Cobra Kai ‘80s References

All of the ‘80s Moments We Found in Cobra Kai

Below are all of the ‘80s moments in Seasons 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Cobra Kai.

Cobra Kai begins with former high school bad boy Johnny in present day (complete with a bed full of chips)

Cobra Kai Season 1 ‘80s references and soundtrack

‘80s Plays a Big Part in Cobra Kai Nostalgia

Cobra Kai kicks off with Poison’s “Nothin’ But a Good Time.” Johnny sitting at home watching “Iron Eagle” (1986). We get more ‘80s goodness when Johnny drives and remembers the past (complete with Karate Kid flashbacks) to Foreigner’s “Head Games.”

Episode 2: Johnny mentions Guns N’ Roses to his protégé, Miguel.

For Episode 3, Miguel is practicing in his room, listening to Ratt’s “Lay it Down.”

Miguel’s ringtone is Ratt’s “Round and Round,” when Johnny heard this, Miguel said “I went online and looked up Guns N’ Roses and ended up going on this whole ‘80s-rock rabbit hole.” We can relate. Johnny looks proud of his protege’s new found excellent music taste, and we are too.

“Bananarama chocolate chip pancakes are up.” Daniels says to his daughter in Episode 4.

Also in Episode 4: “What the hell’s a boom box?” Robby’s friend says after Johnny mentions it.

In Episode 5 it pained us to see Johnny selling his Atari, and that the pawn shop guy only offers $10, surely that magical machine is worth more than that. Johnny also tries to sell an infamous Sports Illustrated with Elle Macpherson on the cover.

Boston’s “Don’t Look Back” is obviously made for flashbacks and works perfectly in the scene where a young Johnny listens to his Walkman in Episode 6.

“We’re Not Gonna Take it” (Twisted Sister) is a good rebel anthem for any show, particularly with the young Cobra Kais (Episode 8).

Episode 9 includes a funny scene with foes Johnny and Daniel singing in the car to REO Speedwagon’s “Take It On The Run.” They have a little Speedwagon banter (who doesn’t). Rocky III gets a shout out during this episode as well.

What better ‘80s anthem for a finale (Episode 10) than Queen’s “I Want It All”?

Daniel and Johnny in one of their many disagreements during Cobra Kai.

Cobra Kai Season 2 ‘80s Moments

More ‘80s References This Season

With Season 2 the writers bring on ‘80s references through more than songs or band mentions. I am here for it.

Episode 1: While talking with Sam, Aisha says the Cobras have to watch “Over the Top,” with Sensei wanting to discuss. Points if you know “Over the Top” is the 1987 Sylvester Stallone arm wrestling movie. Yes, they made a movie about arm wrestling. The ‘80s!

In a home improvement store Johnny wears a Metallica shirt and has a “Rock on” conversation with a clerk who says “the ‘80s were the best era ever” and then does a Caddyshack gopher imitation. Clerk goes on to join Cobra Kai and go by the name “Stingray” a very ‘80s nickname.

In Episode 2, AC/DC’s “Back in Black” plays as Johnny paints his car, appropriately enough, black.

While making a video for his dojo in Episode 3 Johnny wants “Thunderstruck” (AC/DC) used in the video and when told he might not be able to get the rights he says “I already own it, cassettes in the car.”

Episode 5: Robby tells Sam his middle name is Swayze, and he starts to explain who Patrick Swayze is. Sam says “like I haven’t seen Dirty Dancing, like a hundred times.” Same.

Also in this episode Miguel made a video for Sam to “Listen to Your Heart,” explaining about Roxette: “they’re this ‘80s band.” “No Shelter” by Broken Edge from the original movie plays during a mall fight scene.

In Episode 6, Johnny gets together with his old pals and they hop on their hogs to “The Ride” by the Matches which is also from the original movie (for a motorcycle scene). No spoiler but during a sad moment we hear Queen’s “The Show Must Go On.”

Episode 8 is chock full of ‘80s references starting with a Whitesnake “Here I Go Again” dream montage with Johnny and Carmen, Miguel’s mother. Johnny wears a Zebra band shirt. Johnny says he likes “Iron Eagle” and “Iron Eagle II” when filling out his dating profile, also saying he likes the cavemen insurance commercials. More direct ‘80s comments: Daniels mom just comes out and says it “Look at my hair! The ‘80s!” while looking through old photos.

Note: “Iron Eagle” gets a few nods in Cobra Kai: Rob Garrison, who played Tommy in The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai is in Iron Eagle. Tom Fridley was in The Karate Kid (not Cobra Kai) and also Iron Eagle.

Lots of ‘80s Moments in The Roller Skating Scene

Here’s where the writers really pack on the nostalgia.

It seems like during Season 2 the showrunner thought “how can we write a show about high schoolers but have Gen-X tune in? Put those high schoolers in a roller rink, AND have it be ‘80s night AND have Sam wear the dress from Pretty in Pink that drives Gen-X women crazy (that dress makes no sense! I get that she made it herself but it’s stiff and an odd length and…).”

They literally have “80s Night” on the wall in the background. Robby says 2 people are telling him he looks like Dan Johnson (obviously meant to be Don, but a dig, perhaps? We review the Dan Johnson comment here.) “Dance Hall Days” Wang Chung plays while Robby and Sam walk in. “If You Leave” OMD plays when Robby and Sam are skating. “You’re a Duckie in Spader clothing,” Sam tells him.

Johnny during a date references “Knight Rider.”

