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Recommendations From A History Man

Peter Edge introduces his regular column, where he will look back upon classic matches and what made them memorable.

Now, I know what you are thinking,

“Oh great, a white man is here to tell us all that old wrestling is really good”

Well yes, that’s what I’m about to do.

But before you scroll down to skip this, let me state my case for why you should read this section, with this guy from a town in the UK that is so posh it still has a Conservative as it’s MP, recommending old matches for you.

I love modern wrestling. I love the evolution of wrestling in the last decade. Just in the month of March, I have been to two live shows and seen some great pro wrestling, but I also love sitting down for a free half hour with nothing to do and watching matches from the past. Sometimes it is uncovered lost media whilst on other occasions, I will give a match a third, fourth or fifth watch.

When I got talking with Trish about writing something for this fantastic project being set up, I had the idea that I could recommend fun matches from years past to fill that half hour gap for our readers on their own free half hours where they find they have nothing to watch.

The alternative idea I had was me writing about the British wrestling scene and the experiences attending live wrestling. Then I realized that I’d have to talk about Ricky Knight Jr. So, this was a much better choice for me.

There will be no notes apps, no writing prose in a Unabomber like form, I’ll try to not talk down to you (I said try) and you will go on a journey about the history of wrestling that is easily digestable every couple of weeks.

While the matches that I recommend are matches I like, if they aren’t your cup of tea, that’s ok. The beauty of wrestling is that there is something for everyone in this wonderful sport. I’ll also try to make sure that all the recommendations are easily found (i.e things you can find on Netflix/YouTube/Peacock). And with that, let us begin.

My first list of recommendations comes from the newly launched WCW Vault. And yes, while watching something from YouTube that was uploaded from WWE HQ in Stamford might mess up your Youtube algorithm worse than a Most Disturbing….. Iceberg video, it is now the best selection of WCW available that is free to access and fills a little of the gap left by the loss of the WWE Network.

When WCW is mentioned in today’s discourse, it is used as a stick to wallop Eric Bischoff with (especially with the idea that Dynamite will be overtaking Nitro’s longevity on April 16) or used by WWE paid media to downcast AEW (Ben Axelrod from Awful Announcing comparing AEW to 2000 WCW is the worst wrestling take that has existed and that’s with Bully Ray also in consideration). The downfall of the company is the second most overplayed talking piece behind The Montreal Screwjob, but at its best, WCW was a glorious promotion. With the WCW vault we get to see it at its best but also sometimes worst, judging by the 2000/01 coverage also being uploaded.

So here are 4 matches that I recommend for you to watch if you have some free time this coming fortnight.

Ric Flair (©) Vs Ricky Steamboat- Chi-Town Rumble

If you were to do a Mount Rushmore of wrestler years, some obvious candidates in contention are Okada’s 2017, Ospreay’s 2023, Samoa Joe’s 2005. In my eyes though, the George Washington on this Rushmore is Ric Flair’s 1989.

The main reason for the greatness of Flair’s 1989 is the trilogy he had with Ricky Steamboat. Now, AEW fans might know Ricky as CM Punk’s mate, but in the late 80’s Ricky was a Top 5 guy in North American wrestling. His arrival to WCW was shocking after 4 years in the WWF, however his challenge for the NWA World Title felt like a challenger of the month.

But it doesn’t take away the tension that develops. Steamboat’s pace is neutered by Flair’s offence but whenever Ricky comes back the crowd is at a fever pitch. The final stretch plays on the fears that the famous ‘Dusty Finish’ is going to ruin the fun but the end rewards the viewers for years of patience (that was certainly needed for every time Flair got away with Big Gold in title defences).

Oh, and the guy in the front row with the light green shirt with that perm that is bigger than the state of Maine… is Dave Meltzer.

Half the fun on rewatching this match is to watch ‘Big Dave’ mark out to moments like a Steamboat headscissors, a near fall from a crossbody and Flair’s chops.

P.S- Tap Outs weren’t a thing as evidenced at 17:33 of the video on the WCW Vault channel

P.S.S If you’ve ever wondered what Jim Ross was like in his prime, this is the match to hear it.

Nasty Boys Vs Cactus Jack/Maxx Payne- Spring Stampede 1994

One thing WCW always had over the WWF in the early 90s was the ability to do brawls filled with weapons, blood and chaos. The best WWF could do was the WrestleMania X Falls Count Anywhere match with Randy Savage and Crush, which I could review but won’t because I actually want you guys to like this new project we’re starting up here.

While 1994 had seen the eradication of blood from WCW thanks to the direction of the company changing to being more of a kid friendly product, once in a while the chaos and the weapons would be brought out and we would be reminded of the fun that WCW could bring at that time.

