Magnificent Muraco: Best WWF heel of the 1980s
The Magnificent Muraco could have made a lot of money in today’s WWE. He was big guy, even off steroids. He gave great interviews. He presented a heel intensity that made you want to boo him. And he made the Intercontinental Title, which he held twice in the early 1980s, mean something.
You could make a good argument that he was the top heel in the WWF in the ‘80s. He was involved in what may be the most remembered WWF bout of that decade, his steel cage match in Madison Square Garden with Jimmy Snuka – the one where he took Snuka’s “Superfly” splash off the top of the cage. Years later, this match got more notoriety because a young Mick Foley is seen on film in the crowd.
But it’s Muraco’s nuances that win me over. For example:
- In a squash match in 1983, Muraco and manager Capt. Lou Albano brought a sub and soda to the ring. In between smacking his opponent around, Muraco went to the corner and got bites of his sub from Albano. Absolutely hilarious even today.
- Some of his interviews were so fiery. In this clip, Muraco talks about why Tito Santana doesn’t have what it takes to be Intercontinental champ, and Muraco is intense.
- His angles were memorable. Many recall the aforementioned Snuka cage match, which culminated the feud between these two men. But the opening shots of the grudge occurred during a Buddy Rogers’ Corner segment that had it all: harsh words, an attack, a bloody finale complete with the big, red “censored” X — and even Muraco committing fashion suicide by wearing a bandana and sports jacket.
When I reminisce about 1980s WWF wrestling, Muraco always comes to mind.
Another great gone they were. Entertaining people
Growing up, Muraco was my favorite wrestler. Back in the day, audience signs were not as common and the ones you saw were maybe 2ft wide at best, I made up a 6ft x 3ft banner that exclaimed “MAGNIFICENT MURACO #1” Had some Garden fans help hold it up. The banner dwarfed the puny signs for whichever babyface Muraco was fighting that night. Being a true heel, Muraco did not acknowledge it, but did look up, and as we were booed for our allegiance, Captain Lou was in the ring with Muraco point at us and raising his fist to us cheering!
The Beach Bum is definitely a legend. But how about a Mr. Fuji post! Fuji Vice, baby.
Fuji was certainly a memorable character. I thought he was a lousy manager and just a so-so wrestler. My friends always joked that Fuji must have had photos of someone in the McMahon family doing an illegal activity, which allowed him to keep his job for so many years.
As for Fuji Vice, check out this post I wrote a while back: http://tinyurl.com/6y9gdjk
Orndorff and Muraco were both great wrestling personalities. I think that Orndorff was supposed to be more vicious. God, do I long for the old days. Today it’s nothing but glitz, loud rock music and story-lines that go absolutely nowhere. I agree that Albano feeding Muraco the sub during the match was hysterically funny, but it always made me laugh that when Israel Matia was getting roughed up, the bald-headed Matia would signal the referee that his opponent was pulling his hair.
Man I couldn’t agree with you more. I think Paul Orndorff was slightly better, but Muraco was right there. I’ll never forget Muraco eating a hot dog as a tombstoned Rudy Diamond on All Star Wrestling. He and Captain Lou were money!