5 Forgotten Gems From Classic WCW
Proof that early WCW wasn't all about The Ding Dongs, Arachnaman and The Shockmaster.
It’s been said that, in war, history is written by the victors. In the world of professional wrestling, that statement has never been more true.
When fans look back at WCW through the WWE filter, it’s easy to believe that the content from Atlanta was all silly, nonsensical sludge mixed with mismanagement and political machinations. Even Triple H himself has publicly said on live TV that “that place was a joke” and that’s coming from the mouth of WWE’s very own Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative.
However, that assertion, while undeniably applicable at times and an endless list in its own right, wasn’t always the rule and WCW really did manage to knock it out of the park when they put the effort in; even prior to the New World Order ever arriving.
Want proof? Look no further than these five forgotten gems from classic WCW.
5. Steiner Brothers Vs. The Road Warrios – Starrcade ‘89
If you could pick two legitimate tag teams from the last 30 years and place them opposite each other in the ring in a dream match scenario, there’s a high probability that a lot of people would choose the Steiner Brothers and the Road Warriors as those two team.
But you don’t have to rely on video games to see these two teams go face-to-face, as the four juggernauts would climb into the ring for an all-out war way back at Starrcade ‘89.
Part of the “Iron Team” tournament, the bout served as the second match of the night for both teams and, as a result, is a little on the short side; but given the physicality of the participants, it was more than ample. Each side gave no quarter and asked for less in a great display of hard-hitting tag-team action as arguably the two greatest tag teams of all time met in a head on collision of brawn.
This match was the first time the two teams had ever crossed paths and, amazingly, they wouldn’t meet again until 1996 on the March 3rd, 1996 edition of Monday Nitro; where the Steiner Brothers would make their surprise return to Turner TV.
The unadvertised dream rematch on Nitro saw the Steiners arrive to the ring on Harley Davidsons (ironically, much like the Road Warriors did at SummerSlam ‘92) and is the only other occasion the two teams would face each other in televised two-on-two competition.
Equally physical, it’s another great bout that finds itself buried beneath a mountain of classic content from the Monday Night Wars; but, for sheer history purposes, the Starrcade bout just about gets the nod.