‘WWE: WCW’s Greatest PPV Matches Vol. 1’ Blu-ray Review

Since WWE purchased WCW and the vast video library that came along with it, there have been numerous releases devoted to WCW related content, from the Goldberg set, to the Best of Nitro stuff, down to the NWO release, but this is the first time WWE has taken a look at the best matches from the rich history of WCW’s Pay-Per-View’s. So here it is, volume one in the greatest matches from the PPV years of WCW.

WCW had some great PPV shows over the years of their existence. From Starrcade to Halloween Havoc, Superbrawl to Uncensored, Road Wild to Sin. Okay, ignore Sin, pretend I didn’t say that.

Here, in this 3 DVD/2 BD set, you get over 20 matches ranging from 1987 until 2001 and the quality is, for the most-part, very high. From true wrestling greats, such as Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Sting, Vader, Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, and more, this set is a wonderful homage to the glorious matches that WCW provided it’s fans during it’s years as one of the most dominant, exciting and powerful wrestling promotions of all time.

There are standouts on the set, matches that are truly great, such as the Flair/Steamboat encounter from Chi-town Rumble 1989, the light-heavyweight clash between Brian Pillman and Jushin Liger from Superbrawl II in 1992, a heated DDP/Randy Savage match from Spring Stampede 1997, and much more. As far as stinkers, well, WWE have done a commendable job at not really putting any on here. The whole set is given respect and there are no matches here (on the main presentation) that are completely un-worth your time. There are some that I, personally, don’t enjoy as much as others, but overall this set ticks the boxes that it should. I will say though, that the blu-ray exclusive matches are a little “iffy”, especially the flabbergasting Rodman/Savage match. I’m sure better matches could have been chosen for this section. Still, this is just extra stuff, the main part of the release is great.

The matches:

• Steel Cage Match for NWA World Heavyweight Championship
  Ronnie Garvin vs. Ric Flair
  Starrcade • November 26, 1987
• United States Championship Match
  Barry Windham vs. Dusty Rhodes
  Great American Bash • July 10, 1988
• Tag Team Championship Match
  ​The Road Warriors vs. Sting & Dusty Rhodes
  Starrcade • December 26, 1988
• NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match
  Ric Flair vs. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat
  Chi-Town Rumble • February 20, 1989
• United States Championship Match
  ​Lex Luger vs. Brian Pillman
  Halloween Havoc • October 28, 1989
• NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match
  ​Ric Flair vs. Sting
  Great American Bash • July 7, 1990
• Steel Cage Match for WCW World Heavyweight Championship
  Lex Luger vs. Barry Windham
  Great American Bash • July 14, 1991
• Light Heavyweight Championship Match
  Jushin “Thunder” Liger vs. Brian Pillman
  SuperBrawl II • February 29, 1992
• ​War Games
  Sting’s Squadron vs. The Dangerous Alliance
  WrestleWar • May 17, 1992
• Texas Death Match
  Vader vs. Cactus Jack
  Halloween Havoc • October 24, 1993
• United States Championship Match
  “Stunning” Steve Austin vs. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat
  Bash at the Beach • July 17, 1994
• Career vs. Career Steel Cage Match for WCW World Heavyweight Championship
  ​Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair
  Special Referee: Mr. T
  Halloween Havoc • October 23, 1994
• The Outsiders vs. Sting, Lex Luger & “Macho Man” Randy Savage
  Bash at the Beach • July 7, 1996
• No Disqualification Match
  Diamond Dallas Page vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage
  Spring Stampede • April 6, 1997
• Mask vs. Cruiserweight Championship Match
  Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio
  Halloween Havoc • October 26, 1997
• Bret “Hitman” Hart vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage
  Special Guest Referee: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper
  Slamboree • May 17, 1998
• Cruiserweight Championship Match
  ​Chris Jericho vs. Juventud Guerrera
  Special Guest Referee: Dean Malenko
  Road Wild • August 8, 1998
• WCW ​World Heavyweight Championship Match
  ​Goldberg vs. Diamond Dallas Page
  Halloween Havoc • October 25, 1998
• Opportunity Knocks
• ​​WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match
  ​​Jeff Jarrett vs. Booker T
  Bash at the Beach • July 9, 2000
• Ladder Match for #1 Contender to Cruiserweight Championship
  ​3 Count vs. Jamie Knoble & Evan Karagias vs. The Jung Dragons
  Starrcade • December 26, 2000
• Falls Count Anywhere Match for WCW World Heavyweight Championship
  ​Scott Steiner vs. Diamond Dallas Page
  Greed • March 18, 2001

 Blu-ray Exclusive Features:

• Thunderdome Match
  Ric Flair & Sting vs. The Great Muta & Terry Funk
  Special Guest Referee: Bruno Sammartino
  Halloween Havoc • October 28, 1989
• Jean Paul Levesque vs. Alex Wright
  Starrcade • December 27, 1994
• Dennis Rodman vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage
  Road Wild • August 14, 1999
• Billy Kidman vs. Hulk Hogan
  Special Guest Referee: Eric Bischoff
  Slamboree • May 7, 2000

Along with some nice extra matches for the Blu-ray customers, this is a very worthwhile purchase, not just for fans of WCW but for newer fans who want to experience the best that WCW had to offer on PPV. Now that the WWE Network features all the WWE, WCW and ECW PPV’s in their entirety, it is doubtful that these sort of releases will do as well as they used to, but this is still an enjoyable compilation that should please fans.

WCW’s Greatest PPV Matches Vol. 1 will be available, through Freemantle Media, on May 5th 2014, on DVD and Blu-ray.