The History of the NWA/WCW World Championship

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December 1988

"Nature Boy" Ric Flair - First WCW-Promoted NWA World Heavyweight Champion

 

Ric Flair, the reigning NWA World Heavyweight Champion, is regarded as the first World Heavyweight Champion of the Turner-owned "World Championship Wrestling" company which remained a member of the National Wrestling Alliance. In December 1988, WCW was hoping to run Ric Flair Vs. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat at the Starrcade '88 PPV event. However, Steamboat had not yet signed with the company, and Flair was matched up with Lex Luger for the show's main event. WCW's head matchmaker, Dusty Rhodes, is said to have wanted to "shake up" the main event by having Luger not make it (due to a pre-show sneak attack by The Varsity Club), and unlikely challenger Rick Steiner be given the title match, which he'd win in just five minutes. Flair threatened to immediately quit, which cost Rhodes his job, and Flair became the new matchmaker. At Starrcade '88, Flair defeated Luger to retain the World Heavyweight Title, pinning Luger with his feet on the ropes after Luger's injured knee gave way while applying the "Torture Rack".

 

February 1989

 

Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat - Second WCW-Promoted NWA World Heavyweight Champion

 

One of Flair's first acts as WCW matchmaker was to bring Rick Steamboat into the company for a series of main event matches around the country. After a surprising debut on television and a series of well-produced contract signing/fight promotion videos, the first of their major matches was set for Chi-Town Rumble in February of 1989.

 

Flair had reigned as NWA World Champion for just under 15 months leading into the main event! In match "1" of the "Flair/Steamboat Trilogy", the differences between the two men were illustrated brilliantly on their ring entrances alone. Flair came to ring, trumped by a line of women and his confident attitude, while Steamboat was Flair's more virtuous, family-themed opposite. In an incredible bout, Steamboat ended Flair's reign by pinning the champion with a small package, countering Flair's legendary figure-four leglock.

 

The televised rematch for the NWA World Title would occur at Clash of the Champions VI in April 1989, which ran head-to-head with the World Wrestling Federation's "WrestleMania V" PPV event. The match would be the best 2-out-of-3 falls, an incredible stipulation that had fans buzzing despite the tremendous competition in programming that night. Flair would win the first fall nearly 1/3 of the way into the match by countering Steamboat's reversal of the figure-four leglock in an homage to their first championship bout. Steamboat would focus on wearing down Flair with a variety of submission maneuevers for the next 15 minutes, finally evening the score by using a double-chickenwing submission on the challenger. In the third fall, Steamboat, unlike the Chi-Town match, was able to connect with his flying cross-body...but only for two! At the 54-minute mark, Steamboat attempted to lock on the double-chickenwing submission once more, but Flair fell backwards and attempted to escape. Unfortunately for the challenger, his shoulders will still held in place on the mat, as Steamboat scored the pinfall to retain the title and end the classic.

May 1989

"Nature Boy" Ric Flair - Third WCW-Promoted NWA World Heavyweight Champion

 

The final showdown between Steamboat and Flair would occur in May of '89, as the two met at the WrestleWar '89 PPV event. Due to the closeness of the previous matches and near equal ability of the two competitors, three judges were positioned at ringside in case of a draw: Pat O'Connor, Lou Thesz, and Terry Funk. The build-up to the match dealt with Flair's inability to regain the title and how this could be his last chance to be a champion.

 

The match is regarded as one of pro wrestling's all-time greatest, with even future double-digit World Champion Triple H including it on one of his DVD releases because of its impact on not only himself, but the entire business.

 

Steamboat attempted the dreaded double-chickenwing submission late in the bout, but Flair was able to escape and lure Steamboat into attempting the flying crossbody from the top rope. Flair sent Steamboat falling to the floor, injuring his knee in the process, which Flair would soon pick apart using the figure-four leglock. Steamboat attempted to make a comeback, but with his knee damaged, Flair reversed a slam attempt into a cradle to finally pin Steamboat and win his sixth World Heavyweight Championship, second of the WCW era, and the WCW's first-ever, two-time champion. In an amazing display of sportsmanship, the new champion Ric Flair and ex-champion Rick Steamboat, two men who were complete opposites and only one similar goal, put aside their differences to shake hands and show respect following the bout.

 

Oddly, judge Terry Funk came into the ring following the victory, and threw himself into the spotlight, asking Flair for a title shot. Flair points out that Funk needs to work his way up into contendership status, and Funk apologizes for getting involved in Flair's moment. The mentally unstable Funk then attacked Flair from behind and brutally piledrove the champion head-first into the judges' table. Flair would now have to deal with a new adversary, one who seemed hell-bent on having to own the World Championship, the one prize Flair could not live without.

