Did WCW Create Any Original Stars?

[Thriller Ant]

Other than Goldberg that is. When you think of all the big names from the heyday of WCW: Goldberg, Sting, the Outsiders, Hogan, Jericho, and a majority of the NWO. Other than Goldberg, none of those guys originated in the company.

Now, these guys clearly got the job done for awhile, but there will clearly no new guys to move into the main event because no one was ever moved up or down the card. Once again, other than Goldberg, can you remember anyone who got pushed during the heyday in WCW?

So can you remember anyone who was created in WCW and, if so, were they given any push in the company?

 

[montkvsting]

The only other name I could think of is DDP. He become a big star during the Monday Night War with his feud with the Macho Man. Eventually, he did become a World Champion. To a lesser extent, Booker T & Scott Steiner, but that was toward the end of WCW though, so I am not sure we should include them. They were mainly mid-card guys and tag team specialists in their prime.

 

[JJohns]

Well, WCW did have some rather unknown guy working for them named Jean-Paul Levesque. Not sure what happened to him though. Maybe he became a big star in another promotion. He might have married into a powerful family.

Then there was this one guy, I think he was called Master Blaster Steele at one point. I know he also wrestled there as Vinnie Vegas and Oz at different times as well. Not sure whatever became of him.

Then, they did have a Giant. He even held the Big Gold Belt. I wonder if he's been able to manage to have any success anywhere else, even with partners that are much smaller than he, but better on the mic.

If you didn't pick up on the sarcasm, I'm talking about Triple H, Kevin Nash and the Big Show, who got their first major exposure in WCW, with two of them actually pushed to the WCW World Title at one point.

 

[Thriller Ant]

Well, WCW did have some rather unknown guy working for them named Jean-Paul Levesque. Not sure what happened to him though. Maybe he became a big star in another promotion. He might have married into a powerful family.

Yep, what did he do in WCW? Oh yeah, lulz. About as much as I did. He got pushed in WWF/E and became successful there

Then there was this one guy, I think he was called Master Blaster Steele at one point. I know he also wrestled there as Vinnie Vegas and Oz at different times as well. Not sure whatever became of him.

He left, became big in WWF and was only pushed in WCW after he had been built up by that other company.

Then, they did have a Giant. He even held the Big Gold Belt. I wonder if he's been able to manage to have any success anywhere else, even with partners that are much smaller than he, but better on the mic.

The Giant I will give you. When he is in shape and on his game, he is one of the best big men ever.

If you didn't pick up on the sarcasm, I'm talking about Triple H, Kevin Nash and the Big Show, who got their first major exposure in WCW, with two of them actually pushed to the WCW World Title at one point.

I got that. While you are mentioning guys who were nothing in WCW, why didn't you say Undertaker too? What I was saying was that in WCW's heyday during the Monday Night Wars, about 99% of the major players weren't originally from WCW. I know there are plenty of guys that became big elsewhere, but most WCW Originals did nothing in WCW.

 

[JuviJuiceIsLoose]

Technically, Sting got his start in another promotion, but he became a star in NWA/WCW.

You could also make the case that Jericho became a star in WCW, too. Even though he got his start in other promotions.

Booker T was a star in WCW.

Of course, there's DDP and Goldberg. There was also Vader and Lex Luger

 

[SexandWrestling]

Other than Goldberg that is. When you think of all the big names from the heyday of WCW: Goldberg, Sting, the Outsiders, Hogan, Jericho, and a majority of the NWO. Other than Goldberg, none of those guys originated in the company.

Now, these guys clearly got the job done for awhile, but there will clearly no new guys to move into the main event because no one was ever moved up or down the card. Once again, other than Goldberg, can you remember anyone who got pushed during the heyday in WCW?

So can you remember anyone who was created in WCW and, if so, were they given any push in the company?

What do you mean by "originated in the company"? Are you saying those that never worked in the indys and just showed up in WCW one day and became a star? That rarely happens...The WWE surely could never make that claim either.

Contrary to what many may say, WCW did make a lot of great stars such as Booker T, Scott Steiner, Jeff Jarrett, Rey Mysterio, Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, the Giant and I could go on and on but the names speak for themselves.

