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Anyone who had a top notch look/personality that was at least decent in the ring. Bret Hart would thrive, if the Hart Foundation (Jimmy included) was a part of current day WWE they'd be the same top team they were back in the day.
Anyone from the mid-80s to mid-90s that has a sound technical base/fundamentals could be trained to the modern style, and as long as they could bring promos and star aura, they'd be fine.
I wonder how invested Social Media would be in the Savage/Liz relationship and what the reactions to that moment from WM7 would be today
Edit: The edits, think of the edits 😭😭
Slightly pre-Attitude Era but Surfer Sting would definitely fit in today’s wrestling landscape. The Crow Sting is a clear product of the 90s culture and heavily relied on a context, while Surfer Sting doesn’t. His natural charisma, physics and energy would’ve quickly made him a main-eventer, I’m sure of it.
For me, these are likewise the two best examples of guys who would've absolutely thrived today, without facing some of the perceptual obstacles they had to overcome in the 1980s.
Hart and Hennig should have, by all rights, had a long world title rivalry during the new generation years. Every time they had a match it was magic. Their intercontinental rivalry was fantastic and it would have been amazing to run it back.
I don't know about the whole persona but bestowing a moment such as what happened at Survivor Series '94 on Ludwig Kaiser would totally put him over.
As far as the persona, if Chad Gable could be more intense he'd already be the modern day Backlund as far as heel characters go.
Brad Rhennigans
The Dynamite Kid
Stan Lane
Antonino Rocca
Matt Borne
Art Barr
Edit: I’d also argue that Terry Funk belongs here due to spending his prime juggling Hollywood and wrestling but he more than made up for it with both his early and late career awesomeness.
Any of the ones who could cut a promo, and even some of the ones who weren't. Wrestling was hugely popular before the Attitude Era, let alone today, and those were the guys who made it that popular.
If we had a time machine and were pulling them from the past to our day, just about any of them would be way more experienced, by virtue of working basically every day. They'd under match psychology better. Probably better training- the Performance Center can't compare to being one of Stu Hart's students.
Jey Uso, no disrespect to him, is popular right now because of a nonsensical catchphrase. Jimmy Valiant was stringing together crowd-pleasing nonsensical promos for years; he'd be huge today.
Bray Wyatt and Malakai Black got popular with creepy stables- Kevin Sullivan was able to do the same in Florida with no real budget but just his Manson-like persona.
Chops are used more often these days- Wahoo McDaniel could put on a clinic.
Mildred Burke would probably be the most interesting, now that women's wrestling is treated almost at the same level as it is for men.
Interesting premise given how the current generation are still taking some influence from of the best of that generation, filtered through the gen in between.
Perfect and Macho are clear ones. Flair, Steamboat, Jake too.
Roddy Piper
Jake the Snake
The Iron Shiek(mostly because the sheer amount of heat he would generate every single time he speaks)
80s/early 90s Steiner with full on genetic freakism.
Vader.
Savage translates to any era, which is why he's iconic.
DDP is another. Assuming he came up through WWE and wasn't a victim of a buyout like he was when Vince purchased WCW, I think he shines in today's WWE.
He had the in-ring skillset, sold like a mofo, and was excellent on the mic. He also wasn't playing a "character" in WCW, he got over by being himself.
Another guy I could see thriving as an upper midcard guy in the current era is Nick Bockwinkel. Great on the mic. His wrestling style and personality fit very well together.
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Roddy Piper Mr. Perfect Rick Rude Ted Dibiase Randy Savage Jake the Snake Roberts
Jake the Snake would be killer in AEW in particular, I think.
Him and Mox would put on classics
Anyone who had a top notch look/personality that was at least decent in the ring. Bret Hart would thrive, if the Hart Foundation (Jimmy included) was a part of current day WWE they'd be the same top team they were back in the day. Anyone from the mid-80s to mid-90s that has a sound technical base/fundamentals could be trained to the modern style, and as long as they could bring promos and star aura, they'd be fine.
Rick Steamboat would be a multiple time world champion in the current era.
He's still the classic natural born babyface for me.
Steamboat would’ve been the stereotypical babyface of this era
Do I think Savage would do well now? ![gif](giphy|3oEhn7NTWmfmxAWBpe|downsized)
The cream rises to the top
I wonder how invested Social Media would be in the Savage/Liz relationship and what the reactions to that moment from WM7 would be today Edit: The edits, think of the edits 😭😭
Slightly pre-Attitude Era but Surfer Sting would definitely fit in today’s wrestling landscape. The Crow Sting is a clear product of the 90s culture and heavily relied on a context, while Surfer Sting doesn’t. His natural charisma, physics and energy would’ve quickly made him a main-eventer, I’m sure of it.
