General wrestling quality naturally improves over time, but the leap in in-ring action from the 80s to the 90s was nothing short of astounding. A focus on slightly smaller, nimbler, more technically-proficient workers resulted in the quality of matches skyrocketing. While the 80s had benefitted from well-schooled NWA types such as Ric Flair and Ricky 'The Dragon' Steamboat, now these figures were far more numerous. Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart helped transform the idea of a WWF Champion, steering the company away from power-based, musclebound giants such as Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior. Although WCW is largely remembered for holding down younger, better talent in order to fuel the egos of Hogan, Nash, et al., its roster included all-time greats such as Eddie Guerrero, Chris Jericho and Rey Mysterio. Although never really utilised to their full potential, such figures played their part in making wrestling a far better in-ring spectacle than it had been in the 80s.
