This is uh....interesting.
Source
20. Sting vs. Diamond Dallas Page (Nitro, April 26, 1999)
19. Dean Malenko vs. Eddie Guerrero (Uncensored 1997)
18. Big Van Vader vs. Cactus Jack (Halloween Havoc 1993)
17. 3 Count vs. Jung Dragons (New Blood Rising 2000)
16. Diamond Dallas Page vs. "Macho Man" Randy Savage (Spring Stampede 1997)
15. Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne vs. Nasty Boys (Spring Stampede 1994)
14. Rey Mysterio vs. Dean Malenko (Great American Bash 1996)
13. Ric Flair vs. Hulk Hogan (Bash at the Beach 1994)
12. Steiner Brothers vs. Sting & Lex Luger (SuperBrawl 1991)
11. Ricky Steamboat vs. Rick Rude (Beach Blast 1992)
10. Brian Pillman vs. Jushin "Thunder" Liger (SuperBrawl II)
9. "Stunning" Steve Austin vs. Ricky Steamboat (Bash at the Beach 1994)
8. Sting's Squadron vs. Dangerous Alliance (WrestleWar 1992)
7. Ric Flair vs. Big Van Vader (Starrcade 1993)
6. Rey Mysterio vs. Ultimo Dragon (World War 3 1996)
5. Ric Flair vs. Sting (Clash of Champions XXVII).
4. Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero (Halloween Havoc 1997)
3. Goldberg vs. Diamond Dallas Page (Halloween Havoc 1998)
2. Ric Flair vs. Sting (Great American Bash 1990)
1. Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat (Clash of the Champions VI in 1989)
Source
20. Sting vs. Diamond Dallas Page (Nitro, April 26, 1999)
19. Dean Malenko vs. Eddie Guerrero (Uncensored 1997)
18. Big Van Vader vs. Cactus Jack (Halloween Havoc 1993)
17. 3 Count vs. Jung Dragons (New Blood Rising 2000)
16. Diamond Dallas Page vs. "Macho Man" Randy Savage (Spring Stampede 1997)
15. Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne vs. Nasty Boys (Spring Stampede 1994)
14. Rey Mysterio vs. Dean Malenko (Great American Bash 1996)
13. Ric Flair vs. Hulk Hogan (Bash at the Beach 1994)
12. Steiner Brothers vs. Sting & Lex Luger (SuperBrawl 1991)
11. Ricky Steamboat vs. Rick Rude (Beach Blast 1992)
10. Brian Pillman vs. Jushin "Thunder" Liger (SuperBrawl II)
9. "Stunning" Steve Austin vs. Ricky Steamboat (Bash at the Beach 1994)
8. Sting's Squadron vs. Dangerous Alliance (WrestleWar 1992)
7. Ric Flair vs. Big Van Vader (Starrcade 1993)
6. Rey Mysterio vs. Ultimo Dragon (World War 3 1996)
5. Ric Flair vs. Sting (Clash of Champions XXVII).
4. Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero (Halloween Havoc 1997)
3. Goldberg vs. Diamond Dallas Page (Halloween Havoc 1998)
2. Ric Flair vs. Sting (Great American Bash 1990)
1. Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat (Clash of the Champions VI in 1989)
I think the biggest tragedy of what happened with Chris Benoit is that it allowed DDP in a best of anything list.
ReplyDeleteI love DDP vs. Goldberg but how is it ranked above Eddie vs.Rey?! Mayhem! Pandemonium!
ReplyDeleteAlso, and maybe this is just due to them not wanting duplicates but only one Flair-Steamboat match?
No Flair vs. Funk?
How Flair-Steamboat aren't #1-#3 is baffling for the exception that they probably didn't want to repeat the same match up right at the top.
ReplyDeleteNeeds more WARGAMES.
Tommy, why not link this directly to WWE.com? 411, really? Giving that rat infested malaware site hits?
"Also, and maybe this is just due to them not wanting duplicates but only one Flair-Steamboat match?"
ReplyDeleteFunny, we both just typed the exact same thing at the exact same time.
