Back in the golden age, an unwritten "rule" of wrestling was that only bad guys had mustaches. Even then, they were rather rare as men tended to be clean-shaven back in the 1950s and '60s. But soon, mustaches began to pop up around wrestling even as a lot of guys preferred full bards more. Yet, a few mustaches stand out from the pack as amazing, not just in their styles but size and often added something special to a wrestler's look.
Some TV or movie characters clearly inspired a few mustaches yet the wrestlers were able to put them to good use. Some stand out for their huge size while others for how they were styled to look cooler and only that worker could make it shine so well. These are ten of the best mustaches in wrestling history to show who pulled off the upper lip hair with style.
10 Col DeBeers
This somewhat forgotten heel was a supposed "South African colonel" with a rather brutal outlook on some minorities. Aside from that, his most notable motif was that weird mustache of his, a long one that was amazingly sharp at the ends.
One can only wonder how long it took for him to put the right amount of gel to make it stand out, so he could give it a twirl in promos. Frankly, the mustache was more exciting than anything DeBeers did in the ring, but it was a work of art in its own way.
9 Rick Steiner
There was a good reason why Rick Steiner earned the nickname of "The Dog-Faced Gremlin." That mustache of his was so large, it was easy to mistake it for part of a beard. Thick and wild, it flowed to his face with just a spot by his chin preventing it from a full beard.
Rick added to it with his barking and woofing that matched his excellent ring work. It was also a fun contrast to brother Scott's clean-shaven look. That fun thick mustache made Rick one of the most loveable workers of his time.
8 Magnum T.A.
Arguably the greatest "could have been" star in wrestling history, Magnum T.A. was being primed for a World title run when he suffered his career-ending car crash in 1986. A very handsome man as well as a skilled worker, Magnum had a great mustache, obviously inspired by Tom Selleck's Magnum P.I. character.
While not the full "Fu Manchu" of others, it had a nice shape to it and added to Magnum's appeal to fans. It's a shame fate robbed him of the main event stardom he deserved, as Magnum at least boasted one of the best mustaches of his time.
7 Gene Okerlund
For a generation of wrestling fans, "Mean Gene" was the face of wrestling interviewers. Known for his dapper suits, fun banter and shiny pate, Okerlund also had a terrific mustache.
It was a nice brush on his lip, not too huge but thick enough and added to his gravitas and the way fans would respond to him was wonderful. He smartly never messed with it, including his stint in WCW and all the way to his dying day, that mustache was a part of Okerlund's persona that made him so loved.
6 The Iron Sheik
While known today for his insane online ramblings, the Iron Sheik was a top heel and even WWE champion. He was also known for that terrific mustache he could somehow twirl at the ends. That made him look even more like a comic book villain brought to life, yet it all worked.
The Sheik was terrific using that for his persona, boasting of his greatness while cheating his way to victory. It became notable in his retirement as he turned into a wilder guy and the mustache added another facet to the Sheik's persona.
5 Jake Roberts
It's older and grayer like its owner, but Jake Roberts' mustache refuses to give up. The mustache added to the "Snake's" sinister vibe when he was a heel and made him stand out.
As a face, it gave him more of a spark in interviews while being a hero for fans. Robert's mustache was a nicely thick one that looked terrific in any setting. He's stuck with it in tough times and still showing it off in AEW, so while facial hair on a Snake may be odd, it somehow fits Roberts to a tee.
4 Ox Baker
One of the most feared heels of all time, Ox Baker matched his name as a hulking figure who could crush anyone in his path. Adding to his fearsome demeanor was that massive mustache, just as thick and powerful as the rest of Baker.
It flowed to his chin, making it easy to think it was part of a beard, but Baker made it work wonderfully as he would growl through it and so look like a wild beast ready to go wild. Baker could have a surprising sense of humor (once appearing on The Price is Right), but that mustache was a key to his long-standing heel persona.
3 Rick Rude
For a time in 1992, Rick Rude actually went unshaven and something was instantly lost. Rude without that thick mustache was never the same guy, lacking the same smug arrogance and pride. It fit his act so well.
It could be amazingly thick and full in the 1980s, a bit thinner in the '90s yet still striking to show how, for all his faults, Rude was a very handsome man. Even after he retired, he kept it as Rude's mustache, like everything else about him, was truly ravishing.
2 Hulk Hogan
While calling it the "Fu Manchu" may be a bit much, Hulk Hogan's mustache has long been an iconic part of his persona. Indeed, it was a striking moment in 1995 when the Giant shaved it off as a bare-faced Hogan just seemed…wrong.
Hogan has had fun with it over the years, like painting it when he joined the NWO yet knows how that mustache is as iconic as anything else in his act. Even in movie and TV roles, Hogan keeps it as that drooping mustache gets fans going nicely and pushes his amazing stardom in wrestling.
1 Blackjack Mulligan
A few guys have tried the big handlebar mustache in wrestling history but no one pulled it off like Blackjack Mulligan. Fitting for his cowboy character, Mulligan's thick handlebar mustache was straight out of a classic Western and added to his power.
He was a multiple tag team champion and a legit tough guy to boot. While a few workers emulated him (including a "new Blackjacks" team), only Mulligan could handle that gorgeous mustache with such style.