Every WWE Era Since WrestleMania I - Ranked From Worst To Best

Wrestling’s “Golden Age” would sit atop many a wrestling fans’ list of eras, and for good reason. This is when wrestling truly transcended its status as a niche form of entertainment and soared towards mainstream acceptance. Much of this was down to Vince McMahon’s ambition and WrestleMania I’s stunning success. With the industry surging, WWE became an unstoppable juggernaut.

Much of this was down to Hulk Hogan, of course. Hulkamania was instrumental in taking the sport to a new audience, and he absolutely dominated WWF programming. Hogan was at the heart of absolutely everything the company did, and he was the perfect superhero babyface for the time period. Moreover, he was wrestling’s first true mainstream crossover star, and without him, WWE probably wouldn’t even be around today.

While often the Golden Age’s biggest asset, Hogan was also the biggest hindrance. The company’s over-reliance on him forced the likes of Randy Savage and Ultimate Warrior out of the spotlight, and while both had tremendous careers in their own right, they’d have fared even better, had Hogan been a little more giving.

From a wrestling standpoint, this period just doesn’t stack up either. Hulkamania was all about spectacle and showmanship, and while the era produced its fair share of memorable matches, the standard of wrestling was far lower. Most of the era’s work just doesn’t stand up to today’s highly athletic standards.

As a result, it’s impossible to place the Golden Age higher.