1. 1980s
   1930s
2. 1890s

In the mid-80s, pro wrestling hit a period of major revitalization. It wasn’t just a weird side show, it was the main event, with millions of fans who packed major arenas all over America.

1. PBA
   WWF
2. AARP

In the ‘80s, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) took the country by storm, marketing its glittery heroes and dark heels with incredible proficiency. In a few years, wrestlers had become household names.

1. a war hero turned wrestler
   a famous heel
2. the leader of WWE

Vince McMahon is the executive behind the WWF (now WWE) who spearheaded the company’s success in the ‘80s. His flair for theater and his ability to drum up excitement in matches helped make WWF must-see TV.

1. It never ended!
   until the early ‘90s
2. It lasted a year.

The golden age lasted until the early ‘90s, when the machine of marketing finally lost steam. But until then, it was a heady ride for wrestlers and fans alike.

1. Hulk Hogan
   Sting
2. The Undertaker

In the ‘80s, Terry Gene Bollea — Hulk Hogan — emerged as the biggest pro wrestling celebrity of all-time. Hardcore fans debate Hogan’s ring skills, but no one was more famous than Hogan and his handlebar mustache.

1. True
2. False

For years, wrestling fans debated whether wrestling was a "real" sport. The WWF settled the matter. Wrestling became "sports entertainment," a type of sweaty soap opera. The relative reality of the "sport" no longer really mattered, but the storylines did.

1. “Mr. Wonderful"
   “The Rocker"
2. "Macho Man"

Macho Man Randy Savage was the full package. He was a splendid athlete who also knew how to work the crowd. And of course, there was his intense affair with Miss Elizabeth.

1. announcer
   towel boy
2. body oil artist

McMahon was a savvy businessman, for sure. But his real stroke of genius may have been his willingness to work as announcer in the ring. With his booming voice and dramatic gestures, he riled up fans across the country.

1. political scandal
   steroids scandal
2. kidnapping scandal

Whether it was baseball or wrestling, steroids became a flashpoint for conflict in the ‘90s. Repeated steroid issues drove away many fans, and wrestling began to suffer.

1. NCAA
   PGA
2. NWA

In the ‘70s and early ‘80s, the National Wrestling Association (NWA) was wrestling's star attraction. But McMahon and his WWF took control of the viewership and made wrestling bigger than ever before.

1. newspapers
   cable TV
2. World Wide Web

Cable TV and its willingness to air WWF matches made a tremendous difference in wrestling’s popularity. Fans everywhere could see matches on a weekly basis.

1. He bought the company from his father.
   He killed off his rivals.
2. He wrestled his brother for it.

McMahon’s father was in declining health, so Vince bought the company. Vince’s ambitious nature helped him revolutionize the WWF into a powerhouse company.

1. Microsoft
   WWE
2. AWA

Hogan was a major wrestler with the American Wrestling Association, and McMahon hired him away, knowing that Hogan could be a star in his WWF.

1. They suffered.
   They rode the WWF’s coattails to success.
2. It was business as usual.

As the WWF gained all of the attention and money, other wrestling organizations suffered. WWF was pro wrestling, and pro wrestling was WWF.

1. Hulk Hogan
   Donald Trump
2. Vince McMahon

In the early ‘90s, McMahon was accused of handing out steroids to multiple WWF wrestlers. He eventually admitted to taking steroids but fought the distribution charges. A jury eventually acquitted him, yet the the public relations damage was done.

1. It killed their business model.
   It creating a booming enterprise.
2. Fans refused to pay for per-per-view matches.

McMahon and the WWF used pay-per-view matches to create true "events," similar to the Super Bowl. Fans waited eagerly for major matches and then happily forked over big bucks to watch their favorite wrestlers.

1. local politicians
   Wall Street executives
2. rock stars

McMahon pursued rock stars, like Cyndi Lauper, to co-brand with the WWF. The rock-wrestling connection was real, and it helped the WWF spread like wildfire.

1. Headlockpalloza
   WrestleMania
2. SweatFest

McMahon knew that he needed headline-worthy matches, so he came up with WrestleMania. Marketing campaigns likened it to the "Super Bowl" of pro wrestling.

1. Hulk Hogan
   Randy Savage
2. Roddy Piper

It had to be Hogan, of course. He was the Tom Brady or Wayne Gretzky of pro wrestling, essentially a lock to win on the biggest stages.

1. Honky Tonk Man
   Ric Flair
2. Andre the Giant

At WrestleMania III, Hulk Hogan was betrayed by his friend Andre the Giant, who wanted the title for himself. But Hogan withstood his turncoat buddy and retained the title.

1. hundreds of matches on one day
   huge attendance
2. No one showed up.

Held at the Pontiac Superdome in Detroit, WrestleMania III drew a packed house. The WWF claimed that at more than 93,000 fans, it was the biggest indoor audience ever to see a live event in North America.

1. once per week
   once per month
2. once per year

Each spring, WrestleMania offers its "Super Bowl" of wrestling. The event still happens, but it isn’t as popular as it was in the golden age.

1. CNN
   Spike
2. MTV

MTV, the music video stalwart, was the first channel to broadcast live wrestling. The collaboration between the music industry and the WWF dramatically increased wrestling’s appeal.

1. Staples Center
   United Center
2. Madison Square Garden

The first WrestleMania was iconic ... and thus, it was held in an iconic location — Madison Square Garden in New York.

1. Hulk
2. Andre

In a special rematch, Andre the Giant beat Hogan. But the win wouldn’t have happened without the meddling of the devious Million Dollar Man.

1. wrestler
   manager
2. cheerleader

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan was the best manager of the golden era. He was renowned for his ability to spark angry boos from crowds wherever he performed, a fact that boosted the WWF’s ratings.

1. the Tight Pants
   the Mega Powers
2. the Greased Guns

In the late ‘80s, Hogan and Savage took their friendship to a new level, forming the Mega Powers. Along with Miss Elizabeth, they ruled the ring.

1. He didn’t show up.
   He was better than ever.
2. He was terrible.

At WrestleMania VI, Andre’s health problems were on display, as he had difficulty performing. His decline was symbolic of the WWF’s slow slide into obscurity.

1. AT&T
   WCW
2. Greenpeace

As the WWF lost its stranglehold on wrestling, World Championship Wrestling (WCW) gained momentum. It hired former WWF stars and created its own new brands. The WCW never reached the WWF’s level of popularity, but it kept pro wrestling in the public eye.

1. Sting
   Andre the Giant
2. Hulk Hogan

Hogan, who’d made his millions as a babyface with WWF, joined the WCW and turned heel. Pro wrestling was turned upside down for a time, truly marking the end of a golden age.