"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan
vs. Andre The Giant
50
At WrestleMania IV, Andre The Giant cost "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan his match in the WWF World Title Tournament. A few weeks later on syndicated television, Duggan confronted The Eighth Wonder Of The World and knocked him down with his 2X4, igniting a rivalry that made the house show circuit.
Ahhhhh, the 1980's. A decade where we were first introduced to Hulkamania. It's also the birth of WrestleMania, The Four Horsemen, Saturday Night's Main Event and dozens of memorable parts of wrestling history (and, not coincidentally, it's when I first became a fan, so perhaps there's a little bit of bias there).
Rivalries were different than they are now. Instead of lasting a couple of weeks, most of the big ones lasted several months, some a year and others yet more than a year! Some spilled into different territories and companies and some took a brief pause before reigniting again.
In counting down the Top 50 Wrestling Rivalries of the 1980's, we at Canadian Bulldog's World looked at several factors:
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What did the feud mean to its respective wrestling company?
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Is it memorable enough where it's still being talked about some 30 years later?
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Did it capture mainstream (e.g. outside of wrestling) attention?
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Did the grudge lead to a memorable match? More than one memorable match?
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Did the rivalry draw some serious money, either on the house show circuit or pay-per-view?
We also limited it to rivalries between 1980-1989, and ones that were featured the following top North American wrestling companies: WWF, NWA/Jim Crockett Promotions, AWA, UWF, Memphis and World Class.
Ready? Here we go!
The feud between Tommy Rich and Buzz Sawyer lasted almost two years - unprecented by almost eras of wrestling. The rivalry began over the Georgia National Title, with many bloody bouts produced as a result. Their final match - the famed "Last Battle of Atlanta" cage match, took place in 1983.
49
Tommy Rich vs. Buzz Sawyer
Both Bruiser Brody and Abdullah The Butcher can lay claim to being the most sadistic, bloodthirsty wrestlers in history, so their encounters were hardcore beofre the term became a cliche. The two had violent matches in the NWA, World Class, Puerto Rico and throughout the independent circuit.
Any names missing or misplaced? Leave your feedback in the Comments section below...
Randy "Macho Man" Savage lost his Intercontinental Title at WrestleMania III to Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, who quickly dropped the belt to The Honky Tonk Man. Savage and Honky then squared off in a feud that began when HTM shoved Miss Elizabeth and hit Savage over the head with his prized guitar.
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Jerry "The King" Lawler and Austin Idol began their rivalry in the mid-1980's, battling throughout Memphis and over the AWA Southern Championship. At one point, the two had a steel cage match that Idol won when Tommy Rich was hiding underneath the ring, and the two men cut Lawler's hair.
48
Jerry "The King" Lawler
vs. Austin Idol
What began as a conflict between Hulk Hogan and The Big Boss Man turned into a tag team feud of sorts, with Hogan's partner Randy "Macho Man" Savage and Boss Man's partner Akeem getting in on the action. The feud culminated in a 1989 tag team match where Hogan and Savage's Mega Powers "exploded."
Before a routine match on Saturday Night's Main Event in 1986, Jake "The Snake" Roberts sneak-attacked Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat and DDT'd him on the concrete floor. When Steamboat returned to action, the two had a brutal series of bouts, including a so-called Snakepit Match at The Big Event.
46
Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
vs. Jake "The Snake" Roberts
Dusty Rhodes, Hawk and Animal had been after The Four Horsemen (Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Lex Luger and Tully Blanchard) for some time. When Nikita Koloff became a babyface and aligned himself with Dusty Rhodes, The Super Powers and Road Warriors battled The Horsemen in the first War Games match.
45
The Super Powers & Road Warriors vs. The Four Horsemen
In the early 1980's, The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts) blinded Junkyard Dog with a can of hair cream. This caused JYD to lose ring time and apparently even miss the birth of his daughter. When he returned, The Dog waged war on The Birds throughout the Mid-South.
44
Junkyard Dog vs.
The Fabulous Freebirds
During a very shaky period of WWWF history, then-World Champion Bob Backlund appear to drop his World Championship to Greg Valentine following a match in Madison Square Garden. The referee then held the title up and Backlund regained his championship at the following MSG show.
43
Bob Backlund vs. Greg Valentine
More than any superstar, The Magnificent Muraco was set on destroying Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat upon his entrance into the WWF. In their first meeting, Muraco and manager Mr. Fuji hung Steamboat by a belt and whipped with another belt. This led to a prolonged, brutal feud between the two.
42
Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
vs. The Magnificent Muraco
When Ric Flair was at his peak in 1985-86 as NWA World Champion, one of his most persistent challengers was Barry Windham, who was constantly taking Flair to 60-minute time limit draws. It was even more shocking when, in early 1988, Windham turned on Lex Luger to join Flair's Four Horsemen faction.
