Jon Hamm Will Always Be An ’80s WWF Guy

The world of pro wrestling witnessed newfound popularity during the eighties that continued all the way into the nineties. The birth of Hulkamania took the sport main stream. While Hogan is credited for revolutionizing pro wrestling, the contributions of stars like Andre the Giant and “Macho Man” Randy Save cannot be denied.

The mainstream popularity of pro wrestling led to many wrestlers cross over into Hollywood and vice versa. Many future celebrities found themselves glued to the screen to witness the magic that the Golden Era of pro wrestling brought to them. Actor Jon Hamm is one of the many celebrities who grew up loving that era of professional wrestling.

Hamm, who is 51, recently sat down for an interview with Sports Illustrated to promote “Top Gun: Maverick.” Hamm also discussed his love of pro wrestling, saying he was a huge fan of Andre the Giant growing up. Highlights from the interview can be seen below.

“That’s the golden era of professional wrestling. I’ll always be an ’80s WWF guy. In film acting, you’re only as good as the person you’re sharing that space with, and in this case, I had the opportunity to share it with one of Hollywood’s greatest movie stars.

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“It’s no different [in pro wrestling]; you need that [heel], that someone to play off of. And when you have a guy named Maverick, you know he’s the one who’s going to break the rules. You also need the guy who’s going to establish the rules; and that was my job. Through that relationship comes a lot of dramatic tension that builds up throughout the film.

“I was a big Andre the Giant fan. He made everything he did so interesting. And Hogan slamming Andre, that’s a moment you never forget. I’ll always be in awe of that ’80s era.”

“Top Gun: Maverick” is a sequel to 1986’s “Top Gun.” The film stars Tom Cruise and Miles Teller in lead roles. Hamm plays Adm. Beau “Cyclone” Simpson. The film opens in theaters on May 27th.

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