Golden Era
What Similarites and Differences are there between the Golden Era (80s) and Today’s PG era?
What are the major similarites/differences?
Similarities:
The 80′s were family-oriented shows, suitable and safe for everybody from Little Jimmy (“Hulkamaniacs” in those days) to Grandma. Today is the same.
The WWE revolved around Hogan and whoever his rival was at the time. Same as today with Cena and Orton (the WWF only had one weekly TV show in the 80′s).
The face of the company was the biggest babyface star in the business. Hogan then, Cena now.
The 80′s WWF was full of cartoon characters. Same as today.
The 80′s WWF was built on promos and whatever Hogan’s next big match was. Same as today, with Cena AND Orton.
Both “eras” think heels wearing sunglasses indoors is “cool”. In fact, that’s a pretty good indication of which a wrestler is. If he’s wearing shades indoors, chances are he’s a heel.
Female wrestlers were valets, comedy relief, mid-card, props in male wrestlers’ storylines, not taken seriously, etc. Still the same today.
No blood on TV then. No blood on TV now.
The allowable “cuss words” are about the same in both “eras”.
The “glass ceiling” was very much intact in the 80′s and is still so today. Vince has ever only pushed a small handful of performers at any one time and it’s extremely difficult to break through that “glass ceiling”.
Differences:
80′s WWF TV was mostly just big stars and jobbers in short squash matches. Today, the big stars face each other on TV.
Better and more variety of wrestling styles in the 80′s WWF. Today, it’s mostly just short punch & kick “matches”.
Jesse Ventura and Bobby Heenan were endlessly entertaining heel commentators. Michael Cole is not.
We thought, uh, Jack Tunney ran the WWF and Vince was just a commentator.
Less tassels and fringes on the costumes now. The 80′s was full of them. Mullets, too.
No “tweeners” in the 80′s. Everybody was either a clear-cut heel or a clear-cut face.
Lots of managers in the 80′s. Pretty much none today.
Lots of real tag teams in the 80′s. Pretty much none today.
The 80′s WWF has been not-so-affectionately referred to as Vince’s “meat market” because of the rampant steroid abuse creating abnormally-muscular performers all over the roster. Not so much today. Today most of them look like athletes, not video game characters like in the 80′s.
The 80′s WWF was campy good fun. Today the WWE is full of soap opera melodrama.
Golden era DTM BMW E30 M3 and Mercedes-Benz 190 E
