Mt. Rushmore: Ric Flair's 80s Feuds

By Kevin Hunsperger @kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter Listen to the podcast  Follow my blog with Bloglovin  

Last week, I launched a new concept for the blog with the Mt. Rushmore of Hulk Hogan's 80s feuds. So it only seems fitting that we hop over to the NWA side and look at Ric Flair's top four feuds in the 80s. I found coming up with this list more difficult than Hogans. I also discovered last week that most people agreed with my picks (read them here); however, this week, I expect to get some backlash. 

I'll preface this by saying in the 80s, I despised Ric Flair. He was one of those wrestlers I loved to hate. However, today, he's my all-time favorite. Sometime in the late 80s, I began respecting Flair and becoming a fan. By the time he arrived in the WWF in 1991, I was all-in with Naitch. 

Dusty Rhodes has to be the best foe for Flair of all time and not just the 80s, right? I mean, Rhodes-Flair has to be on the Mt. Rushmore of wrestling feuds. Maybe I'll make that list soon. Their battles in the ring and on the microphone were what made Jim Crockett Promotions so great. Saturday nights at 6:05 (5:05 CST) was where I spent my time taking in all the action.

The bloody battles they had in singles, tag team, six-man tag, and even War Games matches were the personification of intense. Trading the NWA Championship, main eventing the Great American Bashes, and Starrcade kept fans at the edge of the seat time after time. The two even battled it out in the final WCW pay-per-view in 2001 in a tag team match with Dustin Rhodes and Jeff Jarrett as their respective partners.  

Ricky Steamboat had a few runs against Flair. Since I'm sticking to just 80s opponents, I feel justified in this as the two had some great matches in the early 80s before Steamboat heading to the WWF, where he spent the mid-80s and returned to the NWA in 1989 to face Naitch.

At that time, the two put on some highly regarded matches, including the night Steamboat won the big gold belt from Flair. Their trilogy is still talked about to this day. (I know both have acknowledged their non-televised matches in the 70s were even better.) 

Harley Race may be a surprise pick to some, but when I was growing up and watching Wrestling at the Chase, I remember Race calling out Flair and wanting another shot at the NWA Championship. The two traded the belt, and Flair beat Race for the gold in the main event of the very first Starrcade. My buddy Chad Smart has told the story of watching these two battle it out in a high school gym at the first wrestling show he attended. So whether on closed-circuit television or a small house show, these two always seemed to go at it.

Lex Luger is probably the most controversial of my choices. But I'll explain as best I can. When Luger came to JCP and joined the Four Horsemen, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before he'd split off and challenge Flair for the belt. As his nickname implied, Luger was the 'total package .' When he was kicked out of the Horsemen, I fully expected him to beat Flair for the championship.

I was genuinely disappointed when he came up short at the 1988 Great American Bash, and the match was called due to Luger's intense bleeding. Then a few months later, I was certain Luger would beat Flair at Starrcade but again came up short. In the meantime, it seems like the company was grooming Sting for that spot. (By the way, Sting will definitely be on the Mt. Rushmore of Flair opponents in the 90s.) 

Fun Fact Friday: Sam Hunter

Me and Sam at "Brave the Storm"
Courtesy: Tom Harness

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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I've known Stride Pro Wrestling General Manager Sam Hunter for several years. He was a fan of All-American Pro Wrestling who quickly turned into a volunteer. Sam would help on the night of shows with set up and tear down, a process that I do not miss anymore. In March 2016, when Stride Pro Wrestling started, it was announced Sam would be the company's general manager. 

Sam has a take no prisoners approach when running the company. He's gone toe to toe with everyone from the DR Party, Ax Allwardt and most notably Tony Flood. Sam also brings the sound system each month to the Illinois Star Centre Mall in Marion for the Stride shows. He signed off on Saturday's night huge Buried Alive match, so be sure to join us at 6:30 p.m. Now for some fun facts about the GM.

Sam got his start in the entertainment business at an early age, DJing at the teen center in his hometown. He was 12 at the time. It's a passion that has stuck with him, as he created his own DJing business and works gigs like weddings, birthday parties and other special events.

His favorite wrestler of all time is "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. Sam says Dusty's promos were among the best in the business and laid the groundwork for many of today's stars. Sometimes he even quotes the Dream during his own promos in Stride.