41
Barry Windham vs. Ric Flair
40
Randy "Macho Man" Savage
vs. The Honky Tonk Man
Top 50 Lists
Throughout 1986, The Midnight Rockers (Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty) were the most persistent challengers to AWA World Tag Team Champions Buddy Rose and Doug Somers. After a series of brutal bouts, including a non-title match, The Rockers captured the belts in January 1987.
39
The Midnight Rockers vs.
Buddy Rose and Doug Somers
When Lex Luger joined the NWA in 1987, he was immediately put together with The Four Horsemen, so it was inevitable that he and Ric Flair would eventually clash. While their matches in the next decade were arguably better, the two managed to headline several big events, including Starcade in 1988.
38
Lex Luger vs. Ric Flair
During the first Saturday Night's Main Event of 1986, King Kong Bundy (along with manager Bobby Heenan and The Magnificent Muraco) ambushed Hulk Hogan, injuring his ribs. The two had an epic steel cage match at WrestleMania 2, followed by a pair of rematches in the years that followed on SNME.
37
Hulk Hogan vs. King Kong Bundy
Sting and The Great Muta were in many ways mirror images of each other in the late-1980's, and this was apparent during their incredible match at The Great American Bash in 1989. The World Television Title was held up as a result of the finish, with Muta snagging the belt later that year.
36
Sting vs. The Great Muta
When "Rowdy" Roddy Piper returned to the WWF in 1986, he'd found that "Adorable" Adrian Adonis had not only taken over his talk show spot, but also usurped his bodyguard "Cowboy" Bob Orton. This led to a brutal rivalry that culminated in Piper's "retirement" match against Adonis at WrestleMania III.
35
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper vs. "Adorable" Adrian Adonis
34
Bruiser Brody vs.
Abdullah The Butcher
Jake "The Snake" Roberts was on his way to becoming a fan favorite in 1987 when The Honky Tonk Man drove the point home by clocking him over the head with a (non-gimmicked!) guitar. This led to a feud that ended at WrestleMania III, with rock star Alice Cooper in Roberts's corner.
33
Jake "The Snake" Roberts
vs. The Honky Tonk Man
When Roddy Piper returned to Jim Crockett Promotions in 1983, he became a fan favorite and was targeted by former allies such as Greg Valentine. This led to a brutal dog collar match at the first Starrcade in 1983, a match so violent that Piper's eardrum was legitimately broken and cost him 50 percent of his hearing.
32
Roddy Piper vs. Greg Valentine
31
Jim Duggan vs. Ted DiBiase
Before they were Hacksaw and The Million Dollar Man, Jim Duggan and Ted DiBiase were allies in the UWF and members of the famed Rat Pack stable. When Duggan decided to go it on his own in 1983 and challenge Gen. Skandor Akbar's army, DiBiase promised to amicably part ways.... right until he attacked Duggan and ignited a lengthy feud with his former best friend.
In 1984, Sgt. Slaughter returned to the WWF, ditching the heel drill instructor gimmick to become a beloved American patriot. His first opponent along the way to becoming wrestling's G.I. Joe was The Iron Sheik, who faced Slaughter in numerous live events, including a bootcamp match at Madison Square Garden.
30
Sgt. Slaughter vs. The Iron Sheik
The Road Warriors had previously been heels in the AWA and Jim Crockett Promotions, but their run-ins with Russia's Koloffs led to them receiving their first round of cheers. Hawk and Animal often had Dusty Rhodes in their corner for the battle, while Ivan and Nikita Koloff had Baron Von Raschke in theirs.
29
The Road Warriors vs. The Koloffs
George "The Animal" Steele was one of the first frequent opponents of Randy "Macho Man" Savage in the WWF after Steele made the mistake of declaring his love for Savage's manager Miss Elizabeth. Not only didthey meet at WrestleMania 2, but also on several episodes of Saturday Night's Main Event.
28
George "The Animal" Steele vs. Randy "Macho Man" Savage
The bad blood between The Ultimate Warrior and "Ravishing" Rick Rude began at the Royal Rumble in 1989 when they engaged in a "Super Posedown" to determine who had the better physique. Rude attacked Warrior before a winner was named, leading to a feud over the Intercontinental Title throughout the year.
27
The Ultimate Warrior vs. "Ravishing" Rick Rude
In 1981, Sgt. Slaughter challenged all to break his Cobra Clutch submission. He called Pat Patterson out and offered $10,000 (double his typical amount) if Patterson could do so. Slaughter attacked Patterson before the challenge had been completed, leading to their classic "Alley Fight" at Madison Square Garden.
