In hindsight, WWE’s Golden Period was a time of fixed change. Whereas it did see Hulk Hogan on prime all through – from 1984 till King of the Ring 1993 – numerous different wrestlers got here and went, or underwent gimmick adjustments to remain recent. After WrestleMania 8 although, there was a noticeable change. The WWE leaned into the New Era, a change that may be accomplished (and underlined by a advertising and marketing marketing campaign) at WrestleMania 10.
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The 2000s marked the skilled downfall of those wrestlers, as they disappeared into oblivion.
Few wrestlers truly noticed this modification occurring as a part of the corporate. This checklist focuses on the few that did and, because of this, mainly disappeared from the mainstream wrestling panorama for good. Right here then are ten WWE Golden Period stars that pale within the New Era Period.
10
Skinner
Steve Keirn Added A Temporary Run In 1994 WCW To His Profession
Wrestled In WWE From 1991 Till 1993
Later Additionally Grew to become A Street Agent And Coach For The WWE
An enormous star within the Nineteen Eighties as a part of the Fabulous Ones, Steve Keirn joined the WWE in 1991 as Skinner, an alligator hunter from the Florida Everglades. The gimmick, particularly designed to feud with The Dragon (Ricky Steamboat) was shortly useless within the water when Steamboat left the corporate.
Skinner caught round, largely jobbing to the celebrities. In early 1993, Keirn was briefly repackaged as a second Doink earlier than leaving WWE. He joined WCW by teaming with Bobby Eaton as Dangerous Perspective earlier than primarily retiring from lively competitors.
9
Tugboat/Storm
Fred Ottman Had A Memorable Fall From Grace As The Shockmaster
Initially Had A First rate Profession As Tugboat And Storm In WWE
His Profession Spiraled Downward After The Shockmaster Debut
Debuting in WWE in 1990 as Tugboat, Fred Ottman was shortly established as certainly one of Hulk Hogan’s finest buddies. Delivering 1991 to turn into Storm, him and Earthquake turned one of many dominant tag groups of the early Nineties in WWE.
Ottman left the WWE in mid-1993 and joined WCW the place he made a legendary debut as The Shockmaster when he fell by way of a wall. After this debacle, he briefly returned to WWE in 1994 as Storm earlier than mainly disappearing from the scene.
8
Demolition Smash/Repo Man
Barry Darsow Could not Observe Up On His Tag Staff Success
Had Success As A Tag Staff Wrestler In The NWA And WWE
Remained As An Undercard Wrestler With WCW Till 1999
After a profitable run as Krusher Krushchev, Barry Darsow joined the WWE in 1987 to turn into Smash of Demolition. Along with Ax he held the WWE Tag Staff Championship 3 times and was one of many hottest babyfaces of the period. After Ax left in late 1990, Smash teamed with Crush – a transfer that doomed Demolition.
The crew dissolved in 1991 and Darsow was taken off TV. He misplaced some weight and reduce his hair to re-debut as Repo Man in late 1991. Sadly, the gimmick had a low ceiling and Darsow was passed by early 1993. He later joined WCW beneath quite a lot of gimmicks and retained a paycheque there till 1999.
7
Tito Santana
Tito Santana’s Profession Fizzled Out After A Gimmick Change
One Of The Most Profitable Midcard Babyfaces In WWE Throughout The Golden Period
Wrestled Largely Independently After Leaving WWE In Mid-1993
One of the vital fixed babyfaces in WWE all through the Nineteen Seventies and Nineteen Eighties, Tito Santana had held the Intercontinental and Tag Staff Championships on a couple of events. By 1991, nonetheless, he wanted repackaging within the eyes of WWE officers, so he turned El Matador.
The gimmick briefly revitalized Santana nevertheless it did not final lengthy and he was passed by mid-1993. Surprisingly, Tito did not signal with WCW, opting to largely seem in independents as an alternative, amongst them the short-lived AWF and an early ECW.
6
Rick Martel
Rick Martel Successfully Retired – Till A Temporary Run In WCW
Was One Of The Staple Midcard Wrestlers In WWE From 1987 Till 1994
Briefly Held The WCW World Tv Title In Early 1998
The Nineteen Eighties had been an outstanding decade for Rick Martel. He had held the AWA World Championship, in addition to the WWE Tag Staff Championship with Dino Bravo and Tito Santana. A gimmick change in early 1990 gave the considerably bland Martel a shot within the arm and he started to painting ‘The Mannequin.’ The gimmick was excessive – as most gimmicks have been on the time – however Martel pulled it off completely.