Sam Hunter & Lex Luger

Time for some name dropping. Sam has met quite a few celebrities through the years including; Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, Sting, Lex Luger, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Paige, Seth Rollins, The Dudley Boys, Goldust, Eugene, Matt Morgan, Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, Christian, Bobby Roode, Eric Young, Scott Steiner, Eric Bischoff, Rob Van Dam, and Mick Foley.

Hunter & Hatton
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Same when to high school in Norris City with former Stride Pro Wrestling champion Heath Hatton.

Sam is an avid video gamer. He started with the original Nintendo and today owns all three major video game consoles. His favorites include; Super Mario Brothers, Resident Evil, Final Fantasy, Ninja Gaiden, Street Fighter, and Mega Man. He also has his own YouTube channel dedicated to gaming. Join the more than 1,200 subscribers here.

Despite what J. Wellington Beauregard says, Sam hates fish sticks.

Sam has a degree in Computer Information Systems and also enjoys reading about great philosophers including the works of Socrates.

The stars of Starrcade

My Stars of Starrcade
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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WWE is bringing back Starrcade this evening for a house show in North Carolina. And I just listened to the Starrcade 1987 What Happened When podcast with Tony Schiavone and Conrad Thompson. So it's put me in the mood to write about this iconic event presented by Jim Crockett Promotions and later WCW. 

I was always a WWF guy, but I did watch other companies obviously. Starrcade to me was always a big deal but was never really the same after Ric Flair left. Even after returning to WCW, Starrcade had lost its original luster. It may have been because of all the former WWF guys who had come to the company too and the Dusty Rhodes, Tully Blanchard, Nikita Koloff, Rock 'n Roll Express, etc. era had passed us.

My senior year in high school Starrcade '90 came to St. Louis. My buddy Jim and I attended the event which was headlined by Sting and The Black Scorpion in the steel cage. That night was the reveal that Flair was the Scorpion, which most of us figured out when they announced "Nature Boy" was out of the tag team title match with Arn Anderson against Doom. But I digress. Now for a look at who I thought were the Stars of Starrcade.

Flair vs. Lex Lugar: Starrcade 1988
Courtesy: WWE

As I mentioned, I never really felt like Starrcade was the same after that event in '90. Ric Flair had long become the face of the pay per view. He was the main event for Starrcades '83 through '90. He beat Harley Race for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship that first year and went on to defend it or win it each year that followed (90 is the exception when he was Black Scorpion he lost to Sting). 

After Flair headed to the WWF in the summer of 1991, WCW's product suffered (at least in my 1-2-3 cents). It was clear at that year's Starrcade when a new concept was introduced: Battle Bowl. I didn't hate the idea of Battle Bowl but would have rather seen it at an event other than Starrcade. It drug down the heritage of the show.

Flair vs. Rhodes: Starrcade 1985
Courtesy: WWE

Without Dusty Rhodes, there may be no Starrcade. He was booking for JCP at the time the concept was born. He's credited with being one of the forces behind Starrcade. However, I found it interesting Dusty didn't wrestle on the first Starrcade card. Of course in the years that followed, he became a big part of the show. In 1984 and 85, Rhodes battled Flair for the championship. Naitch won in 84 when the special guest referee Joe Frazier stopped the match due to Dusty's bleeding. A year later, it appeared Rhodes won the gold, but the decision would change and Rhodes won via disqualification instead (a 'Dusty finish' if you will).

My third and final star of Starrcade is probably an unexpected one, but it's Tony Schiavone. With the exception of Starrcade '89 when he was with WWF, Schiavone was a part of each Starrcade either as a host, an interviewer or a commentator. He was the voice for wrestling below the Mason Dixon line as they say on his podcast. I definitely did not appreciate the work Tony did when he was doing it back then. Years later as I look back and rewatch shows and listen to his stories about the way things were, I respect him even more.

There are plenty of other names who were stars of the show. Sting comes to mind immediately, along with Lex Luger. The two of them had quite a bit of staying power with the product. The Rock 'n Roll Express, Midnight Express and Road Warriors all deserve shout outs too along with the Steiner Brothers, Arn Anderson, Barry Windham and Tully Blanchard. Of course managers JJ Dillon, Paul Ellering and Jim Cornette are part of that discussion too.