 

July 1989

 

Flair was put on the shelf as Terry Funk ranted about becoming the next World Heavyweight Champion. However, Funk was only ranked #10 by WCW's Championship Committee in the listings for the top NWA World Title challengers. #1 was the ex-champion Rick Steamboat. Thus, Funk and Steamboat were matched up against each other at Clash of the Champions VII, as Steamboat sought revenge for Flair and Funk sought respectability. Flair would be interviewed from his home earlier in the show, wearing a neckbrace and commenting on Funk's actions. Funk attempt to do the same to Steamboat in their match, piledriving "The Dragon" both inside and outside the ring...but unable to keep Steamboat down! As Steamboat was preparing to finish off the crazed madman from the "Double Cross Ranch", Funk grabbed the ring announcer's microphone and cracked Steamboat in the head with it, drawing the DQ. Funk continued pounding on Steamboat until Lex Luger made the save, but the desire to be the #1 contender also got to Luger, who attacked Steamboat out of jealousy! Finally, an important future ally (and former foe) to the World Champion would make the save for Steamboat, the man called Sting.

 

It was in July of '89 at The Great American Bash PPV, often viewed as one of WCW's greatest shows, that Flair would return from injury to face Funk. "Championship Ranking Status" was out the door, as Flair was out for revenge against the man who tried to end his career. Terry Funk had the managerial services of the evil Gary Hart in his corner, while Flair had the cheers of every fan in the building in his. Ultimately, Flair would survive the contest, defeating Funk in the center of the ring and officially sitting atop the championship throne. The issue, however, was not dead between Funk and Flair, as Hart's other client, the enigmatic star known as The Great Muta, entered the ring and spewed mist right into Flair's face, temporarily blinding him. Funk & Muta, at Hart's lead, began attacking Flair as the show was ending it's final minutes. To the fans delight, Sting, who was feuding with Muta over the NWA Television Championship, made the save for Ric Flair, as the sides were evened. As the PPV ended, a still image of Flair & Sting standing victoriously in the aisleway, their arms raised, appeared on the screen.

 

September 1989

 

As summer became fall in 1989, the rivalry between Flair & Funk just would not end. Flair viciously responded to Funk's dirty tactics by using the crazy man's own branding iron to break Funk's arm on national television. A week later, at Clash of the Champions VIII, Flair & Sting teamed to face The Great Muta & Dick Slater, who was substituting for the injured Funk. Funk, from a hospital bed, promised to show up at the show and fight Flair. The tag match itself was very good, with Slater working extra hard in his main event position, Sting & Muta entertaining the crowd with their high-energy wrestling styles, and Flair being classic Flair. The end saw Muta mist Sting in the eyes, temporarily rendering him unable to see, while Slater, Muta, and the good-to-his-word Terry Funk attacked Flair, causing a DQ. Funk attempted to suffocate Flair with a plastic bag while Sting's knee was brutalized with the branding iron.

 

October 1989

 

Ultimately, the issue between World Champion Ric Flair & Sting against Terry Funk & The Great Muta would be settled in the "Thunderdome" cage at Halloween Havoc '89. The extra-wide, creepy-looking cage had a top section that was electrified, to prevent any interference or attempt to flee from the match. Former World Wrestling Federation champion Bruno Sammartino was the special referee for the bout that saw each team seconded by a representative who would have to throw in a towel for his team in order for the match to end. Flair chose long-time Four Horsemen member Ole Anderson as his team's second, while Funk & Muta were represented by their manager Gary Hart. The match was intense, with months worth of aggression being let out in show's main event. Funk & Flair battled, chopping each other as their climbed the cage, all while Sting & Muta attempted to settle their differences. Sting would be tied to the cage by Muta & Funk, as the two then attacked Flair, but could not get him to submit. They then executed a spike piledriver on the champion, further attempting to end Flair's career. Sting finally broke free, as the fan favorites were then able to isolate Funk. Flair locked on the figure-four leglock while Sting repeatedly leaped on Funk with splashes off the top rope. Muta attempted to duke it out with Sammartino, but came up on the short end. Finally, a fight between Anderson & Hart saw Gary Hart's towel go flying into the ring after Ole decked him, and Sammartino declared Flair & Sting victorious. Ultimately, while an exciting contest, it wasn't as spectacular as the four men's individual efforts against each other. The controversial finish seemed to prove nothing, as well, as Flair was unable to actually make Funk quit.

