Champions are what make a company. A wrestling organization can do everything right, but if the champions aren’t credible, then the whole thing can come crashing down. They are the standard bearers for everything that the company wants to promote. These champions are the focal point of everything great with a company.
During the Golden Era, WWE hit so many high notes with its champions. For a decade, they produced some of the greatest champions not just in an era, but in wrestling history. These wrestlers set the tone for everything great about the Golden Era. They inspired a whole generation of wrestlers who followed in their footsteps. Anyone fondly remembers these champions of a certain age, and below, they are honoured in a list of the Golden Era’s greatest champions.
Hulk Hogan
When talking about the greatest champions from the WWE Golden Era, the man who reaches the top of the list is none other than The Immortal Hulk Hogan. He was WWE’s figurehead during the Golden Era, and his name was synonymous with the WWE Championship. There were no mid-card titles for this man; it was either the main strap or nothing.
Starting in 1984, Hulk Hogan won his first WWE Championship and was in the title picture for the duration of the Golden Era. Winning the WWE Championship 3 times throughout the Golden Era, holding it for over 2,000 days. That’s a ridiculous amount of time split between 3 reigns and a length that not many wrestlers could boast.
Hulk Hogan was the WWE Champion during the Golden Era. He was the champion against whom all other wrestlers were measured. He was constantly chased, and those who wrestled the title away from him were instant stars. That was the weight he carried as the WWE Champion.
Bret Hart
Before becoming the leader of the New Generation, Bret Hart proved his worth in the mid-card and tag team divisions. The Golden Era was not just about the main event, as they have a very strong undercard that was just as popular. Bret Hart was one of these talents, and he became the belt collector during his time.
The Excellence of Execution broke in as part of the legendary Hart Foundation. A team that went on to win the WWE Tag Team Championships twice, reigning for a combined 483 days. An impressive reign that should be considered even greater, considering the depth of the division.
When Bret Hart wasn’t winning tag titles, he was breaking into the singles market, winning the Intercontinental Championship in a classic with Mr. Perfect. It was an impressive run for Hart, showing the world that when he was involved in a championship, greatness ensued.