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SURVIVOR SERIES: Favorite team number 8: All Americans (1993)

The All Americans
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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I'm counting down to the 30th annual Survivor Series by looking back at my ten favorite teams in the history of the event. Survivor Series ranks among my favorite events every year and if you've read this blog in the past you know I'm a fan of the traditional elimination matches. 

I was a big fan of Lex Luger's growing up. When he arrived in the WWF in 1993 as the Narcissist, I welcomed him with open arms. I thought the gimmick suited him perfectly, but a few months later he became a patriot in his quest for the WWF Championship, held by Yokozuna. While I don't think he pulled off the gimmick as well as he did as the Narcist, I still supported Luger.

At Survivor Series 1993, he assembled a team of the company's top talent to take on a group led by Yokozuna. Both teams lost members prior to Survivor Series. The undefeated Tatanka was taken out by Ludvig Borga weeks before. Luger returned the favor and eliminated Pierre, one-half of the Quebecers from the Foreign Fanatics. 

Showtime
Courtesy: WWE

The Undertaker subbed for Tatanka while Crush took over for the missing Quebecer. I would argue the All Americans will go down as one of the best teams in the history of Survivor Series. All four men achieved amazing feats in wrestling. The Undertaker's resume speaks for itself. The Steiner Brothers won multiple tag team championships. Luger, while not a huge WWF success, wore gold many times in WCW and spent months as the top contender for the WWF World Title. 

Santa celebrates with Lex Luger

This show set the wheels in motion for the Undertaker to become the new number one contender as he and Yoko would do battle at the next event: The 1994 Royal Rumble. Luger ended up the sole survivor by beating Borga with the forearm of doom. And just like Bret Hart had done a year earlier, Luger celebrated in the ring with Santa Claus after the victory.

Top 10:

Team 9: Team WWF Survivor Series 2001

Team 10: New Day, King Barrett and Sheamus

Summer of Flair

Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Summer of 1991 I was in Florida on vacation. It was right before the Great American Bash and Ric Flair was set to defend the WCW World Heavyweight title against Lex Luger. I was watching WCW Saturday Night in the hotel room when a scroll went across the bottom of the screen, effectively saying Flair was no longer with WCW and would not be defending the belt at the Bash. I quickly wondered what was next for Flair, but hoped he'd be going to WWF.

The original Bash poster

Remember it was 1991 and there was no internet and no Monday Night Wars. Raw wasn't even a show at that point. The only live programming was the big four pay per views from WWF and the handful WCW was doing. I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next.

A few weeks later as I was preparing to leave for college. I was casually watching Wrestling Challenge and when the show was coming to an end and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan whipped out Flair's WCW championship belt. He informed his broadcast colleagues the man who owned the belt was the real world's champion and could be coming to the WWF. Gorilla Monsoon asked "does the guy have a name?" Then jaws dropped everywhere, at least in my house, when Heenan said the belt belonged to Ric Flair. To my knowledge it was the first time WWF had ever acknowledged another wrestling company or wrestler who wasn't already on their programming.

Up close for a WWF house show featuring Flair

I'd long been a fan of Flair and news of him coming to WWF was more than welcomed by me. I love wrestling, but always preferred WWF to WCW. The Nature Boy was coming to "our side" and I was ecstatic. A few months later I was in the second row watching Flair battle "Rowdy" Roddy Piper in the main event of a house show on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University. 

That moment with Heenan, the belt, Monsoon and Jim Neidhart is one of my favorite wrestling memories of all time. I still get goosebumps watching it and I've incorporated the audio of that into my podcast open. Part of what made it so special was there was no internet to spoil the surprise. But that's a conversation for another day.

Patriotic Lex Luger was a dud

Celebrating at SummerSlam 93

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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I don't write this to be disrespectful to Lex Luger. I am really a big fan of his. I've met Lex and he's a great guy. But on July 4, 1993 the WWF tried turning Luger into a great American hero. The intentions were good, but the execution was horrible.

Luger & Heenan: The potential dream team

Up until that point, Luger had been wrestling as The Narcissist. He'd been introduced to WWF fans earlier that year at the Royal Rumble by Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. A year earlier Luger left WCW after losing the world title to Sting. The original plan was for "The Total Package" to compete in Vince McMahon's World Bodybuilding Federation. However a motorcycle accident sidelined those plans.

