10 Wrestlers From The 1970s Everybody Loved (But Forgot About)

The 1970s was packed with some fantastic wrestling stars, many of whom remain legends. There were huge names from WWE to the various territories, some bigger than others, but it showed how, back then, a guy could make a bigger name for himself traveling around than staying in one promotion. Even guys not as big could be notable, like Tommy Rich.

10 Wrestling Legends From The 1970s: How Old Are They Now?

These legends from the 1970s set the foundation for wrestling as we know it today. How old are they today?

Yet some major stars of the 1970s have faded from the memories of fans. These are guys just as huge as some stars today, but only the hardcore fans, or those alive then to watch them might remember them best. These guys were as loved as wrestlers could be in that decade and deserve recognition rather than drifting off into the ashes of the past.

10 Larry Hennig Was As Much A Star As His Son

The Axe Paved The Way For Mr. Perfect

Four-time AWA tag team champion
NWA Brass Knuckles Champion
Died 2018

Most would think of Larry Hennig as simply the father of Mr. Perfect. In reality, “The Axe” was a massive star in his own right. He spent almost his entire career in the AWA, starting with him and Harley Race winning the tag team titles. He’d bounce around between heel and face, often challenging for the AWA World title while mixing in other territories.

Hennig earned his name for his vicious forearm, which he’d use to knock out opponents, and took off majorly in the 1970s, turning face to feud with Nick Bockwinkel, Ray Stevens, and others. He paved the way for Curt to become a much bigger star, but his dad deserves credit as well.

9 Dominic DeNucci Was A Canadian Marvel

He Dominated Maple Leaf Wrestling

Started as a kayfabe "brother" to Dino Bravo
Held World Wide Wrestling Federation International Tag Team titles with Bruno Sammartino
Died 2021

For much of the 1970s, Dominic DeNucci was a guy who made a name for himself, traveling around the various territories. The Italian worker first made a name for himself in Australia before heading to the U.S. and Canada, where he dominated in Maple Leaf Wrestling and held the Stampede tag titles three times.

10 Best Wrestling Babyfaces Of The 1970s, Ranked

Kayfabe was still very much alive in the 1970s, so most babyfaces were genuinely loved by fans. These were the best babyfaces of that decade.

DeNucci also did work in the WWE, holding the tag titles there twice, challenged Pat Patterson for the IC title, and worked in stints in Japan, too. He even mentored a young Hulk Hogan before moving on, so he deserved more attention as one of the best traveling guys of his era.

8 Don Leo Jonathan Was A Monster

He Battled Andre The Giant In A Dream Match

Real name Don Heaton
Held a version of the AWA World title three times
1996 Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame

Standing six and a half feet tall, “The Mormon Giant” had begun his career in the 1950s with fame in the following decade. The 1970s brought Jonathan to great prominence, starting with a dream battle against Andre the Giant and challenging Jack Brisco and Dory Funk Jr for the NWA World title.

Jonathan won a record 18 Canadian tag team titles along with reigns as Pacific Coast champion and challenged Pedro Morales for the WWE title. Retiring in 1980, Jonathan closed out a career as one of the best underrated big men in wrestling and was dominant in his turn in the 1970s.

7 John Tolos Was More Than Mr. Perfect's Coach

The Golden Greek Was a Stellar 1970s Heel

Part of the Canadian Wrecking Crew with brother Chris
Trained by Wee Willie Davis
Died 2009

“The Golden Greek” is best known to modern fans for his brief stint as “Coach,” who managed Mr. Perfect in 1991. They may not realize that “The Golden Greek” had been one of the dominant wrestling faces of the 1960s and ‘70s, mostly in the Los Angeles area. His years-long feud with Freddie Blassis remains the stuff of legends.

10 Wrestlers From The 1970s That Disappeared Into Oblivion

These wrestlers had their time of glory in the 1970s, but eventually had no trouble stepping away from the spotlight and living normal lives.

Known for his amazing physique and savage ring style, Tolos won several championships across the NWA territories with a dominant power. So ignore that brief WWE run, as Tolos was as big as any wrestler could be in the ‘70s and living up to his name as a golden star.

6 Tarzan Tyler's Fame Was Sadly Cut Too Short

He Had A Historic Note For WWE

Real name Camille Laurent Tourville
Earned Tarzan nickname when he was ten years old
Had moved into managing by 1980s

Sadly, there’s a good reason why this man isn’t as well known today. After a decade in Canada, Tarzan Tyler headed to the U.S. and soon became a mainstay in the WWWF. In 1971, he and Luke Graham won a tournament to become the first-ever WWE tag team champions, a major accolade. He also challenged for the NWA title against several titleholders.