 

November 1989

 

At Clash of the Champions IX, Flair and Funk would finally settle the score once and for all in an "I Quit!" match, in which the loser would be forced to retire! Funk knew this would be the final battle for one of the men, and in an interview before the show, he claimed he'd even go as far as to shake Flair's hand if the champion could do the impossible and make Funk submit. Earlier in the show, Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine rewarded Flair & Sting for the efforts, with Sting winning the "Most Popular Wrestler" award for 1989 and Flair winning the "Wrestler of the Decade" award. But business was at hand for Flair, who would stop at nothing to end Funk's legacy and further his own. Flair beat Funk's chest red with multiple chops, but a distraction from Gary Hart caused Flair to lose focus. Funk went on the offensive, punishing Flair with neckbreakers and a piledriver, softening up Flair's injured neck. Flair, however, refused to quit. Funk piledrove Flair on the arena floor, but was still unable to gain the win! Flair would regain the momentum, knocking out Gary Hart and beginning to work on Funk's knee. Multiple attempts at the figure-four, combined with razor-sharp chops finally spelled the end for Funk. After nearly 20 minutes of amazing action, Flair made Funk yell "I Quit!" while trapped in the figure-four leglock. After the match, Funk did the unthinkable, and in a show of respect he shook the hand of the "Nature Boy", as promised. Gary Hart, along with The Great Muta, turned on Funk and beat him up after the match. Sting would make the save for Flair, but the jealous eye of Lex Luger once again entered the scene, as Luger used a chair to take out Muta, Flair, and Sting, setting up an "Iron Man Tournament" competition between the four men for Starrcade '89.

December 1989

 

Tradition was reborn at this time, as Ric Flair challenged the remaining J-Tex members, led by Muta & Hart, to confront him. Flair would reveal his trump card - the returning Ole & Arn Anderson, founding members of the Four Horsemen! With the popularity of the Horsemen at an all-time high, the group shocked the world by announcing its' fourth member - Sting! The choice was very controversial, as Sting, the most popular wrestler in WCW, had decided to allign himself with three men who each had dubious pasts. In any case, the Horsemen rode again, but the fans certainly wondered just how long the Andersons & Flair would co-exist with Sting.

 

As the traditional Starrcade PPV event neared, a unique, non-title "competition" would see the NWA's top four ranked wrestlers - Ric Flair, Sting, Lex Luger, and The Great Muta, compete in a round-robin tournament to accumulate the most points and be named the "Iron Man Tournament" champion. The idea, while appropriate in other sports, simply could not be effectively pulled off given the time constraints of a 3-hour pay-per-view, when in addition a similar tournament was held with four top tag teams...on the same show! In effect, the chance of long, classic matches was eliminated. Starrcade '89 would see Ric Flair & Jim Ross's final show as top PPV match makers, as Flair would be removed a few months later when an unexpected injury hit Sting. The event saw Flair pin The Great Muta, battle Lex Luger to a draw, and in the main event, lose by pinfall to Sting. Sting celebrated his competition win as Ole & Arn Anderson ran into the ring, apparently to attack him. However, Flair called them off, and the Four Horsemen celebrated together to end the show.

 

February 1990

 

The Four Horsemen tension grew when Sting was named the new number-one contender for Ric Flair's World Heavyweight Championship due to his "Iron Man Competition" victory at Starrcade. Surprisingly, Sting accepted the upcoming title match with his ally. This was a major error and defied the original intent of the Four Horsemen - to keep the World Title on Ric Flair at all times. At Clash of the Champions X, the Horsemen were interviewed by Terry Funk. Ole Anderson fired Sting from the group, as the fans booed. Anderson claimed that Flair wanted Sting to not be hurt due to Sting's helping Flair deal with Funk & Muta throughout 1989. However, if Sting did not give up his upcoming title match with Flair, the Horsemen would attack him right there. Sting protested their reasoning, but it was too late. Flair & The Andersons pounded on Sting and beat him down, as Flair turned on both his former friend and the fans. Later in the show, Flair, Arn, and Ole (replacing Sting) defeated The Great Muta, Buzz Sawyer, and The Dragon Master in a six-man steel cage match. Sting attempted to enter the cage by climbing it, but was twice pulled off by security. On the second attempt, Sting absolutely destroyed the ligaments in his knee, effectively putting him out of action and altering the plans for a Flair/Sting PPV match at the WrestleWar '90 PPV event. With Sting hurt, Flair still exited the cage and tackled him, as the two men brawled until the show's end.

