Match of the Week: Outsiders vs Sting/Randy Savage/Lex Luger (WCW Bash at the Beach 1996)

Match of the Week: Outsiders vs Sting/Randy Savage/Lex Luger (WCW Bash at the Beach 1996)

The day Hulkamania died and New World Order arrived

The match and turn that changed the wrestling world and made WCW no. 1 for almost two years. It started when Scott Hall and Kevin Nash declared war on WCW. They took it further when Kevin Nash powerbombed Eric Bischoff through a table. They follow it up assaulting Arn Anderson, American Males, and Rey Misterio who got thrown face first on to production truck. Then this match at main event of Bash at the Beach where it was three-on-three encounter. Going to show Outsiders have not said who's the third member.

Started as two-on-three encounter with Hall and Nash dominating Team WCW with Luger getting taken out early in the match. Sting and Savage fought valiantly, but Hall and Nash kept overpowering them. Hulk Hogan showed up thought to save WCW from Hall and Nash. Instead Hogan hits the legdrop heard around the world aligning himself with Hall and Nash in one of biggest shocks in wrestling. After over decade and half being hero to the fans now Hogan turned to the other side becoming a heel. Soon ring litter with debris and trash at the three. Cut from from all showings is a fan attempting get in the ring only get stomped out. Hogan cuts a blistering heel promo with Tony Schiavone ending the show with the words, "Hulk Hogan you can go to hell!"

This is a big deal. When started watching I grew up cheering for Hulk Hogan. I was a Hulkamaniac. To see him turn heel shocked the hell out of me. Not because it came out of nowhere he's the guy that told all his Hulkamaniacs to say their prayers, take their vitamins, and never go wrong. Witness him tell the fans to shut up and stick it becoming a prima donna was all brand new to fans that grew up around 80s and early 90s. New World Order sent WCW to new heights making big money and dominating over WWF during that short period.

The Outsiders & ??? vs Sting, Lex Luger & Randy...

The Outsiders & ??? vs Sting, Lex Luger & Randy... 

Match of the Week: Steiners vs Sting/Lex Luger (WCW Superbrawl 1991)

Match of the Week: Steiners vs Sting/Lex Luger (WCW Superbrawl 1991)

Twenty-five years this dream match happen. This is during time face vs face matches were rare. You have face of WCW and former WCW World Heavweight champion Sting, United States champion Lex Luger and WCW tag team champions Rick and Scott Steiner. All four are top faces of the company. You put all four whom are friends in a match for tag team titles. Before the match a damn good video building up the match that is one better ones WCW produced. All four buddies have intense friendly battle hitting power move after power move for over 10 minutes of action. Also showed why to have Sting as your buddy saving Lex Luger from Nikita Koloff taking a chain shot from him. Wish he would cut some loose after getting backstabbed so many times.

23. 91-05-19 Rick & Scott Steiner vs... by puropwgwwestuff

Match of the Week: Ric Flair vs Sting (WCW Clash of Champions I)

Match of the Week: Ric Flair vs Sting (WCW Clash of Champions I)

The match that made Sting a main eventer. I remember watching this match when WCW showed it on WCW All Nighter in mid-90s. For those wondering WCW did special middle of night/early morning program called WCW All Nighter (or something to similar name) showing past WCW matches for several hours. I think they ran it twice.

WCW hosted Clash of Champions on same night of Wrestlemania 4 PPV and put the event free of charge to TV viewers on TBS. The match schedule with 45 minute time limit with three judges deciding the match if it went to time limit. Ric Flair was NWA World Heavyweight champion heading to the event. His manager J.J. Dillon locked up in the cage before the match as Sting goes for the big prize. For 45 minutes Sting proved he can main event. He fought like machine, bounced back like a machine, and battled his way like a machine against Flair with the crowd eating every moment of it. The match ended to judge's decision of a draw after time limit expired.

After the night a new hero born to the fans becoming face of World Championship Wrestling to the day it closed down. Along with it is his record of multiple WCW World Heavyweight championships along with runs with U.S. and tag team titles. He never jumped to WWE during Monday Night Wars even after it closed down. Took 14 years after WCW close down for him appear on WWE. He's now WWE Hall of Fame class of 2016.

WCW Clash Of The Champions - Sting Vs. Ric Flair by WWFNetwork

Dusty Rhodes

Last week wrestling world lost a legend. The American Dream Dusty Rhodes passed away on June 11. He brought charisma to the ring and knowledge outside of the ring. His battles with Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen, Ole Anderson, and Harley Race headlined the Atlantic coast from Florida to Carolinas. What made him beloved to the fans being hard working common man fighting against the big wigs. He was original people's champ in that era. His gift of gab on the mic captivate fans fighting for them not for himself. Mastery on art of promos with ability dig into fan's soul bringing out the emotion. One of his biggest behind the scene creation was infamous War Games match, a double ring, 4-on4/5-on-5 cage match.

Like I mention his promos was pure art mixing words with genuine aspect full of emotions. We can mention the Hard Times promo, but my favorite one is from WCW 1994. After his son, Dustin, get turned on by Arn Anderson joining Bunkhouse Buck and Terry Funk as part of Colonel Rob Parker Stud Stable Dusy came to his side. In Dusty fashion he turned this tear jerking promo having Dustin partner with him. That to me is pure emotion.

This lead build up to War Games enlisting help of Nasty Boys resulting him becoming Nasty Dream for that night defeating Stud Stable. Great way blow off the feud.

Thank you Dusty Rhodes for the moments in and outside the ring. You will always be legend and people's champ.