Top 20 WCW Promo Masters
Who was the best interview?
In honor of World Championship Wrestling signing off 20 years ago, here’s a countdown of the top 20 WCW promo masters. For the purposes of this list, WCW began on Nov. 21, 1988, when Ted Turner purchased Jim Crockett Promotions and launched WCW.
20. Diamond Dallas Page
If you’ve heard him on Cameo, you know that DDP loves to talk. That dates back to his early days as a manager, and then his “King of Bada Bing” run as a midcard heel. But he really came into his own on the mic when trading verbal blows with “Macho Man” Randy Savage.
19. Bret Hart
Fresh off his red-hot run leading the anti-American sentiment as head of the Hart Foundation, Bret Hart cooled off tremendously in WCW. Even when he turned heel, he had confidence on the mic, but didn’t have much to work with. “The Hitman” is really on this list of WCW promo masters for promoting El Dandy.
18. Kevin Sullivan
Whether running the Varsity Club or Dungeon of Doom, Kevin Sullivan served as mouthpiece. His thick Boston accent and satanic diatribes made for compelling television, even if you didn’t understand what the hell he was saying. When he ditched the cartoons for the heartbreaking reality of losing his wife to Chris Benoit, that’s when “The Taskmaster” really shone through.
17. Hulk Hogan
Listen, brother. The red and yellow may have been passé in WCW, but Hollywood Hogan pontificating for 15 minutes on a weekly basis certainly wasn’t better. It was all downhill after his epic explanation at Bash at the Beach 1996.
16. Dusty Rhodes
It may seem blasphemous to have “The American Dream” this low on the list of WCW promo masters, but Dusty was primarily a commentator (at least on screen) during the ‘90s. We have a separate list for that. However, Dusty did produce another gem in 1994, pleading to be his son Dustin’s partner against the Stud Stable.
15. Michael Hayes
Michael “P.S.” Hayes brought the Fabulous Freebirds to WCW, and although DDP managed them for a time, Hayes did the heavy lifting on the mic. He always sounded like he was half a bottle of Jack deep, still rocking from the night before. He also knew when to whisper, drawing you closer to the TV and in the palm of his hand.
14. Kevin Nash
Arguably the funniest man in pro wrestling, Kevin Nash finally got to show his personality when he returned to WCW in 1996. He could be serious when need be, but it’s his smartass remarks and pop culture references that you’ll always remember. “Whadda ya bench, Lex?!”
13. Cactus Jack
WCW was the first time that Mick Foley got to talk to a national audience, and he made the most of every opportunity. High-pitched, exuding intensity and clever with wordplay, Cactus Jack came across as an intelligent maniac. Here’s one of my favorite lines: “I told Sting that lump in his throat wasn’t emotion, it was his liver!”
12. Brian Pillman
Diagnosed with throat cancer as a kid, Brian Pillman had dozens of surgeries that left his voice uniquely raspy. As part of the Hollywood Blondes, he unleashed his sense of humor, most memorably mocking Ric Flair and Arn Anderson. When he later joined them as part of the Four Horsemen, he became a “Loose Cannon,” breaking kayfabe and leaving fans in suspense as to what he’d say and do next.
11. Jim Cornette
Another WCW promo master who seems too low on the list, but Jim Cornette was only in the Turner-owned company until the fall of 1990. Of course, he was a fixture on commentary, as well as in the corner of the Midnight Express, running down the competition without a breath between quips. All these years later, he hasn’t slowed down as evidenced by his podcasts.
10. Lord Steven Regal
Although Sir William was by his side, Lord Steven Regal preferred handling all interviews. And why not? His Lordship was eloquent and refined, tasked with speaking the King’s English to a bunch of southerners.
9. Eric Bischoff
Who could have imagined that Eric Bischoff would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame? Nobody in the ‘90s, that’s for sure. After being revealed as a member of the New World Order, Easy E left the broadcast booth and embraced his role as a smarmy, grandstanding figurehead drunk with power. Whether he was challenging Vince McMahon to a fight or threatening to send Ric Flair into bankruptcy, Bischoff was the personification of arrogance.
