The wrestling career of Abdullah the Butcher (real name Lawrence Shreve) began in the 1950s, and by the time the ’70s rolled around, he was one of the most feared villains in the business. Despite hailing from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Abdullah was portrayed as a terrifying foreigner – an angle that was quite common for the era.

Throughout the decade, Abdullah wrestled countless matches for the NWA in North America and AJPW in Japan. For various reasons, including the fact that he was in high demand across so many promotions, Abdullah never captured a world championship. Still, he became a recognizable figure to wrestling fans and had rivalries with the likes of Terry Funk, Giant Baba, and more.

Abdullah wrestled his final match in 2010 against former WWE and AJPW star Bull Buchanan, and he entered the WWE Hall of Fame the following year. Today, Abdullah bears prominent scars on his forehead, highlighting the toll that the industry had on his body. As of writing, Shreve is 84 years old and has been dealing with some severe health issues, with a public fundraiser set up to help cover his medical costs.

Another prominent 1970s heel was Baron von Raschke, who also got his start in the AWA. With an iconic look and his finisher, known as The Claw, von Raschke was used all across the United States, including in Vince McMahon Sr.’s WWWF.

In the early 1970s, von Raschke captured Indianapolis promotion WWA’s World Heavyweight Championship three separate times, holding it for a combined total of 1,004 days. Additionally, he found success as both a singles and tag team star in various NWA promotions, later becoming NWA World Tag Team Champion several times with Greg Valentine and Paul Jones.

Von Raschke’s wrestling career has since served as the basis for both a stage play and a film, appropriately titled “The Claw.” Outside of pro wrestling, he previously served as a teacher and owned his own shop. Now fully retired, he still maintains a connection to the industry with occasional interviews and appearances. In 2021, he made a memorable AEW cameo in which he delivered The Claw to Ethan Page.

One of the most popular luchadores of all time, Mil Máscaras became an international star in the 1970s, garnering acclaim for his work in Mexico, Japan, and the United States. In a break from tradition, the senior McMahon was evidently a fan of Máscaras, as he ended a prior rule of not allowing masked wrestlers in his promotion. Máscaras went on to feud with “Superstar” Billy Graham over the company’s top title, though he was not victorious.

Though he wasn’t as decorated with titles as many other top stars at his level, Máscaras maintained a level of popularity that the vast majority of pro wrestlers would’ve envied. He was chosen by Pro Wrestling Illustrated as the most popular wrestler of 1975, and Máscaras simultaneously enjoyed a successful acting career in Mexico.

While he was undeniably a fan favorite, Máscaras developed a mixed reputation among his fellow wrestlers over the years, with many of his opponents claiming that he was hesitant to sell for them. Nonetheless, his legacy cannot be denied. Máscaras was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012, but his wrestling career continued all the way into his late 70s, with his retirement match taking place in 2019.