20 Greatest WCW Pay-Per-Views
What was the best year for WCW PPVs?
In honor of World Championship Wrestling signing off 20 years ago, here’s a countdown of the 20 greatest pay-per-views in WCW. For the purposes of this list, WCW began on Nov. 21, 1988, when Ted Turner purchased Jim Crockett Promotions and launched WCW.
20. Bash at the Beach 1997
Rodzilla! That’s right, Dennis Rodman makes his wrestling debut teaming with Hollywood Hogan to face Lex Luger and The Giant in quite the spectacle. If first-time viewers came for the NBA star, they probably became regular viewers thanks to Roddy Piper vs. Ric Flair, Chris Benoit retiring Kevin Sullivan, Chris Jericho vs. Ultimo Dragon, an insane lucha libre showcase, a sick DDT from the Steiners and even a delightful opener of Wrath & Mortis vs. Glacier and Ernest Miller.
19. Bash at the Beach 1994
Hulkamania has arrived and WCW would never be the same. Headlining the most-purchased WCW pay-per-view at the time, Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair finally had their dream match on TV, and they delivered. There’s also a great match between Steve Austin and Ricky Steamboat, as well as a swerve by (who else?) a Four Horseman.
18. Spring Stampede 1994
The Dragon and the Nature Boy add a new chapter in their rivalry five years after their trilogy. It wasn’t on the same level as their classic encounters, but then again, they’re playing on a higher level than anyone else. The other reason to watch this show is Cactus Jack and Maxx Payne vs. The Nasty Boys, a groundbreaking brawl that brought ECW’s hardcore style to the mainstream.
17. Halloween Havoc 1989
Thirty years before WWE turned its audience into Guess Who, WCW unveiled the Thunderdome. In a rare union, Ric Flair and Sting team up against Terry Funk and the Great Muta in a chaotic main event. Doom debuts and defeats the Steiners in a major upset. Lex Luger kicks into high gear against Brian Pillman. And the Philly fans roast the Dynamic Dudes!
16. Starrcade 1996
For being WCW’s version of WrestleMania, Starrcade rarely delivered. This was a great one, though, as Dean Malenko and Ultimo Dragon tore the house down right away, followed by Rey Mysterio vs. Jushin Thunder Liger (who had a brain tumor removed only four months prior), The Outsiders vs. Faces of Fear, an exhilarating finish to DDP vs. Eddie Guerrero and an even hotter finish to Lex Luger vs. The Giant. Finally, Hogan put Piper over in the main event albeit the World Heavyweight Championship wasn’t on the line for some reason.
15. Spring Stampede 1999
WCW’s last great PPV. On paper, it shouldn’t have worked, but the execution was nearly flawless. Goldberg vs. Kevin Nash, Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko vs. Raven & Saturn, Juventud Guerrera vs. Blitzkrieg and Rey Misterio vs. Billy Kidman all surpassed expectations. The main event fatal four way between Flair, Hogan, DDP and Sting, which feels like something out of a video game, was enjoyable, too.
14. Starrcade 1988
One of the greatest rivalries in WCW history turned another page as Lex Luger unsuccessfully challenged Ric Flair yet again, although the “Total Package” certainly put on a fantastic performance. The Midnight Express colliding with the “original” Midnight Express was tremendous, and the only TV match we got between those four competitors. And if you want to hear a pop, listen when Rick Steiner wins the TV Title
13. Halloween Havoc 1996
Snap out of it and skip Hogan beating Macho Man yet again. Everything else makes for a fun show: Outsiders vs. Harlem Heat, Faces of Fear vs. Chris Benoit & That’s Our Mongo, Jeff Jarrett vs. The Giant, Eddie Guerrero vs. Diamond Dallas Page and a fantastic opener in Dean Malenko vs. Rey Mysterio. Plus, there’s a legendary surprise at the end of the night.
12. Halloween Havoc 1997
Skip the “Age in a Cage” and you’ve got one of the best WCW pay-per-views of all time. Randy Savage and DDP go hardcore, Ultimo Dragon and Yuji Nagata light up Las Vegas, Chris Jericho endures a struggle with Gedo and the Nature Boy brawls with Mr. Perfect. Oh, and Rey Mysterio meets Eddie Guerrero in a match you may have heard about…
11. Great American Bash 1990
It’s an interesting juxtaposition of old-timers on the undercard (Iron Sheik, Harley Race, Junkyard Dog) while the “Wrestler of the ‘90s” is coronated in the main event. Sting winning his first World Heavyweight Championship from arch-rival Ric Flair gets all the praise, but the Midnight Express vs. the Southern Boys is the show-stealer. Also, Buddy Landell has his working boots on against Brian Pillman and the Steiners have a good bout with the Freebirds.
