’85 Talent Acquisitions
By Scott Keith on 2 November 2018
Hi Scott, hope you are well.
Your recent post about how Vince absolutely gutted the AWA in a very short time (something I wouldn't disagree with) got me to thinking about other periods when the WWF acquired top talent in a very short period of time. One period that I rarely hear talked about is the first half of 1985, when the company greatly increased its talent base (particularly for in-ring ability).
During a six month period, the WWF signed Ricky Steamboat, the British Bulldogs (who'd had a cup of coffee with them the previous year) and Randy Savage. They also took two singles wrestlers who were going nowhere and turned them into the Hart Foundation. Needless to say, the company's midcard got a whole lot better in a hurry, almost a precursor to what happened to the WWF in late '99-early 2000 when they added Jericho, Angle & the Radicals. I know I remember the weekend shows (which depended heavily on their midcard) greatly improved around that time.
Thoughts?
Take care,
Jon
Macho Man was like an atomic bomb being dropped on the middle of the card. Him and the Bulldogs really signified an evolution of the North American style and I don’t think it’s overstating the case at all.