WCW didn't have a problem with pushing guys into the main event level...Once the NWO died down in 99 or so, a lot of names started moving up the ladder. Macho Man disappeared, Hogan was on again; off again, and the same is with the other old timers that people like to blame the demise of WCW on.

The AOL/Time Warner merger is what brought ultimately led to the demise of WCW. If that didn't occur, Bischoff would have, in all likelihood, acquired the company and WCW would still be around today.

 

[marklouis]

Well, it depends how you define "create". Sting wrestled before he went to WCW, but he became a star in WCW. So do you create a star simply by giving a guy a job, or by giving someone a chance to shine? Steve Austin the star was created by WWE, but that was not where he started wrestling. You could go down the list of guys who had jobs with other organizations before they became "stars" in WWE: HHH, HBK, Hall and Nash, Mr Perfect, Undertaker. You get my point.

But, if you want to say guys who started working for WCW and got their first taste of stardom there, I would say Lex Luger and the Steiner Brothers fit.

Also, Ron Simmons started in WCW and was the 1st recognized African American world champion.

 

[montkvsting]

Sting and Lex Lugar was big stars in the NWA before the NWA turned into WCW. I think the main problem with WCW wasn't necessarily not create new stars, it was creating characters that suited their wrestler. I don't think the Undertaker would have successful if he went to the WWF as Mean Mark. Steve Austin was a star because of his character as Stone Cold Steve Austin, the badass Texans. Heck, Rob Van Dam was in WCW. He wasn't a big star until he became The Whole Fucking Show in ECW. The problem with WCW was they didn't know how to use their wrestlers the right way, i.e. creating a character that suited the wrestlers' abilities.

 

[boozinjedi]

Sting and Lex Lugar was big stars in the NWA before the NWA turned into WCW. I think the main problem with WCW wasn't necessarily not create new stars, it was creating characters that suited their wrestler. I don't think the Undertaker would have successful if he went to the WWF as Mean Mark. Steve Austin was a star because of his character as Stone Cold Steve Austin, the badass Texans. Heck, Rob Van Dam was in WCW. He wasn't a big star until he became The Whole Fucking Show in ECW. The problem with WCW was they didn't know how to use their wrestlers the right way, i.e. creating a character that suited the wrestlers' abilities.

You hit the nail right on the head!!
For every star Bischoff made,he killed about 2 or 3 more!
How do you let Steve Austin languish in mid-card mediocrity ONLY to see him become arguably the biggest star in wrestling history!

 

[Spidey Revivey]

I think you're asking the wrong question. I am almost positive that all of the top stars of WCW were huge successes in the indy circuit, because talent scouts had to look at them and give the nod to the HIgher Ups. What you mean is did WCW build talent that eventually became stars that weren't already stars in other promotions (Like WWF(E), NWA, ECW,etc)?

Besides Goldberg, I believe Booker T, Scott Steiner, Jeff Jarrett, and perhaps Ron Simmons.

I say Jeff Jarrett because he wasn't a main guy in the World Wrestling Federation. WCW, at the end, made him a top star. Same can be said about Steiner though I am unsure if Steiner was a main draw in another promotion.

Ron Simmons possibly worked in NWA, I am unsure my knowledge of NWA isn't the best. All I know is in WCW he was the first-ever African American World Champion, and if that isn't saying Built Star then I don't know what is.

 

[Terror316]

Sid became a huge star during his time with WCW. He was just involved in a bad backstage situation. There was always rumor he was going to become WCW champ before that.

Chris Jericho was a star in WCW just Bischoff didn't use him correctly. Proof he was a star? Crowd reaction when he finally made his debut on Raw.

Chris Benoit became a star in WCW. He left a sinking ship like a smart man.

Vader became a star in the states in WCW. Multi-time World Champion.

Rey Mysterio Jr is another who became a star in WCW. Just because he was never pushed in the heavyweight division doesn't take away from what he was.

Eddie Guerrero was also a star in WCW. Just like Jericho, Benoit and Mysterio they weren't used properly.

WCW made these guys stars but failed to capitalize to that next level because of who was in charge. Shame really but without WCW none of those guys would have ended up in WWF outside of probably Sid.

