Must-Watch Lex Luger WCW Matches

In light of Lex Luger’s recent inductee into the 2025 Hall of Fame announcement, WWE created another extended channel on their YouTube platform called “WCW”. As the name suggests, WCW on YouTube only posts WCW content, including full PPV events & TV shows, classic matchups,  and much more. In a classy move, the channel’s first post on their community tab was a congratulations message to the Total Package on his recent induction.

Back in WCW’s heyday, in the 1980s and late ‘90s, Lex Luger was one of the primary mainstays of the promotion. The Total Package captured the WCW World Heavyweight Championship twice, holds the single longest reign for the then-WCW United States Championship, as well as enjoying successes in WCW’s tag team and TV divisions. Luger’s epic battles with legends of the game, such as Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, and Sting, are still remembered today by fans of the past century.

With Luger’s Hall of Fame induction drawing near, we thought it would only be fitting that we give him his proper salute as well. In this post, we will take a look at the most amazing, must-see matches from Lex Luger’s WCW career.

Breakout Performance Against The Nature Boy

Starrcade 1988

When Lex Luger entered WCW (formerly, Jim Crockett Promotions) in 1987, he immediately associated himself with the legendary faction, the Four Horsemen. The Horsemen was at the helm of WCW in the 1980s, with their leader Ric Flair on top of the world.

However, in late 1987, after losing the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship to Dusty Rhodes, Luger was ridiculed as the stable’s weakling, subsequently leading to his exit from the Horsemen. It was around this time that Luger slowly established himself as an up-and-coming fan favorite, frequently taking on Four Horsemen members on television and house shows.

It eventually turned into a rivalry with NWA World Champion Ric Flair, leading to a marquee main event for the title at Starrcade 1988. Luger went all out in his first big break as a top star, taking the Nature Boy to the absolute limit in a thirty-minute World Title bout.

Flair pulled out all the tricks, going after Luger’s leg to weaken the powerhouse. In the end, the “Dirtiest Player in the Game” escaped with the win after pinning Lex with his feet on the rope. While Luger may have lost, this sole performance turned him into a WCW superstar forever.

Lex Luger and Ricky Steamboat Stole The Show At The Bash

The Great American Bash 1989

The Great American Bash 1989 is widely regarded as one of the best PPVs, not only in WCW history but of all time. Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk, Sting vs. The Great Muta, and the annual WarGames extravaganza are only some of the magic that this show had to offer. Nevertheless, there was one match in particular that managed to steal the show amid all those classics – an NWA United States Championship match between Lex Luger and Ricky Steamboat.

At Clash of the Champions VII in June of ‘89, Luger attacked Steamboat after the latter was victorious in the main event, officially becoming a heel again. The Total Package was in the midst of his record 522 days as the US champ, while the Dragon just came off a spectacular program with Flair, otherwise known as “Holy Trinity”.

These two were a wonderful matchup together, with Steamboat’s quickness and agility gelling well with Luger’s strength and power. At last, it was Luger who retained the belt, but only after the referee disqualified Ricky when he smashed Lex with a steel chair.

The New Face of WCW – The Lex Luger Era

The Great American Bash 1991

In 1991, WCW was struck with a disaster they couldn’t have foreseen. Reigning World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair began a dispute with Head Executive, Jim Herd. It was incredibly heated that it caused Flair to quit the company and, in the process, took the world championship belt with him.

A decision had to be made, which was to vacate the WCW World Heavyweight Championship until a new champion was crowned. It came down to the No. 1 and No. 2 contenders, Lex Luger and Barry Windham, respectively, with their match taking place inside the steel cage at The Great American Bash PPV in July.

Originally, Luger was supposed to take the title from Flair, but plans have changed, and Windham is now the man to beat instead. This main event was nearly sabotaged by the Baltimore crowd, as they blasted “We want Flair!” chants as the two competitors. But despite that, Luger and Windham would proceed to wrestle a highly professional, old-school-style cage match that brought the audience back to the show.

At last, WWE Hall of Famer Harley Race came down to ringside to assist Luger in becoming the new world champ. Thus, we began a new period in Lex’s career, as he turned to the dark side for only the second time in WCW.

Luger Shocks The World By Defeating Hulk Hogan

Nitro 1997

There were no wrestling fans in the ‘90s that did not know about the nWo. At Bash at the Beach 1996, Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall joined forces to form arguably the most dominant stable in history.

From that point on, the black-and-white faction kept expanding its following to become the largest group in pro wrestling. Soon, they took over WCW, and Hollywood Hulk Hogan became the WCW World Champion.

The company was in desperate need of a hero to fight the nWo after Sting declared himself as an anti-hero. Enter Lex Luger. The Total Package led the war against nWo for most of 1997, getting a title shot against their leader on the August 4 episode of Monday Nitro.

As expected, nWo members ran in to try hijacking the bout, but it didn’t work this time. Luger stood tall, withstand the interferences, and put Hogan in a Torture Rack to claim the WCW World Heavyweight Title in front of an electrifying atmosphere at the Palace of Auburn Hills. It was one of Luger’s greatest moments ever.

Winning His Record-Tying Fifth US Title

Nitro 1998

When people talk about the United States Championship, there must always be a mention of Lex Luger. Indeed, the Total Package is one of the greatest United States champions we have ever seen. He held the US Championship for a combined 945 days.

Although the late ‘90s was far from his peak with the strap, Luger still enjoyed brief success with the red, white, and blue belt. On the August 10th, 1998 edition of Nitro, Lex made history, tying the record for the number of US Championship reigns, with five times he had won the title.

This victory came against Bret Hart, his former rival in the WWE’s New Generation era. Hart and Luger were far from their best days, but both men still had something left in the tank to deliver a solid match.

These two worked well together, blending power and technical styles. Luger won his fifth US Championship as he put Hart into submission with a Torture Rack, much to the crowd’s massive ovation.

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