The Top Mid Card Face Of The Golden Era?

[The Brain]

I didn't put Andre The Giant or Roddy Piper in my poll for a few reasons. First, I think they're a step above the rest of the guys on the list. Second, I think they're better remembered as heels during this time (epecially Andre). Last, when they were faces they didn't wrestle a consistent full time schedule. Injuries and other commitments kept Andre off tv for some of 1986 and his heel turn took place early in 1987. He turned face again in 1990 but never actually wrestled as a face after his turn. Piper bounced between the ring and the announce table pretty regularly. He had some good feuds and maybe should have made it on my poll but his inconsistency kept him off.

I'm surprised Bret Hart has as many votes as he does. Well not surprised, but I think he and Tito Santana should have equal support. Obviously with Bret having his run at the end of this era while Tito's was at the beginning is why there is such a difference in the votes. A lot of people probably remember Tito as a regular loser in the early 90s instead of a top guy of the mid 80s.

I haven't even voted on my own poll but I think I agree with the majority. Jake Roberts may be my choice here. His longevity, popularity, and quality of oppostion make him the top mid card face despite the fact that he never won, or even challenged for any titles in the WWF.

[latinoheat8979]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned my pick which would be Mr. Perfect Curt Henning. He was by far the best "wrestler" in the company in that era. I beleived he joined WWF in 1989 I remember him beating the Blue Blazer at WM5 and after that he continued to rise however he wasn't a Main Eventer but he did feud with Hulk Hogan for the title. He deserved to get to that Main Event spot but he had great matches and was a 2 time IC Champ.

[Jaffa]

See that word face not heel meaning the best babyface Mr Perfect didn't turn face until 1993 when he ended up feuding with Ric Flair

[comrade_mario]

I'd probably go with Bret for this, mostly because my childhood memories were of everyone loving him (he wasn't lying when he said he was popular than Hogan in Europe) and wanting to watch him in action, whether it be as a singles or in a tag team.

Plus, if we're defining this era up to 1992, he brought the IC Title into the main event seen and sold out Wembley Arena, which when you take out the bogus Wrestlemania 3 attendance rate is the second highest gate ever I believe.

[HBKperfect23]

Tito had great run. Tito/Valentine may be the best feud ever for the IC title. But I too, grew up on Bret. Bret from Summerslam 1991, until the day he won the world title and became a main eventer, is one of my favorite runs ever.

Plus, if we're defining this era up to 1992, he brought the IC Title into the main event seen and sold out Wembley Arena, which when you take out the bogus Wrestlemania 3 attendance rate is the second highest gate ever I believe.

As much of a supporter of Brets in this era that I am, Ill have to say it was DBS that sold tickets to that event. Either way, Bret changed wrestling that night and put on the greatest match of all time.

[comrade_mario]

Honestly I think it was a combination of the two. They told a great story leading up to it and Bret was as over as Bulldog over here. Obviously the hometown fans wanted to see Bulldog win the title on the night but I'd give a 50/50 split in credit for that gate

[HBKperfect23]

Bret was unbelievably over but like you said it was Bulldogs hometown. Bret definitly had his supporters, but Bulldog in his home country was unparalleled at that time. Either way, I still give Bret the credit for that match and credit for really stepping up in the WWFs transistion away from Hogan.

[justtxyank]

Originally Posted by The Brain

I didn't put Andre The Giant or Roddy Piper in my poll for a few reasons. First, I think they're a step above the rest of the guys on the list. Second, I think they're better remembered as heels during this time (epecially Andre). Last, when they were faces they didn't wrestle a consistent full time schedule. Injuries and other commitments kept Andre off tv for some of 1986 and his heel turn took place early in 1987. He turned face again in 1990 but never actually wrestled as a face after his turn. Piper bounced between the ring and the announce table pretty regularly. He had some good feuds and maybe should have made it on my poll but his inconsistency kept him off.

Piper turned face in 1986 and remained face for the rest of his WWF career.

I would argue that he should be left off the list because he wasn't a midcarder. Yes he held the IC title for a time, but Piper was consistently involved in main event programs when he was around.

Midcarder doesn't mean "anyone not fighting for the world title."

I think it's between JYD and Tito. Steamboat misses the cut because he wasn't a WWF wrestler with big pushes for any real length of time.

[FlairFan2003]

For this time period its tuff. JYD and Hacksaw were over but niether was taken that seriously as a competitor. Steamboat was way over, main event level over by 87, then he left and his significant impact afterwards was in NWA. Piper was popular but he "retired" right after his face turn and was mostly a commentator, a non wrestling figure. Between WM3 and leaving the broadcast booth to wrestle Flair in 91 what did he do in the ring ? Beefcake was terribly weak as a performer but he was very popular for a larger amount of time in this period actively wrestling than anyone else. Santana also was consistent through most of this time. Jake was over with fans but I dont think the hysteria from the kids was there for him like it was for Beefcake or Steamboat. Andre was a legit top tier star the entire time he actively wrestled.

My vote is either Duggan or Beefcake

[Waylon Mercy]

I went with Tito, based on the fact that he was the most consistent and reliable mid card face at the time. The Golden era, as I see it, was in the midst of Hulkamania. Of course Hogan owned the role in the main event. Tito was a face throughout his career with the WWF. Bret spent a good portion of this time as a heel with the Hart Foundation. It wasn't until the later stages of the Golden Era that the team became a face team. Steamboat was hugely over, but he really wasn't around long enough. Same with Jake the Snake. He was much more effective as a heel anyway. Duggan was over, but he was never really championship material. Anyhow, Tito had a great run with tag team gold as a member of Strike Force and also a solid run with the IC championship.