
Has "The Wrestler" made you nostalgic for the glory days of professional wrestling? Does all the hype around Wrestlemania XXV (will Mickey Rourke show?) have you thinking back to the days when you re-created Wrestlemania III with your Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant action figures? While we're all pretty aware of what the Hulkster (and his orange-skinned family) is up to, we go to wondering where some of our favorite wrestling stars of the '80s are now. Wherefore art though, King Kong Bundy, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka and Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat?
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80s Wrestlers - Where Are They Now?
Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka Then: Snuka earned his nickname with his high-flying top-rope skills. His rivalries with Captain Lou Albano and Roddy Piper (the latter of which escalated when Piper smashed a coconut on Jimmy's head) made him a major star during the early-'80s wrestling boom.
WWE.com
Now: Jimmy recently joined several other legends to take down Chris Jericho. According to his Web site, Jimmy has been filming a reality show that will find him "working 9-5 jobs at places you'd never expect to see him." His adopted son, Jimmy Reiher, currently wrestles under the name Sim Snuka.
WWE.com
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper Then: Piper's interview segment, "Piper's Pit," was ground zero for feuds, and his bouts with Hulk Hogan made him one of WWF's most popular villains. Piper fans still quote his immortal line from "They Live": "I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass ... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
WWE.com
Now: Piper still makes appearances on "WWE Raw," recently teaming with Ric Flair, Jimmy Snuka, and and Ricky Steamboat to take down the legends-dissing Chris Jericho. He's also still a working actor, with several films upcoming (including one called "Fancypants").
WWE.com
Hulk Hogan Then: Hogan began wrestling in the late '70s, and after a smashing career in Japan, became the face of the sport throughout the '80s. A 12-time champion, no one who watched wrestling in this era will ever forget his catch phrases, or the general state of Hulkamania that swept the world.
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Now: with a son in jail, a Paris Hilton-style daughter on the loose, and a private life made all too public, one might think Hogan's current life to be a step down from his past glory. But, knowing the Hulkster's resilience and charisma, we're sure better days are to come.
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Andre the Giant Then: Andre Rene Roussimoff weighed over 500 pounds and stood 7'4". No other wrestler better earned his nickname. Made famous by his rivalry with Hulk Hogan and his part-time gig as Bigfoot on "The Six Million Dollar Man," Andre was an inescapable half-ton legend in the '80s.
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Now: The 8th Wonder of the World wrestled through the early 1990s, but sadly died in 1993 due to complications from the condition that gave him his great size, acromegaly. Even if he had never wrestled many hold a giant place in their hearts for his having once consumed 157 beers in one sitting.
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Leilani Kai Then: Trained by the Fabulous Moolah, Kai defeated Cyndi Lauper protégé Wendy Richter to win the WWF Women's Championship in 1985. She also held the WWF Women's Tag Team title in '85 with Judy Martin as part of the Glamour Girls. One of her signature moves was the "Aloha Splash."
WWE.com
Now: Semi-retired today, Kai was inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame in 2000. She has not wrestled since 2004, but still trains others.
WWE.com
Turns out some of them, like Rourke's Randy "The Ram," still step into the ring. Others, like Dusty Rhodes -- whom we caught up with at the recent New York Comic Con -- have branched out into other ventures. Rhodes is one of the wrestling greats featured in THQ's new video game "Legends of Wrestlemania."
The game features three modes -- Relive, Rewrite, and Redefine -- which allow you to revisit classic Wrestlemania moments and change history. According to Rhodes, "You can be the booker, you can be the screenwriter. You can have Andre beating Hogan, or me with Hogan." For his part, Rhodes is excited to revisit Wrestlemania VI where he defeated Randy "Macho Man" Savage, and says, "The coolest thing is being able to rewrite it a little bit."
Rhodes is also looking forward to Wrestlemania XXV, which he predicts will be, "just as big as the Super Bowl." Get ready for Wrestlemania's 25th outing by revisiting your favorite past "faces" and "heels" with our gallery above. Just watch out for bionic elbows and camel clutches.


























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Wednesday 01 July
By Marc
I never saw him wrestle, but he was my uncle.
Sunday 05 April
By cindy
What about Tony Atlas ot The great Kabuki?
Reply
Sunday 05 April
By ssjwill68@aol.com
remember when rowdy roddy piper knocked snuka on the head w a coconut that was the funniest moment in wrestlng i think lol.
