Sting‘s time in WCW is considered one of the greatest runs in the history of professional wrestling. Fans who grew up during the early nineties may have fond memories of the blond, face-painted superstar.
From his legendary battles with Ric Flair to iconic tag team encounters against The Great Muta, Sting has been a part of pro wrestling at the highest level. His in-ring presence, charisma, and likable personality truly make him one of the GOATs of this business.
As the Icon walks to the ring for the final time this Sunday, it’s only fitting that we celebrate his iconic career by revisiting some of his best matches in WCW.
The Falls Count Anywhere Match from WCW Beach Blast ’92
Sting and Mick Foley had exceptional chemistry. The pair always brought out the best in each other. Their Falls Count Anywhere Match from WCW Beach Blast ’92 is a testament to their character work and in-ring prowess.
This was straight out of an action movie where two opponents just wanted to beat the life out of each other. Cactus Jack (Foley) took some sick bumps to the outside. The pair only got 11 minutes, but they made the most out of the time allotted.
Sting vs. Vader (WCW World Title Match – The Great American Bash 1992)
Sting and Vader’s historic rivalry kicked off in 1992, when the charismatic hero scored a count-out win over the mega villain at WCW Worldwide. The second meeting took place at The Great American Bash and had the world title on the line.
Both men told such an impactful story inside the ring. Some fans may chastise me for not putting their Starrcade or SuperBrawl III outing on this list but, hear me out. The crowd reaction at GAB is what made this match so special.
The babyface hero had the entire arena screaming for him. The action itself was incredible. You had two men just trying to destroy it other for 18 minutes. Jim Ross was terrific in his explanation of the small details that really mattered.
One of the better feuds from both men’s illustrious careers and one that saw the ultimate payoff with Ric Flair’s win over Vader for the top title.
Vs. Diamond Dallas Page (WCW Monday Nitro #189)
WCW in 1999 was on its way to becoming arguably the worst wrestling promotion in the states. Ironically, it somehow delivered one of the greatest pro wrestling matches in Nitro courtesy of Sting and Diamond Dallas Page.
The two men met in the third match of the night with the world title at stake. Sting delivered arguably his best TV performance with his fast-paced offense that reminded fans of his surfer days.
DDP managed to keep up with his far more aggressive opponent with some convincing heel work. The closing stretch of the match made for fantastic storytelling between two all-time greats.
Vs. Ric Flair (NWA World Title Match – WCW Saturday Night 1993)
Many fans consider Sting versus Flair from the inaugural Clash of Champions I event as the greatest match of their iconic rivalry. The said bout wasn’t technically a WCW creation, so to speak, as the promotion wouldn’t appear on the wrestling map until October 1988.
Their outing from Saturday Night, on the other hand, was booked and promoted by WCW even though it had the NWA World Heavyweight Championship on the line. Everything from in-ring action to Flair making Sting look strong to commentary was very well done.
Sting’s Squadron vs. The Dangerous Alliance (WarGames Match – WCW WrestleWar 1992)
Who knew Ric Flair’s departure from WCW would pave the way for one of the greatest matches in pro wrestling history?! The Nature Boy’s move to WWE forced WCW to seek a replacement for The Four Horsemen. Enter Paul E. Dangerously with a fantastic group of heel wrestlers.
You had veteran heels like Rick Rude and Larry Zbyszko among the up-and-coming Steve Austin (the future Stone Cold), Arn Anderson, and “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton. The babyface line-up consisted of Sting, Barry Windham, Dustin Rhodes, Nikita Koloff, and Ricky Steamboat.
This match really lived up to its gimmick as a WarGames bout. The violence and brutality really added to the drama. Windham and Austin sold the crimson mask like crazy. Medusa’s involvement also added to the tension.
Honorable Mentions
- The Four Horsemen vs. J-Tex Corporation (WCW-NWA Power Hour 1990)
- Sting & Lex Luger vs. The Steiner Brothers (SuperBrawl 1991)
- WarGames Match (WCW WrestleWar 1991)
- vs. Vader (Starrcade 1992)
- Sting vs. Vader (WCW SuperBrawl 1993)
Also read: Tony Schiavone Wants To See Sting Bring Back Surfer Sting For His Last Match