 

[#hamler]

What about all them Cruiserwights? They weren't really household names before coming to WCW. Guys like Psychosis, Juventud, Rey Mysterio, Dean Malenko, Eddie Guerrero, Connan, Chris Beniot, Ultimo Dragon, Jushin Thunder Liger, Kid Kash, Billy Kidman, Shane Helms, Shannon Moore, Lance Storm and Chris Jericho. Sure you may have heard of these guys before WCW but WCW forced them into our everyday vocabulary. WCW was known alot for their great and i mean great cruiserweight division. These guys have got to be considers WCW originals... Without them WCW cruiserwights, WWE wouldn't be the superpower it is today. (Benoit, Mysterio, Jericho, Guerrero, Malenko)

 

[razerp]

I know Flair was a big name in the NWA.. but he was one of the top guys 4 WCW during the wars etc, maybe the best way to look at it is which federation "made" a wrestler as in put them in the wrestling universes consciousness.

 

[Kliq]

Does "The Original People's Champion" mean anything to anyone? DDP has always been one of my favorite wrestlers and a true WCW original. He's one of the few who made it big in WCW and didn't do much more elsewhere (WWE, TNA), which is a shame because, as discussed in a previous thread, he is highly underrated by much of today's wrestling audience.

 

[stinger670]

Raven was there part pf the flock. How about Rickey steamboat. He and Dustin held wcw tag team belts. Before he went wwe and came a bigger star but how about Steve Austin?

 

[blair4107]

REY MYSTERIO... hello?

Shane Helms (Gregory Helms)
Sean O'Haire
Chuck Palumbo
Shawn Stasiak (Let's be fair, WWE never gave him a chance as "Meat" or himself after WCW)
Chris Kanyon
Diamond Dallas Page
Booker T
Goldberg
Shannon Moore
Evan Karagias
the Cat (not to be confused with Miss Kitty/the Kat)
Konnan
Billy Kidman
Disco Inferno
Juvintud Guerra
Vampiro
Johnny the Bill
Elix Skipper
Buff Bagwell
Kaz Kayashi
Jamie Knoble
Jimmy Yang (Jimmy Wang Yang)
the Wall
Chris Benoit (though he only won the title right before leaving)
Sting
Eddie Guerrero
Psicosis
La Parka
Dean Malenko

Just because WCW hasn't been relevant in 9 years doesn't mean it was never relevant. Let's not forget that for a long period WCW was the superior show, at least ratings wise. WWE likes to make history look like WCW was less of a threat than it really was.

 

[blair4107]

Raven was there part pf the flock. How about Rickey steamboat. He and Dustin held wcw tag team belts. Before he went wwe and came a bigger star but how about Steve Austin?

WCW never really gave Steve Austin a good gimmick. The Ring Master wasn't very interesting and Bischoff ended up firing him while he was injured. ECW made Steve Austin (if any company other than WWE), Heyman hired him and gave him the promos where he got to just be himself.

 

[Chrome]

Eddie Guerrero was also a star in WCW. Just like Jericho, Benoit and Mysterio they weren't used properly.

WOW really??? I can not even count the number of titles those guys won in WCW.. (YES that many) Just because one wanted to be a world champion and never made it as one in one organization DOES NOT mean that they were not used right and that the company sucked. At the time Goldberg, Hogan NWO, etc were all hotter than them.

Using this logic.. WWF sucks and fails because Dusty Rhoades, Lex Luger, Mr. Perfect, Scott Hall, Paul Orndoff, Roddy piper, Junk yard Dogg, Jimmy Snuka, never MADE IT in WWF. Its just obserd to believe that, knowing that there all legends who never won the title in WWE. Just because it was on a WWE DVD does not make it true.

Raven was there part pf the flock. How about Rickey steamboat. He and Dustin held wcw tag team belts. Before he went wwe and came a bigger star but how about Steve Austin?

Ricky Steamboat was a NWA and WWF star before WCW ever got off the ground.
ECW made a lot of stars.. like Raven, Perry Saturn, Shane Douglas, Mike Awesome, TAZ, RVD, Jerry Lynn etc.. but some were never stars there.. heck most were there for les than a year in 1995 like Eddie Guerro, Chris beniot, Chris Jericho, etc.. they made it big in WCW but ECW seemed to be like a pit stop for some folks before WCW or WWF grabbed them.

