Valentine’s Day special: Top 10 wrestling couples
Back in 2003 when I was writing for the now-defunct Wrestling Digest, I did a feature story on the Top 10 on-screen couples in wrestling history. With today being Valentine’s Day, I thought it would be fun to revisit the list and update it.
1. RANDY SAVAGE & ELIZABETH: “The Macho Man” had all the necessary tools to be a superstar when he entered the WWF in 1984. But what really shot him to the top was the decision to make the lovely Elizabeth his manager in 1985. Elizabeth, Savage’s real-life wife at the time (but not acknowledged as such in story lines), was the first female manager in WWF history. The couple made for an interesting dichotomy, as people loved the elegant, quiet Elizabeth, but hated Savage, who verbally abused and bullied her. Savage’s jealousy over then-tag partner Hulk Hogan “having lust in his eyes” for Elizabeth was the basis for the main event at WrestleMania V in 1989 between Savage and Hogan. After Savage and Elizabeth spit in the story line, they had a memorable and emotional reunion at WresteMania VII. Their on-screen marriage at SummerSlam several months later produced a famous angle in which Jake “The Snake” Roberts crashed the reception after giving the couple a gift that had a cobra inside the box.
2. TRIPLE H & STEPHANIE McMAHON: The McMahon-Helmsley Era was a glorious one indeed. The couple’s reign in the WWF, which spanned the latter part of 1999 through 2000, was the main story line during a time when the WWF was at its peak both creatively and in popularity. It began when Triple H tricked the wholesome daughter of Vince McMahon into marrying him. At first she seemed mortified at having married the crude leader of D-Generation X, but she eventually turned on her father and revealed that she and Triple H were indeed a couple. Overnight, sweet, innocent Stephanie morphed into an obnoxious, screechy-voiced, scantily-clad heel. After a disgusted Vince McMahon took some time off, the power-hungry couple had all the stroke in the company and constantly stacked the deck against the babyfaces. The couple eventually split up on camera, and then got married in real life.
3. EDGE & LITA: The key to Edge going from an upper mid-card heel to a main-event heel was his association with Lita in a 2005 angle that played off the real-life love triangle involving the two of them and Matt Hardy. When Lita, a babyface at the time, was mercilessly getting jeered by the crowd due to her real-life affair with Edge (supposedly while she was still Hardy’s girlfriend) becoming public knowledge, WWE had no choice but to turn it into a story line. Edge and Lita had tremendous chemistry as a sleazy heel couple. In one of the most notorious scenes in WWE history, Edge and Lita stripped down to their underwear and engaged in simulated sex acts under the covers in a bed that had been set up in the ring on Raw.
4. EDGE & VICKIE GUERRERO: Edge cemented his reputation as the ultimate opportunist by engaging in a romantic relationship with a woman he clearly was not attracted to, but who wielded power as the general manager of Smackdown. All Guerrero had to do to generate heat was show her face before the crowd, and when she would yell “Excuse me!” in an attempt to quiet down the fans, the heat was off the charts. The on-again, off-again union between Edge and Guerrero was the dominant story line on Smackdown for more than a year.
5. TULLY BLANCHARD & BABY DOLL: Blanchard, one of the top heels in Jim Crockett Promotions in the mid-80s, went on a search for his “Perfect 10.” His quest ended when he laid eyes on Baby Doll, a tall, big-boned blonde whose physical stature rivaled some of the male wrestlers. The leather-clad Baby Doll was the antithesis of the WWF’s Elizabeth – she spoke her mind, taunted fans and never hesitated to interfere in Blanchard’s matches. She was a big part of Blanchard’s act as he engaged in classic feuds with Magnum T.A. over the U.S. title and Dusty Rhodes over the NWA television title. Blanchard and Baby Doll eventually had a falling out, and she became an ally to Rhodes.