Tyler got hotter in the 1970s when he took to using a loaded boot for a kick finisher, which got him more over with crowds. Tragically, Tyler was killed in a car accident in 1985, ending a good life that was a bigger deal than many fans would realize.

5 Sweet Daddy Siki Was A Forgotten Trailblazer

He Set The Bar For Flashy Ring Attire

Real name Reginald Siki
Known for headbutt and swinging neckbreaker
Moved into a career as trainer and karaoke singer

It’s remarkable how you can be one of wrestling’s greatest trailblazers, yet fans today barely know about you. Sweet Daddy Siki was first notable for how he faced then-NWA World Champion Buddy Rogers in some of the first interracial title matches. Siki also broke out as one of the first guys to wear flashy ring gear, and his bleached blonde hair helped him stand out.

Siki helped put Canadian wrestling on the map with his top feuds in Stampede and sold out the Maple Leaf Gardens by the busload. He also helped train the likes of Edge and Christian, so while most in the States don’t know him, Canadians can still revere this pioneer.

4 Archie Gouldie Was A Stellar Heel

The Stomper Tore Up Stampede Wrestling

Started as a babyface in the Central States
At first billed as the "Mongolian Stomper"
Nearly caused a riot in feud with Bad News Allen

While he started in the 1960s, it was in the ‘70s that “The Stomper” became one of the biggest stars around. His main fame was in Stampede wrestling, as he held the North American title a whopping 14 times. Gouldie was one of the most brutal heels around, living up to his name, crushing opponents, and seeming to relish in their pain.

His feuds with the Harts, Billy Robinson, and others always meant big business for Stampede, with a face turn in 1983 pulled off well. While Canadians may still remember him, Gouldie was one of the most fearsome heels of the decade who fans loved to hate.

3 Billy Robinson Is Finally Getting His Due

This Overlooked AWA Star Was A Marvel

Born in Manchester England
Started as a boxer before an eye injury ruined it
Held AWA tag team titles twice

WWE’s documentary on the AWA gave this long-ignored grappler his due as one of the best technical workers of his time. He was using MMA-style moves long before they became popular, as well as mixing them with some high-flying stuff, among other works.

10 Wrestling Legends You Didn't Know Competed In The 1970s

It might shock fans to know that some legendary wrestlers laced up their boots in the 1970s.

His biggest fame was in the AWA, clashing with Verne Gagne and others, and even a starring role in the 1974 movie The Wrestler.

Robinson was also hugely popular in Japan, feuding with the top stars while enjoying the shoot style of the time. Retiring in 1992, Robinson may have fallen through the cracks but getting more of his due as a major worker.

2 Mr. Wrestling II Had A President's Approval

One Of The Best Masked Stars Ever

Nicknamed "The Rubber Man" for his flexibility
Had to take over from the original Mr. Wrestling, who was injured in a plane crash
Had a forgettable run in WWE

After working as the Grappler, John Walker was literally working at a gas station when Paul Jones asked him to come to the Georgia territory. He was brought in as the masked sidekick for the original Mr. Wrestling Tim Woods when Woods was reaching retirement due to injuries. Before long, Walker had supplanted his mentor as the biggest star in Georgia wrestling.

He held the Georgia heavyweight title ten times, and among his fans was then Georgia governor Jimmy Carter. He had a heel turn against Magnum TA but was better as a face, and while today’s fans may not know him as well, this masked man was one of the best stars of the 1970s.

1 Tony Garea Was A Tag Team Star

He Was One Of The Best Tag Champions Of His Time

Real name Anthony Gareljich
Was the last World Wide Wrestling Federation tag team champion with Larry Zbyszko
Retired 1987

It’s remarkable how this once major tag team star in WWE is pretty much forgotten today. He and Bob Orton Jr tied for PWI’s 1973 Rookie of the Year, and Garea kept up the work mostly in what was then the World Wide Wrestling Federation. While he had good success as a singles worker, it was in tag teams that Garea was a star.

He’s notable for holding the WWE tag team titles five times with four different partners (Haystacks Calhoun, Dean Ho, Larry Zbyszko and Rick Martel twice) and a stellar worker in the tag ranks. Retiring in 1987, Garea may not get the accolades he deserved, but he is one of the better tag team guys on his period.