Interest in WCW is seeing a huge resurgenceWith The Rock’s Seven Bucks Productions airing a full docuseries on “Who Killed WCW?” For vice, and some interesting claims about Wow Taking some of his most successful ideas from WCW in Mr. McMahon, The controversial Netflix documentary on Vince’s life. Led by billionaire Ted Turner, the oft-ruled promotion famously Outperformed WWE in the ratings for 83 weeks Before they were eventually bought and owned by WWE.
In subsequent years, programming would often point out how this was wrong, with the not-so-subtle suggestion that WCW’s quality was rarely up to the standards set by WWE, Before and after. However, this is not necessarily true. The quality of the ring work throughout the life of WCW includes Some of the most overlooked matches in the history of professional wrestlingBoth in the 83-week glory period and in its entire existence. These are the basic matches that aren’t talked about anywhere nearly loud enough.
10
Bret Hart vs. Chris Benoit (Nitro, 1999)
A tribute match to the late, great Owen Hart
Perhaps the greatest tragedy in the history of professional wrestling broadcasts, the passing of Owen Hart remains one of the most emotionally affecting moments for both the performers and the audience. On the WWE Raw tribute episode to Owen, Jeff Jarrett was in tears during his match with Test. Owen’s brother, Bret Hart, was in WCW at the time, so his own tribute happened on the TNT network as he stepped through the ropes in a WCW ring.
Two of the most celebrated in-ring performers of all time put on a wrestling clinic In the most difficult circumstances imaginable. The crowd chants Owen Hart’s name as the match unfolds spotlessly. Bret Hart’s WCW run is much maligned by both himself and the wrestling history book however This is an essential match in hitman history.
9
Sting vs. Scott Hall (Uncensored, 1998)
Sting’s Crowe era begins to come of age in this classic match
It is widely known that It was Scott Hall who suggested to Sting that he adopt the look and feel of Brandon Lee’s The CrowDropping the surfer look he was known for in the early part of the 1990s. After assuming the persona and looking down from the rafters as the Dark Knight, Sting would slowly begin to return to ring competition in the name of preventing the NWO of taking over his home, WCW. The match was Sting’s first defense as WCW Champion, after finally defeating Hulk Hogan a couple of months after his infamous match with the NWO leader at Starrcade 97.
A no DQ stipulation was included in the match that would become The sixth and final time that Scott Hall would ever main event a WCW PPV. The stipulation for the match allowed for NWO interference, but Sting’s relentless pursuit of justice and victory in the face of insurmountable odds is a satisfying part of The Stinger’s journey to assert his dominance as the head of WCW.
8
Randy Wild vs. The Giant (Nitro, January 27, 1997)
An underrated classic from the WCW vs. NWO angle
Being one of the first additions to the group, The Giant Paul Wyatt (later The Big Show of WWE) was kicked out of the NWO in the later part of 1996. After being the man that Hulk Hogan leg dropped to form the NWO in the first place, Randy Savage was firmly cemented as one of the NWO’s biggest stars in April 1997. Upon his return, Wyatt would target Savage (who was himself) in a feud with Diamond Dallas Page) with this match being an underrated classic in this corner.
Wight would assert his seven-foot-tall dominance over Savage, with Macho Man using his signature eye-rakes and attempting to choke the Giant to catch a break from his relentless attacks. The match ended with trademark WCW run-ins and a brawl. Scott Hall and Kevin Nash would interfere, DDP would then hit the ring to make the save as the match was declared a DQ victory for the Giant. The star power over the match alone makes the whole thing feel like a 2K Dream Match come to life.
7
The Stone Brothers vs. The Outsiders (WCW Road Wild, 1997)
A fun clash of styles between two of WCW’s most iconic tag teams
The Stone Brothers are one of WCW’s true legendary teamsBest known for their clashes with fellow WCW legends Harlem Heat, The Nasty Boys and The Road Warriors. The Outsiders are best remembered for their singles runs and as members of the NWO, however Throughout 1996-97, the Steiners and the Outsiders had some incredible bouts. The NWO had to start dismantling the faces of WCW when they first arrived in the company. Along with Ric Flair and Sting, the Steiner Brothers were one of the most recognizable faces of the brand and were perfect enemies for the renegade faction.
The Outsiders’ victory was a significant moment for them as momentum continued to build for their arrival in WCW. Bron Breaker fans will get a kick out of the WCW audience barking back in 1997. The final stages of the match were sublime, including a blocked Frankensteiner attempt by Scott Steiner and a brutal Jackknife powerbomb by Scott Hall. WCW’s tag team wrestling was largely at its greatest in the early 90s however This is a classic classic from the top-up to the top of the company’s popularity.
6
Hulk Hogan vs. Arn Anderson (Nitro, February 12, 1996)
One of the great matches of Hogan’s initial run in WCW
Wrestling folklore is filled with misinformation and “not quite” truth. Hulk Hogan’s history in WCW suggests he arrived and The people were sick of the red-and-yellow. This led to Hogan turning black-and-white for his heel run and everyone lived happily ever after (or at least for a little while). This is not entirely true And certainly not the whole story.
