Blast From The Past: Ranking WCW's 10 Biggest Stars

As a kid growing up I have to admit, I wasn't watching "Monday Night RAW" on the USA Network. I was tuned in a few channels away on TNT watching the #1 show, "Monday Night Nitro".

Although, WCW would file for bankruptcy and eventually be bought out by Vince McMahon and the WWE. It still will live on in the history of pro wrestling as a company that was able to give fans all around the world some of most entertaining matches ever.

The company originated from the NWA and it would feature some of the industries most prolific performers.

From legendary matches like Hogan vs. Sting to legendary tag teams like the Steiner Brothers and Harlem Heat, WCW simply delivered in its time.

Of course, one of the most legendary groups of all time, the "nWo", was also a vital part of their history and helped the company beat rival WWE for 80+ straight weeks in the ratings.

At the end of its tenure, WCW's front office problems were being unfolded in front of the fans, things that we should have never seen were showed to us. The prestigious WCW World Heavyweight Title was starting to become a joke and changed hands nearly every week. The legacy of WCW was forever tainted.

But, I thought for the impressive decade of dominance that it had in the 90s, I would write an article to rank my top 10 greatest WCW stars.

One last thing before you hit begin: on each slide I have included the wrestlers career in WCW and of course the place that WCW originated from Jim Crockett Promotions.

Honorable Mentions

Randy Savage

Bret Hart

Big Show

Chris Benoit

Chris Jericho

Scott Hall

Sid Vicious

Jeff Jarrett

Ron Simmons

Rick Steiner

Stevie Ray

10. Diamond Dallas Page

Stats In WCW/JC Promotions:

3x WCW World Heavyweight Champion
2x US Champion
4x WCW World Tag Team Champion
1x WCW Television Champion

The man with a diamond smile is on my list.

Page was one of those guys who proved that you didn't need to have a big six-pack like the Kevin Nash's of the world to be a big star in WCW.

DDP worked his way up the ladder from the tag team division, to the mid-cards and then became a three time WCW Champion.

He had a tremendous feud with the "Macho Man" Randy Savage back in 1997.

PWI ranked him as one the top five best wrestlers for back to back years in 97 and 98.

Unfortunatly, DDP wouldn't get the same push from the WWE. After he made his amazing debut as the Undertaker's wife's stalker, his career seemed about over in that company.

His legacy lives on today, many might not realize this but, Randy Orton's "RKO" looks like it was directly derived from DDP's "Diamond Cutter"

9. Kevin Nash

Stats In WCW/JC Promotions:

5x WCW World Heavyweight Champion
9x WCW World Tag Team Champion
WCW World War 3 Winner (98)

If Kevin Nash broke into the business today, he probably wouldn't achieve the same level of success that he did in his days with WCW.

Nash was never great in the ring, and even in his prime he was extremely limited. His great match against Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemainia was only great because of his opponent, Shawn Michaels, and when have you ever watched a bad HBK match?

He had the look, charisma, mic skills and popularity which elevated him to stardom.

Of course, his name will be forever will on with WCW's most infamous group, the nWo.

8. Big Van Vader

Stats In WCW/JC Promotions:

3x WCW World Heavyweight Champion
1x WCW United States Champion

No offense to The Undertaker, but Big Van Vader is the most athletic big man I have ever seen.

Just look at that 400 pound moonsault that crippled the likes of Sting, Ric Flair, Ron Simmons and Lex Luger.

1993 was the year of Vader, he had a nine month reign as the WCW Champion, which would be the second longest Heavyweight reign in the history of the company. PWI would rank him as the best wrestler of the year.

When Vader went over to the WWE, he was not seen as a serious main eventer and would only be with the company for about four years. He would have solid feuds with Kane, The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels.

7. Hulk Hogan

Stats In WCW/JC Promotions:

6x WCW World Heavyweight Champion

Hulk Hogan was good in WWE, but "Hollywood Hulk Hogan" was a lot more cooler and a way less embarrassing character for him.

Vader had the second longest Heavyweight reign in WCW history. Hulk had the longest; a full year he had the Big Gold Belt.

There is only one guy who I think could top Hogan's heel turn and I think that would have to be John Cena. When Hulk joined the nWo, it proved that anything can and will happen in this industry.

I would have ranked him way higher, but the guy was already a star by the time he got to WCW. His time in WCW was only him solidifying his huge superstar status.

