Since I'm rather bored and have been on a NWA kick as of late, I was thinking about my favorite gimmick match ever created, especially since it was from the "#2 Promotion". Just a little backstory... the WarGames concept was created by Dusty Rhodes, the same guy who came up with a Steel Cage Battle Royale and I believe the Battle Bowl concept (you can't strike lightning twice I guess), where teams of 5 (and usually 4) competed inside a two ring roofed-cage, and beat the crap out of each other until someone gave up.

Here is the list of almost every WarGames match on WCW PPV or commercial release...

Great American Bash Tour 1987:
1. Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff, The Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal), Paul Ellering vs. The Four Horsemen (Ric Flair, Lex Luger, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, J.J. Dillon)

2. Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff, The Road Warriors, Paul Ellering vs. The Four Horsemen (Ric Flair, Lex Luger, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard) & War Machine

[Great American Bash '88 Tour had War Games, but none were ever released on commercial video or televised, so I pretend none exist]

Great American Bash 1989:
The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane), The Road Warriors, Steve Williams vs. The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy, Jimmy Garvin) & The Samoan Swat Team (Samu & Fatu)

WrestleWar 1991:
Sting, Flyin' Brian, The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott) vs. The Four Horsemen (Ric Flair, Sid Vicious, Barry Windham) & Larry Zybysko

WrestleWar 1992:
Stings Squadron (Sting, Nikita Koloff, Barry Windham, Ricky Steamboat, Dustin Rhodes) vs. The Dangerous Alliance (Arn Anderson, Rick Rude, Steve Austin, Bobby Eaton, Larry Zybysko)

Fall Brawl 1993:
Sting, Davey Boy Smith, The Shockmaster, Dustin Rhodes vs. Sid Vicious, Big Van Vader, Harlem Heat (Kane & Kole)

Fall Brawl 1994:
Dusty Rhodes, Dustin Rhodes, The Nasty Boys (Knobbs & Sags) vs. Arn Anderson, Terry Funk, Bunkhouse Buck, Col. Parker

Fall Brawl 1995:
The Hulkamaniacs (Hulk Hogan, Sting, Randy Savage, Lex Luger) vs. The Dungeon of Doom (The Shark, The Zodiac, Kamala, Meng)

Fall Brawl 1996:
Team WCW (Sting, Lex Luger, Ric Flair, Arn Anderson) vs. Team nWo (Hollywood Hogan, "Sting", Scott Hall, Kevin Nash)

Fall Brawl 1997:
The Four Horsemen (Chris Benoit, Ric Flair, Curt Hennig, Steve McMichael) vs. New World Order (Kevin Nash, Syxx, Konnan, Buff Bagwell)

[I refuse to mention Fall Brawl 1998, which raped the WarGames concept of its dignity with newer, and stupid rules. There was also a WarGames match on Thunder or Nitro in 2000, but I for the life of me, can't remember)


The Top 3...

1. 1987 (Match #1) - Just a brutal match between hated rivals for nearly 25 minutes, non-stop, until the Road Warriors beat the shit out of Dillon to force him to submit.

2. 1991 - Until recently, my personal favorite, because it was the first one I've ever seen, and has a lasting image. The usual vicious brawl, except the ending still stands out. Just to let out the spoiler, Sid Vicious powerbombs Brian Pillman, except the roof is too low, forcing Vicious to drop Pillman on his neck. Then he does the spot over again, except he does it cleaner. Pillman still looks KO'ed though.

3. 1992 - The finish to the Dangerous Alliance/Sting & Co. angle, and another awesome brawl.


Bottom 3...

1. 1998 - I already mentioned it. Stupid rules aisde, a horribly boring match, with a dumbass finish (Warriors trapdoor incident), and just complete shit from every POV.

1. 1995 - Wow... Brutus Beefcake, Earthquake, Haku, Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Kamala... is this NWA or WWF Rejects? The match blows major ass, because none of the heels can brawl worth a damn, and the faces just have no chance in hell of losing.

3. 1994 - Blech, the biggest collection of crap I've ever seen except for 1995.

WarGames Top Performers:

1. Arn Anderson (competed in 1987 x 2, 1992, 1994, 1996; scheduled for 1991 but replaced due to Injury)

2. Sting (competed in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998)

3. Ric Flair (competed in 1987 x 2, 1991, 1996, 1997)

Probably the Dangerous Alliance one but I might like others with more recent viewings if I had the chance.

I've always enjoyed the first one the best. I was always a horseman guy and seeing them in that match with everyone blading and the crowd going nuts..........now THAT is great old school wrestling.

I've always been a big fan of 1991. The ending with Sid destroying Pillman was so awesome the first time I saw it, and still is today.

1992 is excellent as well, but I'd give the nod to '91.