What Would A Showdown Between WWE Stars From The Golden Era & New Era Look Like?

Even for newer fans of WWE, it’s hard to ignore the influence and presence of the greats from the Golden Era, such as Hulk Hogan, the Ultimate Warrior, Andre the Giant and “Macho Man” Randy Savage. They were larger-than-life characters that helped not only put wrestling on the map, but also helped define it, as wrestling underwent a massive global expansion in the early 1980s as the World Wrestling Federation.

It was broadcast right around the world and gave birth to the phenomenon of WrestleMania, the first edition of which was held in 1985. WWE WrestleMania remains popular to this day, now featuring characters from a New Era such as Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes and Rhea Ripley taking center stage. But what if there could be a merge? What would a big showdown between WWE’s stars from the Golden Era and the New Era look like?

The showdown

WrestleMania is one of the very few WWE events where people can find betting markets. That’s because it is the pinnacle of the sport and such a mammoth global event that bookmakers don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to get their piece of the pie. As a result, leading sportsbooks will typically offer basic WWE markets on who will win the belts. In general, options on wrestling betting are limited compared to other popular sports betting like the NFL and NBA, but they do exist. But who would come out on top in a Golden Era vs New Era showdown? Let’s look at some of the main differences between the eras.

Golden Era

This era in WWE was all about the larger-than-life characters, their charisma and their gimmicks. The action was often slower-paced as the wrestlers typically emphasized bulk. The Golden Era was all about the hero vs villain storylines, more than the action. Most of the wrestling just boiled down to building up the anticipation for a signature move.

New Era

In the New Era of WWE, action and athleticism dominate with more intricate sequences and dynamic maneuvers. There is a greater mix of wrestling styles, and throughout a match, there are a great number of high spots that can take place with exciting moves. The characters are typically a little more generic yet far more ambiguous regarding their “morals”.

The ultimate what if

A Golden Era vs New Era WrestleMania-style event would be stacked with epic walkouts and major theatrics, something that the Golden Era stars were used to. It would be extremely interesting to see the clash of styles because the Golden Era athletes were not as full-on, so the athleticism and higher-skilled wrestlers from the New Era may have the upper hand. As far as it being a popularity contest, the Golden Era wrestlers would probably have the edge in terms of support, as they knew how to sell their act to the crowds, far more so than modern wrestlers.

Surprises and twists

There would have to be a barrage of surprises to drive the storytelling. There would likely be plenty of cheap shots and supporting back-ups appearing out of nowhere to unleash some extra chaos. Some betrayals wouldn’t be out of line, as it’s a trope of the New Era. A Golden Era wrestler, for example, could subvert the norm by siding with one from the modern era.

Some potential WWE matchups

The biggest highlight, of course, would be seeing stars of different backgrounds go up against each other.

Hulk Hogan vs Roman Reigns

This would be the ultimate power showdown. WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan would be playing to the faithful Hulkamaniacs crowd, of course, showing his grit in fighting back from hits. Reigns would be leaning on his athleticism and diverse power moves, but the most likely outcome would be a dramatic, huge comeback win for Hogan.

Macho Man Randy Savage vs Seth Rollins

This would be a fast-paced rollercoaster of a match, with both wrestlers being versatile, fluid and athletic. There would be a ton of high-flying maverick moves that you just couldn’t take your eye off, and you’d probably be left breathless afterwards.

Andre the Giant vs Gunther

Andre’s style in the ring was simply all about his size. As a result, matches featuring him were a lot slower-paced, as he would wait to make an impact with his body slams and headbutts. Gunther would bring a war of attrition with his big, relentless chops. Would Gunther have the stamina to finally wear down the immovable object, or would Andre just tire him out?

A night to remember

There would be so many great matchups on a night of Golden Era vs Modern Era wrestling. Perhaps the most interesting thing of all, though, would be to see how far wrestling has evolved since the Golden Era. A night like this would highlight the different pacing, skill sets and character developments to produce some truly unforgettable moments.