8. Paul E. Dangerously
Switching back and forth between commentary and managing, Paul E. Dangerously developed his distinguished orator reputation back in the late ‘80s. WCW officials had faith in the “Psycho Yuppie” since day one, pairing him against established motormouth Jim Cornette. Then there’s The Dangerous Alliance, in which the future ECW mad scientist adeptly carried the talking for heavy hitters like Rick Rude, Arn Anderson and Larry Z.
7. Terry Funk
One of the all-time promo masters, Terry Funk was must-see TV in each of his three stints in WCW. Back in 1989, he respectfully challenged Ric Flair for the World Heavyweight Championship, but that horse-toothed, banana-nosed jerk denied the former champion a shot. In 1994, he targeted Dustin Rhodes, the son of that egg-sucking dog. In 2000, he came back as commissioner but soon morphed into full-fledged comedic relief as Hardcore Champion.
6. Scott Hall
Survey says…Scott Hall changed the game with his promo on that fateful Nitro in May of 1996. Similar to his Outsiders partner, “The Bad Guy” knows when and how to inject humor into serious situations. But Hall also has a knack for blending storyline and reality, making quips to pop the boys and get “smart marks” buzzing. That’s part of what made the NWO so successful early on.
5. Chris Jericho
Breaking through the crop of generic midcarders with his hilarious antics, Chris Jericho truly became the “highlight of the night” thanks to his promo ability. Whether berating the cruiserweights, claiming to be a conspiracy victim or reciting all the moves that he knows (“Armbar!”), Jericho was a breathe of fresh air amid the NWO frenzy.
4. Scott Steiner
Has anyone had a bigger transformation than Scott Steiner? He went from typical jock albeit one half of the greatest tag team in WCW history to profane, womanizing lunatic. His in-ring prowess already established, Big Poppa Pump’s ascension to the World Heavyweight Championship is solely due to being an elite trash talker.
3. Arn Anderson
Soft-spoken, yet authoritative, Arn Anderson commanded attention when given the mic. Like a veteran comedian, “The Enforcer” always had a line that you’d think about the next day. And “My Spot” (not the parody) is one of the greatest moments in WCW history.
2. Randy Savage
Often imitated and never duplicated (well, except for Jay Lethal), “Macho Man’s” iconic voice sounded like a buzzsaw. Known for being intense both on and off camera, Randy Savage exploded through the TV, gripping you by the collar. He could run through a range of emotions during a single interview, boasting about Macho Madness, grieving over Elizabeth’s betrayal or his father being attacked and concluding with a threat, no a guarandamntee, that he’s out for vengeance.
1. Ric Flair
Meeeeaaaaan WOOOOOO by God, Gene! What’s causing all this?
Ric Flair is. You believe every word that comes out of his mouth because he believes every word that comes out of his mouth. As we’ve learned in interviews and documentaries over the years, there’s no separation between character and performer. He dresses to the nines, loves to party, spares no expense and believes that he’s the G.O.A.T. As the top WCW promo master, it’s hard to argue.
The Nature Boy could do it all. He lured Sting in for multiple assaults, hoodwinking the fans into believing he had turned a new leaf. He made us misty-eyed as he took that limo ride to Starrcade 1993 with his career hanging in the balance. He flipped out on Bischoff, venting real-life frustrations on a live mic. He flirted with Liz and Woman, hoping they’d take a ride on Space Mountain. He even made being institutionalized seem like a good time.
On the last Nitro, he was given the floor to pay tribute to WCW because nobody could explain the significance of the evening better. Hell, Flair’s promos were so fun that fans cheered him over perpetual babyface Ricky Steamboat!
Whether you like it or not, learn to love it because Flair is the greatest talker in wrestling history.
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