As an adult, Animal is clearly the one making things work, spending the most time in the ring, selling, etc. As a kid, though, Hawk just came off meaner and cooler.
I remember a match where they were in the ring with Mr. Perfect (might have been a Survivor Series) when Curt hit a move on Hawk, turned around to celebrate, and Hawk no-sold, stood about a foot behind him, and when Curt turned, stuck out his tongue and hissed at him. Curt jumped backwards about three feet, and sold it like Satan had just looked up his skirt. I looked at Hawk and thought, "That's the coolest, baddest man I've ever seen!"