The Failed Title Reign of Lex Luger

Over the past few years there's been a great deal of debate about just what is pivotal and most controversial moment in wrestling history. Since November 1997 many have said that it's the infamous Montreal Screw job involving Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and Vince McMahon. But those of us with even longer memories may think back to the events of the summer of 1991.

"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair was still riding high as the NWA was re-branded WCW. As the company's head booker, Flair used the old tactic that bookers who are also active wrestlers have used for decades, he kept the World title on the one man he could trust more than anyone else, himself. At a time when several young stars such as "Stunning" Steve Austin and Marc "Johnny B. Badd" Mero, and more established stars like Barry Windham, Sting & Lex Luger were yearning for more time in the spotlight, everything that WCW seemed to revolve around Flair. The latest incarnation of the legendary Four Horsemen were doing all they could to make sure that Flair remained on top of the world.

But behind the scenes, all was not well. As the Great American Bash, one of their biggest shows of the year, was approaching fast, Flair was engaged in a conflict with the powers-that-be, who believed that as he was now entering his forties, instead of being the focus of attention, he should be putting the younger stars over. Flair did not agree with this thinking, and just weeks before the big show, walked out on WCW, taking the title belt with him and putting the whole event in jeopardy. It was obvious that a certain other promoter would immediately start knocking on his door in an attempt to promote what many fans up to that point considered the dream match of Flair versus Hogan.

The WCW booking committee, now minus their main man and their world champion, had to think quickly. The original plan had been for Flair to defend his title against U.S. Champion Lex Luger in a steel cage match. Luger had been the number two man in the company for a while, and had faced Flair on countless occasions, but had never been considered good enough to grab the main belt. He had to be content with playing second fiddle to Flair.

But with Flair's departure from the company, that changed, and rather than restructure the entire Great American Bash card, rather than cancel everything they had planned and hold an eight man single night tournament for the vacant title, the steel cage match stipulation was kept, with Barry Windham, who at the time was feuding with Brian Pillman/the Yellow Dog, replacing Flair in the match with Luger.

Minus the drawing power of Flair, the pay-per-view went ahead, and when main event time came around, the booking committee came up with a plan that they hoped would make a drastic impact on the wrestling world.

Towards the end of the match, former World Champion Harley Race, and the big, burly Curtis Hughes, who until that time had been acting as a bodyguard for the York Foundation stable, came down to the ring. Many in attendance and watching on television quickly convinced themselves that Race and Hughes were there to help Windham. However, as Hughes distracted Windham, Race conferred with Luger. A few moments later, Luger took Windham down with a pile-driver, which for years had been Race's finishing move. A three count later, and Luger was declared the new WCW World Heavyweight Champion.

In a post-match interview, Luger announced that Race was his new manager, and that Hughes was his bodyguard. Race told a young-looking Eric Bischoff that up until that point, Luger had lacked the mental toughness to become World Champion, and with his help, Luger now had that toughness.

And so Luger had finally done what he had promised to do for years. He had become a bona-fide World Champion, and WCW were attempting to make him the company's number one bad guy, however, in this writer's opinion, two things happened in the wrestling business in 1991 that lessened the impact of this event.

The obvious one is Flair signing with the WWF. From the moment that Bobby Heenan appeared in a taped segment with a certain title belt, saying that the real World Champion, a man far superior to Hulk Hogan, was arriving in the WWF had the whole world talking. Fans were finally getting their dream match of Hogan v Flair. Vince McMahon had finally signed the one wrestler he had wanted more than any other. He knew that Hogan v Flair was money in the bank.

At the same time, a man who would later go on to earn a great deal of praise as a wrestling promoter, and who had worked as a lower to mid-card manager was getting his chance to shine. With the Horsemen history after Flair's departure from the company, Paul "E. Dangerously" was given his own stable, the Dangerous Alliance. Comprising of former WWF star Rick Rude, rising star Steve Austin, Madusa Miccelli, and established stars Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton and Larry Zybszko, the Dangerous Alliance went on a tear throughout the company, leading to obvious comparisons with the Horsemen, and giving us some compelling viewing Rude & Sting tore it up on television and around America.

But the fact that Lex Luger was not a part of this stable in a way hurt the reputation WCW were trying to build for him. Even though Harley Race was doing most of the talking for Luger, it was plainly obvious that with Rude and Heyman in their stable, the Dangerous Alliance could easily outtalk the gruff Race. At the time, perhaps Rude would have even made a better WCW World Champion than Luger, given the fact that he was drawing a great deal more heel heat than Luger. But the fact that WCW stuck with Luger as their champion until the following year, and his own departure to McMahon's ill-fated World Bodybuilding Federation showed that they were willing to stick to their plans.

Lex Luger would later go on to compete for the WWF, first preening himself in front of a mirror before becoming an All-American hero. His only other World title reign came years later during the height of WCW's NWO era, when he beat and quickly lost the belt back to Hollywood Hogan.

These days Luger's talents are often derided. His skills in the ring are heavily criticised, and events outside the ring, in his personal life mean that he will, for the foreseeable future, be a figure of controversy in the wrestling industry. But for one short time, Lex Luger was one of the top wrestlers in the world. It's just sad that events beyond his control stopped him from fulfilling his potential. If he had been presented correctly, and had been given the right tools, The Total Package may have gone on to become one of the most dominant World Champions in the history of professional wrestling. Sadly, it was never meant to be.