WWE featured a wide array of wrestlers with unique personalities throughout the Golden Era. From the main event to the midcard, the 1980s and early 1990s were a colorful time period when WWE showcased the spectacle that wrestling would become in the coming decades. As for the catchphrases during the Golden Era, certain wrestlers relied more heavily than others on some well-known lines, but overall, the catchphrases were consistent with the personas.
The pattern within these catchphrases is that they were memorable for multiple reasons and ranged from realistic to greatly exaggerated. Even still, the catchphrases were fitting for the times.
10 Whatcha Gonna Do - Hulk Hogan
When Hulk Hogan started developing his stardom in WWE in the mid 1980s, this catchphrase was the punctuation of his promos most of the time. He would spend the minutes of the promo speaking about his gimmick's values of praying and eating healthy vitamins. At the very end of the promos, he would mention his opponent or rival at the time and ask them about what they would do when Hulkamania ran through them in the ring.
Hogan was charismatic, very melodramatic, and used that charisma to get his gimmick over with the fans. The question within this catchphrase was consistent with Hogan's push at the time, he sure did run wild on the roster.
9 OHH YEAH - Randy Savage
Upon the "Macho Man" arriving in WWE, his promos included this catchphrase. It was exclamatory and told the story of his intensity and determination to rise to the top. Along with Savage's raspy voice and over-the-top delivery, Savage made it clear that the fans should pay attention to him in the ring and on the microphone.
Savage used "OHH YEAH" for years, but during the Golden Era, it was especially appropriate since Savage was at his career peak at the time.
8 Everybody's Got A Price - The Million Dollar Man
Ted DiBiase was given this gimmick to work with in the late 1980s, and he made it work very convincingly. Between his bellowing belly laugh and offering the fans money in a condescending way, DiBiase was a great heel in the Golden Era. His catchphrase, which expressed that anybody can be bought with the right amount of money, was good because he was able to buy anything with his wealth.
DiBiase was talented in the ring, an underrated bumper to boot, and carried himself as if he was legitimately rich, not just in kayfabe. He paid off many people in his career, and he did it in style.
7 What A Rush - Legion Of Doom
Road Warrior Hawk and Road Warrior Animal arrived in WWE at the tail end of the Golden Era and were treated as the stars they were from the start. In their promos, they were vocal and put over their gimmicks with their intensity.
Animal did most of the talking, with Hawk saying some words at the end and ending with the catchphrase that verbally symbolized the adrenaline rush the Legion Of Doom carried themselves with.
6 Arriba - Tito Santana
Tito Santana used this word at the end of his promos as an exclamation to excite the fans about his matches. The word Arriba, in the English language, means to move up or higher, so Santana was using that word to say he wanted to advance higher in the WWE to be a
main-event wrestler.
Santana did not reach the main event in the Golden Era, but he did win the Intercontinental Title multiple times and the Tag Team titles, so he did well for himself at the time regardless.
5 You're About To Serve Hard Time - Big Boss Man
Big Boss Man went through his WWE career in the Golden Era without winning any titles, but this catchphrase of his was good for his gimmick. The real-life Ray Traylor was legitimately a corrections officer before pursuing a career in wrestling, so he carried that experience over to WWE with his charisma and athletic talents.
He would end his promos by telling his opponent they would serve hard times, meaning he would rough them up in the ring and defeat them. It was a very good play on words and added to Big Boss Man's presentation.
4 Let Me Tell You Something Mean Gene - Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan's secondary catchphrase, which he used in interviews with legendary wrestling interviewer "Mean" Gene Okerlund was both amusing and memorable. This line started each promo Hogan and Gene worked together, and from that point forward, Hogan went on his usual roll.
Gene Okerlund was known for his off-the-cuff remarks and humor in his own right, and when he and Hogan interacted, it now holds up as classic viewing material for fans of the Golden Era.
3 WOOOO - Ric Flair
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When Ric Flair debuted in WWE during the Golden Era, he brought his classic catchphrase with him. Within his promos, this phrase would be uttered many times since Flair was living his gimmick and enjoying it. The meaning of "WOOO" is that Flair was successful and intense in the ring and on the microphone.
Flair will always be regarded as one of the best promos in wrestling history, and while his WWE Golden Era tenure was a bit shorter, he brought his "WOOO" and his best with each performance.
2 What A Real Man Looks Like - Rick Rude
Rick Rude came to the ring in his robe, dripping with arrogance and justifiably so, and cut his promo upon entering the ring. He would insult the fans in the arena and brag about his body, washboard abs, and all. He would ask the fans to quiet down while he disrobed and showed off his figure for the ladies.
The idea behind this gimmick was so Rude could show how over-confident he was due to his looks and it was also true, so the fans jeered him for it and it attracted good heel heat for Rude.
1 Best There Is Best There Was Best There Ever Will Be - Bret Hart
Bret Hart started using this catchphrase to describe his in-ring abilities after he and Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart split up as The Hart Foundation. It is a wordy catchphrase, but it is also applicable to Bret Hart and how good he was in his matches. He could get a good match out of any other wrestler in many scenarios.
Hart knew he was good, and he was throughout the Golden Era. He was talented and went on to great success being what the catchphrase says he is, which is why the catchphrase is so good.