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He caught round till early 1994, even feuding with Razor Ramon briefly for the Intercontinental Championship. By early 1995, Martel was primarily retired from wrestling, till WCW known as in late 1997. There, Martel received the World TV Title earlier than hurting his neck. The then 42 year-old took the chance to retire from wrestling for good and has lived a daily life ever since.
5
Koko B. Ware
Koko Was Inducted Into The WWE Corridor Of Fame Class Of 2009
Largely Used As An Undercard Babyface Throughout His WWE Run
Inducted Into WWE Corridor Of Fame In 2009
Koko B. Ware had loved an honest profession within the territories earlier than becoming a member of WWE in 1986. There, Koko was appreciated extra for his singing than his wrestling. In 1992, he loved considerably of a renaissance teaming with Owen Hart as Excessive Vitality, till Owen injured his knee and the crew was cut up up.
Koko stayed round as an enhancement expertise and left the corporate in 1994. He saved wrestling on independents however was roughly retired by 1999. Ten years later, the WWE surprisingly determined to induct him into their Corridor of Fame.
4
The Bushwhackers
Luke & Butch Wrestled In WWE Till 1996
Have been Brutal Brawlers As The Sheepherders Prior To Becoming a member of WWE In 1988
One Of The Most Memorable Tag Groups In WWE Historical past Regardless of By no means Holding The Tag Staff Title
When The Bushwhackers debuted within the WWE in 1988, they have been already of their forties. Nevertheless, the change in type that got here with the brand new gimmick – much less bumps and fewer bloody brawls – allowed them to delay their careers.
Whereas they disappeared for lengthy stretches from TV beginning in early 1993, they successfully remained with the WWE till 1996. Afterward, Luke and Butch nonetheless saved competing on the impartial circuit into the brand new millenium.
3
The Genius
Lanny Poffo Had A Forgettable (But Lengthy) WCW Run
First Wrestled In WWE As Leaping Lanny Poffo
Wrestled As soon as In WCW Regardless of Being Beneath Contract From 1995 Till 1999
An undercard enhancement expertise all through most of his early WWE run, Lanny Poffo ultimately struck gimmick gold as The Genius. The function noticed him transition largely into managing and he mentored Mr. Good and later the Beverly Brothers.
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He left the WWE in late 1992 however was signed by WCW in 1995 on the behest of his brother, Randy Savage. Apparently, the plan was to provide him the Beautiful George gimmick – which Randy owned – to Lanny, however plans fell by way of. In typical WCW style, he was nonetheless paid till 1999.
2
Jimmy Snuka
Jimmy Snuka Was In His Mid-Forties When He Returned To WWE In 1989
Had To Depart The WWE At The Starting Of The Golden Period Due To Private And Authorized Troubles
Later Returned For A Few Appearances In The Fall Of 1993
Jimmy Snuka was certainly one of WWE’s greatest superstars within the late Nineteen Seventies and early Nineteen Eighties. He was apparently even thought of for a championship run however Hulk Hogan’s return canceled any potential plans for that. After leaving the corporate amongst a listing of non-public issues, Snuka joined the AWA however returned to the WWE throughout its Golden Period in 1989 on the age of 45.
He was largely used within the decrease midcard till leaving the corporate in early 1992 after which he wrestled independently and have become certainly one of ECW’s greatest stars in its early days.
1
Slick
Slick’s Transformation & Disappearance Underlines The Change From Golden Period To New Era
Took Over Managerial Duties From Freddie Blassie In The Late Nineteen Eighties
Portrayed A Reverend After Turning into A Born-Once more Christian
The son of Rufus R. Jones joined WWE in 1986 because the heel supervisor Slick. He would handle The Iron Sheik, The Bolsheviks, One Man Gang, Butch Reed, Rick Martel, Energy & Glory, and the Warlord earlier than a powerslam from Davey Boy Smith ended his heel run in late 1991.
Upon returning, Slick confirmed a brand new aspect, denouncing his heel previous. Now the ‘Reverend Slick’, he would ultimately turn into the supervisor of a babyface Kamala earlier than leaving the corporate in mid-1993 because the transformation from Golden Period to New Era turned full.