Ahead of his legendary heel turn, Hulk Hogan was locked in a feud with Ric Flair and the legendary Four Horsemen. Arn Anderson is famously “The Enforcer” of the horse and one of the most reliable, hard-hitting in-ring workers in the history of the business. This match is best known for being One of the few times in his career that Hogan would suffer a clean three count. Of course, this came after a lot of weird cheating. A woman put salt in the Hulkster’s eyes and Arn Anderson then drilled him with Miss Elizabeth’s high-heeled shoe to score the victory.
5
Sting vs. Bret Hart (Halloween Havoc, October 25, 1998)
An underrated American Championship Classic
The United States Championship is known today for its prominence on WWE SmackDown. Over the years, the US it. Championship has defined reigns for everyone from John Cena and Rey Mysterio to Logan Paul. yet, It is often forgotten as WCW’s Intercontinental counterpart For most of the Golden Age of wrestling in the late 80s and early 90s. This is one of the great forgotten matches of that time.
These are two of the best in-ring technicians of all time locked in an intense dream match. Bret Hart works the match heel, driving Sting’s baseball bat into his neck from the middle rope to win with a rough finish, but The match itself is worthy of both men’s legendary status.
4
Raven vs. Diamond Dallas Page (Spring Stampede, 1998)
Raven’s Rules for the United States Championship
DDP and Raven are a perfect match for one another. Diamond Dallas Page was one of WCW’s greatest success stories. For a company rightly maligned for being unable to organically create new stars, DDP is one of the few to buck the trend during WCW’s glory days. Raven was one of a number of ECW plug-in-and-play acquisitions and the pair were involved in a heated feud throughout 1998, with four matches, including three on PPV. This is the choice of the game.
Both men were in the same no-holds barred psychological zone for this boutDressed in denim and ready for a street fight-flavored war. Because WCW liked to be as on the nose as possible, one of the biggest spots of the match involved DDP elbow-dropping Raven from the top of a stagecoach onto bales of hay at Spring Stampede. Do not let the ridiculous dehydration of the quality of the match, however. This match is an absolute barn burner.
3
Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Juventud Guerrera (Nitro, September 16, 1996)
In-ring excellence from the ECW Graduates
There is a school of thought that if your checkbook is big enough, the world is your oyster. Famously, at a bingo hall in Philadelphia, a new wave of cruiserweights was wowing anyone cool enough to have discovered ECW at the time. WCW soon began using the best of ECW’s talent on lucrative contracts and has the added bonus of not having the looming threat of extinction hanging over the company’s head (yet).
Mexican wrestling sensations Rey Mysterio Jr. and Juventud Guerrera both made the leap from Paul Heyman’s tutelage to WCW’s bigger platform. Showcasing high-flying lucha love to a 90s American audience salivating over regional wrestling flavors, This match is a masterclass in showcasing WCW’s cruiserweight division In one of his less-promoted classics. Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio got the win with a springboard hurricanrana in a match that totally stands the test of time.
2
Ric Flair vs. Eddie Guerrero (Nitro, May 20, 1996)
Two generational talents showing each other a thing or two in a 90s classic
Ric Flair vs. Eddie Guerrero is A match between two of the most cunning pro wrestlers of all time. The dirtiest player in the game against a man who made lying, cheating and stealing his mantra. It’s a surreal match to exist, considering that both performers are considered icons and won their first world titles 23 years apart, Flair winning the NWA title for the first time in 1981 and Eddie Guerrero winning his first world title in WWE in any Way Out in 2004.
It’s a fascinating back-and-forth match, Eddie Guerrero delivering Ric Flair’s signature knife-edge chops in the corner with every bit of venom applied by his architect. The brilliance of this match lies within A young Guerrero showing off his flying high-flying prowess while Flair is still in his styling and profiling prime. This was their second Nitro match and ended with Flair victorious via a rope-assisted figure-four leg lock
1
Cactus Jack vs. Vader (Halloween Havoc, 1993)
Two of the most beloved wrestlers of the ’90s go head-to-head in an iconic setting
With WCW embracing America’s spooky season in a way that WWE never really did, Halloween Havoc is perhaps WCW’s most aesthetically iconic PPV. It also doubles as the perfect setting for two of the ’90s’ scariest wrestlers to explode in one of pro wrestling’s most dangerous matches. Scary stuff indeed.
Recent conversations have turned to things that WCW did first and, on that note, This could be considered the foreshadowing of what would happen in the latter part of the 90s. A wheel is spun to determine the stipulation for WCW Champion, Vader and Mick Foley’s Main Event title match and the result is a classic Texas Deathmatch. Both men are bleeding, Vader is thrown into a makeshift grave, tables are launched and general carnage is the order of the day as Vader takes the victory in WCWs most overlooked classic.