During the 1980s, WWE took the entertainment world by storm and made viewers all over the world grow to love and hate a slew of iconic stars. Now, fans have named Hulk Hogan as the greatest WWE wrestler of the decade. While that isn't surprising, longtime wrestling fans are likely to be shocked by the fan-voted list, as some performers ranked higher on the list than expected, and others fell short.
Hulk Hogan Was Named the 'Best WWE Superstar of the '80s'
Photo by WWE/WWE via Getty Images
In October 2025, Ranker updated its article that allowed fans to vote on which performer is the "best WWE superstar of the '80s." Unsurprisingly, the ranking had Hulk Hogan listed in the No. 1 slot with 4,704 upvotes and 1,535 downvotes. However, the ranking is extremely close because "Macho Man" Randy Savage is ranked at No. 2 with 4,745 upvotes and 1,551 downvotes.
Undeniably one of the biggest stars in the history of wrestling, Hulk Hogan is an iconic figure who enjoyed a staggering amount of success in the wrestling business. The WWE Champion throughout much of the decade, Hogan held the belt from January 23, 1984, until February 5, 1988, and then from April 2, 1989, to April 1, 1990. Even when he wasn't the champion, he was the focus of the company throughout much of the decade. As a result, it seems like calling Hogan the "best WWE superstar of the '80s" is a no-brainer.
Surprising Results Emerge in Ranker Fan Vote for Best WWE Superstars of the ’80s
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While looking at the results of Ranker's "best WWE superstars of the '80s" fan vote, the first surprising outcome is how close Savage is to taking the top slot. An extremely colorful performer who was marvelous in the ring, Savage is an all-time favorite for many wrestling fans. I personally would name him my favorite '80s wrestler by far. Still, Hogan was the WWE's biggest star during the decade, so it seems shocking that the margin isn't much larger.
Related: Iconic ’80s Mastermind Named Greatest WWE Manager of All Time by Wrestling Fans
Another unexpected outcome of the ranking is that "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase is ranked at only No. 13. Easily one of the WWE's biggest villains during the '80s, it seems wrong that he is ranked below Shawn Michaels on the ranking. Keep in mind, Michaels wasn't even known as the Heartbreak Kid yet by the time the '80s ended. Additionally, Michaels' WWE run in the '80s as one-half of The Rockers was limited to two weeks in 1987, the latter half of 1988, and 1989. Despite that, he ranked above DiBiase, and so did other performers that many fans may not have expected.
Other surprising parts of the list include the low rankings of several iconic figures from the era. For example, even though the list was of WWE superstars, and therefore not limited to wrestlers, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan was only ranked at No. 22. Additionally, other major stars like Miss Elizabeth and The Iron Sheik were ranked in the 20s. Perhaps the best indication of the limitations of fan votes is the fact that Yokozuna was ranked at No. 45. That ranking is nonsensical given that he didn't debut in the WWE until 1992.
The Top 25: Ranker's "Best WWE Superstars of the '80s"
- 25: The Honky Tonk Man
- 24: Jesse "The Body" Ventura
- 23: Bam Bam Bigelow
- 22: Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- 21: The Iron Sheik
- 20: Miss Elizabeth
- 19: "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan
- 18: Sgt. Slaughter
- 17: The Big Boss Man
- 16: "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith
- 15: "Ravishing" Rick Rude
- 14: The Junkyard Dog
- 13: "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase
- 12: Shawn Michaels
- 11: Dusty Rhodes
- 10: Mr. Perfect
- 9: The Road Warriors
- 8: Jake "The Snake" Roberts
- 7: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
- 6: The Ultimate Warrior
- 5: Bret "The Hitman" Hart
- 4: André the Giant
- 3: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- 2: "Macho Man" Randy Savage
- 1: Hulk Hogan
Next: WWE Legend Named ‘Greatest Pro Wrestler of All Time’ by Wrestling Fans
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