Not every WWE Hall of Famer is created equal. For every industry-defining superstar – think your Hulk Hogans and Steve Austins – you have a pile of midcarders. The wrestling world’s Koko B. Wares and Big Bossmans certainly have their place, but their place would be the same in virtually any era. There are also many stars of the past (think Hogan again) that would have struggled in this era where wrestlers have to know how to work to have the crowd’s backing.
Here are four wrestlers who would have thrived in the current climate.
Macho Man Randy Savage
The cream will rise to the top and Macho Man Randy Savage was always that cream. Savage would have a look unlike anything either WWE or AEW would have to offer and would immediately stand out. Macho Man was gifted in the ring, knew how to put together a match that told a story, and had unique promos that would still be effective in the 2020s. He may have to calm down just a little bit on the intensity in a world where few promos shout, but Macho Man would arguably be a bigger deal now than he was in his pomp.
Jake “The Snake” Roberts
While it is cool that Jake Roberts has been putting in work in AEW as a mouthpiece, he would have been an outstanding asset for any company in his prime. Jake’s problem in the 80s and 90s was his size. AEW, in particular, has shown that they have no reliance on size, with wrestlers like MJF, Darby Allin, and Bryan Danielson being continually pushed. NJPW star Jay White is probably the closest thing in wrestling today to Roberts with his sinister look and promo style. That White is a main eventer in that company says everything about where Roberts would be on the card.
Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels is a wrestler on most people’s top 10 list. He was able to achieve this despite a height that was listed as 6-foot-1 but realistically was more likely around 5-foot-10. In an era where work rate is prioritized ahead of size and physique, Michaels would be immense. Ironically, Michaels – along with the likes of Brett Hart and Eddie Guerrero – was one of the wrestlers that proved in the late WWF/early WWE era that people would pay to watch wrestling as opposed to sports entertainment. Michaels wouldn’t even need the politics he was famous for to succeed in this era.
Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat
Steamboat is another who would have got over based on his work rate and ability to sell. One of the few wrestlers ever to have been a career babyface, Steamboat’s only success in the WWF was a single run as the Intercontinental Champion. He was more successful in NWA/WCW where he was a four-time United State Heavyweight Champion and a four-time TV Champions. He was also very successful in the tag divisions wherever he wrestled. Today, Steamboat would have wrestled to the level that deserved a world title run.
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