As important as in-ring ability is for a professional wrestler, it isn’t the only component to success in the business. Many wrestlers have made a name for themselves based on the persona, or character, that they portray in the ring and in promos.
Within that, appearance can be a big deal, and that encompasses every aspect of the wrestler’s look, including things like facial hair. In fact, some wrestlers were almost defined by the style of their facial hair, and here are five examples of such performers.
5: Iron Sheik
During the 1980s and a short stint in the 1990s, the Iron Sheik was an iconic heel in the WWE. Working alongside the likes of Nikolai Volkoff, he was perfect as a foreign bad guy who was nasty and brutal in the ring.
That work led him to a tag team championship and a reign as the WWF Champion but perhaps none of that would’ve been possible without his believably sinister character. At the center of that character was a moustache that screamed “Middle Eastern villain” as much as his finisher, the Camel Clutch.
4: Luke Harper
The Wyatt Family is essentially a backwoods cult that values anarchy over things like order and cleanliness. No member of the faction embodies that concept like Luke Harper, whose tank top shirt looks like it hasn’t been washed, perhaps ever.
As dingy as his shirt is, the look wouldn’t be complete without the wild deranged look in the former Intercontinental Champion’s eyes and that beard. It looks like it could house small animals due to its size and unkempt nature, and the gray spots only add to Harper’s unruly persona.
3: Kevin Nash
Kevin Nash’s goatee might not be as busy and noticeable as Luke Harper’s, but it signified something else entirely. While Harper and Iron Sheik’s facial hair made them stand out, Nash’s goatee helped him personify 1990s wrestling as the goatee was ubiquitous during that time period.
Nash had no shortage of success in the decade, either. First appearing in the WWF before jumping shift to WCW to start the NWO, Nash won the WWF Championship and Intercontinental Championship once each, the WCW world title five times and the WCW tag team titles nine times.
2: Daniel Bryan
The more popular Daniel Bryan got, the hairier his face became and The Authority in WWE began to truly “Fear the Beard.” In fact, Bryan began to grow out his beard and hair to add to his persona as an atypical superstar and “B-plus player.”
The look paid off, as Bryan became a symbol that anyone could live their dreams and achieve what they wanted. As such, Bryan connected with the fans in a way that few superstars have, which made his world title win at WrestleMania 30 one of the biggest moments in the last couple decades.
1: Hulk Hogan
Before he was a punchline for a sex tape and lawsuit, Hulk Hogan was, of course, one of the biggest superstars in the entire business. Hogan won the top title in WCW and WWF six times each, and Hulkamania truly ran wild in the world of pro wrestling.
Part of Hogan’s iconic persona was his blonde ‘Fu Manchu’ that has remained a piece of his look to this day. It was even part of his heel turn to become Hollywood Hogan in the NWO, as his painted-on black beard to go with it signified that he was a darker character.
