20 Greatest WCW Wrestlers
It’s a two-horse race for No. 1.
In honor of World Championship Wrestling signing off 20 years ago, here’s a countdown of the 20 greatest wrestlers 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. Dean Malenko
“The Man of 1,000 Holds” spent half the ‘90s in WCW, providing the steak for the main eventers’ sizzle. A four-time Cruiserweight Champion, Dean Malenko, along with Rey Mysterio and Ultimo Dragon, built the foundation for the exciting division. The second-generation grappler is also responsible for one of the loudest pops in wrestling history.
19. Arn Anderson
David Gibb considers Arn Anderson to be the MVP of WCW. Holding the Television Championship for most combined days and recognized as a tag team specialist, the only thing holding back The Enforcer from a higher ranking is a lack of a main event run. However, he’s also a master of the mic – his “My Spot” promo is one of the best.
18. Chris Benoit
When the “Canadian Crippler” won the World Heavyweight Championship, it was too late. He, Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn were on their way to WWE. It’s a shame that WCW didn’t pull the trigger earlier – Chris Benoit had already proven himself with a variety of opponents in a variety of situations and had the credibility of being a Four Horseman to boot.
17. The Giant
Although he may not be the greatest big man in WCW history, The Giant came closer than anyone to ending Hulkamania. At Halloween Havoc 1995, Andre’s supposed son took the World Heavyweight Championship from The Hulkster in his first match. A few months later, he then beat Ric Flair for his second world title. Once the NWO came in, The Giant played second fiddle, illogically joining the stable before being kicked out and feuding with them along with Sting, DDP and Lex Luger.
16. Rick Rude
Even though his first run in WCW lasted less than three years, Rick Rude accomplished enough to crack this list. Debuting as the mysterious WCW Phantom, he became the centerpiece of The Dangerous Alliance, holding the United States Championship for nearly 14 months. Rude would go on to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship/WCW International World Heavyweight Championship three times, being stripped of the belt the last time due to his career-ending injury. Of course, the “Ravishing One” would return to WCW following the Montreal Screwjob, appearing on both Raw and Nitro in the same night.
15. Booker T
In the same vein of Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels, Booker T transitioned from one half of a legendary tag team into a singles star. One of the few homegrown talents to break into the main event in WCW, the five-time WCW Champion was a highlight of the company’s dying days. Not surprisingly, he was the most successful crossover during the Invasion of WWE.
14. Diamond Dallas Page
Considered the biggest overachiever in wrestling, Diamond Dallas Page went from manager to competitor at an unfathomable 35 years old. It took a few years for the “King of Bada Bing” to catch fire, but when he rejected the NWO and feuded with Randy Savage, he became a top star. Arguably the most decorated performer in WCW history, DDP has racked up three World Heavyweight Championships, two United States Championships, four Tag Team Titles and one Television Title.
13. Brian Pillman
Brian Pillman changed the game…twice. As Flyin’ Brian, he laid the groundwork for what would become the cruiserweight division, stealing the show with Jushin Thunder Liger at SuperBrawl II and winning the Light Heavyweight Championship on two occasions. In 1993, he and Steve Austin formed the Hollywood Blonds, winning gold and becoming the hottest tag team in the sport. Two years later, he developed the “Loose Cannon” persona as a member of the Four Horsemen, breaking the fourth wall and leaving fans (and his peers) in suspense at his every move.
12. Rey Mysterio
Synonymous with cruiserweight, Rey Mysterio ushered lucha libre into mainstream American wrestling. Surpassing Mil Mascaras as the most popular masked wrestler, the innovative luchador captured the imagination of fans with every thrilling performance. A five-time Cruiserweight Champion, three-time Tag Team Champion and one half of the last Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions, Mysterio remained successful (even without his mask) from the NWO’s infancy to WCW’s final night.
11. Ricky Steamboat
While the Intercontinental Championship was his ceiling in WWE, the sky was the limit for “The Dragon” in WCW. He and Ric Flair had the greatest trilogy in sports and entertainment in 1989, in which Ricky Steamboat won his only World Heavyweight Championship. He’d be gone by the end of summer, competing on the indie circuit and in New Japan before returning to WWE in 1991, but of course, that wasn’t meant to last. As he did two years prior, Steamboat came back to WCW as a mystery tag team partner, racking up titles and putting on 5-star matches until his retirement in 1994.
10. Scott Steiner
One half of the greatest WCW tag team, Scott Steiner transformed in 1998 into Big Poppa Pump, a profane, bleached blonde, womanizing muscle head. For the next three years, Freakzilla was simultaneously the most hated and most entertaining man in the company. He finally won the World Heavyweight Championship in November 2000, becoming the face of WCW and holding the title until the final Nitro.
9. Scott Hall
Answer: Steve Doll vs. The Mauler. Question: What match did Scott Hall interrupt when he changed pro wrestling forever? Decked out in denim and emerging from the crowd, the former Razor Ramon simply took the mic and promised that WCW was getting the war it always wanted. After forming the New World Order, he and Kevin Nash would go on to win the Tag Team Titles six times. Unfortunately, Hall’s personal demons derailed his momentum and prevented him from becoming world champion.
