One of the few home-grown stars on this list, Buff Bagwell was a fairly big star for WCW from the moment the company launched its Nitro program on September 4, 1995 until it closed its doors in March 2001. During that time, he was an American Male, an egotistical member of the New World Order, Scott Steiner's lackey and a popular babyface that had all the girls screaming. Likely in more ways than one. Bagwell looked like a million dollars, with movie star good looks and a physique that would make some professional bodybuilders jealous. Nicknamed "The Stuff" for good reason, he believed he was God's gift to both women and wrestling. If only his ring work would match his look. Far from a lousy worker, there were times when Bagwell looked to be giving it less-than 100-percent. It was hard to blame him, though. After all, in the environment that Eric Bischoff created, wrestlers were being awarded humongous guaranteed contracts that ensured that they would get paid the same regardless of the quality of their performance. Thus, it was not uncommon to see Bagwell deliver a really good, solid match one week, then underwhelm tremendously the next. It was the nature of the beast which, unfortunately, prevented Bagwell from really reaching the next level as a worker. That he did not exactly have the best and most motivated supporting cast did not help matters, either. Still, despite what some would consider a lack of effort on his part, Bagwell was still a fairly big star for WCW, both during its peak and its rapid descent. Mixing it up with the likes of Rick and Scott Steiner while teaming with big Scott Norton, feuding with Diamond Dallas Page and working alongside Shane Douglas, Bagwell proved adaptable, as well as valuable to a midcard made up the same tired names and faces fans had been watching for a decade. For that, he does not got enough credit.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