Courtesy: WWE

I always had a hard time buying Luger as a good guy, even in his days in the NWA. Luger was a natural heel. He had the perfect body to play off that cocky, narcissistic jerk. He and Heenan would have been gold as a unit with Heenan doing the talking and Luger taking care of business in the ring. But the Brain had already retired from managing at that point. 

Turning Luger into a hero
Courtesy: WWE

WWF needed a new hero to fill the void that was going to be felt when Hulk Hogan left the company after losing the championship to Yokozuna. For whatever reason, WWF felt the need to have an all American hero face the giant Sumo star from Japan. Bret Hart, the former champion and the man who would eventually dethrone Yokozuna, was sidetracked with feuds against Jerry "The King" Lawler and Owen Hart. 

Crush as the hero?
Courtesy: WWE

Based on things I've read it appears backstage politics played a role in Luger not winning the title. If that's the case I don't understand why they'd completely change his persona. If they were looking for an American hero type to feed to Yokozuna who would be big enough to pose a threat to him without winning the belt, instead of decorating Crush in orange and purple, they could have gone with red, white and blue on him and pushed him a bit harder. 

I realize too that with Hogan gone, the WWF was just entering the steroid scandal. It's been stated before that McMahon was trying to avoid using larger than life muscular Superstars. So it could be Luger was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

Yokozuna vs. Lex Luger
Courtesy: WWE

Luger rose quickly and fizzled out shortly after the Lex Express experience. He got screwed over at WrestleMania X. I really thought he'd end up becoming WWF world heavyweight champion. Then I thought he and Davey Boy Smith as the Allied Powers would win the tag team gold, but that never happened either. I would have rather seen him stay heel and beat Bret instead of the Bob Backlund-Diesel switch. 

Overall, WWF bungled the Luger experience, not unlike other big name WCW/NWA stars who jumped ship. Terry Funk, Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes, The Road Warriors and The Steiners all come to mind. 

SummerSlam A to Z: Yokozuna

Yokozuna vs. Lex Luger
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Yokozuna only appeared on one SummerSlam pay-per-view, but he made history in the process.  He was the first bad guy world heavyweight champion on the yearly event.  He defended the gold in the main event of SummerSlam '93 against Lex Luger.  And even though it was the sixth SummerSlam, it was only the third to feature a heavyweight championship match.

Courtesy: WWE

Yoko had won his second championship (his first lasted about 20 seconds) at King of the Ring earlier that summer.  Because Hogan was leaving, the WWF needed a new all-American type hero and turned to Lex Luger.  He had been a heel himself as the Narcissist.  But soon he dressed in stars and stripes garb and was body slamming the 500 plus pound Samoan superstar (even though his character was Japanese).   The two met at SummerSlam and Luger won the match by count out after knocking the big man out of the ring with his patented "loaded" elbow. 

Austin vs. Yokozuna
Courtesy: WWE

He did wrestle a few years later on the "Free For All" event before SummerSlam '96.  By then he was  a good guy and had slipped down the card.  He also slipped off the ropes when he tried to do his Banzai Drop on "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.  The rope broke and Yoko crashed to the mat.  A dazed Austin, fresh off his King of the Ring win, scored the pinfall.

 I always thought Yokozuna moved amazingly well for a man his size.  Now 15 years after his death I think I have an even better appreciation for him and wish he would have been around longer for his family, friends and fans to enjoy. 

Famer Friday: Lex Luger

Lex Luger

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Earlier this year, on the My 1-2-3 Cents podcast, Chad and I discussed the one person not in the WWE Hall of Fame that we feel should be.  I picked "Ravishing" Rick Rude and Chad picked Lex Luger.  I agree with him on his choice.  Luger's in ring work gets criticized a lot and his connection to Elizabeth at the time of her death is often brought up, but I think his history in the business speaks for itself.  For the record, Lex was ever only charged with drug violations and Elizabeth's death was ruled an accident.

Luger first caught my eye in the Apter magazines when he broke into the business in Florida.  I'd say he was the most physically gifted wrestler I'd seen up to that point and I knew it would be just a matter of time before he was wrestling on the national scene.  His early days in the NWA included a stint with the Four Horsemen.  I liked this version of the group better than the original, as Lex's youth and strength would replace an aging Ole Anderson.

