Starrcade

Starrcade logo

StarrCade was the primary supercard of the NWA and World Championship Wrestling from 1983 until 2000. Often billed as "The Grandaddy of Them All," StarrCade was the first annual wrestling supercard to be broadcast on closed-circuit television, before even the legendary WrestleMania.

Perhaps the highest moment in StarrCade history was in December 1997 when Hollywood Hogan lost the WCW/nWo World Heavyweight Title to Sting, despite the change of hands for the title being mired in controversy, after holding it for over a year. The following year, rookie world champion Bill Goldberg's undefeated winning streak came to an end when he was defeated by Kevin Nash with help from Scott Hall who jabbed Goldberg with a taser to help Nash win the match. Ric Flair is widely considered to be the "flagship" of StarrCade, as he headlined 9 of these supercards, the first of which had been subtitled A Flair for the Gold.

The final four Starrcades all took place at the MCI Center (now Verizon Center) in Washington D.C.

Contents

1983: A Flair For the Gold

November 24, 1983 in Greensboro, NC (Greensboro Coliseum)

Theme Song: 'Far From Over' by Frank Stallone

The Assassins (with Paul Jones) def. Rufus R. Jones and Bugsy McGraw
Kevin Sullivan and Mark Lewin def. Scott McGhee and Johnny Weaver
WWC Univeral Heavyweight Championship : Carlos Colon (champion) def. Abdullah the Butcher by DQ to retain the title
Dick Slater and Bob Orton, Jr. def. Mark Youngblood and Wahoo McDaniel
Charlie Brown def. The Great Kabuki (with Gary Hart)
NWA United States Championship : Roddy Piper def. Greg Valentine (champion) in a Dog Collar Match to win the title
NWA World Tag Team Championship : Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood def. The Brisco Brothers (Jack and Jerry (champions) to win the title
NWA World Heavyweight Championship : In a steel cage with Gene Kiniski as referee, Ric Flair def. Harley Race (champion) to win the title
NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship : Ray Stevens (wrestler) defeated Jim Brunzell (champion) to win the title

1984: The Million Dollar Challenge

November 22, 1984 in Greensboro, NC (Greensboro Coliseum)

Starrcade 84 Logo

Theme Song: 'Far From Over' by Frank Stallone

NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship : Denny Brown def. Mike Davis (champion) to win the title
Brian Adias def. Mr. Ito
NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship : Jesse Barr (champion) def. Mike Graham to retain the title
The Assassin and Buzz Tyler def. The Zambuie Express (Elijah Akeem and Kareem Muhammed) (with Paul Jones)
Manny Fernandez def. Black Bart (with James J. Dillon)
Paul Jones def. Jimmy Valiant in a Tuxedo Street Fight Loser-Leaves-Town Match
NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship : Ron Bass (champion) (with James J. Dillon) def. Dick Slater by DQ to retain the title
Ivan Koloff and Nikita Koloff def. Ole Anderson and Keith Larson (with Don Kernodle)
NWA Television Championship : In a $10,000 challenge match, Tully Blanchard (champion) def. Ricky Steamboat to retain the title and win the $10,000
NWA United States Championship : Wahoo McDaniel (champion) def. Superstar Billy Graham (with Paul Jones) to retain the title
NWA World Heavyweight Championship : In a $1,000,000 challenge match, Ric Flair (champion) def. Dusty Rhodes to retain the title and win the $1,000,000 when special referee Joe Frazier stopped the match due to a cut on Rhodes' forehead

1985: The Gathering

November 28, 1985 in Greensboro, NC (Greensboro Coliseum)/Atlanta, GA (The Omni) Theme Song: 'Far From Over' by Frank Stallone