The Nasty Boys, who always seemed to have their best matches in WCW, and Cactus Jack, the best brawler in the world at this time, were perfect for the chaotic environment of a Chicago Street Fight. Maxx Payne was also here.

The highlight from the outset of the chaos was Bobby Heenan, sounding like someone who realised that he wasn’t in WWE anymore. He marveled at the insanity in front of him and also appeared a little scared. Bobby is a fun narrator of what is happening in front of us.

Other highlights include the Payne/Knobbs (the blonde Nasty Boy) taking their brawl to a merch stand that was so light on merch I thought I was at an AEW event, uses of a table that certainly beat the customary way they are used these days and Cactus and Saggs (the Nasty Boy with the skullet) showing us why the raised entrance ramps to the ring should be a part of every AEW PPV.

And the match time was 8:58. All that chaos in the less than three playings of Spice Girls ‘Wannabe’. ****

Steiner Brothers vs Sting and Lex Luger- Superbrawl

One of the issues I will have in doing this section is looking back and having to deal with the fact that people I enjoyed watching as a kid, I am rewatching them now knowing they are, in fact, a P.O.S. That is what I deal with when rewatching the transphobic Rick Steiner.

But if you can compartmentalize (I have absolutely no issue if you can’t) the issue of Rick’s scumbag behavior towards Gisele Shawn that afternoon at WrestleCon, there is a banger of a match with The Steiner Brothers against Sting and Lex Luger on the Superbrawl upload.

Also heads up, because it is WCW, the first image you are presented with when you click the video for the event is one of the Rising Sun flag of Japan, which is linked to their colonization of the Korean Peninsula in 1910.

The match and its intros start at 1:42:37 of the Superbrawl video. The reason I mention the intros is because Sting’s theme was a banger tune at the time.

Instead of spending a gazillion dollars on Metallica’s ‘Seek and Destroy’ for both All In’s at Wembley, Tony could have spent that money on Sting’s theme from 1989 to 1992. I mean, I would have been the only one to get excited I’m sure, but still. Also, the Sting/Luger entrance has Luger getting annoyed at the pyro.

The Steiners are throwing people around borderline safely, Luger is hitting clotheslines and people are taking insane bumps off them. Sting is doing tope suicidas. Jim Ross is so at the point of combustion, you’d think he just saw a tweet from @baseballchickie. Dusty Rhodes is marking out at that Sting plancha like he wished Sting was his son.

This is 11 minutes of dumb jock pro wrestling with two face teams getting more irate in kayfabe as the match goes on.

It’s just as fun watching on YouTube in 2025 as it was when I bought the Superbrawl VHS from the Birmingham Mail classifieds in 1998. ****¼

P.S There’s a great quick post-match angle afterwards.

Rey Mysterio/Billy Kidman Vs Elix Skipper/Kid Romeo- Uncensored 2001

It’s a sign of the mentality of those at WWE HQ in Stamford that the first full PPV upload on the WCW Vault was the 2001 ‘Greed’ show that was the final PPV event World Championship Wrestling put on. Forget bangers like the 1989 Great American Bash and Spring Stampede 1999. Let’s put the final PPV as the first full show on the channel.

The final PPV is a perfect case of showing what could have been with WCW 2.0 had Fusient Media actually got the reins.

The last few months of the company were more captivating off screen than they were on, with all the rumors of what was happening. But what was happening behind the scenes is a sign at what would have happened on-screen with Eric Bischoff as the front man to Fusient’s bid pulling the strings.

The main event scene in 2001 saw the heel group, The Magnificent Seven (cool name to be fair) beat all the main event faces such as Goldberg, Kevin Nash and DDP with the idea that when the Big Bang of WCW 2.0 took place that those faces would face off with Scott Steiner, Lex Luger, Rick Steiner, Animal and co.

Illuminating telly for sure #sarcasm

But if the main event scene was promoting as many new stars as the current Death Riders angle, the Cruiserweight scene was being rebuilt with gameplay in mind.

John Muse, who if you didn’t know is a friend of Dave Meltzer’s, was planned to be the division’s sole booker with no plans for heavyweights to infiltrate the Cruiser Island like the nWo did at times years before.

All jokes about John Muse aside, the fact that someone who was part of the “Observer Circle” was to be involved was a departure from the old ideas of ex-wrestlers booking the territory. In the last months of WCW, the cruiser division saw a set of tag titles added to its canon.

The final of the tournament to crown the inaugural champs was set to be Rey Mysterio and Billy Kidman, the tenured stars of the division against Elix Skipper (one of the highlights of 2000 WCW) and Kid Romeo, a brand new face in the company.

