10 Modern Wrestlers Who Embody The Spirit Of Classic Superstars
There are traces of the Golden Era all over today's product.
Nostalgia is the lifeblood of the professional wrestling industry. Fans have proven, time and time again, that they love everything about the past and desperately wish Vince McMahon and his creative team would just do as they ask, step into a time machine, and take them back into the glory days of wrestling.
And, on occasion, Vince and company are willing to oblige this wistfulness.
Look no further than the current crop of WWE superstars, who seem to be modeling themselves more than ever on performers from the so-called 'Golden Age of Wrestling'. And it's not just a few guys copping some bits and pieces of a previous superstar's style, either. It's a full-on mania.
Cody Rhodes has explained the throwback phenomena rippling through the roster by saying "that's the sports entertainment they grew up on" and so it's only natural to emulate that performance style. The second-generation wrestler even admits he "steals as much from that era" as he can.
Whether or not you agree with Rhodes' reasoning behind it, you have to admit that there's a certain air of sentimentality for a bygone era hovering around the WWE, and their roster is fully embracing it.
10. The Miz
It's not hard to imagine a guy as unabashedly arrogant as The Miz making a name for himself in the early days of the WWE. He doesn't get bogged down in the intricacies of his character's egotism. His mission statement is simple: I'm better than you, always. And I don't want you losers to like me.
In a weird way, that straightforward self-importance is kind of refreshing. And the fact that there's no longer any winking and nodding to the audience about it makes it so much more satisfying to hear the boos ring out through the arena.
There's something weird that's been happening with most heels in the business lately. They're not really going for the heat. Guys like Kevin Owens, AJ Styles, and Chris Jericho are heels only because WWE has designated them as such. The crowds still love them, and it's rare to hear anyone voice true disdain for these guys.
That's not the case with The Miz, who is as close to a modern day Ted DiBiase as we're ever going to get. Not only does he do whatever it takes to win, but he's the best on the roster when it comes to shredding the audience and their hometown heroes.