Pez Whatley def. Mike Graham
Don Kernodle def. Tommy Lane
Thunderfoot (with James J. Dillon) def. The Italian Stallion
NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship : Denny Brown (champion) def. Rocky King to retain the title
NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship : Krusher Khruschev def. Sam Houston to win the vacant title
Ron Bass def. Black Bart (with James J. Dillon) in a Bullrope Match to win a match against Dillon
James J. Dillon (with Black Bart) def. Ron Bass in a Bullrope Match
NWA National Heavyweight Championship : Buddy Landel (with James J. Dillon) def. Terry Taylor (champion) to win the title
NWA United States Championship : In an "I Quit" cage match, Magnum T.A. def. Tully Blanchard (champion) (with Baby Doll) to win the title
NWA World Tag Team Championship : In a cage, The Rock 'N Roll Express (with Don Kernodle) def. Ivan and Nikita Koloff (champions) (with Krusher Khruschev) to win the title
Manny Fernandez def. Abdullah the Butcher (with Paul Jones) in a Mexican Death Match
Superstar Billy Graham def. The Barbarian (with Paul Jones) by DQ
NWA National Tag Team Championship : Ole and Arn Anderson (champions) def. Wahoo McDaniel and Billy Jack Haynes to retain the title
Jimmy Valiant and Miss Atlanta Lively (Ron Garvin) (with Big Mama) def. The Midnight Express (with Jim Cornette) in an Atlanta Street Fight
NWA World Heavyweight Championship : Dusty Rhodes def. Ric Flair (champion) to win the title. However, original referee Tommy Young declared that he had disqualified Flair for outside interference. Therefore, Flair retained the title.

1986: Night of the Skywalkers

November 27, 1986 in Greensboro, NC (Greensboro Coliseum)/Atlanta, GA (The Omni) Theme Song: 'Far From Over' by Frank Stallone

Tim Horner and Nelson Royal def. Don and Rocky Kernodle
Hector Guerrero and Baron Von Raschke def. Shaska Whatley and The Barbarian
Wahoo McDaniel def. Rick Rude (with Paul Jones) in an Indian Strap Match
Jimmy Valiant (with Big Mama) def. Paul Jones in a Hair vs. Hair Match with Manny Fernandez locked in a Cage
NWA World Television Championship : In a First Blood match, Tully Blanchard (with James J. Dillon) def. Dusty Rhodes (champion) to win the title.
NWA World Tag Team Championship : In a cage, The Rock 'N Roll Express (champions) def. Ole and Arn Anderson to retain the title
Brad Armstrong battled Jimmy Garvin (with Precious) to a draw
NWA United States Tag Team Championship : Krusher Khruschev and Ivan Koloff (champions) def. Bobby Jaggers and Dutch Mantel to retain the title
NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship : Sam Houston (champion) def. Bill Dundee by DQ to retain the title
Big Bubba Rogers (with Jim Cornette) def. Ron Garvin in a Street Fight
The Road Warriors (with Paul Ellering) def. The Midnight Express (with Jim Cornette & Big Bubba Rogers) in a Scaffold Match
NWA World Heavyweight Championship : Ric Flair (champion) and NWA United States Champion Nikita Koloff wrestled to a double disqualification. Flair retains the title

1987: Chi-Town Heat

November 26, 1987 in Chicago, IL (UIC Pavilion)

Mighty Wilbur def. Ivan Koloff (with Paul Jones)
UWF Tag Team Championship : The Sheepherders (champions) defeated New Breed to retain the title

The rest were included on the Home video release

Sting, Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin (with Precious) fought Eddie Gilbert, Rick Steiner and Larry Zbyszko (with Baby Doll) to a draw
UWF Heavyweight Championship : "Dr. Death" Steve Williams (champion) def. Barry Windham to retain the title
The Rock 'N Roll Express def. The Midnight Express (with Jim Cornette) in a Scaffold Match
Unification match : Nikita Koloff (NWA World Television Champion) def. Terry Taylor (UWF Television Champion) (with Eddie Gilbert) to unify the titles
NWA World Tag Team Championship : Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard (champions) (with James J. Dillon) def. the Road Warriors (with Paul Ellering) by DQ to retain the title
NWA United States Championship : In a cage, Dusty Rhodes (with Johnny Weaver) def. Lex Luger (champion) (with James J. Dillon) to win the title
NWA World Heavyweight Championship : In a cage, Ric Flair (with James J. Dillon) def. Ron Garvin (champion) to win the title

Note: This was the first StarrCade to be held on PPV and the first NWA PPV.

