20 Must-See WCW Matches
3. Rick Rude Vs. Ricky Steamboat – Beach Blast ’92
When it comes to “Iron Man” matches, certain bouts immediately spring to mind: Bret and Shawn from WrestleMania XII, Rock and Triple H from Judgement Day 2000 and Lesnar and Angle from Smackdown in 2003, to name a few.
What many people don’t remember is that WCW was running 30 minute “Iron Man” matches on PPV well before WWE had even considered it an option. The first of these came at Beach Blast ‘92 between perennial babyface, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, and reigning US Champion, “Ravishing” Ric Rude.
Despite Rude being US Champ at the time, the match was curiously contested without the belt on the line. Instead, the bout was pitched as a “Challenge Match”, with Steamboat looking to put an end to their long-running feud.
The match is a superb showcase of both men’s wrestling abilities; with brilliant psychology, awesome timing and great mat work, culminating in exciting finish that is enough to leave you out of breath just watching it.
Coincidentally, Rude would find himself in yet another “Iron Man” match a year later at Beach Blast ‘93; this time against Dustin Rhodes in another stellar effort for the vacant US Championship.