6. “GORGEOUS” JIMMY GARVIN & PRECIOUS: The real-life married couple got over as a heel act in World Class Championship Wrestling in the early ’80s before moving on a few years later to Jim Crockett Promotions. The flamboyant Garvin often won matches with the aid of Precious, who blinded his opponents by spraying perfume in their eyes. Garvin and Precious eventually became babyfaces, and he engaged in a memorable program with NWA world champion Ric Flair after “The Nature Boy” repeatedly hit on Precious.
7. TRIPLE H & CHYNA: A facet of Triple H’s Connecticut-snob gimmick in 1995 was that he would always come to the ring accompanied by beautiful women. Two years later, Triple H settled on having just one woman by his side, and she looked nothing like the fashion-model types he had previously been hanging out with. The muscular, masculine-looking Chyna made her debut by coming out of the audience and attacking Goldust’s valet, Marlena, and violently shaking her like a rag doll. Chyna, who was Triple H’s real-life girlfriend, routinely helped him win matches by delivering low blows to his opponents. Along with Shawn Michaels, Triple H and Chyna comprised the original D-Generation X, the top heel group in the WWF at the time.
8. DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE & KIMBERLY: Early in his career, Page was always surrounded by a bevy of beauties known as the Diamond Dolls. Eventually in WCW, DDP came to the ring with just one Diamond Doll – his real-life wife at the time, Kimberly. Initially, Page and Kimberly had a Randy Savage-Elizabeth type dynamic in that the fans booed him and cheered her because of the way he mistreated her. After the couple split and subsequently reconciled, DDP got a major push in 1997 when he rejected an offer to join the nWo. Page became a bona fide main-eventer during a series of matches against Savage, with Kimberly (who was now acknowledged as Page’s wife on television) and Elizabeth in their respective men’s corners.
9. GOLDUST & MARLENA: WWF fans didn’t know what to make of this bizarre heel duo when they debuted in 1995. Goldust, sporting a blond wig and gold and black face paint, was portrayed as being either gay or bisexual (it was never made clear), and he had a habit of quoting lines from movies in his promos. Marlena (Terri Runnels, Dustin’s wife at the time) was his sexy, cigar-smoking accomplice. The antics of Goldust and Marlena were at the forefront of the WWF’s transformation from family entertainment to an edgier, more adult product.
10. “EXOTIC” ADRIAN STREET & MISS LINDA: While Gorgeous George was the first effeminate wrestler to make it big, it was Street who pushed the envelope even further with the gimmick. The native of Wales created an androgynous character that would serve as the inspiration for flamboyant wrestlers such as “Adorable” Adrian Adonis and Goldust. Wearing lipstick and garish eye makeup and putting his hair in pigtails, Street would skip to the ring and prance around like a ballet dancer. He also was one of the first wrestlers in the early ’80s to have a female valet. He and Miss Linda worked in various territories, with their most successful runs occurring in Florida and Tennessee.
Comments
Hey Kevin,
What was the real story behind Chyna leaving the WWE? Basically, I knew her and HHH had a relationship and then in real life they broke up and he joined Stephanie McMahon. I don't mean to get all into a wrestler's personal life, but I just wanted to know if you knew the details behind her stay at WWE, how she felt about the HHH-Stephanie relationship, and then why she left. Thanks!
RESPONSE FROM KE: I interviewed Chyna (Joanie Laurer) in 2002 and asked her about why she left WWE and if the Triple H/Stephanie thing played a part. She said: "I just think we started to grow in different directions. But I have to look at my leaving as a business decision. Otherwise, I'd drive myself insane."
Posted by: Erik | February 14, 2010 6:44 PM
I kind of got attached to the romance between Perry Saturn and that "MOP". Or maybe, DDP and Medusa?
Posted by: wrzesien | February 14, 2010 7:28 PM
you have a nice collection of couples but how could you forget Marc & Rena (Sable) Mero with out that couple that is what was the start of the current Diva's wrestling in the WWE.
RESPONSE FROM KE: I didn't forget them. As a duo, they were nothing. She became a star after she broke away from Mero.
Posted by: frank from dundalk | February 14, 2010 8:02 PM
Very nice list.