Vampiro.. I want to say WCW made him.. but I can't.. he was a huge international superstar in the AAA. he was huge before ever going to WCW so they didn't make him.

WCW never really gave Steve Austin a good gimmick. The Ring Master wasn't very interesting and Bischoff ended up firing him while he was injured. ECW made Steve Austin (if any company other than WWE), .

You realize the ringmaster was a WWE gimmick and not WCW right? He was Stunning Steve Austin and won many championships in WCW, he was just injury prone, which is why he was let go.

Amazing how people put over ECW when most talent only lastest a few months there lol

In any event if Austin was not good in WCW he would have never made it to WWF. But to say that WCW didn't push him? thats crazy talk.. Again WWE re-writes history.

Former Tag Team and US champion (twice) and TV champ? If WCW thought he sucked he wouldn't win any belt. He was simply injury prone Hell Hulk Hogan became Hulk Hogan in the AWA but did not make it large till he went to WWF.. does that mean that AWA sucked? Absolutely not. Its the same scenerio.

Whats up with all the WCW bashing from teenagers now a days? If anything we need WCW back.

WCW made plenty of stars.. see below

okay for WCW and not NWA? hmmm

Well lets see... (other than Goldberg)

Sid Vicious
Bigshow
Big Van Vader
Cactus Jack <-- Mick Foley (amazes me how people forget this LOL)
DDP
Stunning Steve Austin
Booker T
Scott Stiener (towards the end but STILL WCW right?)
Buff Bagwell
Alex Wright <-- people forget about him but he was a decent heel
Billy Kidman
Kanyon <-- R.I.P.
2 Cold Scorpio
Ron Simmons
Ultimo Dragon
Johnny B Bad (Marc Mero)
Chris Jericho
Eddie Guerrero
Chavo Guerrero Jr
Psychosis
Chis Beniot
Dean Malenko
Konnan
Juventud Guerra
Rey Mysterio JR
Dustin Rhoades (before Goldust)
Flyin Brian Pillman
Lance Storm <-- yes ECW too but he was more over in WCW he had 3 titles at one time
Daffney
Madusa (Alundra Blaze in WWF)
Steven Regal (yes Triple H was here but they were pushing Regal a lot back then, NOT triple H)
Fit Finlay
Shane Helms <-- Hurricane
Shannon Moore

STING(Crow Sting was repackaged and was more over than NWA sting. When they repackaged him it became WCW Sting)

Lex Luger started in NWA but he was bigger in WCW than he ever was in NWA or WWF. Same would go for Nash and Hall, they were bigger in WCW than in WWF as well.

Giant Gonzalez (yeah okay thats a strench but he did have a lot of undertaker matches lol

oh and how can I forget the former TV title superstar that is and was Z-MAN! hehe

WCW made a few good stars that were good in WCW but for what ever reason were not as good in WWE (Example: Ron Simmons, Lex Luger, DDP, Lance Storm etc) .
However some were better in WWE than ever in WCW (Example: Mick Foley, Bigshow, etc)
Some were great in both, (example: Sid Vicious, Chris beniot, Chris Jericho, Booker T, Steven Regal, etc)

It's just the nature of the business I guess.

But to a lesser extent:

Missy Hyatt
Torrie WilsonStacey Keibler
Paul E Dangerously <-- lets not forget
Eric Bischoff <-- Lets not forget that too (he became popular before Vince became Mr. McMahon as an on air personality)
Teddy Long

 

[akpolarbear]

I agree with Terror on WCW not using the talent they built up properly. WCW trains em then gets rid of em. I always thought of WCW as a bigger training ground, call it a step up from the power plant. Lots of guys WCW used in the early 90's got screwed when NWO came along. Lots of power, lots of pals and not a whole lot of respect for the younger guys is what did it.

Think about when WCW tried to make a name out of the lower ladder wrestlers. Not until the end with the New Blood did they really try much. When it came to the NWO, they put them up against Established Main Eventers or they brought back Hogans old enemies. God help me forget the whole crap with Warrior. When they put Kidman against Hogan I was asking what the hell they were thinking but then I realized that hey someone must have gotten a clue and said let the young guys have a shot.

