WWE did a great job creating the mainstream appeal for the Golden Era of the ‘80s and early ‘90s. Iconic wrestlers started crafting their legacies in the important time for WWE’s growth. Fans loved witnessing the fascinating stories and characters being shared in a way that was unlike anything else in the industry.

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The Golden Era created face characters beloved by WWE viewers who drew money and expanded the company. WWE might not have reached its level of a global force if not for the wrestlers to get over in Vince McMahon Jr.’s first attempt. Each of the superstars in question were the strongest faces for WWE’s Golden Era of wrestling.

10 Davey Boy Smith

Davey Boy Smith

WWE started using Davey Boy Smith as a singles performer shortly after the British Bulldog's team with Dynamite Kid ended for good. Smith achieved the greatest success of his career as a face character against his brother-in-law Bret Hart.

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The booking of Smith was strong enough to see him and Bret main eventing SummerSlam 1992 in front of a jam-packed United Kingdom crowd in Wembley Stadium. Smith getting released for using performance enhancement drugs towards the end of the Golden Era shortened his best run.

9 Sgt. Slaughter

Sgt. Slaughter

The biggest success of Sgt. Slaughter’s WWE career came as a heel, but he had more consistency in the Golden Era as a face. Slaughter used patriotism as part of his act to always get a crowd response as a product of the time.

The early start to the Golden Era saw Slaughter as arguably the second most-over face in the company after Hulk Hogan. Slaughter was at his peak when he was fired by Vince McMahon for no-showing an event out of unhappiness and for having personal differences regarding his future in WWE.

8 Dusty Rhodes

Dusty Rhodes in WWE

WWE signing Dusty Rhodes was viewed as a big disappointment based on how he was booked in the promotion. Dusty joined as one of the most beloved faces in the industry and was given a strange gimmick wearing the polka dots and uniting with the manager Sapphire.

Even with the restraints to his ceiling, Rhodes gave his all to make his programs work. The peak of Dusty’s WWE run as a wrestler in the Golden Era came with strong performances against fellow legend Randy Savage.

7 Tito Santana

Tito Santana

Tito Santana is one of the most underrated wrestlers in WWE history due to his success never coming in the main event picture. WWE was selective about which wrestlers received title reigns or feuds that closed the show.

Santana always did a great job in the mid-card picture to get love from the fans. Two strong Intercontinental Championship reigns and two Tag Team Championship reigns allowed Santana to pile up the accomplishments to pay off his over nature with the audience.

6 Jim Duggan

Jim Duggan

WWE found a top face when signing Jim Duggan during the Golden Era. The calling cards of Duggan saw him carrying an American flag and a 2x4 board to the ring with him. Duggan had a genuine nature to him that warmed him up to the fans.

Most shows would see Duggan getting one of the bigger pops of the night, regardless of his spot on the card. Duggan even had the honor of winning the first-ever Royal Rumble match. WWE never turned him heel since he was that over as a respected upper mid-carder.

5 Bret Hart

bret hart wwe champion

The evolution of Bret Hart saw him thriving in two different roles during the Golden Era. Hart did great work as a heel tag team wrestler in the Hart Foundation, but more success was coming his way when breaking out in a singles role.

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The classic Intercontinental Championship matches against Mr. Perfect and Roddy Piper made Bret build momentum as the fans’ choice. Hart even secured his first WWE Championship win from Ric Flair to reach the top of the mountain at the end of the Golden Era for WWE.

4 Ricky Steamboat

Ricky Steamboat in WWE

Ricky Steamboat may be the most underrated face wrestler of the Golden Era for WWE. The WCW tenure featured bigger matches against Ric Flair in the main event picture, but Steamboat thrived during his peak in WWE as well.

WrestleMania III provided a masterpiece of Steamboat beating Randy Savage for the Intercontinental Championship. The fan reaction for Steamboat was always strong and he could have done far more if WWE took the chance on him in a main event spot.

3 Ultimate Warrior

Ultimate Warrior as WWE Champion

WWE witnessed a phenomenon when Ultimate Warrior instantly got over with the fans as a face. Warrior had a mysterious persona with the face paint and cryptic promos, but that just worked in his favor in the Golden Era.

Vince McMahon put all his trust in Warrior as the first major wrestler to beat Hulk Hogan cleanly once he was the top star. Warrior did well up until that point, but then he struggled as the WWE Champion. Even with his flaws, Warrior was an icon for that time in WWE history.

2 Randy Savage

Randy Savage Miss Elizabeth's Wedding

The all-around greatness of Randy Savage ensured that he would succeed in whatever role felt right in WWE. Savage hit a home run when turning face to unite with Hulk Hogan and form the legendary Mega Powers duo.

The huge WWE Championship win for Savage at WrestleMania IV made him the first face since Hogan to have that accomplishment. Savage connected with the audience from his great matches to intense promos, to the romantic pairing with Miss Elizabeth as a face.

1 Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan as WWE Champion

There is no question that Hulk Hogan dominated the Golden Era as the best face wrestler. Hogan was Vince McMahon’s choice to be the face of the company when expanding with the mainstream approach in pop culture.

WrestleMania became a huge success with Hogan main eventing eight of the first nine years. WWE always made Hogan the most important wrestler, even during the rare times he wasn’t WWE Champion. The Golden Era likely wouldn't have existed if not for Hogan’s iconic run.

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