6. Scott Steiner

Stats In WCW/JC Promotions:

1x WCW World Heavyweight Champion
2x US Champion
2x WCW Television Champion
6x WCW World Tag Team Champion
1x NWA World Tag Team Champion
1x NWA United States Tag Team Champion

"Big Poppa Pump" Scott Steiner and his great legacy in WCW is at No. 6.

A former All-American at Michigan State University, even when he was teaming with his brother, everyone knew that he was going to become a huge star in the singles division.

Harlem Heat was good, but the Steiner Brothers were so much better than them, technically they were unmatched.

He would have good matches with Goldberg and was a big part to WCW's ratings.

The PWI named him as the sixth best wrestler of 1996.

5. Booker T

Stats In WCW/JC Promotions:

4x WCW World Heavyweight Champion
1x US Champion
6x WCW World Television Champion
10x WCW World Tag Team Champion

One of my favorite wrestler ever, Booker T is in the top five.

Although he is officially recognized as a five time WCW Champion, one of his reigns came when the WWE already purchased WCW. So in reality, that one reign is better off being known as a WWE Championship reign.

Probably more athletically gifted then any of the names on this list, Booker T established himself as a true champion with a five-month reign as champion in a time when WCW was in mayhem.

For older fans, he might be more popularly known as one-half of Harlem Heat along with his brother Stevie Ray, they ended up becoming one of the greatest teams in wrestling history.

4. Lex Luger

Stats In WCW/JC Promotions:

2x WCW World Heavyweight Champion
5x US Champion
2x WCW World Television Champion
2x WCW World Tag team Champion
1x NWA Tag Team Champion

Luger was arguably the perfect wrestler.

He had a amazing body build and also was terrific in the ring.

Along with Sting, Luger put WCW on the map and was the promotion's second ever World Champion.

Consistently put in great feuds, Luger had memorable matches with Sting, Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan.

PWI honored Luger with the "Best Wrestler Of The Year Award" in 97.

Another, WCW guy that never made it huge in the WWE but, still ended up winning the 94 Royal Rumble.

3. Bill Goldberg

Stats In WCW/JC Promotions:

1x WCW World Heavyweight Champion
2x WCW United States Champion
1x WCW World Tag Team Champion

Without a doubt, the strongest man in the history of WCW was Bill Goldberg.

He burst on the stage with a kick-ass entrance and a ridiculous 173-0 record to start his career. In those 173, victories he picked up a US and World Title.

Some, say he was overrated....... he wasn't, when you can "Jackhammer" Big Show, you can brag.

He was so popular, I remember seeing him on lunch boxes, school supplies, ice cream boxes and even CEREAL.

Now, I can't put him on the same level as The Rock, Stone Cold or Undertaker, but he was just a level beneath them.

Who's NEXT?!

2. Ric Flair

Stats In WCW/JC Promotions:

6x WCW World Heavyweight Champion
8x NWA World Champion
2x US Champion
2x NWA Television Champion
2x WCW IWH Champion

Ric Flair, we love him, we hate him. Even as a 60-year-old man he can still work matches better then some of these kids today.

His legacy is starting to get a bit tainted now, that he is working for TNA and refuses to retire completely.

But, that legacy regardless of how what we think of it, makes him one of the top four or five wrestlers of all time.

He is recognized by the WWE as the first ever WCW Champion ever.

His feuds with Hulk Hogan, Sting, Terry Funk, Mick Foley, Leslie Moon and others are very well documented.

Flair is arguably the greatest WCW Champion ever, with two reigns that lasted seven months.

He had one of the best quotes of all time: "To be the man you have to beat the man."

1. Sting

Stats In WCW/JC Promotions:

6x WCW World Heavyweight Champion
1x NWA World Heavyweight Champion
2x WCW IWH Champion
2x US Champion
1x NWA Television Champion
3x WCW World Tag Team Champion

Any surprise?

How can you not give a man whose nickname was "The Franchise Of WCW" the No. 1 spot on this list.

Stinger would compete in arguably the greatest match in WCW history: Ric Flair vs. Sting at Clash Of Champions PPV.

He would be the hero against the nWo and was the third ever WCW Champion.

All of his matches against Hogan were also instant classics. He actually beat Hulk for the WCW Title on three separate occasions.

He never worked for the WWE and admitted in an interview that he didn't want to be utilized wrongly like most WCW guys were because of the career he had built.