And yes, that’s what Rey looks like without a mask.

It’s a fun high flying match. There’s a trip up the ramp that made me think I was watching something from a Rev Pro show for a moment. Hot moves, a fun hot tag from Mysterio and really good stuff from Kid Romeo that made me think what happened to that guy (huh, he went into pest control not long after working a match with CM Punk).

A easy **** match starting at 17:11 on the WCW Greed upload (the match before, Kwee Wee vs Jason Jett is also a cracker).

The irony that this show is from Jacksonville considering that the milestone that Dynamite is about to hit might be like rain on your wedding day but it’s also fitting that it is a party-esque match taking place in the home city of the promotion that made the term party matches a thing.

By Peter Edge

Obituaries

Bill Mercer

02/13/1926-03/22/2025

Bill Mercer was an iconic voice across multiple US markets, but none more so than across Dallas- Fort Worth. Mercer came to Dallas on the back of establishing himself covering regional sports in Oklahoma. The US Navy Veteran provided memorable commentary on college football, basketball, Dallas Cowboys NFL games and was the first radio announcer for the Texas Rangers. He provided his listeners with over six decades of memorable moments.

Bill began his involvement in professional wrestling in the 1950’s, where he would cover wrestling matches at the Dallas Sportatorium for local television. By the 1970’s this had converted to more personal involvement, as he began announcing for the ‘Saturday Night Wrestling Show’ which aired in Fort Worth.

Mercer will be most remembered by wrestling fans as the lead TV announcer for World Class Championship Wrestling between 1982 and 1987, some of the most notable years in the promotions history. His name and voice is synonymous with a number of the biggest Von Erich moments during that time period.

Texas has recognised him on multiple occasions, including inductions into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame and Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

Bill Mercer passed away peacefully at the age of 99 on the 22nd March 2025.

Graham Michael Moor

02/13/1926-03/22/2025

Graham Michael Moor passed away on 03/22/2025. He was 30 years old.

Graham was a native of Dayton, Ohio and a strong swimmer through his early life, leading to a swimming scholarship at Wright State University. After two years studying at the college, he completed his studies at Bowling Green State, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology.

Whilst beginning his professional career, Moor was also pursuing a long term passion of his, as he began training for professional wrestling. Ace Austin, Sami Callihan and Jake Christ all played a part in his development which eventually led to him debuting as Artist Artest.

Graham was happy playing the heel and was beginning to establish his name on the Ohio circuit before his passing. He won XVW’s Next Generation Championship a week before his death.

Historical News

The first episode of season six of ‘Dark Side of the Ring’ aired 03/25 and focused on the Hell In A Cell match between Mick Foley and the Undertaker at King of the Ring. The opener interviewed members of the Foley Family, Jimmy Korderas, Al Snow, Francois Petit and Gerald Briscoe who all added their thoughts on Foley’s career (minus the WCW part) and the resulting CTE that came from it. It also reveals a frightening fact about the hell in a cell roof being held together by cable ties and how that led to Foley’s fall to the mat after the chokeslam being much quicker than either competitor expected.

The series continues on Vice over the nine weeks at 10pm ET in the US each Tuesday night. It will be available for Vice’s international partners at a later date.

The Cauliflower Alley Club also recently announced they would be recognising Foley, awarding him with their highest honor, the Iron Mike Mazurki Award. The presentation will be made during this year’s Club event from 8/18 to 8/20 at the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas.

The North Carolina State Senate has brought a bipartisan bill aimed at introducing ‘The Ric Flair Act’. This would allocate $500,000 to the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to research the possible creation of a Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame. If approved, a report would be expected to be delivered on the prospect in the summer of 2026.
Capital City Museum in Frankfurt, Kentucky is opening an exhibit on the life and career of Elizabeth Hulette, otherwise known as Miss Elizabeth.
Sting has announced that this will be his last year appearing at conventions with full face paint. The final date will be 12/20, at Wrestleverse Fest in Pittsburgh, PA.

Cinderella Stories

Tim Hunter dives into the rookie focus of this year’s Cinderella Tournament in Stardom, how it might impact the Saya Kamitani-Tam Nakano matchup later in the month and profiles the exciting new names to look out for.

Finlay vs Goto

David Finlay will make the first challenge in his career for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis on April 5th after winning this year’s New Japan Cup, defeating Shota Umino in the final in Nagaoka.

Rey de Reyes

AAA’s first major show of the year was screened live on Space and MAX in Mexico, becoming available on Youtube the week after. As has become standard fare, only the second half of the show was broadcast live with the Rey de Reyes..