Bring on the downvotes, but I'm not the trilogy's biggest fan. I think they're great matches but they wouldn't be in my top 5.
ReplyDeleteFlair/Funk I Quit is the most overrated 3 star match masquerading as a 5 star classic of all time.
ReplyDeleteTop 5 ever or top 5 WCW? Big difference.
ReplyDeletetop 5 WCW.
ReplyDeleteI would agree that was the reasoning, but there are 2 Flair/Sting matches in the Top 5 (and neither of which are from Clash 1).
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm certainly not going to argue ratings since it's mostly opinions anyway. However, I find them to be technical masterpieces of professional wrestling with non-stop action, psychology that played from match to match and even the "rest" spots were smartly executed. The angle was also red hot, especially living it week to week with Flair holding the belt forever only to have his old foe return who knows all his tricks, plus the family man vs. the party/ladies man, etc.
ReplyDeleteTo each his own, but I think you're nuts. :-)
let me add to the list of how the hell is this not on here with Pillman/Liger from SuperBrawl 2
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of with you. They're indeed great but after hearing how amazing they were for years, I was a bit (emphasis on a bit) underwhelmed when I saw them. Also I liked Chi-Town Rumble best and it's considered the weakest.
ReplyDeleteNone of these are as good as Melina vs. Alicia Fox.
ReplyDeleteAll joking aside, I'd probably put them in 6-10 range. But not over WarGames 92, Eddie/Rey from Havoc, Sting/Luger vs Steiners, or the Holy Vader Trilogy(Flair, Cactus, Sting)
ReplyDeleteI think this list should just be titled 20 WCW Matches. That's a more accurate description.
ReplyDeleteNo sting v vader matches is dumb
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a list from people who didn't watch WCW in its heyday. I'd take the first Sting- Flair over that other Clash one, for starters. Each match has someone who was prominent in WWF/E, so I think they're just looking for names. Garbage.
ReplyDeleteMagnum vs. Tully happened during the JCP era
ReplyDeleteWhat gets included if Benoit is not stricken from the record books? Benoit-DDP-Raven from Uncensored 98? Benoit/Malenko vs. Raven/Saturn from Spring Stampede 99? Benoit-Raven from Souled Out 98? Benoit-DDP from SuperBrawl 8?
ReplyDeleteHart-Benoit.
ReplyDeleteTechnically speaking, WCW existed from 1989 onward (the company was created when the Crocketts sold out to turner), which is at least why the I Quit match wouldn't be on the list.
ReplyDeleteThe rest... Yeah. Sometimes they throw things on the list (like Malenko/Guerrero) because they *MUST* have been good.
Perhaps something from the Booker T. series too
ReplyDeleteIs this just matches from WCW era, and not before that, when they were still NWA or whatever they were called? And in that case, would the first few clashes, etc be not a part of this? Just a question...
ReplyDeleteEddie-Rey is top 3 for me
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't consider either of those Sting v Flair matches any good.
ReplyDeleteI doubt they put that much thought into this. You would think so, but the rules are usually pretty lax with these lists.
ReplyDeleteI don't get the love for Jack/Payne vs. the Nasties. The Slamboree title change with Sullivan is a better brawl with a better crowd and much better camerawork (no WCW Splitscreen of Confusion). I'm still waiting for it to be released on DVD.
ReplyDeleteSurprised that Sting vs. Cactus Jack is omitted here.
ReplyDeleteIt's the shovel shot, and Foley landing gracefully on the back of his head that makes it popular.
ReplyDeleteDID YOU KNOW: No company made a bid for WWE's video game license and it had to be sold after the fact?
ReplyDeleteI thought Take Two got it?
ReplyDeleteWhere's Poochie?
ReplyDeleteHopefully they do a complete overhaul. Wrestling games have basically been the same thing since the 90's.
ReplyDeleteBut where do they go from here? People praise No Mercy for its deep gameplay and WWE 13 at the very least offers the same amount of vast control and a wealth of content, both original and user-created. Do they go more arcade-y like All Stars? How do you change the course of the genre?
