As written in The WrestleMania Era: The Book of Sports Entertainment, one of the most captivating stories to watch when studying the history of WCW is the race between Sting and Lex Luger to see who would succeed Ric Flair as the #1 star in the company. They were genuine pals in real life, but they had a rivalry that raged underneath the surface of television storylines. 1988 was the year that WCW rather implicitly told the wrestling world that either Sting or Luger would be the future. At the very first Clash of the Champions TV special, Sting famously battled Flair to a time limit draw. The Stinger was unpolished, but showed tremendous potential. From The Great American Bash until Starrcade, though, it was Lex Luger that appeared to have a leg up, nearly defeating Naitch for the World Championship on numerous occasions. Luger had a ton of momentum as a babyface, but he turned heel the following year. Some could argue that as Sting began being groomed for the World title throughout 1989 that he was clearly inching ahead. However, NWA/WCW was a promotion well-known for hitching its wagon to a lead heel. Luger was playing his role as the #2 antagonist quite well that year. Sting won the title at the 1990 Great American Bash, but his reign was uninspiring. Lex proceeded to work his way up and overtake The Stinger by mid-1991. When Flair left WCW for WWE, it was a chance for WCW to pick a side. They appeared to pick Luger, having him align with Harley Race and win Flairs vacated World Championship as a heel. His ensuing run with the belt spanned 1991, but Sting became the focal point on TV by the latter part of the year. Nevertheless, they were each positioned in the perfect spots for a battle some four-plus years in the making. At the second Super Brawl, Luger defended the title against Sting. With Lex leaving for WWE no doubt made easier by his de-push despite being champ the choice was clear to hitch WCWs wagon to The Stinger. The match itself, in the above context, was fascinating.
"The Doc" Chad Matthews has written wrestling columns for over a decade. A physician by trade, Matthews began writing about wrestling as a hobby, but it became a passion. After 30 years as a wrestling fan, "The Doc" gives an unmatched analytical perspective on pro wrestling in the modern era. He is a long-time columnist for Lordsofpain.net and hosts a weekly podcast on the LOP Radio Network called "The Doc Says." His first book - The WrestleMania Era: The Book of Sports Entertainment - ranks the Top 90 wrestlers from 1983 to present day, was originally published in December 2013, and is now in its third edition.
Matthews lives in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.
Sting won the title at the 1990 Great American Bash, but his reign was uninspiring. Lex proceeded to work his way up and overtake The Stinger by mid-1991. When Flair left WCW for WWE, it was a chance for WCW to pick a side. They appeared to pick Luger, having him align with Harley Race and win Flairs vacated World Championship as a heel. His ensuing run with the belt spanned 1991, but Sting became the focal point on TV by the latter part of the year. Nevertheless, they were each positioned in the perfect spots for a battle some four-plus years in the making. At the second Super Brawl, Luger defended the title against Sting. With Lex leaving for WWE no doubt made easier by his de-push despite being champ the choice was clear to hitch WCWs wagon to The Stinger. The match itself, in the above context, was fascinating.