I thought Sherry Martel could have made the list with Savage or HBK. When she was with The Macho King she made the Elizabeth- Macho reunion special because you had the "other woman" in the story.
I know you wouldn't hear the end of it if you put Shawn Michaels in your list so I will. When Sherry was with HBK she helped set him apart as a main eventer because of her sucess with Savage. They had a unique relationship as she liked being pushed around, thrown to the floor and holding his mirror, all to get to kiss the cheek of the Heartbreak Kid. Plus she sang his theme song.
I know in both situations she was in the manager role but you never knew how far her relationship was going with Shawn or The Macho King as far as the story went.
Posted by: mat | February 14, 2010 9:11 PM
HBK and Shari Martel
Posted by: David S. | February 14, 2010 9:17 PM
No slot for Dusty and Sapphire...? ;-)
Posted by: Stephen | February 14, 2010 9:24 PM
Eddi and Chyna?
Posted by: Adil | February 14, 2010 10:00 PM
My favorite couples were Adorable Adrian Adonis and Bobby the Brain Heenan., Big Daddy V and Liliian Garcia, and Tony Garrera and Rick Martel...
Posted by: steve in seoul | February 14, 2010 11:19 PM
Hey what about HBK & Sensational Sherri?Vince McMahon & Trish or Vince McMahon & Sable?They were on screen couples right?
Posted by: SajidM | February 14, 2010 11:57 PM
Good list. I would give an honorable mention to King Booker and Sharmell, Vince and Linda McMahon, Macho King Randy Savage and Scary Sherri, Kane and Tori, and Billy and Chuck (just kidding about the last one).
Posted by: Russell | February 15, 2010 12:14 AM
What about Tommy Dreamer and Beulah? If you put Goldust there you should put Tommy Dreamer...honestly...
RESPONSE FROM KE: Goldust and Marlena were a main-event-level act in WWE in 1995; Dreamer and Beulah never made it out of the bingo halls.
Posted by: MitZi | February 15, 2010 12:21 AM
No room for Mark Henry and Mae Young? Harsh, Eck, harsh.
In all seriousness, i'd have found a spot for Eddie Guerrero and Chyna.
They had some pretty memorable moments together and made for a very entertaining duo.
Posted by: John | February 15, 2010 1:15 AM
i think you DID forget, Test and Stephanie.
the program was a joke at the time - but this video package is incredible
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8qMxED7QBw&feature=fvw
Posted by: Mike L | February 15, 2010 4:02 AM
Okay then what about Chris Jericho and Trish Stratus? That was main event level stuff.
RESPONSE FROM KE: Weren't together long enough. And it wasn't main-event level. It led to an udercard match at WrestleMania XX between Jericho and Christian.
Posted by: MitZi | February 15, 2010 7:14 AM
this is so innovative kevin! gr8
Posted by: pratik | February 15, 2010 10:16 AM
Kev I am like a lot of your readers no HBK & Sherri with out her giving him instant legitimacy their might have never been any Mr. Wrestlemania and his career could have been more like Shelton without her being in his corner.
Posted by: frank from dundalk | February 15, 2010 11:14 AM
Kev, “GORGEOUS” JIMMY GARVIN & PRECIOUS were my favorite. Everytime I hear " Sharp Dressed Man " by ZZ Top I think of Jimmy struttin' to the ring with Precious. WOOOOO
Posted by: Anonymous | February 15, 2010 1:33 PM
Back in the day, Missy Hyatt made my liver quiver - struttin (bouncing, actually) with Hollywood John Tatum - before Eddie Gilbert stole her away. Note to Eddie (resting in peace, I hope), Donna Summers' song "Hot Stuff" should never... have been the entrance song for a guy.
Posted by: Ruzious | February 15, 2010 4:42 PM
"10. “EXOTIC” ADRIAN STREET & MISS LINDA"
Thanks so much for mentioning these two! Workers from smaller territories often get overlooked but Adrian Street and Miss Linda were awesome!
