Usually, when WCW PPVs are mentioned, the focus is on how bad they were. The company had a lousy track record for some truly awful PPV shows with maybe one or two good matches but the rest garbage. It's a shame as they had so much talent and scores of shows that looked great on paper but flopped in execution. Yet, for all those flaws, WCW could deliver some truly great PPV shows. Oh, there would be the odd dud here and there, but they can still be great.
Yet no show is truly perfect, and even the best WCW PPVs have one glaringly awful match. In fact, it's even worse given it's on an otherwise strong show where everyone else is doing great work, but two (or more) guys end up with an awful turn. Here are ten bad matches on otherwise great WCW PPVs as a reminder how even the best shows have their glaring flaws.
10 Dustin Rhodes vs Bunkhouse Buck, Slamboree 1994
The last major WCW PPV, before Hulk Hogan came on board, was a mix of young talent and some veterans. Cactus Jack/Kevin Sullivan and The Nasty Boys had a wild brawl, Steve Austin handled Johnny B. Badd, and the Sting/Vader and Flair/Windham title matches were great.
Poor Dustin Rhodes was stuck with Bunkhouse Buck in a bullrope match. The stip did nothing to help an ugly fight with Terry Funk interfering and starting an overlong feud. At least the rest of the show was better to close out the pre-Hogan WCW era.
9 Michael Hayes vs Russian Assassin I, Chi-Town Rumble
One of the best one-off PPVs ever, the Chi-Town Rumble is highlighted by Ricky Steamboat winning the NWA World Title from Ric Flair in the kickoff of their epic trilogy. There were also TV and U.S. title changes, with Lex Luger and Barry Windham looking great in the latter, and Sting showing his stuff against Butch Reed.
It's notable given the show's kickoff match of Michael Hayes and Russian Assassin I was a terrible bout, even worse given it dragged-on for 15 minutes. At least the rest of the show made up for this bad start.
8 Johnny B. Badd vs Diamond Dallas Page, Spring Stampede 1994
It's forgotten how early 1994 was a strong time for WCW, thanks to the talent base. This show was a highlight with the main event being another classic Ric Flair/Ricky Steamboat match ending in a controversial draw. There was also the great Nasty Boys vs Cactus Jack and Max Payne street fight and Sting vs Rick Rude.
On paper, Johnny B. Badd vs DDP should have been good, but Page was still a rookie not ready for the big scene yet. He and Badd had a sloppy match that was barely over five minutes. The pair would have much better bouts down the road, but this mess stood out on a strong card.
7 Russian Assassins vs Junkyard Dog and Ivan Koloff, Starrcade '88
While it was still under the NWA banner, Starrcade '88 is the first WCW PPV under Turner ownership. It was also one of the best, with Rick Steiner winning the TV title off Mike Rotunda a wonderful feel-good moment.
The main event was one of the best Ric Flair/Lex Luger matches and a great Road Warriors vs Sting/Dusty Rhodes brawl. But Ivan Koloff and JYD against the Russian Assassins was a messy affair as Ivan's face turn never suited him. It's too bad as this was a great early WCW show.
6 Dustin Rhodes vs Maxx Payne, SuperBrawl III
Superbrawl III was a tremendous show highlighted by one of the best-ever Sting-Vader brawls. The undercard also had Barry Windham and the Great Muta in a World title match, the Hollywood Blondes against Erik Watts and Marcus Bagwell and Cactus Jack and Paul Orndorff in a crazy fight.
Sadly, Dustin Rhodes couldn't do anything in a U.S. title match against Maxx Payne. The would-be "rocker" was a terrible worker undeserving of this title shot. It dragged to eleven minutes and was painful to watch, especially on a strong show.
5 Larry Zybsko vs Scott Hall, Souled Out 1998
Highly underrated, Souled Out 1998 is one of the better WCW PPVs. It had an exciting eight-man cruiserweight fight, Chris Benoit/Raven, a Nash/Giant fight infamous for a nasty powerbomb, and a classic Ric Flair vs Bret Hart bout. The main event of Luger/Giant was rough and just there for a Hogan run-in but still not bad.
What was bad was Scott Hall vs Larry Zybsko as Zybsko was long past his prime as a worker, and Hall was sloppy. Worse was how it was all a setup for Dusty Rhodes' nonsensically joining the nWo to mess up a strong show.
4 Johnny B. Badd vs Masa Saito, Starrcade 1995
Starrcade '95 was a nice experiment for WCW with their stars facing the top talent from New Japan. Fantastic encounters included Jushin Liger/Chris Benoit and a good bit of Ric Flair beating Lex Luger and Sting in a triple threat and then winning the World Title from Randy Savage.
But Johnny B. Badd and Masa Saito could never get on the same page for their match, with Saito barely seeming to care and Badd being out of his league. A DQ finish was the fitting end to a surprisingly lousy match on an otherwise strong card.
3 Tommy Rich vs Cuban Assassin, Halloween Havoc 1989
The first Halloween Havoc is probably the best of them all. It was highlighted by a "Thundercage" main event of Ric Flair and Sting vs Terry Funk and the Great Muta. Also, the undercard possessed Brian Pillman in a star-making battle with Lex Luger and good tag team matches.
Tommy Rich vs The Cuban Assassin was a generic bout belonging on WCW's Saturday night shows, not a PPV. It feels more out of place considering how amazing the rest of the card was.
2 Scotty Riggs vs Mikey Whipwreck, Spring Stampede 1999
As amazing as it may sound, Spring Stampede was probably the best overall PPV either WCW or WWE put on in 1999. Rey Mysterio vs Kidman and a stellar Benoit/Malenko vs Raven and Saturn tag match highlighted the undercard.
Even some bouts that sounded bad (Goldberg/Nash) worked out, and the main event of DDP winning the WCW World Title in a four-way match was terrific. Yet, Scotty Riggs vs Mikey Whipwreck was a true mess. Riggs was not ready for any push, and Whipwreck never fit into WCW. It's a shame one of the few bright spots of this awful year had this lousy match.
1 Jim Cornette vs Paul E Dangerously, Great American Bash 1989
The 1989 Great American Bash is truly of the best PPV shows of any wrestling company ever. It was packed to the gills with amazing battles from a terrific War Games to the epic Ric Flair/Terry Funk main event war. It was almost perfection...except for one bout.
Jim Cornette and Paul E-Dangerously (better known as Paul Heyman) faced off in a tuxedo match. It was a comedy battle but still not fun as neither man was great at fighting and there was a lot of brawling with powder. Even if it wasn't meant to be taken seriously, it still marred an otherwise classic show.