26
Pat Patterson vs. Sgt. Slaughter
Real-life family members, The British Bulldogs and The Hart Foundation began duking it out in Calgary Stampede before all four were called up to the WWF. In 1986 and 1987, Dynamite Kid and Davey Boy Smith battled Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart for the tag team titles in some of the best tag matches of that era.
25
The British Bulldogs vs.
The Hart Foundation
The rivalry between Jake "The Snake" Roberts and "Ravishing" Rick Rude began during the WWF World Title tournament at WrestleMania IV. However, it itensified later when Rude picked a woman out of the audience to kiss -- it turned out he had picked Roberts' wife Cheryl! A long grudge ensued.
24
Jake "The Snake" Roberts
vs. "Ravishing" Rick Rude
This rivalry began in Jim Crockett Promotions in 1985, when Dusty Rhodes and Tully Blanchard feuded over the NWA Television Title. The championship changed hands between the two of them three times, and the feud intensified as Blanchard became a charter member of The Four Horsemen.
23
Dusty Rhodes vs. Tully Blanchard
Just a few months ago, we listed the Sting-Ric Flair rivalry as the greatest in Flair's career. So how is it number one in the Top 50 and number 22 in the eighties? Because The Stinger and The Nature Boy had only met a handful of times in that decade, most notably at Clash of the Champions and Starrcade '89.
22
Sting vs. Ric Flair
Although Kerry Von Erich was one of the most persistent World Class-based challengers to Ric Flair's NWA World Heavyweight Championship, the most famous encounter between the two happened in May 1984, when Von Erich won the belt in front of his hometown crowd. Flair regained the belt 18 days later.
21
Kerry Von Erich vs. Ric Flair
Truthfully, even before the 1980's had even begun, Verne Gagne and Nick Bockwinkel were trading the AWA World Championship back and forth. But in July 1980, Gagne defeated Bockwinkel for the championship for the final time in his career, as he retired from wrestling shortly after that final big confrontation.
20
Verne Gagne vs. Nick Bockwinkel
Despite Mr. T and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper never competing in an actual one-on-one wrestling match, this was still quite the rivalry in the 80's. They were integral parts of the first WrestleMania main event, and had a boxing match the following year at WrestleMania II. Plus they hated each other in real life!
19
Mr. T vs. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
At the conclusiion of Ric Flair's classic NWA World Title win over Ricky Steamboat in 1989, ringside judge Terry Funk challenged Flair to a match. When Flair didn't oblige, Funk delivered a piledriver through a table to The Nature Boy, igniting one of the year's most violent feuds.
18
Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk
During the pre-WWF era of Hulkamania, Hulk Hogan was persistent in his challenge of AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel. At one event in April 1983 dubbed "Super Sunday", Hogan appeared to have won the championship, although the decision was overturned shortly thereafter.
17
Hulk Hogan vs.
Nick Bockwinkel
"Superfly" Jimmy Snuka and The Magnificent Muraco waged one of the wildest rivalries in wrestling history over the Intercontinental Championship. Their most famous meeting was an April 1983 steel cage in Madison Square Garden, where Mick Foley, Tommy Dreamer and Bully Ray were among those to watch Snuka deliver his Superfly splash off the top of the cage but fail to win the belt.
16
"Superfly" Jimmy Snuka vs.
The Magnificent Muraco
Only a really big match could headline the first Starrcade in 1983 (wrestling's first pay-per-view caliber supercard) and that match was NWA World Champion Harley Race defending his title against Ric Flair. Race was responsible for injuring Flair leading up to the match, giving it a big time feel and creating a rivalry for the ages when Flair won back the championship in Greensboro, North Carolina.
15
Ric Flair vs. Harley Race
In the very first wrestling match to be televised on MTV, Wendi Richter (with musician Cyndi Lauper in her corner) defeated The Fabulous Moolah (with Captain Lou Albano in hers) to win the WWF Women's Championship at 1984's The Brawl To End It All from Madison Square Garden. The feud carried over to the first WrestleMania, when Richter challenged Moolah's protege Leilani Kai for the very same championship.
14
Wendi Richter vs. The Fabulous Moolah
In 1986, Magnum T.A. was the NWA's United States Champion, a belt he had recently regained from Tully Blanchard. However, Magnum's hatred for Nikita Koloff caused him to lose his cool and the title was vacated. This led to a Best of Seven series between Magnum and Koloff that highlighted the summer of 1986 in Jim Crockett Promotions. Koloff won the series - a rarity for a heel - and he ended up turning face shortly after Magnum was seriously injured in a car accident.
13
Magnum T.A. vs. Nikita Koloff
Any serious wrestling of the past thirty years has seen the clip before: "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka is invited to "Rowdy" Roddy Piper's talk show Piper's Pit. Piper makes fun of Snuka's Polynesian heritage before Hot Rod legitimately walloped him across the head with a coconut. This led to a series of a grudge matches between the two, including the first-ever Fijian Strap Match that took place in St. Louis in July 1984.
