The Black Scorpion angle that WCW ran in 1990 is one of the most maligned main event programs the company ever did. The Scorpion first began appearing in vignettes to taunt World Champion Sting, played by a distorted voiced Ole Anderson, who allegedly began booking the angle without a payoff in mind nor a wrestler to portray the character. Al Perez (who was apparently intended to be The Black Scorpion before he abruptly quit), Jeff Ellis and The Angel of Death all played Scorpion at various points during the feud. The character would use magic tricks to "impress" the audience and the entire thing was far too hokey. When the angle fell apart, WCW turned to Ric Flair to save it and he donned the mask for the big showdown with Sting.