10 of the greatest wrestlers of the 1980s

There's an old adage in show business: sooner or later, everything old is new again.

That can be said of the 1980s. With films like Ready Player One and shows such as Stranger Things cashing in big on 1980s nostalgia, it seems people can't get enough of that time period.

The wrestling business experienced a transformation in the 1980s, going from numerous small, independent regional promotions to big companies that raked in billions of dollars and embraced the corporate attitude.

Here are ten of the best wrestlers from that decade, and the matches they are known for.

10 Greg "The Hammer" Valentine

The man who begins our list is STILL taking wrestling bookings today, at the age of 66!

One of the sports most legit 'tough men', Valentine began his career in the 70s, honing his craft in multiple territories and racking up championship wins.

With a mix of old school brutality and technical wrestling, it was only a matter of time before Greg Valentine ended up on the WWE's radar. He joined the then-WWF in 1984 and quickly captured the Intercontinental title from Tito Santana.

A notorious rulebreaker, Valentine didn't care if the fans cheered him or not, he was only concerned with winning. Here he is in the match that made him a star, facing Roddy Piper in a Dog Collar Match:

#9 Honky Tonk Man

Remember how we said everything old is new again? Well, in the 1980s Elvis mania was at an all-time high. The baby boomer generation never quite got over their fixation with the southern crooner who ripped off black music, even after Elvis Presley's death -- which many claimed was a hoax, and that the 'king' of Rock and Roll was alive and well.

Out of this environment came the Honky Tonk Man. Wayne Ferris was a journeyman performer, well respected in the southern promotions. Vince McMahon noted Ferris's resemblance to Elvis, and the rest was history.

Arguably one of the most hated heels of the 1980s, Honky Tonk Man insisted that the fans loved him even as he received wall to wall boos. Here he is facing Ricky Steamboat for the IC title.

#8 Harley Race

Perhaps the biggest star to ever come out of the St. Louis wrestling scene, Harley Race was revered as one of the toughest men to ever lace up a pair of boots.

The wily veteran was going full speed as the 1980s began, facing off against a young Ric Flair who was hungry for Race's NWA title. When Race joined the WWE, it was decided that since he was wrestling royalty he would be treated as such, and "King" Harley Race was born.

Harley Race was known for using his own body as a battering ram, and being so legit tough other wrestlers feared his wrath inside the ring and in the locker room. Here's Race facing Ric Flair (with Gordon Solie on commentary) in a steel cage from Starcade.

#7 Tito Santana

The high flying former football player, Santana is still taking wrestling bookings today, and remains in top condition for a man of his years.

Tito was well liked and respected not just by the fans, but by the other performers and promoters. Vince McMahon put Tito in the opening match of the first Wrestlemania because he knew Santana would deliver right out of the box.

The former WWE Intercontinental and Tag Team Champion was with the Federation for most of the 1980s. His long tenure involved notable victories against such luminaries as Ravishing Rick Rude, Greg Valentine, and Bret Hart.

Here's Tito with partner Rick Martel facing the Hart Foundation for the WWE tag titles.

#6 Kamala, The Ugandan Giant

At 6'7", and well over 300 pounds, Kamala seemed destined to be a pro wrestler. After meeting the legendary Bobo Brazil at a meet and greet, Kamala decided to pursue the path of wrestling.

Adopting a 'savage' gimmick, Kamala feuded with such notables as Andre The Giant. While is persona wouldn't fly in today's climate -- too many people would consider his gimmick racist -- he is well remembered by wrestling fans of the 1980s.

Here's Kamala vs. Andre the Giant in a steel cage:

#5 The Midnight Express

The most famous iteration of the Midnight Express, Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane

Tag team wrestling was so hot in the 1980s, that most promotions often had two separate tag championships, often a world and a regional title. Teams like the Fantastics, the Sheepherders, the Hart Foundation, and Demolition kept tag wrestling on the cultural map.

In this proliferation of talent, one team emerged as the clear-cut best - the Midnight Express. Maybe they couldn't draw as well as the Road Warriors, and they never wrestled for the WWE, but the duo of Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane wrestled all over the world facing the best tag teams of the age.

The pair had their most success in the NWA, where they were the first team to hold both the US tag titles and the World tag titles at the same time. Innovators of tandem offence, many of the moves they developed are now staples of tag team wrestling.

Here's the Midnight Express taking on frequent rivals the Rock and Roll Express.

#4 Rowdy Roddy Piper

the Late, great Roddy Piper. — The late great Roddy Piper

Roddy Piper was perhaps one of the greatest talkers in the history of wrestling. With his 'angry Scot' charm and over the top antics -- such as busting a bottle over his own head to prove how crazy he was -- Roddy wormed his way into the hearts of wrestling fans the world over, even when he was supposed to be the 'bad guy'.

Piper main evented the first Wrestlemania against Hulk Hogan and Mr. T in a tag match, and has often said that he is responsible for the rise of Hulkamania. After all, would the fans have cheered Hogan so loudly if they hadn't hated Piper so much?

Here's Piper taking on some obscure talent named Shawn Michaels.

#3 The Road Warriors/Legion of Doom

Hawk and Animal sold out at least as many arenas as Hulk Hogan did during the 1980s, possibly more as they wrestled internationally as well.

Hawk and Animal have Mel Gibson vehicle -- no pun intended -- The Road Warrior to thank for their success. Though they were calling themselves the Road Warriors long before the film hit, its nuclear wasteland fashion sense gave them the hook they needed to take their characters to the next level.

The Road Warriors won more tag titles for more promotions than can easily be recounted, and were perhaps the most beloved of all the 1980s tag teams.

Here they are against their imitators, the Powers of Pain.

#2 Hulk Hogan

The 1980s were big, aggressive, and loud, and perhaps the ultimate embodiment of those aspects was Hulk Hogan.

When he wasn't bragging about his 24" pythons, Hogan was telling the kids at home to 'say their prayers, train, and take their vitamins' so they could grow up to be just like him someday.

Hogan was WWE champion for five years, and faced just about every big name in the wrestling industry in his time.

Here's Andre the Giant -- the biggest wrestling star of the 1970s -- passing the torch to Hogan.

#1 Nature Boy Ric Flair

These days, literally every wrestling fan loves and worships Ric Flair. He can't even accompany his daughter Charlotte to the ring any longer because his fame dims the light of her own! And in every arena around the world, the crowd always unleashes a hearty "WHOO!" whenever anyone uses the knife edge chop in the ring.

But that wasn't always the case. For most of the 1980s, Ric Flair was the Darth Vader of pro wrestling. He could rile up crowds with his condescending, bragging interviews, and wrestle for sixty minutes at the drop of a hat against the world's best talent. In fact, during the 1980s Flair had so many long matches he was nicknamed "the Sixty Minute Man."

Whether on his own or part of the legendary Four Horsemen stable, Ric Flair was a huge draw. He ranks higher on this list than Hogan does because Flair fought more of the biggest names in wrestling, and put on better matches overall.

Here's Ric taking on his major rival Ricky Steamboat.

What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.

Edited by Nishant Jayaram