Posted by: e. nonee moose | February 15, 2010 5:18 PM
Weren't together long enough. And it wasn't main-event level. It led to an udercard match at WrestleMania XX between Jericho and Christian.
they were main-even that goldust and terri
Posted by: Christian | February 15, 2010 7:49 PM
Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin and Precious should be number 2, and a strong argument can be made for them being number 1.
They were royalty. They were must see TV in WCCW. (I lived in New England at the time, and planned my week around the broadcast.) When the Von Erichs won the maid services of Precious it one of the best angles of the decade.
Every single valet, manager, or romance relationship angle was influenced by these two pioneers.
3rd place should go to Tully Blanchard and Baby Doll. Like Garvin and Precious, they paved the way for for the future generations.
You should include an ECW female.
Adrian Street and Miss. Linda should be a spot or two higher.
Posted by: Dr. J. | February 15, 2010 9:50 PM
Okay Kev I see you keep dismissing anything I say about couples missing from the list. You gotta admit though, I got some good knowledge about this...all in good fun haha
RESPONSE FROM KE: No, I'm not dismissing you. I welcome everyone's opinion. In my responses I was just explaining my reasoning for who was and wasn't on the list. As you said, the lists are all in good fun.
Posted by: MitZi | February 15, 2010 10:00 PM
Perfect list, no dispute. Savage & Liz are definately #1.
Posted by: JR | February 16, 2010 4:01 AM
The greatest wrestling love story of all time was George "The Animal" Steele and Miss. Elizabeth. How many of us have not known the pain of unrequited love?
RESPONSE FROM KE: That describes my life in high school.
Posted by: Joe Bennett | February 16, 2010 7:58 AM
I have to laugh at the people who feel his idiocy is real. Thanks for a laugh
RESPONSE FROM KE: I have to laugh at smart alecks who think that we think it's real. It's entertainment.
Posted by: steveinboston | February 16, 2010 9:43 AM
King BOOKAH and Queen Sharmelle!
Posted by: Suckah | February 16, 2010 10:22 AM
Kev, how can you leave out Chris Candido and Tammy Fitch??? They were awesome!!
Posted by: Bob From Baltimore | February 16, 2010 11:44 AM
Hey Kev please explain why you didn't put HBK & Sherri in the list.
RESPONSE FROM KE: Becaue I'm tired of everyone accusing me of being biased because I'm an HBK mark. No, just kidding. They had more of a manager-wrestler relationship. The others were actually couples (or at least it was implied).
Posted by: SajidM | February 16, 2010 12:32 PM
Where is Chuck and Billy?
Posted by: Zach F | February 16, 2010 4:04 PM
Woman and Kevin Sullivan. They were fabulously evil. Woman and Ric Flair. They were fabulous. Period. May she rest in peace.
Posted by: Johnny Valentine was great | February 16, 2010 10:37 PM
Not going to quibble with your choices but I have to agree with the Dreamer and Beulah / Candido and Sunny mentions. It didn't matter to me how big the focus was that the federation got in these things. What matters is how entertaining the couple was in and out of the ring.
So the other 2 couples I'll add for debate are The Franchise and Francine...say what you will about both, when out against a good opponent, I had a good time watching the hysterics.
Rick Steiner and Woman...a sweet coupling that tugged on the heartstrings until one of the best swerves of all time..
Posted by: Daryll B | February 16, 2010 10:42 PM
How about Mongo/Debra, Jarrett/Debra, or Austin/Debra? I'll never forget the whole "Queen Debra" gimmick she had in WCW with Mongo and Jarrett. Who could ever forget Stone Cold hating her cookies that she baked. Also what about Matt Hardy/Lita? That was played out for years.
Posted by: paul | February 17, 2010 12:29 PM
Honorable mention has to go to Robin Greene and Rick Steiner. As a kid, that was a storyline worth keeping up with because it affected the dominating Steiners tag team.
Posted by: Jack Windham | February 18, 2010 9:06 AM