 

With Sting now sidelined for months, Lex Luger was chosen to challenge Flair once again for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleWar '90.An interesting story led into the match, however, for many of the fans. Luger was quite hated by the fans, as was Flair. Who would they root for? Remembering the actions of the Horsemen, the fans had an easy choice. The cheered for Luger to finally unseat Flair as the World's Champion. Although Luger would be unsuccessful, he wound up gaining not only the support of the fans, but the friendship of Sting, himself. About 30 minutes into the match, Flair, using every dirty trick in the book, was able to lock Luger in the figure-four leglock. Sting came down to ringside, obviously in pain, and cheered on Luger. Sting went as far as to physically slap Luger around to remind him what was on the line! Luger was now motivated, and began dominating the champion! At this time, Arn & Ole Anderson came to ringside to ambush Sting. With the referee knocked down, Luger locked Flair in the "Torture Rack", as the champion screamed "I Quit!" Luger was no faced with a moral dilemma. Keep the hold on until the referee came about and finally become world champion, or embrace the cheers of the fans and save Sting from a possible career-ending attack. Luger chose to help his new ally, and released Flair to save Sting. Eventually Rick & Scott Steiner also came to the ring to fight off the Four Horsemen. Luger had come close, but chose friendship over the championship, and Flair lived to fight another day.

 

May 1990

 

Sting was continuing to rehab his knee and awaiting his impending World Heavyweight Title match with Ric Flair. As the Capital Combat PPV came near, the Four Horsemen added Sting's replacement to their roster - the nearly 7-foot former member of the Skyscrapers called Sid Vicious. Sting was obviously aware of the Horsemen's potential to dominate WCW. He formed his own group of allies, dubbed the "Dudes with Attitudes", that included the "Stinger", Lex Luger, The Steiner Brothers, and soon after the popular El Gigante, Paul Orndorff, and the Junkyard Dog.

 

Due to the dubious nature of the WrestleWar '90 PPV ending, Lex Luger was rewarded with another World Title match against Ric Flair. But first, Flair led the Horsemen on an attack against Sting, during an interview segment. The group locked Sting in a small cage used earlier in the show to prevent Jim Cornette from getting involved in a tag team match. With Sting helpless, none other than notable film hero "RoboCop" came to Sting's aid. Flair and his group retreated and prepared for the World Title match, a steel cage title defense against Luger. The match itself was as exciting as the other contests between the "Total Package" and the "Nature Boy". Things seemed to go wrong from the start for Flair, as the Horsemen's valet Woman had her gloves checked for an international object, which the referee did find hidden! Luger sensed this could be his night, and brutalized Flair the entire match. Flair was bleeding heavily throughout much of the match, as Luger continued to rake his face along the cage walls. Flair's offense just had no effect, and Luger seemed ready to finally finish Flair off for good. Up on the top rope, Luger delivered a beautiful superplex to the World's Champion! But Luger, who came into the match with a bad knee to begin with, appeared to completely blow out his knee when landing the superplex! A dazed & battered Flair seized the oppurtunity and locked on the figure-four leglock. Luger would not submit. He refused to give in. Finally, Luger, on one leg, mounted a heroic comeback. The Four Horsemen rushed to the ring, but were met by the "Dudes with Attitudes", who fought them off. Luger trapped Flair in the "Torture Rack" as the fans screamed, sensing Flair's reign would end. Unfortunately, the Horsemen had a back-up plan. Their ally (and soon to be returning member) Barry Windham had access to the controls of the cage, and had it raised high enough to sneak into the ring and break-up Luger's "Torture Rack", causing a DQ seemingly right before Flair would have submitted. The Horsemen brutalized Luger after the match, and the World's Championship was once again safely around Flair's waste.

 

June 1990

 

Although Ole Anderson was pushed out of the Horsemen into a managerial role in favor of Barry Windham on-camera, off-camera he was now the head matchmaker of the company. Anderson seemingly disliked Ric Flair, and put him in a World Title defense at Clash of the Champions XI against the newest member of "Dudes with Attitudes", the Junkyard Dog. Flair's string of wrestling exciting challengers came to an end at this show, as the Dog, despite being a popular figure, just wasn't anywhere in the World Champion's league. The terrible match lasted six minutes, with Dog not selling any of Flair's offensive maneuevers and just making the champion look bad. Finally, Flair's cornerman (ironically enough, Ole Anderson) came into the ring, as did the Four Horsemen, drawing a DQ and giving Dog a ridiculous, nationally-televised victory of Flair. It is reported that Anderson booked this match in order to embarass Flair, due to Flair being a powerful matchmaker in 1989. Luckily, the battle fans had been waiting for was just a month away, as Sting would finally face Ric Flair for the World Championship at The Great American Bash.