12
"Superfly" Jimmy Snuka
vs. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
Another case of classic WWF storytelling began in late 1987 when Hulk Hogan and Randy "Macho Man" Savage buried the hatched and formed a tag team known as The Mega Powers. A slow-burn dissention in the latter half of 1988, spurred by Hogan's alleged "lusting" after Savage's manager Miss Elizabeth, led to the split of the group and their main event at WrestleMania V, followed by numerous rematches over the years.
11
Hulk Hogan vs. Randy "Macho Man" Savage
When Larry Zbyszko began wrestling in 1973, it was under the tutelage of fellow Pittsburgh resident and WWWF Champion Bruno Sammartino. The two were inseparable, with the student under the immense shadow of his teacher. Zbyszko lobbied Sammartino for an exhibition match between the two and immediately turned on his teacher, leading to the infamous Showdown at Shea Stadium in August 1980.
10
The Rock 'n' Roll Express vs.
The Midnight Express
Believe it or not, The Von Erichs and Fabulous Freebirds started out as allies, but by late-1982, a misunderstanding led to Freebird member Terry Gordy slamming a steel cage door on the head of Kerry Von Erich and costing him an NWA World Title match. This led to a six-man tag team feud that raged on for some time and drew some of the best houses that World Class Championship Wrestling ever had.
9
The Von Erichs vs. The Fabulous Freebirds
Shortly after they formed The Rock 'n' Roll Express in 1983, Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson were challenging The Midnight Express of Bobby Eaton and Dennis Condrey. Their feud moved over to Jim Crockett Promotions once both teams had jumped ship and the rivalry has continued in on various forms and formats to this day on the independent scene, making everyone involved quite a bit of money along the way.
8
Bruno Sammartino vs. Larry Zbyszko
During a televised Intercontinental Title match in late-1986, Randy "Macho Man" Savage used the timekeeper's bell to crush the larnyx of his opponent Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat. Bruised but not broken, Steamboat eventually returned to action and challenged Savage to an I-C Title match at WrestleMania III. Savage's attempt to use the bell backfired this time, and Steamboat won the championship in an all-time classic.
7
Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
vs. Randy "Macho Man" Savage
Nowhere were opponents more polar opposites than in Jim Crockett Promotions with Dusty Rhodes and Ric Flair. Whereas Rhodes was a blue-collar hero and abided by the rules, Flair was the symbol of 80's excess and used every unfair trick in the book to his advantage. The two foes traded the NWA World Title back in forth in 1986, including in a match at that year's Great American Bash, and would go on to clash again over the years.
6
Dusty Rhodes vs. Ric Flair
Much like Ric Flair's feud with Dusty Rhodes, his rivalry with Ricky Steamboat was all about polar opposites: Steamboat was a family man who came to the ring with his wife and young son, while Flair walked that aisle with a half-dozen women on his arm. Although they crossed paths in the 70's, 80's and 90's, their most famous bouts were a series of three matches in 1989 in which they traded the NWA World Title.
5
Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair
Hulk Hogan had been buddies with "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff ever since Orndorff's team abandonded him at the inaugural WrestleMania. So when Orndorff became jealous of his partner's success, he turned heel on Hogan and the two had a series of matches that did huge business on the house show circuit, on Saturday Night's Main Event and even in front of almost 70,000 fans in Toronto's Exhibition Stadium.
4
Hulk Hogan vs. "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff
Not only was Jerry "The King" Lawler vs. Andy Kaufman one of the highest-grossing feuds in Memphis wrestling history, it was also the only rivalry in wrestling to get mainstream exposure when it happened in 1982. Kaufman had been wrestling women as part of his comedy act, but when he got to Memphis, Lawler stood up for women and challenged Kaufman to a match. This led to numerous interactions, including the infamous coffee incident that made headlines when it appeared on Late Night With David Letterman.
3
Jerry "The King" Lawler vs. Andy Kaufman
"The irresistible force meets the immovable object". Even decades removed, it's hard to think of a bigger potential matchup between wrestlers of virtually any era. Although Hulk Hogan and Andre The Giant had done battle before, things really became heated when Andre turned on his friend in early 1987. This led to their legendary WrestleMania III encounter, as well as various rematches, tag team bouts and other confrontations.
2
Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant
1
Hulk Hogan vs. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
47
The Mega Powers vs.
The Twin Towers
No rivalry in wrestling quite personifies the 1980's like the grudge that once existed between Hulk Hogan and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. As WWF Champion in 1984, Hogan faced Piper in MTV's The War To Settle The Score special (which led to huge, unprecedented publicity for the promotion), in tag team action at the first WrestleMania and in the main event of The Wrestling Classic, wrestling's first pay-per-view event.