8. Kevin Nash
Might have to put an asterisk on Big Sexy’s achievements (five-time World Heavyweight Champion and nine-time Tag Team Champion) considering he was booking WCW for some time. However, his popularity and influence on the company can’t be denied. He and Hall changed the industry as part of the NWO, he led the Wolfpac and ended Goldberg’s streak.
7. Randy Savage
Hellbent on proving Vince McMahon that he had plenty left in the tank, Randy Savage jumped to WCW in December 1994, reuniting with The Hulkster and reigniting his rivalry with Ric Flair. Always over with the fans, Savage reinvented himself in 1997, joining the NWO and elevating DDP to the main event. “Macho Man” would win the World Heavyweight Championship once a year from 1995 until 1999 (except for 1997).
6. Goldberg
173-0. At one time, Goldberg rivaled Stone Cold as the hottest act in pro wrestling. Unfortunately, WCW pulled the plug too soon and Da Man was never the same. But we’ll always have him dethroning Hogan in the Georgia Dome in the greatest moment in Nitro history.
5. Lex Luger
Headlining the first Turner-produced Starrcade with Flair, Lex Luger was destined for stardom. He’s the longest-reigning United States Champion, going from face to heel back to face during the same reign, and having badass matches with Pillman, Steamboat and Flair along the way. He won his first World Heavyweight Championship at the disastrous Great American Bash 1991 and lost the belt to Sting at SuperBrawl II in his final appearance in the company.
Until his shocking return at the first Nitro! Although the quality of his performances declined in his second run, the “Total Package” remained at the top of the card, forming an interesting team with Sting, battling the NWO, joining the Wolfpac and even beating Hogan for the title.
4. Vader
The best monster in WCW history. Big Van Vader dominated the early ‘90s, rewriting the big man-little man playbook with Sting, putting Cactus Jack on the map and winning the World Heavyweight Championship on three occasions. Hulkamania may have diminished his aura, but Vader is still feared by those who watched him in his prime.
3. Hulk Hogan
June 11, 1994 is when WCW was split into two eras: Before Hogan and After Hogan. Signing the most famous professional wrestler was a huge feather in Eric Bischoff’s cap and instantly raised the company’s stock. However, it also led to many of his friends (and WWE cast offs) oversaturating WCW, stunting the growth of up-and-comers like Steve Austin and derailing the momentum of flag bearers like Vader. That didn’t matter in the short term, as Hogan’s first match in WCW – finally facing Flair on pay-per-view – was a record breaker.
Then there’s being the third man. As the head of the New World Order, Hollywood Hogan became the biggest heel in pro wrestling. He helped take the company to unprecedented heights, surpassing WWE as the number-one promotion in the world. Sure, he stunk up many a joint with his PPV main events, especially with fellow legends Roddy Piper and Ultimate Warrior, but he brought casual or even lapsed viewers back to the sport. Ultimately, though, his perpetual grasp on the World Heavyweight Championship contributed to WCW’s downfall.
2. Ric Flair
Regardless of who was running WCW, they always tried to replace or demote Ric Flair. For whatever reason, be it age, ego, jealousy or maybe a combination of all three, the powers that be were blinded to the undying love wrestling fans, especially WCW fans, have for the Nature Boy. After all, no matter what situation he’s thrown in, the G.O.A.T. does his best to make it work.
You want to push him into the tag team division? Fine, he and Arn Anderson will put bangers on with anyone. You want to throw away months of goodwill by forcing him into a heel to work with Hogan? Okay, he’ll make people forget they ever rooted for him. You want to commit him to a mental hospital? It’ll be the funniest segment on the show.
Of course, if you give Naitch something to work with, such as rivalries with Steamboat, Savage or Terry Funk, a compelling storyline with Vader or Sting or even a run-of-the-mill authority role, he’ll turn it into magic.
1. Sting
If you’re wondering why Sting tops Flair on this list, loyalty.
Sting never left WCW, even in its darkest days and even when pursued by McMahon. Sure, that seems like the best decision considering how WWE treated Sting in 2015, but think about what could have been in the ‘80s and ‘90s. The young, jacked, bleach blond, technicolor dream coat urging all the little Stingers out there to drink their milk and say their prayers would have been a perfect fit in the Hulkamania Era. Brooding, black-and-white Sting would have meshed well in the Attitude Era, too.
But Sting refused to jump ship, even though it was the Titanic. He held on, enduring the Black Scorpion, Hulkamania, a botched finish to the biggest match in his career and a forgettable heel turn. He was also one of the few stars to help elevate younger talent, like Cactus Jack and Vampiro, just as Flair did for him at the first Clash of Champions. And the rivalries, my God, Sting could work with anybody – a monster like Vader, a technician like Rude, even an motivated Luger.
Reinventing himself better than anyone, Sting adapted to the times, remaining one of, if not the most popular wrestler in WCW.
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