 

July 1990

 

Sting - Fourth WCW-Promoted NWA World Heavyweight Champion

 

At The Great American Bash 1990: New Revolution, "Nature Boy" Ric Flair faced off against former friend, now hated enemy Sting, in a match the fans had awaited for over 6 months. The match had unique stipulations, as there would be no countouts or disqualifications to save the title for Flair. Also, the "Dudes with Attitudes" surrounded the ring to prevent the Four Horsemen from interfering, and Flair's cornerman Ole Anderson was hand-cuffed to the 7'7" El Gigante. Thus, it would be settled, one-on-one, as it should be. The match itself was planned to put Sting on the map as the #1 star in WCW and begin the end of Ric Flair's career. Flair, of course, targetted Sting's surgically repaired knee. The match itself wasn't as exciting as WCW hoped, but was still good. Towards the end, Sting drilled Flair with the "Stinger Splash" and locked on the "Scorpion Deathlock", as the Horsemen ran to the ring and brawled with the "Dudes with Attitudes". The crowd came alive and cheered on Sting, but Flair was able to escape his finishind maneuever. A backslide failed to win Sting the title, so he set up for a second "Stinger Splash"...and missed, crashing knee-first into the corner of the ring. Flair immediately targeted the knee, attempting the figure-four leglock. Sting, however, cradled Flair with one last desperation move and held the champion down for three to win his first World Heavyweight Championship. The arena exploded in applause as WCW's new top star celebrated with the title amongst his allies.

 

September 1990

 

Sting's reign as World Heavyweight Champion suffered from a lack of great challengers, and was the beginning of a very turbulent period in World Championship Wrestling's history. After his victory, the "Stinger" began to receive a series of challenges from the mysterious Black Scorpion, all while perennial main-event mainstays The Four Horsemen began focusing on other goals (Flair targeted Lex Luger's U.S. Title while Anderson & Windham feuded with Doom over the World Tag Team Titles). At Clash of Champions XII, Sting faced the mysterious masked man in the main event. The Scorpion's moveset was difficult to link to any other WCW competitor at the time, as he used a number of chokes and brawling tactics to keep the "Stinger" down. The match itself was very basic and not particularly entertaining, which acted as a negative start to Sting's title reign. Finally, a splash would be all Sting needed for the pinfall victory at 8 minutes in. Sting attempted to unmask the challenger after the match, but was confronted at ringside by the man who was apparently the real Black Scorpion, as Sting had seemingly been fighting an imposter the entire time. Sting questioned what he was seeing while the fans began to question the sanity of the storyline.

October 1990

 

With Ric Flair & Arn Anderson concentrating on becoming tag team champions, Sid Vicious stepped up into the main event scene and challenged Sting for the World Heavyweight Championship at Halloween Havoc '90. Sid's great power and youth made him a dangerous threat to Sting's title reign, as did the possible interference of his Horsemen partners. During the show, Sting's attention seemed to be focused on The Black Scorpion, who interrupted Sting's interview segment and taunted the champion by using a magic trick to make a ringside fan dissappear from across the stage. Sadly, the ridiculous storylines involving Sting's first world championship reign would only get worse as the night progressed. During the title match, Vicious used a combination of power offense and on-the-mat wear-down holds to weaken Sting, while the champion took to the air, using flying crossbody presses and a failed "Stinger Splash" to combat his larger opponent. The action spilled into the crowd, as the camera lost track of the action. Suddenly, Vicious and Sting returned to the ring, where the champion attempted to bodyslam the Horsemen member. Sting's legs gave out, and Vicious fell on top for the pinfall, appearing to be crowned the new World Heavyweight Champion. However, a second (and true) Sting came out of the crowd, with un-done rope on his hands, revealing that the man Vicious had pinned was an imposter and not the real champion. Sting connected with the "Stinger Splash" and quickly pinned Vicious to retain the title in a silly, embarassing title defense. It was revealed that the "Sting Imposter" was Barry Windham, who had cut his hair short in an attempt to capture the World Title for the Horsemen. The lunacy if Sting's first reign continued. . .

 

November 1990

 

The hard-to-watch storyline between World Heavyweight Champion Sting and the mysterious Black Scorpion continued at Clash of the Champions XIII, where the voice of the Scorpion (in reality head matchmaker Ole Anderson's voice muffled through a voice-distortion box) interrupted Sting's interview time. The Black Scorpion then proceeded to abduct an "audience member" and create the illusion of spinning a box (containing the person's head) around his shoulders. Next, the Scorpion placed the fan inside a cage, threw a curtain over it, and in a flash, a tiger appeared. The Scorpion finally used a similar trick in another cage to make himself disappear from Sting, who gave chase. This was the absolute worst of Ole Anderson's horrible attempts to produce a storyline that would increase Sting's value to the company as its World titleholder. Sting would not even wrestle on this show, with Ric Flair and Butch Reed main eventing in a match with World Tag Team Championship ramifications, instead.

 

Indeed, it seemed that Sting & then-WWF Champion The Ultimate Warrior had paralleling careers. Both were exciting, muscular, fan favorite, face-painted, "rock star" looking wrestlers, each winning their company's World Title in 1990. However, both men failed to deliver the championship matches and memories that their long-time championship predecessors (Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan, respectively) had created. Ultimately, both men did not represent the expected "new age" of the business, and the titles soon reverted to the established titleholders by 1991.