10. Great American Bash 1996
The calm before the storm of the NWO. This show is filled with bangers: Malenko vs. Mysterio, Benoit vs. Sullivan, Sting vs. Regal and even Flair and Arn vs. Kevin Greene and That’s Our Mongo. Don’t forget Eric Bischoff’s historic interview with The Outsiders.
9. Slamboree 1994
Philly always made for a lively, somewhat hostile environment. Sting and Vader have another barnburner in the main event. But before that, Cactus Jack and Kevin Sullivan go to war with the Nasty Boys in a hellacious falls count anywhere match. Even Tully Blanchard came out of retirement to fight Terry Funk in a fun brawl. There’s actually not a bad match on the card.
8. WrestleWar 91
War Games headlines this one with two dream teams: Flair, Sid, Barry Windham and Larry Zbyszko vs. Brian Pillman, Sting and the Steiners. It’s one of the greatest matches in WCW history, notwithstanding Sid almost killing Pillman…twice! If it was any other night, Lex Luger and Danny Spivey would have stolen the show. There’s also a donnybrook between Vader and Stan Hansen, as well as a return and a breakup.
7. Beach Blast 1992
Bill Watts’ finest three hours in WCW. Although the dream match of Steiners vs. the Miracle Violence Connection didn’t live up to expectations, there are still two classics on this show. Rick Rude and Ricky Steamboat had the best 30-minute Ironman match you’ll find and Cactus Jack took Sting to the extreme in a Falls Count Anywhere…on the Gulf Coast! There’s also a hot opener between Brian Pillman and Scotty Flamingo.
6. Chi-Town Rumble
Part one of the greatest trilogy in sports and entertainment as Ricky Steamboat dethrones the Nature Boy for his only World Heavyweight Championship. If that’s not enough for ya, Barry Windham and Lex Luger tell a riveting story over a broken hand. Plus, there’s plenty of hijinks between Cornette and Heyman as part of a six-man tag.
5. SuperBrawl II
Commentary immediately gets shaken up thanks to the arrival of Jesse Ventura. And what a show to debut on: Sting sends Lex Luger packing for the World Bodybuilding Federation, Paul E. Dangerously disguises himself as a ninja, Larry Zbyszko & Steve Austin and Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes put on a tag team masterclass, Cactus Jack and Ron Simmons exchange fisticuffs and Vinnie Vegas shows agility! Don’t forget the opener – Jushin Thunder Liger and Brian Pillman drafting the blueprint for the cruiserweight division.
4. Bash at the Beach 1996
The show that changed pro wrestling. Even if the undercard was the drizzling shits, this would still be in the Top 20 because of Hulk Hogan being revealed as the Third Man. However, other matches such as Disco Inferno vs. Malenko and the double dog collar are fun, and the opener between Mysterio and Psychosis is bonkers.
3. WrestleWar 92
Quality over quantity – the first half of WrestleWar 92 is hogwash, but the second half is thrilling. Brian Pillman and Tom Zenk let it all hang out, the Steiners demolish Tatsumi Fujinami and Takayuki Iizuka and, in the coup de grâce, The Dangerous Alliance implodes in the greatest War Games ever.
2. Great American Bash 1989
Widely considered the greatest wrestling pay-per-view aside from WrestleMania X-7, Great American Bash 1989 falls just short of the top spot on this list because of two non-clean finishes. Yes, Sting vs. Great Muta was a dream match at the time, and the action was fast and furious, but Muta’s shoulder not being down for the pin is a cheap cop-out. And while Ricky Steamboat carried Lex Luger to one of his best matches, the DQ taints what would have been a perfect match. Aside from those blemishes, this is still mandatory viewing with Ric Flair and Terry Funk in the main event, a brutal War Games, Scott Steiner’s PPV debut and the tuxedo match between Jim Cornette and Paul Heyman.
1. SuperBrawl III
The Nature Boy comes home to WCW! He didn’t wrestle, but the world felt balanced again. He also didn’t need to wrestle to save this show because there’s so much good shit, pal. The Hollywood Blondes kick things off, Chris Benoit vs. 2 Cold Scorpio follows, Davey Boy Smith gets a huge pop, Cactus Jack and Paul Orndorff of all people go hardcore, The Heavenly Bodies and Rock N Roll Express put on a clinic and Sting and Vader end the show with the best strap match ever.
From top to bottom, this is truly the best of World Championship Wrestling.
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