1988: True Gritt

December 26, 1988 in Norfolk, VA (Norfolk Scope)

Bunkhouse Stampede match : Junkyard Dog won
NWA United States Tag Team Championship : Kevin Sullivan and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams def. The Fantastics (champions) to win the titles
The Midnight Express (with Jim Cornette) def. Dennis Condrey and Randy Rose (with Paul E. Dangerously)
Russian Assassin 1 and Russian Assassin 2 (with Paul Jones def. Junkyard Dog and Ivan Koloff
NWA World Television Championship : With Kevin Sullivan locked in a cage, Rick Steiner def. Mike Rotunda (champion) to win the title
NWA United States Championship : Barry Windham (champion) (with James J. Dillon) def. Bam Bam Bigelow (with Oliver Humperdink) to retain the title
NWA World Tag Team Championship : Dusty Rhodes and Sting battled The Road Warriors (champions) (with Paul Ellering) to a double disqualification. The Road Warriors retain the title.
NWA World Heavyweight Championship : Ric Flair (champion) (with James J. Dillon) def. Lex Luger in a No DQ Match

1989: Future Shock

December 13, 1989 in Atlanta, GA (The Omni)

Iron Team Tournament
The Steiner Brothers def. Doom (with Woman & Nitron)
Road Warriors (with Paul Ellering) def. Doom (with Woman & Nitron)
Steiner Brothers def. Road Warriors (with Paul Ellering)
The Samoan Swat Team (with Theodore Long) def. Doom (with Woman & Nitron)
The Samoan Swat Team (with Theodore Long) def. The Steiner Brothers
Road Warriors (with Paul Ellering) def. The Samoan Swat Team (with Theodore Long) to win the Tournament
Iron Man Tournament
Lex Luger def. Sting
Ric Flair def. The Great Muta (with Gary Hart)
Sting def. The Great Muta (with Gary Hart)
Lex Luger and Ric Flair fought to a draw
Lex Luger def. The Great Muta (with Gary Hart) by DQ
Sting def. Ric Flair (with Ole & Arn Anderson) to win the Tournament

1990: Collision Course

December 16, 1990 in St. Louis, MO (Kiel Auditorium)

Bill Irwin def. T.C. Carter
Bobby Eaton def. Tom Zenk
Michael Wallstreet (with Alexandra York) def. Terry Taylor
The Skyscrapers def. Big Cat and The Motor City Madman
Tommy Rich and Ricky Morton (with Robert Gibson) def. Fabulous Freebirds (with Little Richard Marley)
NWA United States Championship : In a bullrope match, Lex Luger def. Stan Hansen (champion) to win the title
NWA World Tag Team Championship : In a street fight, Doom (champions) (with Theodore Long) fought Arn Anderson and Barry Windham to a no contest. Doom retains thr title
NWA World Heavyweight Championship : Sting (champion) def. The Black Scorpion to retain the title. After the match, the Black Scorpion was unmasked as Ric Flair.
Pat O'Connor Memorial Tag Team Tournament
The Steiner Brothers def. Sgt. Krueger and Col. DeKlerk
Konnan and Rey Misterio, Sr. def. Chris Adams and Norman Smiley
The Great Muta and Mr. Saito def. Jack Victory and Rip Morgan
Victor Zangiev and Salman Hashimikov def. Danny Johnson and Troy Montour
The Steiner Brothers def. Konnan and Rey Misterio, Sr.
The Great Muta and Mr. Saito def. Victor Zangiev and Salman Hashimikov
The Steiner Brothers def. The Great Muta and Mr. Saito to win the Tournament

1991: BattleBowl

December 29, 1991 in Norfolk, VA (The Scope)