 

December 1990

 

The World Title scene was a big of a mess as ever heading into WCW's most important show of the year, Starrcade '90. The main event was billed as a final showdown between Sting and The Black Scorpion, a World Heavyweight Championship bout fought inside a steel cage with ring legend Dick the Brusier as the special guest referee. The main event itself seemed to be rushed, as were the post-match fight and ultimate climax of the feud (the Scorpion's unmasking) that barely made it onto the screen as the show went off the air. Add in the fact that the Scorpion was forced to wrestle a generic style that would not give away his identity, and one of the more lackluster Starrcade main events ever was Sting's last major victory of his title reign. Before the match, the circus-nature of the storyline continued, as four imposter "Black Scorpions" came to the ring to welcome a "space ship"-looking vessel that came down from the ceiling. Inside of this "ship" was the actual Black Scorpion. The Scorpion's blatant use of the ropes, protruding white hair under his mask, inability to come off the top rope, and execution of the "Flair Flop" following a splash started to clue in the dissapointed viewers that the Scorpion might just be Ric Flair, after all. Sting finished off the Scorpion with a flying bodypress to settle the feud once and for all. As Sting & Dick the Bruiser fought off the interfering imposter Scorpions, members of the Four Horsemen rushed the ring to attack Sting. The champion fought back, and just as the show was ending, the ultimate anticlimatic ending to the ultimate embarassing storyline occurred as the Black Scorpion was unmasked to reveal "Nature Boy" Ric Flair.

 

January 1991

 

"Nature Boy" Ric Flair - First World Championship Wrestling (WCW) World Heavyweight Champion

 

In January of 1991, World Championship Wrestling officially withdrew from the National Wrestling Alliance and recognized WCW as a seperate entity. This occurred just as Ric Flair defeated Sting in an East Rutherford, NJ WCW event to win back the WCW-promoted World Heavyweight Championship. The match was not televised live, nor did it occur on a special national televised program or pay-per-view event like the previous four World Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Title changes. It was seen as a quick fix for the company to put the title back on Flair, due to Ole Anderson's disasterous run as head match maker, which not only compromised the integrity of the title but severely hurt the superstar drawing power of Sting. With Anderson relieved of his duties, Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes (returning to the company after a WWF stint) were back in charge as WCW's head matchmakers. After footage of Flair regaining the World Heavyweight Championship (his seventh, overall) was shown on television, the company began officially billing Flair as the "WCW World Champion", never mentioning the National Wrestling Alliance again. Flair is regarded as the first-ever WCW World Heavyweight Champion from this point forward.

 

Despite honoring Sting at Clash of the Champions XIV with Pro Wrestling Illustrated's "1990 Wrestler of the Year" award, it was not a Flair Vs. Sting rematch that headlined the card. Sting was, in fact, kept away from the World Title situation, and Rhodes & Flair booked a championship title defense for Flair against the popular Scott Steiner. Rhodes & Flair were actually in favor of having Steiner upset Flair for the WCW World Title, but Steiner wished to remain as the top babyface tag team in the company with his brother Rick. The main event title defense at the Clash was very exciting, and saw Steiner easily overpower Flair from the get-go with a combination of suplexes and high-impact clotheslines. After 25 minutes of ineffective Flair offense, it seemed Steiner was getting ready to win the championship following a double-underhook powerbomb. However, the television time limit expired, and Flair remained the WCW World Champion.

 

February 1991

 

Having began the year wrestling the likes of Sting & Scott Steiner, WCW World Champion Ric Flair aligned with his Four Horsemen teammates to do battle with Sting's chosen partners in "War Games", a two-ring, steel cage match in which a member of the opposing team would be forced to submit in order for the match to end. While not defending the championship on pay-per-view may have done further damage to Flair's stock following his "involvement" in the ridiculous Scorpion angle, one cannot argue that the War Games main event was not one of WCW's greatest battles ever. In the end, Flair's team of he, Sid Vicious, Barry Windham, and Larry Zbyszko (substituing for the injured Arn Anderson) defeated Sting, The Steiner Brothers, and Brian Pillman when the referee stopped the match due to Pillman losing consciousness after two powerbombs from Vicious.