Championship run
Courtesy: WWE

It didn't take long for The Total Package to embrace the cheers of the faces and feud with the Horsemen.  I still can't believe Lex didn't beat Ric Flair for the NWA World heavyweight title at The Great American Bash in 1988.  I was 0 for 3 that night as Sting and Nikita Koloff failed to capture the tag titles and Dusty Rhodes was beaten by Barry Windham in his quest for the U.S. title.   I thought Luger's redemption would come months later at Starrcade, but a cheating Flair came out on top.

The Narcissist
Courtesy: WWE

Lex would eventually have a run as WCW World heavyweight champ.  It was short-lived as he left the company and signed with Vince McMahon's new World Bodybuilding Federation, but a motorcycle accident sidelined him and the WBF quickly folded.  Months later, Luger would take on the persona of the Narcissist after being introduced to fans by Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.  I wish the two would have stuck together as I loved the gimmick.

Battling Yokozuna
Courtesy: WWE

But I think Vince was looking to fill a void created when Hulk Hogan left the WWF for good in 1993.  A month later, Luger body slammed the massive Yokozuna and embraced an all-American gimmick, traveling the country via the Lex Express preparing for a WWF World title match at SummerSlam '93.  Again, Luger was screwed out of the top prize, but continued his feud with the champ.  Yoko beat Lex by disqualification in his final attempt at the gold at Wrestlemania X after a bad call by special referee Mr. Perfect.

The Allied Powers
Courtesy: WWE

Luger worked in tag team matches with Davey Boy Smith before leaving, but I thought this duo would win the tag team titles.  I was wrong again, as gold was never in Lex's future in the WWF.  He would return home to WCW and have a couple runs as champ there again.  

His life took a major turn after he injured his neck and ended up temporarily paralyzed as a result.  I had a chance to meet and talk with Lex in 2011, along with Nikita Koloff.  The two have found Jesus and are spreading His message.  Lex had also mended fences with WWE and was working behind the scenes with the company.  I hope that at some point the two sides work together again and Luger takes his rightful place in the Hall of Fame.

What If Wednesday: Hulk Hogan Stays in the WWF

Hogan vs. Yokozuna King of the Ring 1993
Photo courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

For eight plus years, Hulkamania was running wild in the WWF.  Hulk Hogan took the world by storm when he won the championship in January 1984.  Despite a few other champs along the way, Hogan essentially remained the company's top guy until early 1992.

Hogan disappeared after Wrestlemania 8, but eventually returned to win the title back at Wrestlemania 9.  His reign on top was short lived as he left the WWF for good (at the time) after the King of the Ring pay per view in 1993.  A year later, he showed up in WCW and the rest is wrestling history.  But what if Hogan had stayed with the WWF?

Photo courtesy: WWE

Clearly at the time, the company was shifting directions.  I think most of you know that was due to the ongoing steroid investigation.  Let's take that out of the mix for this scenario and focus on the talent.  Even though Hogan's departure hurt the company in the early years, it ended up helping to revive the business and ultimately put WWF on top in the Monday Night War.

The Narcissist
Photo courtesy: WWE

I don't think Lex Luger would have swapped his Narcissist persona for the All American hero he became after Hogan left.  Hogan and Yokozuna would have likely feuded through the summer, and like he'd always done, Hogan would prevail.  This would have lead to a Luger-Hogan match at Wrestlemania X.  But because fans always left Wrestlemania happy, I think Hogan would have won that match.  Eventually though, something would have to change, as Hulkamania became boring, just like when he was in WCW.  But not before beating the likes of Razor Ramon, Diesel, and a heel Shawn Michaels.

I don't know if Vince McMahon would have pulled the trigger on a heel turn, especially since I don't think WCW would have been competing with WWF as vigorously.  Without Hogan in WCW, I don't believe the defections like Randy Savage, Diesel, and Ramon would have happened.  WWF would have remained on top.

Steve Austin & Hogan
Photo courtesy: WWE

By the same token, I don't think Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, or Steve Austin would have had the opportunities they received either.  I like Hogan, but I think he would have continued to be in the spotlight and the changes that happened in the company (and the business) would have never occurred had he not jumped ship.  So long story short, Hogan's departure ended up making a lot of people a lot of money and provided fans with new heroes and lots of great memories.