Lethal Lottery Match : Marcus Bagwell and Jimmy Garvin def. Tracy Smothers and Michael Hayes
Lethal Lottery Match : Steve Austin and Rick Rude def. Big Josh and Van Hammer
Lethal Lottery Match : Richard Morton and Dustin Rhodes def. Larry Zbyszko and El Gigante
Lethal Lottery Match : Bill Kazmaier and Jushin Liger def. Diamond Dallas Page and Mike Graham
Lethal Lottery Match : Ricky Steamboat and Todd Champion def. Cactus Jack and Buddy Lee Parker
Lethal Lottery Match : Lex Luger and Arn Anderson def. Tom Zenk and Terrance Taylor
Lethal Lottery Match : Sting and Abdullah the Butcher def. Bobby Eaton and Brian Pillman
Lethal Lottery Match : Big Van Vader and Mr. Hughes def. The Nightstalker and Rick Steiner
Lethal Lottery Match : Scott Steiner and Firebreaker Chip def. Arachnaman and Johnny B. Badd
Lethal Lottery Match : Thomas Rich and Ron Simmons def. Steve Armstrong and PN News
Battlebowl Match : Sting won a two-ring battle royal to win the first-ever BattleBowl championship, last eliminating current WCW World Heavyweight Champion Lex Luger

1992: The Lethal Lottery

December 28, 1992 in Atlanta, GA (The Omni)

Brad Armstrong def. Shanghai Pierce
Lethal Lottery Match : Van Hammer and Danny Spivey def. Johnny B. Badd and Cactus Jack
Lethal Lottery Match : Big Van Vader and Dustin Rhodes def. Kensuke Sasaki and The Barbarian
Lethal Lottery Match : The Great Muta and Barry Windham def. Brian Pillman and Too Cold Scorpio
Lethal Lottery Match : Steve Williams and Sting def. Jushin Liger and Erik Watts
WCW World Tag Team Championship : Shane Douglas and Ricky Steamboat (champions) def. Barry Windham and Brian Pillman to retain the title
Sting def. Big Van Vader to win the "King of Cable" tournament
WCW World Heavyweight Championship : Ron Simmons (champion) def. Steve Williams (substituting for the injured Rick Rude) to retain the title.
NWA World Heavyweight Championship : Masahiro Chono (champion) def. The Great Muta to retain the title
Battlebowl Match : The Great Muta won a battle royal to win the BattleBowl championship

1993

December 27, 1993 in Charlotte, NC (Independence Arena)

Paul Orndorff and Paul Roma (with The Assassin) def. Marcus Bagwell and Too Cold Scorpio
The Shockmaster def. King Kong
WCW World Television Championship : Lord Steven Regal (champion) (with Sir William) fought Ricky Steamboat to a time limit draw. Regal retains the title
Cactus Jack and Maxx Payne def. Tex Slazenger and Shanghai Pierce
WCW International Championship : Rick Rude (champion) def. The Boss to retain the title
WCW United States Championship : In a best-of-3 falls match, Steve Austin def. Dustin Rhodes (champion) 2-0 to win the title in
WCW World Tag Team Championship : Sting and Road Warrior Hawk def. WCW World Tag Team Champions The Nasty Boys (champions) by DQ. The Nasty Boys retain the title
WCW World Heavyweight Championship : With his career on the line as well, Ric Flair def. Vader (champion) to win the title.

1994: Triple Threat

December 27, 1994 in Nashville, TN (Nashville Municipal Auditorium)

WCW United States Championship : Vader def. Jim Duggan (champion) to win the title
Alex Wright def. Jean Paul Levesque
WCW World Television Championship : Johnny B. Badd (champion) def. Arn Anderson to retain the title
WCW World Tag Team Championship : The Nasty Boys def. Harlem Heat (champions) by DQ. Harlem Heat retains the title
Mr. T def. Kevin Sullivan
Sting def. Avalanche
WCW World Heavyweight Championship : Hulk Hogan (champion) def. The Butcher to retain the title

1995: World Cup of Wrestling

December 27, 1995 in Nashville, TN (Municipal Auditorium)