 

March 1991

Tatsumi Fujinami - Fifth WCW-Promoted NWA World Heavyweight Champion

In the early stages of 1991, WCW promoted a pay-per-view event with New Japan Pro Wrestling, in which selected matches would be aired featuring the top stars of both companies duking it out, dubbed the "WCW/New Japan SuperShow". A problem came about when New Japan veteran Tatsumi Fujinami upended Ric Flair in their contest, seemingly becoming the new WCW World Heavyweight Champion in the process. WCW vetoed the title change, claiming instead that only the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (they were still using the company's belt, afterall!) had changed hands. The official reasoning had to do with the two referees for the bout, as WCW referee Bill Alphonso was knocked out, and New Japan's referee Tiger Hatori came in to make the three-count. It was decided that Fujinami was now the NWA World Heavyweight Champion, with Flair retaining the WCW World Heavyweight Championship via the objections of the company. The controversy did little to interest the already jaded WCW fans of 1991, and a match to re-unify the championships to take place at WCW SuperBrawl further confused the audiences.

 

May 1991

 

"Nature Boy" Ric Flair - Sixth WCW-Promoted NWA World Heavyweight Champion

 

At WCW's first-ever SuperBrawl event, the NWA World Title and WCW World Title would be officially re-unified as Tatsumi Fujinami did battle with Ric Flair, this time on American soil. Fujinami took the advantage in the bout, utilizing his submission maneuevers to wear down Flair. Despite the NWA champion's best efforts, Flair would get back to his feet, working on Fujinami outside the ring and beginning to target the knee. Fujinami responded similarly to Flair, bringing the fight back where both men were on their feet. Fujinami would counter some of Flair's best efforts, and have what looked to be a victorious pin attempt with a roll-up. The problem was, this time it was New Japan referee Tiger Hatori who was knocked out of the match. Flair reversed the pin attempt, and WCW referee Bill Alphonso came in and counted the fall after nearly 19 minutes of action. The match was probably not the best WCW could have offered as the first main event of their new annual pay-per-view event SuperBrawl, which their commercials built as the equivilent to MLB's World Series and the NFL's SuperBowl.

 

June 1991

 

In June of '91, Flair would continue his strange run of defending the WCW World Heavyweight Championship against opponents with terrific scientific skills, but no reputation as main event players. At Clash of the Champions XV, Flair would take on the popular ex-member of The Midnight Express, "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton. Eaton had recently angered the Four Horsemen by defeating WCW Television Champion Arn Anderson at SuperBrawl to win the title. The Clash match would be the best two-out-of-three falls for the WCW Title. Eaton upset Flair in the first fall, using the "Alabama Jam" top-rope legdrop to pin the champion cleanly. Eaton went for the jugular, attempting to take out Flair and become the unlikely champion, as he climbed to the top rope once more. Flair was able to counter the move by quickly attacking and sending Eaton flying to the arena floor, where he was counted out, giving Flair the second fall. Flair then picked apart Eaton's knee, eventually locking in the figure-four leglock and causing Eaton to scream in pain, but not submit. Eventually, Eaton blacked out and the referee awarded the decision to Flair, who retained the WCW World Title. At the same event, WCW U.S. Champion Lex Luger quickly disposed of The Great Muta, and won himself a title match with Flair at The 1991 Great American Bash.

 

July 1991

 

The fans could sense it was coming. Lex Luger, after countless attempts to defeat Ric Flair and become the World Heavyweight Champion, was going to reach his goal. The site would be at The Great American Bash, and the build-up was tremendous. The only problem is, according to Ric Flair, by the time the Bash match took place, Flair would have began to be a much different man than the one the WCW fans had known for so many years.

 

Flair contends that WCW Executive Vice President Jim Herd had grown sick of the "Ric Flair character", and wanted Flair to "change with the times" by cutting his hair short and wearing a diamond earing, becoming a "Spartacus"-esque character. Flair was also going to be paid significantly less (said to be half of his current salary), as well as lose his creative freedoms gained as head matchmaker. Eventually, Flair was officially stripped of the title off-camera, and was told by WCW to return the World Heavyweight Championship to them, as they would run a new main event at the Bash to fill the vacancy. Flair, however, had laid out a $25,000 deposit (plus interest) to the National Wrestling Alliance in order to keep possession of the championship belt, which Herd refused to pay Flair. Herd then told Flair to keep the title belt, which Flair did, and eventually brought it on-screen to the World Wrestling Federation upon his summer '91 debut there. Both the World Championship Wrestling and National Wrestling Alliance's World Heavyweight Title were declared vacant for the first time in history.

"The Total Package" Lex Luger - Second WCW World Heavyweight Champion

 

A week later, WCW still had one of its biggest pay-per-view events of the year to run - The Great American Bash. The event is regarded as one of the worst supercards ever assembled, with the resentful fans chanting "We Want Flair!" admist a sea of unover newcomers wrestling subpar PPV matches. Lex Luger's title shot against Flair was now a bout against Barry Windham to fill the vacancy for the title. Luger's "big moment" was tainted, as Windham was nowhere near the main event scene at the time. The championship belt itself was a disgrace to the company, as WCW took the old NWA Western States Heritage Championship and altered it to resemble a new "WCW World Title" belt. The match itself , a steel cage bout, was abysmal, with the fans not interested in the predictable Luger title victory, but more inclined to chant "We Want Flair!" at every possible second. WCW furthered ruined their main event scene by turning the popular Luger heel for no apparent reason, alligning him with Harley Race and bodyguard Mr. Hughes during the match, which Luger won following a piledriver.

