1980s
*** Championships in parentheses ( ) are noted according to the approximate date of the information, usually three or four months prior to the publishing date, in order to give a better idea of why the wrestlers may be ranked. All are heavyweight unless otherwise noted. (Source: Wrestling-Titles.com: Rankings)
1980-01
The Wrestler
World Heavyweight Champion: Harley Race
- Terry Funk
- Dusty Rhodes
- Jimmy Snuka
- Mr. Wrestling II
- Ric Flair
- Killer Karl Kox
- Ken Patera
- Jack Brisco
- Dory Funk Jr.
- Wahoo McDaniel
1980-08
Sports Review Wrestling
World Heavyweight Champion: Harley Race
- Dusty Rhodes
(Southern Champion) - Ric Flair
(United States Champion) - Mr. Wrestling II
- Don Muraco
(Florida Champion) - Austin Idol
(Georgia Champion) - Kevin Von Erich
(Missouri Champion) - Jim Brunzell
(Mid-Atlantic Champion) - Leroy Brown
- Stan Stasiak
- Ted DiBiase
(MSWA North American Champion)
1981-03
Inside Wrestling
World Heavyweight Champion: Harley Race
- Ric Flair
(United States Champion) - Dusty Rhodes
- Dory Funk Jr.
(Florida Champion) - Tony Atlas
(Georgia Champion) - Ricky Steamboat
(Mid-Atlantic Champion) - Ken Patera
- The Grappler
- Ted DiBiase
(Missouri Champion) - Terry Funk
- Jim Brunzell
1981-10
Inside Wrestling
World Heavyweight Champion: Dusty Rhodes
- Harley Race
- Roddy Piper
(United States Champion) - Ken Patera
(Georgia Champion) - Dory Funk Jr.
(Florida Champion) - Ivan Koloff
(Mid-Atlantic Champion) - Tommy Rich
- Ted DiBiase
(Missouri Champion) - Ric Flair
- Mr. Wrestling II
- Les Thornton
(World Junior Heavyweight Champion)
1982-05
Inside Wrestling
World Heavyweight Champion: Ric Flair
- Sgt. Slaughter
(United States Champion) - Tommy Rich
(National Champion) - Mr. Wrestling II
(Florida Champion) - Dick the Bruiser
(Missouri Champion) - Roddy Piper
(Mid-Atlantic Champion) - Dusty Rhodes
- Harley Race
- David Von Erich
(Southern Champion) - Ted DiBiase
(North American Champion) - Les Thornton
(World Junior Heavyweight Champion)
1982-09
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ric Flair
– World Heavyweight Champion - Sgt. Slaughter
(United States Champion) - Buzz Sawyer
(National Champion) - Jim Garvin
(Florida Champion) - Roddy Piper
(Mid-Atlantic Champion) - Bruiser Brody
(International Champion) - Butch Reed
- Harley Race
- David Von Erich
- Tommy Rich
1983-01
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ric Flair
– World Heavyweight Champion) - Wahoo McDaniel
(United States Champion) - Paul Jones
(Mid-Atlantic Champion) - Super Destroyer
(National Champion) - Dick the Bruiser
(Missouri Champion) - Tommy Rich
- Jim Garvin
(Southern Champion) - Brian Blair
(Florida Champion) - Harley Race
- Ted DiBiase
(MSWA North American Champion)
1983-08
Sports Review Wrestling
World Heavyweight Champion: Ric Flair
- Greg Valentine
(United States Champion) - Larry Zbyszko
National Champion) - Crusher Blackwell
(Missouri Champion) - Dory Funk Jr.
(Mid-Atlantic Champion) - Scott McGhee
(Florida Champion) - Ron Bass
(Southern Champion) - Bob Armstrong
(Southeastern Champion) - Dewey Robertson
(Central States Champion) - Tommy Rich
- Kevin Von Erich
(American Champion)
1984-05-31
The Wrestler
(1984-09 issue)
World Heavyweight Champion: Ric Flair
- Ricky Steamboat
(United States Champion) - Brad Armstrong
(National Champion) - Harley Race
(Missouri Champion) - Kerry Von Erich
- Mike Rotunda
(Southern Champion) - Masked Outlaw
(Mid-Atlantic Champion) - Billy Jack
(Florida Champion) - Carlos Colón
(WWC Universal Champion) - Chris Adams
(American Champion) - Stan Hansen
(PWF Champion)
1985-02-06
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
(1985-06 issue; source: IWD)
World Heavyweight Champion: Ric Flair
- Wahoo McDaniel
(United States Champion) - Jerry Blackwell
(Missouri Champion) - Dusty Rhodes
- Kerry Von Erich
(American Champion) - Ron Garvin
(National Champion) - B. Brian Blair
(Florida Champion) - Ron Bass
(Mid-Atlantic Champion) - Rick Rude
(Southern Champion) - Chris Adams
- Tully Blanchard
(NWA Television Champion)
1985-08-06
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
(1985-12 issue; source: IWD)
World Heavyweight Champion: Ric Flair
- Tully Blanchard
(United States Champion) - Dusty Rhodes
(World Television Champion) - Black Bart
(National Champion) - Rick Rude
(Southern Champion) - Nikita Koloff
- Kerry Von Erich
- Iceman King Parsons
(American Champion) - Magnum T. A.
- Brian Adias
(Texas Champion) - Jerry Blackwell
1986-03-07
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
World Heavyweight Champion: Ric Flair
- Magnum T.A.
(United States Champion) - Tully Blanchard
(National Champion) - Ron Garvin
- Nikita Koloff
- Dusty Rhodes
- Wahoo McDaniel
- Dick Slater
- Lex Luger
(Southern Champion) - Barry Windham
- Billy Jack Haynes
1986-12-04
Pro Wrestling Illustrated (1987-06 issue)
World Heavyweight Champion: Ric Flair
- Nikita Koloff
(United States Champion) - Tully Blanchard
(World Television Champion) - Dusty Rhodes
- Lex Luger
- Sam Houston
- Barry Windham
- Brad Armstrong
- Ron Garvin
(Mid-Atlantic Champion) - Arn Anderson
- Rip Oliver
1987-10-28
Pro Wrestling Illustrated (1988-02 issue)
World Heavyweight Champion: Ron Garvin
- Lex Luger
(United States Champion) - Ric Flair
- Nikita Koloff
(World Television Champion) - Dusty Rhodes
- Barry Windham
(Western States Heritage Champion) - Tully Blanchard
- Sting
- Bubba Rogers
- Mike Rotundo
(Florida Champion) - Carlos Colon
(WWC Universal Champion)
1988-11-04
The Miami Herald
(most likely from another source)
World Heavyweight Champion: Ric Flair
- Barry Windham
(United States Champion) - Bobby Eaton
- Rick Steiner
- Sting
- Tommy Rogers
1989 Summer
Wrestling Superstars
World Heavyweight Champion: Ric Flair
- Barry Windham
(United States Champion) - Ricky Steamboat
- Eddie Gilbert
- Rick Steiner
- Sting
(World Television Champion) - Lex Luger
- Junkyard Dog
- Mike Rutondo
- Michael Hayes
- Butch Reed
1989-08-24
Wrestling ’89
(1989 Winter issue)
World Heavyweight Champion: Ric Flair
- Lex Luger
(United States Champion) - Terry Funk
- Sting
(World Television Champion) - The Great Muta
- Tommy Rich
- Steve Williams
- Mike Rutondo
- Rick Steiner
- Brian Pillman
- Sid Vicious