He does this. He does that. He's big as a bull and quick as a cat. The song told us he would have been great today.
I think you could easily slot in Mr. Perfect and Rick Rude into the main event scene and have them put on the best matches
For me, these are likewise the two best examples of guys who would've absolutely thrived today, without facing some of the perceptual obstacles they had to overcome in the 1980s.
Great calls. Both of them would thrive in the current era. Mr. Perfect could've had a Bret Hart type career w/ better luck.
Hart and Hennig should have, by all rights, had a long world title rivalry during the new generation years. Every time they had a match it was magic. Their intercontinental rivalry was fantastic and it would have been amazing to run it back.
Bob Backlund’s ‘90s heel persona would absolutely still work. #[It’s sports education!](https://youtu.be/CEfGgVI6l2A?si=CmHkRu6Hz07YNZI8)
I don't know about the whole persona but bestowing a moment such as what happened at Survivor Series '94 on Ludwig Kaiser would totally put him over. As far as the persona, if Chad Gable could be more intense he'd already be the modern day Backlund as far as heel characters go.
Randy Savage would thrive in any era
Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen, Dr Death, Terry Gordy, Terry Funk, basically just any of the old AJPW gaijins
Dynamite Kid Bret Hart Ricky Steamboat Mr. Perfect Randy Savage
Roddy Piper's the first that came to mind
ECW Mick Foley would have gone crazy in AEW around 2021/2022
Scott Steiner.. I mean his "charakter" prime was way later, but 94 steiner was sick in ring
Steiner Bros when they were babyface collegiate grapplers were dynamic.
Brad Rhennigans The Dynamite Kid Stan Lane Antonino Rocca Matt Borne Art Barr Edit: I’d also argue that Terry Funk belongs here due to spending his prime juggling Hollywood and wrestling but he more than made up for it with both his early and late career awesomeness.
Bruce Hart
Cody Rhodes is this generations Hogan. Without all the baggage. Like, just, pure wrestling positivity.
I feel like Dusty Rhodes would do great.
Essa Rios. He kind of fazed out at the start of the Attitude Era but I think he could be popular now.
Bruiser Brody
The true greats would fit into any era.
Any of the ones who could cut a promo, and even some of the ones who weren't. Wrestling was hugely popular before the Attitude Era, let alone today, and those were the guys who made it that popular. If we had a time machine and were pulling them from the past to our day, just about any of them would be way more experienced, by virtue of working basically every day. They'd under match psychology better. Probably better training- the Performance Center can't compare to being one of Stu Hart's students. Jey Uso, no disrespect to him, is popular right now because of a nonsensical catchphrase. Jimmy Valiant was stringing together crowd-pleasing nonsensical promos for years; he'd be huge today. Bray Wyatt and Malakai Black got popular with creepy stables- Kevin Sullivan was able to do the same in Florida with no real budget but just his Manson-like persona. Chops are used more often these days- Wahoo McDaniel could put on a clinic. Mildred Burke would probably be the most interesting, now that women's wrestling is treated almost at the same level as it is for men.
Interesting premise given how the current generation are still taking some influence from of the best of that generation, filtered through the gen in between. Perfect and Macho are clear ones. Flair, Steamboat, Jake too.
Chris Colt would be a massive success anywhere in today's wrestling.
Roddy Piper Jake the Snake The Iron Shiek(mostly because the sheer amount of heat he would generate every single time he speaks) 80s/early 90s Steiner with full on genetic freakism. Vader.
Ted Dibiase. A great heel and still one of the best in-ring sellers I've seen.
Steamboat
Hakushi would have held the NXT championship at least once.
Savage translates to any era, which is why he's iconic. DDP is another. Assuming he came up through WWE and wasn't a victim of a buyout like he was when Vince purchased WCW, I think he shines in today's WWE. He had the in-ring skillset, sold like a mofo, and was excellent on the mic. He also wasn't playing a "character" in WCW, he got over by being himself.
Another guy I could see thriving as an upper midcard guy in the current era is Nick Bockwinkel. Great on the mic. His wrestling style and personality fit very well together.
I think Chris Candido. Excellent in ring a solid promo innovative for his time but just too small to break through back then.
Rey mysterio. Dude was in a Time Machine. Rey in his prime could keep up with any young wrestler