12. Big Poppa Pump Scott Steiner vs. Goldberg (Fall Brawl 2000)
The WCW main-event scene was much-maligned for the majority of the Nitro-dominant portion of the Monday Night War, but an interesting trend emerged as creative blunders abounded in Atlanta. As the ratings dropped and as the company started hemorrhaging money, a group of motivated new headliners began to dramatically improve the critical marks of the main-event matches. Among them was Scott Steiner, who was one of the most revered tag team wrestlers of all-time by the summer of 1998 when he was rechristened as the Genetic Freak, Big Poppa Pump. Steiners run as WCW Champion seemed like a last ditch attempt to recreate the formula that had for so long served the company well, but the dominant heel titleholder ran out of time to aid in reestablishing the once proud promotion before it folded. He gave a valiant effort, putting on a series of very good title bouts before WWE put the final nail in WCWs coffin. Arguably the best of Steiners matches in 2000 and 2001 was the match that set him up to become WCW Champion. At Fall Brawl, he faced Goldberg, who had suffered merely a handful of losses in his entire career to that point. Steiner was truly on his game that night, leading the way to as good a match as had ever been seen from Da Man. Goldberg was no ring general, so it took a special breed of grappler to pull out something that has often been labeled as great out of him. Big Poppa Pump was up to the task, but it was partly due to his presentation as Goldbergs physical equal that the match was so good. There was a balance there often missing from one-sided WCW main-events. Steiner was excellent, back then, at slightly adjusting his style to his opponent. Believe it or not, the finish actually saw the referee stop the match to prevent Steiner from permanently injuring Goldberg, giving him a huge boost in credibility.
"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.
Steiner was excellent, back then, at slightly adjusting his style to his opponent. Believe it or not, the finish actually saw the referee stop the match to prevent Steiner from permanently injuring Goldberg, giving him a huge boost in credibility.