j0ekerr: I remember more Hulk Hogan's and the Ultimate Warrior's back and forth with the "championship" belt. And Sergeant Slaughter's famous face-heel turn.
Even though the fights might be better choreographed nowadays I feel the wrestlers have none of the personality. Who could forget Randy Savage, or the Bushwhackers or even Ted DiBiase.
Or maybe I'm just not 10 years old anymore.
I think you're right about the personalities, it was more low budget but a bigger show because of it. The Arena we went too was pretty small as well, so when they slapped each other, you could hear it clearly. :D
The wrestlers would walk around in the isles between the matches, so you could talk to them, or yell at them up close and personal if you were walking around getting food and beverages (people would throw full sodas, or beers and half eaten hot dogs at the wrestlers during the matches sometimes).
They were all larger than life in more ways than just physically. I've stood next to Andre the Giant, he was big, but I remember this guy, King Kong Bundy, wow! was he large, his back was like a wall of flesh... heh!
Whilst they were choreographed bouts, sometimes things went wrong, or two of the wrestlers didn't like each other for real, and the fights did get out of hand occasionally. Mr. T would show up too and sit in the regular seats too. And once in awhile Cindy Lauper would do mini concerts.