Sting to WWE? Will Fans Get Stung

Sting
Photo from TNA

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

On the July 1 episode of Raw, WWE highlighted past WWE and World Heavyweight champions as they counted down to the main event between John Cena and Alberto Del Rio.  One of the packages featured Sting.  He and Lou Thesz are the only two wrestlers in those pieces who never wrestled in the WWE.  Thesz is now deceased, but I would imagine at some point he'll be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.  The inclusion of Sting in the champion series has led to speculation that the former WCW champion is headed north from TNA.

The buzz about Sting leaving TNA and signing with WWE has been going on for years.  Remember back in 2011 many believed that Sting was the man in the 2-21-11 promo, which ultimately ended up being the Undertaker? Fans everywhere thought the Stinger was finally signing with the WWE and facing the Undertaker at Wrestlemania that year.  It was not to be.  I don't think it will ever happen (Sting vs. Undertaker at Wrestlemania, that is)

Sting is already a member of the WWE alumni site, although he's never set foot in the company's ring.  He's without a doubt the biggest name to have never signed with the WWE.  As a teenager, I was shocked when guys like Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes, Ric Flair, Lex Luger, Arn Anderson, and Tully Blanchard all made their way to Titan Towers.  For whatever reason, Sting never went, even after Vince McMahon bought WCW in 2001.

"Beach Bum" Sting
Photo courtesy: WWE

At age 54, clearly Sting's best days are behind him.  That being said, I would still MARK OUT if he signed with the WWE, even if for just one match.  I'd mark out even more if he wrestled it as "Beach Bum" Sting.  While I wouldn't want to see him get a championship run, I think it would be fun to see him have a few matches and eventually retire and go into the WWE Hall of Fame.  But part of me also finds it cool that he's really one of the only guys to never work for the WWE in some capacity.  However, the mark in me wins out and yes, I'd like to see at least one match in a WWE ring featuring the superstar from Venice Beach.

I do know Sting extended his contract with TNA back in March 2012.  I don't know how long he extended it for.  I have learned as a fan, never say never.  I wouldn't be surprised to one day see Sting on WWE TV and wrestling at a Wrestlemania in the near future.

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Throwback Thursday: Lex Takes a Leap

Luger vs. Sting
SuperBrawl II

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Strolling down Memory Lane this week and we head back to February 29, 1992.  Leap Day, and "The Total Package" Lex Luger was WCW champion.  He defended the title that night against on-again-off-again friend Sting.  It was WCW's second annual SuperBrawl pay per view.

Sting ended up pinning his former partner and winning the gold belt.  The torch had once again been passed to Sting, setting him up to become WCW's true franchise and poster child.  Luger, little did most fans know (this was before the Internet), was leaving the company.  But instead of signing to wrestle for Vince McMahon's WWF, Luger inked a deal to become a part of McMahon's newly created World Bodybuilding Federation.

It was a bizarre move.  I remember hearing about Luger's departure and his signing with McMahon.  I can't remember all the details specifically, but at some point, Lex was hurt in a motorcycle accident and effectively couldn't compete in the WBF.  By the time he healed, I think the WBF had already gone belly up.

The Narcissist
Wrestlemania 9
Photo courtesy: WWE

Without a place to pose down, Luger was introduced nearly a year after leaving WCW at the 1993 Royal Rumble.  Bobby Heenan presented "The Narcissist" to the world.  The gimmick fit Luger to a tee in my opinion.  He played the arrogant heel flexing his biceps and staring at himself in the mirror.  A harem of beautiful women followed him to the ring holding mirrors for Lex to flex to and adore himself.

We all know how this story ends, Luger ended up becoming an All-American patriot after body slamming the 600 pound WWF champion Yokozuna on July 4, 1993.  After a failed bid at the championship and floundering in the tag team ranks, Luger headed back to his home of WCW in 1995.

While he's been panned by critics, I've never had a problem with Luger's work inside the ring.  He's had personal issues through the years and seems to now be clean and sober and working hard to put his past behind him.   I had the pleasure of interviewing Lex and Nikita Koloff in 2011.  They both seemed genuine and sincere.