The Road Warriors
The British Bulldogs
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Throughout their early career in Stampede Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Dynamite Kid and Davey Boy Smith competed against one another as a babyface and heel. Once they joined the WWF in 1984, they were turned into a tag team known as The British Bulldogs.

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Jim Neidhart
Wiki Commons by John McKeon
It was one of the toughest tag teams in the late '80s. Who did Bret Hart team up with to form The Hart Foundation?
The British Bulldog
Dynamite Kid
Jim Neidhart
Owen Hart
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lacking the size of some of his competitors, Bret Hart had to rely on his technical skills to get over on his opponents. Jim Neidhart, on the other hand, was the powerhouse of The Hart Foundation, utilizing his strength to create a balanced tag team.

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1
Wiki Commons by Wrestling Revue
How many titles did Andre the Giant win in the 1980s?
One
Two
Three
Four
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Andre the Giant won the only title of his career when referee Earl Hebner took a bribe from Ted DiBiase to help Andre win the title from Hulk Hogan. As soon as he won the title, Andre handed the belt to DiBiase, who was later stripped of it due to the bribery.

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They cost him his championship
Wiki Commons by Mandy Coombes
Why did Lex Luger leave the Four Horsemen in 1988, setting up multiple matches with Ric Flair?
He wanted to wrestle Sting.
He betrayed Ric Flair.
They cost him his championship.
He held the championship.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lex Luger won the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship from Nikita Koloff after his manager helped him cheat by throwing him a steel chair. However, he lost the belt in a similar fashion to Dusty Rhodes, who got a hold of the chair and performed a DDT for the win.

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A cast
AWA / Jim Crockett Promotions
Can you remember what "Cowboy" Bob Orton Jr. wore to use as a weapon during matches?
A cast
A chain
A belt buckle
A hat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Unlike most injuries, "Cowboy" Bob Orton Jr. seemed to have a broken bone that would never heal, as he wore his cast for years after breaking his arm. The injury seemed to benefit him in the ring, however, as he used the cast as a weapon against his opponents.

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The Mega Powers Explode
WWE
Do you know how the WWF billed WrestleMania V?
The Premier Sporting Event of the Year!
Bigger! Better! Badder!
What the World is Watching!
The Mega Powers Explode
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The main event of WrestleMania V pitted Hulk Hogan against "Macho Man" Randy Savage, who had previously formed a tag team known as The Mega Powers. The feud resulted in a classic match that Hogan won by pinfall.

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Steel cage match
Wiki Commons by John McKeon / Yagobo79 / NWA
Ric Flair won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from Ron Garvin at the 1987 Starrcade in which type of match?
No disqualification match
Steel cage match
Ladder match
Dog collar match
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The first steel cage match was believed to have taken place in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1937. This match was different than future steel cage matches in that the ring was surrounded by chicken wire.

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Tournament
WWE
With the WWF Heavyweight title vacant in 1988, how was the new champion decided?
Tournament
Battle Royal
Four way match
Highest bidder
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

At WrestleMania IV in 1988, "Macho Man" Randy Savage faced Ted DiBiase in the finals of the tournament for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship. Savage took the victory, winning his first WWF Heavyweight title.

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715 pounds
Wiki Commons by A31lover
Claiming he was the "World's Strongest Man," how much weight did Dino Bravo supposedly bench at the 1988 Royal Rumble?
515 pounds
575 pounds
630 pounds
715 pounds
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With 715 pounds on the bar, Dino Bravo didn't actually complete the full bench motion before he was helped by Jesse Ventura. Of course, that didn't stop Bravo from stating he was the "World's Strongest Man."

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45 minutes
Wiki Commons by chalk42002 / Darth Mike
How long did the match at Clash of Champions I last between Ric Flair and Sting?
30 seconds
30 minutes
45 minutes
60 minutes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sting's popularity was on the rise prior to his match with Ric Flair at Clash of Champions I, but their 45-minute bout launched Sting to superstar status. Even though the match ended in a draw, Sting would go on to lead the WCW for years to come.

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Pinfall
New Japan Pro-Wrestling Co., Ltd.
How did Rick Rude defeat The Ultimate Warrior for the WWF Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania V?
Pinfall
Submission
Disqualification
Count out
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Ultimate Warrior was a dominant force from the moment he joined the WWF, winning most of his matches in very short time periods. Rick Rude put a stop to that at WrestleMania V, becoming the first wrestler to defeat The Ultimate Warrior by pinfall.

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Camel clutch
Wiki Commons by Paul Billets
Hulk Hogan won his first WWF championship by breaking free from what type of hold used by Iron Sheik?
Sharpshooter
Figure four leg lock
Camel clutch
Bear hug
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As the WWF expanded into the national spotlight, the company needed a star to keep fans interested. They went with the babyface Hulk Hogan, who became one of the biggest stars in the business after breaking free from Iron Sheik's signature hold, the camel clutch, to win his first championship.

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Starrcade
Wiki Commons by John Mathew Smith / Chrysaor
Where did Ric Flair defeat Harley Race for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship?
WrestleMania
Starrcade
The Great American Bash
King of the Ring
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Coming into the 1983 Starrcade, Harley Race held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and was probably the company's most established star. Ric Flair, on the other hand, was the young babyface, whose career was on the rise as one of the biggest names in the '80s.

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You Got:
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Steven Errico / DigitalVision / Getty Images / Wiki Commons by Journalist 1st Class Kristin Fitzsimmons