When reconciling with his wife, Daniel reminds her of a happier time, “You’re the Inspiration” by Chicago plays.

Carmen’s mom says “Hot For Teacher” (referencing the Van Halen song) when seeing how Carmen is dressed for her date with Johnny in Episode 9.

Episode 10, the finale, we get one ‘80s reference: “Cruel Summer” by Bananarama when Sam goes to school. This same song plays in a high school scene with Daniel in “The Karate Kid.”

Johnny is dropping Robby off at school: “Couldn’t find a Trapper Keeper. Are those still cool?” Don’t even get me started on Trapper Keepers. Wanted one. Didn’t get one.

Cobra Kai ‘80s Moments Take Us Back

It was fun going down memory lane with Daniel and Johnny. I will always maintain that ‘80s rock music “is dope” like Miguel said.

I’m assuming with the success of Cobra Kai on Netflix the producers will have even more access to ‘80s music. I predict Led Zeppelin, Bon Jovi and Def Leppard will give the OK for their music to be featured. We’ll find out starting January 8, when Season 3 of Cobra Kai premieres.

UPDATED January 2021: Well, my predictions were wrong. Check out the ‘80s songs and moments from Season 3 below.

‘80s References in Season 3 of Cobra Kai

Episode 1 starts off with a random guy saying “I thought karate died in the ‘80s.” This statement pairs nicely with the almost end of the season speech from Ali to Johnny about living in the present and working towards a future. Karate isn’t a trend based on a decade and you don’t have to live in the ways of the past to be successful. Or at least that’s my Cobranalysis of it.

At a school board meeting Daniel refers to the halting of karate at the school as a “karate Footloose.” Makes me want to sing “Everybody kick, everybody kick…”

Episode 2, Amanda refers to Daniel and Johnny as “Tango and Cash,” referencing the 1989 film starring Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell. “Kickstart My Heart” by Motley Crue plays when they’re chasing after the stolen car.

In episode 4 the kids play a rough game of soccer to the Moody Blue’s “Rock N Roll Over You.” In Japan, Kumiko tells Daniel she loved London because she got to see the Cranberries open for Radiohead in 1995 (ok, not ‘80s).

Episode 5, Daniel says to Chozen “Ever seen Seinfeld? You’re more of a Friends guy.” (Seinfeld started in 1989 so it counts). In this episode Johnny offers his Vanna White Playboy to Miguel. Johnny is seen in a Red Hot Chili Peppers shirt in this episode. The biggest ‘80s moment of this season is the Twisted Sister concert where Johnny takes Miguel to get his mind off of his therapy.

We get the W.A.S.P. song “I Wanna Be Somebody” in episode 7. Johnny wears a Scorpions tee.

It isn’t the holidays if we don’t hear The Waitresses’ “Christmas Wrapping” song. Sam says to her dad the words we all are in denial of hearing: “Dad, it’s not 1984.” From the original “Karate Kid” soundtrack “Feel the Night” by Baxter Robertson.

“Open Arms” by Journey (though my TV captions called it a sentimental ‘80s song) plays as Johnny says goodbye to Ali. Though it’s a show that pays much homage to the rock songs of the ‘80s we end out Season 3 with “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins. It has a catchy drum part, we’ll give it that.

Season 4 ‘80s References

During training at the beginning of episode 1 “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming,” by Judas Priest plays.

Miguel encourages Johnny to work with Daniel by bringing up Rocky III. “How did Rocky defeat Clubber Lang? Did he do it alone? No. He and Apollo had to work together.”

In episode 3 Johnny and Daniel train to “Two Heads are Better Than One,” by Power Tool (1989, the guys from Nelson recording under a different name).

Lots of references in episode 4. Kyler says about the drive-in: “They’re going old school, something called Bloodsport.” Robby: “I know that movie. My dad left an old VHS at our place.”

Johnny rants about Daniel showing Miguel Top Gun: “Cruise is the worst in that. Here you got the real deal, Iceman, best of the best, abs for days. In comes this new guy, total dweeb, calls himself a maverick. You can’t call yourself a maverick. Guy didn’t even earn a spot at Miramar. Got his wingman killed too. Not cool.”

Christopher Cross song “Sailing” playing in the car, Daniel explains to Miguel that “not everything from the ‘80s was hard rock…Michael McDonald, Billy Joel, Chicago.” Later Daniel makes a very Daniel statement: “Peter Cetera is a bad a**”

Episode 5 Johnny trains to “Burning Heart” by Survivor.

“Girls, Girls, Girls,” by Motley Crue plays in episode 6.

Johnny wears a Black Sabbath t-shirt in episode 7.

In episode 8 Stingray mentions Metallica. We dig the Pac-Man suit at the dance.

Season 5 ‘80s References

In Episode 1, Johnny walking out of a mini mart wearing a Cinderella tee. “Unskinny Bop” by Poison plays.

Episode 4 opens with Carmen dreaming of a Top Gun-like volleyball scene while the song “Playing With the Boys” by Kenny Loggins plays.

Johnny rocks out to “Mony Mony” by Billy Idol while being a ride share driver.

“Blaze of Glory” by Jon Bon Jovi in the background while Johnny tries conflict resolution with Miguel and Robbie (with an escape room).

Episode 8, they train to “Unchained” by Van Halen.

They dance to “You Spin Me ‘Round” by DOA at a bar in episode 9.

We loved Cobra Kai, the mix of nostalgia and humor match nicely with the modern storyline. Check out our Cobra Kai Season 1 review here and our Season 2 review here.