 

August 1991

 

In the weeks to come, a new WCW World Heavyweight Championship, a similar-looking title belt to the World Wrestling Federation's World Title, would debut around Luger's waist. This championship would represent the company until the summer of 1994. Luger, now a heel, was managed by Harley Race, and backed by the bodyguard Mr. Hughes, who he teamed with regularly. Luger would defend the WCW World Title in a series of house shows against Windham throughout the summer. The loss of Flair nearly killed World Championship Wrestling, and left Lex Luger on top of a mountain that was quickly sinking into the ocean.

 

September 1991

With Clash of the Champions XVI approaching, the fans saw Sting win his first WCW U.S. Championship in a tournament held after Luger was forced to vacate the belt. Thus, Sting was busy getting the best out of a growing pool of new mid-carders who surfaced in the company. He was also the recipient of two mysterious gift boxes, containing the unstable wildmen Cactus Jack and Abdullah the Butcher. Who sent these "deliveries" to brutalize Sting was unknown at the time. WCW World Champion Lex Luger was slated to have his first major title defense against Ron Simmons, who became popular after breaking away from the ultra-dominant tag team Doom. Simmons easily defeated The Diamond Studd at the Clash, while Luger was not in action. The two men participated in a contract signing, featuring Harley Race making suggestive racist comments towards Simmons, a proud black man. The contract signing ended in a fist-fight between Simmons and Luger. Despite the chance of the the two having a good main event, the championship scene still was suffering from the loss of Flair, and the World Title seemed devalued.

 

October 1991

 

Simmons was extensively built-up for his World Title showdown with Lex Luger at Halloween Havoc '91. Vignettes featuring comments from Simmons ex Florida State University football coach Bobby Bowden aired, as Simmons proclaimed he had a dream of becoming the first-ever African American World Heavyweight Champion. Luger, always confident and smug due to his ability, claimed Simmons "dream" was admirable, but would end up a nightmare at Havoc. The match was the best two-out-of-three falls, and is often forgotten or criminally underrated by many wrestling analysts.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

More to come. Please leave comments & criticisms. If you think I should include anything in here, or in future updates, please say what you think is important to add/delete.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Up to the Stinger's first reign now.

[Cheex Incarnate 0]

Diggin' it so far, thanks alot.

 

 

-Cheex

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Some notes:

 

Dusty wanted the Flair vs. Rick Steiner match over being angry with how TBS had treated him, I think he'd been overruled on stuff and wasn thinking, correctly so, that his job was in trouble. Dusty wanted the belt off Flair and booked the Ric Flair vs. Rick Steiner match with Steiner winning in 5:00. This was the proverbial straw and Dusty was gone. The original plan for Flair vs. Luger was back, and the directive from the top was Flair was going to win clean. Flair putting his feet on the ropes was Flair going into business for himself, as he didn't want to win clean.

 

George Scott, who had booked the WWF in the mid-80s, was made the new booker, and it was him who brought Steamboat into the NWA. Flair didn't get the book until later on in 1989.

 

Scott originally booked the Flair vs. Steamboat match to go to a 60:00 draw, but he was fired the day before the match due to his mishandling of the promotion of the match; he wouldn't advertise the match as taking place at the Clash because it was headlining the house shows, and he felt it would damage house show business. This led to the Clash being a bomb, so he was kicked out. The new booking committee changed the finish a little.

[BUTT 0]

Here's a question. I know Meltzer said a while back that Jim Herd asked Larry Matysik (spelling?) what the Starrcade finish should be, and Matysik told him that based on what happened at the Great American Bash, the only acceptable finish would be Flair beating Luger clean. Now I can understand the many reasons why someome would think that Flair should go over in that match, but I don't see how the Bash finish would have any bearing on that. In fact, I think the Bash finish would have been a better lead-in to Luger winning, since he got screwed once and Starrcade would finally be his big win. So, HTQ, can you tell me why the Bash finish would necessitate Flair winning at Starrcade?

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

They didn't want the belt on Luger, and it wasn't so much they wanted Flair to win but they didn't want Luger to win the belt. The clean finish was ordered because Dusty had run screwjob finishes for so long that business had been killed in every market, and they wanted to try and stop that.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Up to Lex's horrid title reign.

[Guest Dean and Foam]

keep it coming - good stuff, good memories.