WCW did what TNA is doing right now with the NW..... scuse me The Band. Big names being brought in to try to compete with WWE. This won't work due to two simple facts. 1) WWE has deeper pockets then TNA, so buying up guys like Hogan, Hall, Anderson all are good performers but come on the NWO thing is tiring. 2) TNA is screwing over its younger guys that built the company by doing this.

The few guys that did get made in WCW are few and far between. Booker T, Bagwell did good but then he crapped out. Kanyon got a good push while in WCW. Much more then he got in USWA and ECW but they dropped the ball with him also. There isn't one sole WCW created wrestler aside from Goldberg... or maybe Mongo but he doesn't really count. Like I said most of the guys WCW made made it big when they went elsewhere after getting hosed in WCW.

 

[akpolarbear]

Okay time to do some correcting on you part there buddy.

REY MYSTERIO... hello?

Shane Helms
Sean O'Haire
Chuck Palumbo
Shawn Stasiak
Chris Kanyon
Diamond Dallas Page
Booker T
Goldberg
Shannon Moore
Evan Karagias

With the exception of Goldberg, Booker and DDP they got crewed till the end.

the Cat-----------------Prior Martial Arts Exp
Konnan-----------------CMLL
Billy Kidman-------------ECWA and USWA
Disco Inferno-----------WWF and USWA
Juventud Guerra--------AAA and ECW
Vampiro----------------unknown
Johnny the Bull---------WCW born and bred
Elix Skipper------------ WCW born and bred
Buff Bagwell------------WCW born and bred, got screwed during his time

Kaz Kayashi------------WCW
Jamie Knoble-----------WCW Come on, the dragons ? not the best out there.
Jimmy Yang------------WCW

The Wall-------------- WCW born and bred
Chris Benoit----------- ECW
Sting----------------- NWA/WCW
Eddie Guerrero-------- ECW & AAA
Psicosis-------------- AAA
La Parka------------- AAA
Dean Malenko-------- ECW

Just because WCW hasn't been relevant in 9 years doesn't mean it was never relevant. Let's not forget that for a long period WCW was the superior show, at least ratings wise. WWE likes to make history look like WCW was less of a threat than it really was.

Look at all those other organizations. WCW born and bred guys got the shaft where as all the outsiders got further.

 

[lamo78]

What about all them Cruiserwights? They weren't really household names before coming to WCW. Guys like Psychosis, Juventud, Rey Mysterio, Dean Malenko, Eddie Guerrero, Connan, Chris Beniot, Ultimo Dragon, Jushin Thunder Liger, Kid Kash, Billy Kidman, Shane Helms, Shannon Moore, Lance Storm and Chris Jericho. Sure you may have heard of these guys before WCW but WCW forced them into our everyday vocabulary. WCW was known alot for their great and i mean great cruiserweight division. These guys have got to be considers WCW originals... Without them WCW cruiserwights, WWE wouldn't be the superpower it is today. (Benoit, Mysterio, Jericho, Guerrero, Malenko)

I think that WCW did a good job with making the mid-card wrestlers relevant. Do you think we would have cared about Disco Inferno, Norman Smiley, or Alex Wright? No way. We would have cared less if they did not give them good pushes.

 

[Thriller Ant]

Okay time to do some correcting on you part there buddy.




Look at all those other organizations. WCW born and bred guys got the shaft where as all the outsiders got further.

This is my point. I could list all the names, like some of you have, of all the guys that got their big break in WCW and were successful elsewhere. But when you look at what they did in WCW, you will see that they weren't stars until they left. This is why I am making the argument that WCW created no original stars besides Goldberg and, thank you to whoever pointed this out, The Giant.

 

[paperbagman]

The WWE surely could never make that claim either.

Really, so you know, The Rock didn't just premiere and win Survivor Series? He spent a, and I mean 1 summer in the USWA, but wasn't in any other indy promotion. so yeah WCW may have only had Goldberg and The Big Show, but don't say WWE didn't have anybody.

 

[Slyfox696]

This is my point. I could list all the names, like some of you have, of all the guys that got their big break in WCW and were successful elsewhere. But when you look at what they did in WCW, you will see that they weren't stars until they left. This is why I am making the argument that WCW created no original stars besides Goldberg and, thank you to whoever pointed this out, The Giant.

