Never let it be said that WWE hasn't improved at all since the old days. Now, more than ever - yes, even more than in the days when Guerrero, Benoit, Angle, and Jericho tore up the ring - the company places an emphasis on quality in-ring action and boasts a roster filled with talent. Even WWE's hiring protocol seems to have changed, with a premium having been placed on stellar workers regardless of their size. In the 1980s, the company suffered from a dearth of capable superstars. While all-time greats like Randy Savage, Bret Hart, Ted DiBiase, Mr. Perfect, and Rick Rude were consistently delivering, they were often used to make other superstars look good. Meanwhile, King Kong Bundy, The Ultimate Warrior, and Andre the Giant were headlining while The Honky Tonk Man, The Bushwhackers, Hillbilly Jim, and more filled out the cards. The company took a turn toward the more athletic in the 1990s, with Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels on top, followed by Steve Austin, Mick Foley, and The Rock. Even then, though, shows were usually only notable for their main events - WWE's midcard matches often didn't deliver.
Scott Fried is a Slammy Award-winning* writer living and working in New York City. He has been following/writing about professional wrestling for many years and is a graduate of Lance Storm's Storm Wrestling Academy. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/scottfried.
*Best Crowd of the Year, 2013