ReplyDeleteGoldberg/DDP is insanely high. It shouldn't even make the list.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I read, it wasn't up for bid with THQ's other assets because WWE opted out of their deal months ago once THQ went off the cliff.
ReplyDeleteA franchise mode that doesn't suck. Play as the lead booker, and set up feuds, ppvs matches, and determine winners, match length, that type of stuff. Create fictional indy guys that gain "indy cred" that can sign and send to developmental. Being able to change gimmicks and ring gear.
ReplyDeleteBasically a high gloss, licensed version of EWR.
Has ANY Kevin Sullivan match been released on DVD? I think there may be heat between him and Vince.
ReplyDeleteIs the Flair/Sting match at #5 the unification match? Didn't they have better?
ReplyDeleteIt's not possible!
ReplyDeleteIt's...UNpossible!
When I think the beginning of WCW proper, I think of 1991. Not sure if it was the start of the calendar year or if the WCW title started being recognized at whatever the 1st PPV of the year was, but anything before 1991 is still considered NWA. If we want to be technical, there was a WCW in Australia at one point. Pretty sure the consensus is that "WCW" if you want to be broad can be extended to when JCP bought the rights from Vince in '85.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they should stop putting out games every year. Let new characters build up for a bit.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with that. They don't skip years with sports games to wait for rookies to turn into star players.
ReplyDeleteYeah, but EA is douchey.
ReplyDeleteCentral States FTW, dominating the industry, with the Western States Heritage belt being THE most prestigious belt of all!
ReplyDeleteSports games have the same players every year too.
ReplyDeleteA "Monday Night War" career mode would be amazing.
ReplyDeleteTry and come out on top as WWF, or change history by having WCW win the war.
I don't play sports games. I took your initial comment to mean that all rookies are brought in each season. You don't have many rookies/new guys from year to year in WWE.
ReplyDeleteThere's an 8-man tag match with Blitzkrieg that's just balls-out insane. Can't remember who else is in it, probably some combination of Juvi, La Parka, Psicosis, and some of the lucha jobbers like Super Calo and the Villanos.
ReplyDeleteFuck your shit, DDP is awesome.
ReplyDeleteA historical era franchise mode for every year probably wouldn't be possible. But maybe just the important or interesting years.
ReplyDeleteMonday Night War era. Starts the night Nitro debuts.
Extreme Revolution era. Starts in 1995.
Attitude Era. Starts December 1997.
Wrestlemania Era. Starts in 1985.
Territories Era. Starts in 1980.
End of an Era. Starts in 1990.
New Generation Era. Starts the night Bret Hart won the title in 1993.
Invasion Era. Starts the night WWE buys WCW.
Ruthless Aggression Era. Starts the summer of 2002 when Lesnar, Orton, Batista, and Cena debuted.
Sports Entertainment Era. Starts in 2000.
10 different eras.
Gaaaaaah, now i'm sad because it will probably never happen.
ReplyDeleteDisappointed you didn't try to awkwardly use the word scum in there fanboy.
ReplyDeleteJust a question(that could possibly open up a whole long discussion) but why aren't you big on them?
ReplyDeleteIt's not that I don't like them, just not as much as 5 other matches.
ReplyDelete*groannnnnnnnnnnnn* Just like the entire WCW crowd every time DDP cut a shitty promo.
ReplyDeleteEddie/Rey is hard to beat. The best compliment is that the first time I saw it I was half asleep. I woke up the next morning and had to watch it again because I thought what I remembered was too good to be true and had to be a dream. Turns out it wasn't a dream, it was just that damn good.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's quite 5 stars either but in thinking of the 20 best WCW matches I'd have to put it on there somewhere.
ReplyDeleteGoldberg vs DDP at Number 3? Well that's a bit high, didn't even think this would get in the top 20. It was pretty good, but not THAT good. Also, War Games 1992 only at number 8? Ok, WWE, I see how it is.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking the list is Turner era. Which started in 88.