Reply
Sunday 05 April
By Brian
Anyone know what happened to Big John Studd?
Reply
Sunday 05 April
By karen
Whatever happened to Rock & Roll Express? I loved them. I honestly can't remember their real names. I can't beleive that. I loved to watch them wrestle Midnight Express.
Reply
Sunday 05 April
By Marty
Bobby Duncum, Ken Patera, Buck Zumhoff, Verne and Greg Gagne, Jumpin' Jim Brunzell, The Road Warriors with Precious Paul Ellering, Blackjacks Lanza & Mulligan, Jerry Blackwell, Nick Bockwinkle, The Heenan Family, Otto Wanz, Mr. Saito, Baron Von Raschke, Hogan; The Von Erichs; The Freebirds; Devistation, Inc.; Jim Coronette,
Super Ds, Wild Bill & Scott Hog Irwin, Missing Link, Chris Adams, Rick Rood, Cactus Jack, Flair, Tully, Arn & Ollie, J.J.; Big Dus, #1 Paul Jones, Baby Doll, Tony Chivante, Jim Crockett, Mean Gene and Killer Ken, Thunderfoot, Boogie Woogie Man, Magnum T.A., Sting, Ivan & Nikita, Krusher Kruschev, Spike Huber, Steve Regal, Ox Baker, Rooster Griffin, Youkon Moose Cholok, Ronnie & Jimmy Garvin, Precious, Sunshine,...and anyone that wrestled in the WWF from 1985 to the present.
Reply
Sunday 05 April
By jeep
when i started watching wrestling, Wahoo macdanial ,paul jones ,johnny weaver,george becker, gene and ollie anderson ,haystacks calhoun , brute bennard , johnny valentine(gregs older brother)...ric flair came into wrestling as gene and ollie andersons nephew...the minnisoda wreck crew....i was run as Mid-Atlantic Championchip wrestling..out of north carolina by the Crockett brothers....
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Sunday 05 April
By mike
way before 80's,but remember lil abner ,flying fred curry and haystack calhoun?
Reply
Monday 06 April
By biteme253
One of the all time great wrestlers was MR Wrestler number 2 what ever happened to him they never revealed him but they did mr wrestler 1 I always loved to watch him when he was on.
Reply
Wednesday 08 April
By Joseph Fihn
Does anyone know what ever happened to Dick the Bruiser? He was one of my favorites back in the 60's & 70's.
Reply
Wednesday 08 April
By ironhammer40
what about superstar billy graham or the road warriors,
Reply
Wednesday 08 April
By john
What ever happen to Pat Patterson, peter mavea, and haystack calhone.
Reply
Wednesday 08 April
By Fran
mmmmmmmmmm the Ultimate Warrior !!!!
I didn't even care to see what his face looked like without his "war paint" on !!!!
Reply
Wednesday 08 April
By C. Robertson
The Missing Link was actually Dewey Robertson. He died of cancer several years ago up in Canada.
Reply
Wednesday 08 April
By Shamel
TONY ATLAS, GREG VALENTINE, CHIEF JAY STRONGBOW, THE VON ERICS, ANDRAE THE GIANT, CLASSY FRED BLASSEY, LOU ALBANO, GRAND WIZARD, KEN PATERA
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Wednesday 08 April
By pete
What About Superstar Billy Graham, Adrian Adonis (RIP), Greg Valentine, Mr Fuji and Saito, Hilly billy jim, Ken Patera, Mr magneficent Don Morocco, Captain Lou Albano, Nick Bockwinkle (AWA belt that was the size from neck to waist)
Reply
Wednesday 08 April
By fran
mmmmmmmmm the Ultimate Warrior !!
I never even cared to see what he looked like without his "war paint" on !!!!
Reply
Wednesday 08 April
By bentley
i wish wwe would put randy macho man savage in the hof. he sure deserves it. i cant wait till june 9th 2009 his dvd 3 disc set is the macho man collection
Reply
Wednesday 08 April
By Julie
I LOVED RODDY THE PIPER AND THE MAGNIFICENT MURACO! I MISS THOSE FUN TIMES HEHE!
Reply
Wednesday 08 April
By Suzy
I remember way back to the 60's Pepper Gomez and Ray Stevens. Saw them at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. Just learned a few days ago the Pepper "The Iron Stomach" died a few years ago. He was the greatest.
Reply