Sting? Lex Luger? DDP? Booker T? Chris Benoit? Scott Steiner?

All of those guys were made into stars by the WCW, and all were World Champions before leaving the WCW. This notion that WCW didn't create stars is ludicrous. Hell, I would argue that Kevin Nash and Scott Hall became true stars in WCW, and I don't think you can really argue about Scott Hall. Kevin Nash, maybe, but Scott Hall was DEFINITELY made a star in WCW.

The fact of the matter is that WCW created many stars, and made even bigger stars out of guys. I'm not sure where this notion comes from WCW didn't, but it's false.

 

[Machoman4life]

I'm gonna argue the guy who created this thread and his 'point.' WCW gave many wrestlers their big break. Jericho, Benoit, and Guerrero, arguably three of the biggest names from the WCW heyday, were built up properly and would have been the future of WCW if WCW hadn't been bought so quickly by Vince McMahon (and if Benoit, Guerrero, Saturn, and Malenko weren't lured by big fat paychecks..on a side note, two of the four died within 7 years from roids and drug abuse and possibly the best technical wrestler of all time was turned into a simple road agent). WCW was FILLED with future talent. WCW had about 80 big name wrestlers all at once, they had about 50 of the top 100 wrestlers of all time all working for their company all at once. WWE never had a situation like that. If WWE had 80 big names wrestling so to compete with another organization, there would be stars like Benoit, Guerrero, Jericho etc who would not be able to move up the ladder to world title status. They would have to wait their turn while the credible champions duked it out. It's funny how WWE marks say that Hogan and the NWO are tiresome and that Hogan hogged the top spot in WCW. He was lifetime champ for about 4 years. But look at Triple H and John Cena. They've headlined Wrestlemania after Wrestlemania, in Triple H's case for over a decade and in John Cena's case, he's ALWAYS champion. Those two are perhaps the most boring uncharismatic douchebags of all time. Anybody who finds watching those two guys entertaining would obviously find watching NWO spray paint dry interesting.

WCW wrestlers were built up properly, if anything, because for them to have credibility in the future they needed to gradually come into their own. DDP was gradually built up and it made sense. The exceptions are Goldberg and The Giant who were monsters, and monsters always get monster pushes. It wold make no sense for a Jericho or a Benoit to get a monster push too quickly, the same as it would have been for the Hitman or Shawn Michaels. Pushed too quickly, these guys could end up like The Rock or Brock Lesnar and even more famous outside of wrestling. It would also make no sense if Eddie Guerrero could go from having trouble with Juvi Guerrera to beating Hulk Hogan for the world title. Eric Bischoff did what he could to beat WWE and by riding the old guys everybody wanted to watch in the world title scene, and he was successful with that short term strategy. If Turner had of stuck with WCW, Benoit, Jericho, Guerrero may have come back and been even bigger stars there. If WCW were alive today and Turner had of gave a shit, he could have bankrupt WWE and right now Triple H would have to try and marry into the Turner family so he get his hands on 16 world titles.

Seriously though, those who watched WCW and loved it understand what i'm saying and those who didn't watch it or didn't prefer it to WWE will never get it. Besides Michaels and the Undertaker (who wasn't really anything in WCW), WCW created the stars of the WWE in Mick Foley, Steve Austin, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Triple H, Kevin Nash, Ric Flair, Eddie Guerrero..the list goes on and on. They may not have been at the top of their game, but they were stars that fans loved. They would have reached the top if WCW had of existed more than 7 YEARS! WCW was no development plant, anybody who could say such a thing is an elitist WWE hack. WCW was more popular than WWE for two years, and it was huge between 1996-1999. Three years. They existed for another two. That's about 3 amazing years of 7. If WWE's future stars who began in 2003-2005 only had until early 2010 to become multi-time world champs known the world over, then your reasoning would be that WWE didn't build up their stars properly. I mean this whole thread is stupid and the answer is obvious to anyone who isn't relying on WWE home video for their understanding of the subject.

If all wrestlers got World title pushes like Goldberg and The Giant, then they really wouldn't be major pushes at all. They'd be the same as everyone else. You can only give monster world title pushes to one or two guys at a time in a period of a few years without losing cred. WCW was in existence briefly and did far more enjoyable shit in 7 years than WWE did over the past decade.