World Cup of Wrestling match : Jushin Liger def. Chris Benoit. NJPW leads series 1-0.
World Cup of Wrestling match : Koji Kanemoto def. Alex Wright. NJPW leads series 2-0.
World Cup of Wrestling match : Lex Luger def. Masahiro Chono. NJPW leads series 2-1.
World Cup of Wrestling match : Johnny B. Badd def. Masa Saito. Series tied 2-2.
World Cup of Wrestling match : Shinjiro Ohtani def. Eddie Guerrero. NJPW leads series 3-2.
World Cup of Wrestling match : Randy Savage def. Hiroyoshi Tenzan. Series tied 3-3.
World Cup of Wrestling match : Sting def. Kensuke Sasaki. WCW wins series 4-3 to win the World Cup of Wrestling.
Triangle match : Ric Flair def. Lex Luger and Sting to earn a shot at Savage's WCW World title
WCW World Heavyweight Championship : Ric Flair def. Randy Savage (champion) to win the title
WCW United States Championship : Kensuke Sasaki (champion) def. One Man Gang to retain the title

1996

December 29, 1996 in Nashville, TN (Municipal Auditorium)

WCW World Cruiserweight Championship : Ultimo Dragon def. Dean Malenko (champion) to win the title
WCW Women's Championship tournament final : Akira Hokuto def. Madusa to win the vacant title
Jushin Liger def. Rey Mysterio Jr.
Jeff Jarrett def. Chris Benoit
WCW World Tag Team Championship : The Outsiders (Scott Hall and Kevin Nash) (champions) def. the Faces of Fear (Meng and The Barbarian) to retain the title
WCW United States Championship tournament final : Eddie Guerrero def. Diamond Dallas Page to win the vacant title
Lex Luger def. The Giant
Non-title match : Roddy Piper def. WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hollywood Hogan

1997

December 28, 1997 in Washington, D.C. (MCI Center)

Starrcade 97 logo

WCW World Cruiserweight Championship : Eddie Guerrero (champion) def. Dean Malenko to retain the title
Randy Savage, Scott Norton and Vincent def. Ray Traylor, Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner
Bill Goldberg def. Steve McMichael
Perry Saturn def. Chris Benoit
Buff Bagwell def. Lex Luger
WCW United States Championship : Diamond Dallas Page def. Curt Hennig (champion) to win the title
Larry Zbyszko def. Eric Bischoff for control of WCW Monday Nitro
WCW World Heavyweight Championship : Sting def. Hollywood Hogan (champion) to win the title. However, the title was later help up. (See below.)

This is considered by some as the beginning of the end for WCW. Hogan was heavily criticised for not doing a clean finish which confused and irritated fans who had waited over a year to see Sting take down the nWo. Eric Bischoff was largely praised in the months leading up to this pay-per-view because of his refusal to "hotshot" (give away a big money PPV match before proper build up, causing a lesser buy rate) Sting vs. Hogan for the WCW world title.

The finish actually involved a recently-introduced Bret Hart coming down to the ring after Hogan "won" the match through a supposedly fast count by referee Nick Patrick, ostensibly to "make things right" and protect Sting from being "screwed," a la the Montreal Screwjob.

Unfortunately, the "fast" three-count which Hogan used to win was quite obviously a normal-speed count, requiring the announcers to act as though it was fast, since that was the finish they had been told - though everyone viewing the show had just seen a clean pinfall.

Rather than the triumphant victory that one would expect the most popular wrestler in the company to gain over the hated man he had been chasing for over a year, as Sting had Hogan, the finish was confused and chaotic, with the live audience visibly displeased at the entire spectacle. Hart "restarted" the match, and Sting quickly won the title, but given the circumstances, excitement was rather muted.

It is rumored that Hogan paid Patrick a sum in cash backstage before the show in exchange for failing to execute the planned finish, with the intent of protecting Hogan's image. The entire debacle resulted in the title being held up for another Hogan-Sting pay-per-view match, which many WCW fans took as a slap in the face and a hapless attempt to draw additional money to see the result WCW had failed to deliver the first time around.