ReplyDeleteLooks like they stuck with stuff from after Turner bought it but the Steamboat return tag match from '91 and the MX-SB from Bash '90 are both top ten easily, probably top five.
ReplyDeleteJUST LIKE YOUR MOTHER WHEN I WAS NAILING HER LAST NIGHT. SWERVE, I WAS THE MIZ THE ENTIRE TIME
ReplyDeleteThat is the unification match and it's highly overrated.
ReplyDeleteI think JR was at his best during the Chi-Town Rumble match. He sold every nearfall as potentially ending the match.
ReplyDeletelol I'm Michael Cole laughing at your jokes!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I know that, but it was still affiliated with the NWA in 1989.
ReplyDeletemaybe it factors in degree of difficulty? getting a good match involving Goldberg is statistically a lot more difficult than getting a great match involving prime Flair.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I could nitpick, complain about not all three Flair / Steamboat matches being there, or cry for more Magnum, Tully, or Arn....I will not.
ReplyDeleteI will use my post to say that Sting vs DDP from Nitro in 99 was awesome! I stopped watching WCW after Starrcade 98, and so didn't discover this gem until I picked up the Best of Nitro set, and my goodness, did the greatness of that match come out of left field.
I found myself going from "oh, a throwaway Nitro match that's gonna end with boatload of interference.", to, "OH MY GOD, GO STING GO! I'M MARKING OUT HERE!" Dandy little finishing sequence too. I have since heard that Sting lost the belt the very same night (is this true? Don't doubt it with WCW), but I try to forget that part.
I got that baby at ****1/4.
Now imagine that match at Starrcade 1998 with an undefeated Goldberg challenging Sting and his year long reign. Would have crushed buyrate records.
ReplyDeleteGoddamn you with your awesome idea. The only bad thing is we don't get Goldberg vs. Hogan for the title, but I guess they could have just had the match anyways.
ReplyDeleteAwesome idea bro
ReplyDeleteGoldberg beats Hogan at Halloween Havoc, after the match Sting rappels down and points the bat at Goldberg, signaling he is next. Everyone goes apeshit.
ReplyDeleteEvery time someone writes bro on the internet, I automatically think they're trolling.
ReplyDeleteIt happens at Starrcade 98.
ReplyDeleteNah, I respect Scott too much to do that. In all honesty I was excited when I saw you replied as you are one of my favorite posters on the board.
ReplyDeleteKeep telling me I have awesome ideas and you'll go far in the BoD. And reply to the right post in the future.
ReplyDeleteCertainly logical...
ReplyDeleteDo it. I always enjoy a little rebooking and Starrcade 1998 seems like a good one to fix. That or Starrcade 1997.
ReplyDeleteThis is how my cult starts.
ReplyDeleteThe C.S.S.
ReplyDeleteTake the pledge flair.
ReplyDelete"I *insert BoD username here* pledge allegiance to the cultstatus society, to upvote all of our glorious leader's posts, to downvote any infidels who dare disagree, and to spread the word of his awesome fantasy booking all over the internets."
Hey, if your stuff was Hogan sex tape thread quality all the time, maybe. Until then, ask Chin. Actually, would you want Chin in your CSS? lol.
ReplyDeleteEvery cult needs a Joey Mercury.
ReplyDeleteOk, that made me laugh. Kudos.
ReplyDelete*Emperor Palpatine voice* Good....good.
ReplyDeleteAnd waay too much reading. I just think the problem with Starrcade 1997 is that most of the matches didn't deliver. Eddie-Malenko was merely good, Jericho-Gedo wasn't anything special. Saturn-Benoit I don't remember too well either. The pure wrestling that should have elevated the show didn't. And the big matches didn't really deliver either.
ReplyDeleteI'll assume this is just for 1988 through 2001, although even still it is a bit of a weird list.
ReplyDeleteMost of the matches deserve to be on the list, either for entertainment value or historical importance to WCW. I've never seen 3 Count vs Jung Dragons. Ric Flair vs. Sting from COTC XXVII doesn't really belong. Rey vs Ultimo Dragon is a good match, but nothing about it makes it really stand out to me above the others on the list or even other Rey matches. I'd have gone with Blitzkrieg vs Juvi, just to give Blitzkrieg some love.
Yeah all of those matches probably. That Benoit/Raven match is just awesome.
ReplyDeleteI like the GAB 1989 match about 1000x more myself.
ReplyDeleteSo is CM Punk, but I'd still pay money to watch him.
ReplyDeleteThey're not going to. They're massive sellers in a current gaming climate where there are very few profitable sure things, and WWE nor 2K (nor THQ before them) for sure are not gonna want to let that revenue stream go even for a year.
ReplyDeleteSilver King and El Dandy are in there as well. Maybe Ciclope. La Parka hits everyone, including his own team at the end.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's the one. I miss La Parka. Or L.A. Park, I guess.
ReplyDeleteI got it at $5.49 in the bargain bin and three banana peels.
ReplyDeleteget a room, you two
ReplyDeleteI don't really prefer that method. It's too much like The Boy Who Cried "Wolf!"
ReplyDeletethis is my 200th comment here on rspwfaq. GET ON MY LEVEL, CULTSTATUS.
ReplyDeleteYou are the Hurricane Helms to my Triple H.
ReplyDeleteI sign on here under my twitter account...I feel like I have way more than 200 posts under my facebook name. I'd check, but that would require re-activating my account there, which hasn't been active in over a month now. yay, me!
ReplyDeleteI really don't get the criticism. yes, the ranking seems a bit odd. but you could make a point for a least half the matches (if not even 2/3) to deserve a spot in a WCW Top 20 list.
ReplyDeleteWhat's even worse is that fucking pile-driver through the table.
ReplyDeleteI'd heard about that motherfucker for YEARS. For YEARS. I was expecting Funk to give Flair a Jerry Lawler style pile-driver. Jump 10,000ft into the air, and splinter that table like Superman did the bowling pins. Instead, Flair does a fucking handstand, and then Funk gently sits down. That's it.
People can say that "they didn't do stuff like that back then" and that's all well and good, regardless, it didn't look like it hurt one bit! Horseshit!
Man, with Eric's dry cool wit and ability to actually make me laugh, I'd swear it was me posting.
ReplyDeleteSeriously. Glad to have you around, Eric.
I loved them at the time, but I think if I watched them now... removed from the angle I wouldn't enjoy them. Same goes for Savage/Steamboat at 'Mania 3
ReplyDeleteand i have gone blind don't know how i missed that thanks for pointing it out
ReplyDeleteJust wait until the 20 matches that set the business back list.
ReplyDeleteYou're moving in the world buddy!
ReplyDeleteKind of crazy ricky steamboat is in arguably the best matches of all time in both promotions. Personally I wouldn't pick savage v steamboat as the best wwe match ever but lots of people do. Late 80's steamboat was apparently pretty good.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree on sullivan. I actually wonder if that match, which introduced the backstage brawl type match to the mainstream world before even mankind v taker is the most influential and important thing he ever did?
ReplyDeleteSo is the consensus on WWE 13 that its a very good game? I haven't bought a wrestling game in years cause it just seemed like the same gameplay with somewhat new or updated characters and maybe a new match type.
ReplyDeleteIt's not like Benoit's promos were any better.
ReplyDeleteAt least Benoit was never corny.
ReplyDeleteThere were multiple 3/4 man tags, so it's hard to remember which one was which. There was one that was great, and one that was not so great.
ReplyDeleteI can't upvote this, but after seeing Savage/Poffo vs. RnRs in Memphis... THAT'S how you do a table piledriver.
ReplyDeleteFunk/Flair was weak. But understandably so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKDFVsGeOqg
But why would the WWE make a DVD of the Fingerpoke match and the Goldberg/Poochie/Steiner match 10 times each? Oh, because it makes WCW look bad/stupid. Ok, answered my own question
ReplyDelete2005 benoit in the oj feud sez hi!
ReplyDelete