Though StarrCade 1997 drew the biggest pay-per-view buyrate in the company's history, afterwards WCW seemingly entered a creative stall, and while they were still profitable well through 1999, most of 1998 saw the competing World Wrestling Federation drawing television ratings, gate money, and buyrates that would ensure they returned to their position as the #1 "sports entertainment" company in the United States.

Four months after this StarrCade, during a peak in Monday Night RAW viewership due to the intrigue surrounding Steve Austin, Mike Tyson, and Shawn Michaels, the WWF ended WCW's stranglehold on the Monday night ratings after 83 consecutive weeks of WCW victories.

1998

December 27, 1998 in Washington, D.C. (MCI Center)

WCW World Cruiserweight Championship : In a Triangle match, Billy Kidman (champion) def. Rey Mysterio, Jr. and Juventud Guerrera to retain the title
WCW World Cruiserweight Championship : Billy Kidman (champion) def. Eddie Guerrero to retain the title
Norman Smiley def. Prince Iaukea
Perry Saturn def. Ernest Miller
Brian Adams and Scott Norton def. Fit Finlay and Jerry Flynn
WCW World Television Championship : Konnan (champion) def. Chris Jericho to retain the title
Eric Bischoff def. Ric Flair
Diamond Dallas Page def. The Giant
WCW World Heavyweight Championship : Kevin Nash def. Goldberg (champion) to win the title

This PPV marked the end of Bill Goldberg's winning streak. Kevin Nash with the help of Scott Hall using a stun gun defeated the undefeated Goldberg in the main event for the world title. As head booker at the time, Kevin Nash chose himself to win. Many people look at this as being the beginning of the end for WCW, as the WWF began to outmatch them in most every event up until WCW's demise in 2001.

1999

December 19, 1999 in Washington, D.C. (MCI Center)

Big Vito and Johnny the Bull def. Disco Inferno and Lash LeRoux
WCW World Cruiserweight Championship : Madusa def. Evan Karagias (champion) to win the title
WCW Hardcore Championship : "Screamin'" Norman Smiley (champion) def. Meng to retain the title
Revolution (Shane Douglas, Dean Malenko, Perry Saturn and Asya) def. Jim Duggan and the Varsity Club (Kevin Sullivan, Mike Rotunda and Rick Steiner) (with Leia Meow). This marked Leia Meow's WCW debut.
Vampiro def. Steve Williams
Vampiro def. Oklahoma
Creative Control and Curt Hennig def. Harlem Heat and Midnight
Jeff Jarrett def. Dustin Rhodes
Diamond Dallas Page def. David Flair
Sting def. Lex Luger
Kevin Nash def. Sid Vicious in a "Powerbomb Match" where the first to successfully use a powerbomb would win.
WCW United States Championship : Chris Benoit (champion) def. Jeff Jarrett to retain the title
WCW World Heavyweight Championship : Bret Hart (champion) def. Bill Goldberg to retain the title

Note: The World Title match between Bret Hart and Bill Goldberg is infamous for the fact that Bret Hart suffered a career-ending injury towards the end of the match, resulting from a misplaced kick to the head from Goldberg. Although Bret wrestled for a few weeks after the injury, he was forced into retirement shortly after.

2000

December 17, 2000 in Washington, D.C. (MCI Center)

3 Count def. the Jung Dragons and Jamie Noble and Evan Karagias in a ladder match
Lance Storm def. Ernest Miller
WCW Hardcore Championship : Terry Funk def. Crowbar (champion) to win the title
KroniK def. Big Vito and Reno when Reno pinned Vito
Mike Awesome def. Bam Bam Bigelow in an "Ambulance Match"
WCW United States Championship : General Rection (champion) def. Shane Douglas to retain the title
Jeff Jarrett, Ron Harris and Don Harris def. Konnan, Rey Mysterio Jr. and Billy Kidman
WCW World Tag Team Championship : The Insiders (Diamond Dallas Page and Kevin Nash) def. Perfect Event (Shawn Stasiak and Chuck Palumbo) (champions) to win the title
Bill Goldberg def. Lex Luger in a No DQ match
WCW World Heavyweight Championship : Scott Steiner (champion) def. Sid Vicious to retain the title