By: Brian Hoops, Nostalgia Specialist

One of the benefits to watching and reviewing wrestling nostalgia on a weekly basis has been to reminisce some of the best and worst wrestling events in history. I am going to attempt to put together a list of the top ten best wrestling matches by each year and a few comments of why they made my list. The list will be my opinion only; however I would encourage you to respond with your own list for the year in review or if you have any additions or subtractions from my list. I will only list matches I have seen, therefore there may be some better matches either in another country or on an independent show that I was not able to witness that deserves consideration.

Match #10 – Brian Pillman vs. Barry Windham. Taped Fist Match from SuperBrawl, May 19, 1991. I really enjoyed this match as both guys worked were bleeding and put on great performance. *** ½ rating.

Match #9 – Rick/Scott Steiner vs. Hiroshi Hase/Kensuki Sasaki. Match for the IWGP Tag Team Title from the WCW/New Japan Supershow from Japan, March 21, 1991. This match was a very aggressive, stiff, physical contest which saw the Steiners win the IWGP Title for the first time. *** ½ rating.

Match #8 – Brian Pillman vs. Badstreet (Brad Armstrong). Clash of the Champions #16, September 5, 1991. Armstrong may have been given a terrible gimmick, working under the mask with the Freebirds, but he could really wrestle with the right opponent. This match was a tournament semi-final for the newly created WCW World Light Heavyweight Title. This was an excellent, high flying match that Pillman won with a flying cross body. *** ¾ rating.

Match #7 – Ron Simmons vs. Lex Luger. WCW World Heavyweight Title from Halloween Havoc, October 27, 1991. On paper, this match looked to be really awful going in. However, WCW made this match 2 out of 3 falls, which actually helped the match by creating an emotional feeling that Simmons might actually win the match, especially after he won the first fall clean. Clever booking helped this match and both guys gave standout individual performances. Luger won the third and deciding fall clean with a piledriver. *** ¾ rating.

Match #6 – Royal Rumble Match from Royal Rumble, January 19, 1991. This was a good, star-studded Royal Rumble match which was won by Hulk Hogan. **** rating.

Match #5 – Arn Anderson/Larry Zbyzsko vs. Dustin Rhodes/Ricky Steamboat. WCW World Tag Team Title match from Clash of the Champions #17, November 19, 1991. This was the debut match in WCW in 1991 for Ricky Steamboat. Steamboat and Rhodes won the titles in emotional fashion after Steamboat pinned Anderson. **** rating.

Match #4 – Sting/Lex Luger vs. The Steiner Brothers. WCW World Tag Team Title from SuperBrawl , May 19, 1991. All four men worked as faces for the match and it was big move after big move. Nikita Koloff interfered for the finish, lowering the match rating slightly, but still a great tag team match. Steiners won after Koloff hit Sting with a chain. **** ¼ rating.

Match #3 – Sting vs. Rick Rude. WCW U.S. Heavyweight Title from Clash of the Champions #17, November 19, 1991. This was Rude’s second match in WCW and it was a well booked match. Lots of in ring action as well, but the story, emotion and intensity of the match made it memorable. Rude defeated Sting to win the U.S. title. **** ½ rating.

Match #2 – Bret Hart vs. Curt Hennig. WWF Intercontinental Title from Summer Slam, August 26, 1991. This was an outstanding technical contest between two of the best in the business in 1991. Hennig’s back was really messed up, but he put on an outstanding performance anyway. Hennig would take some time off to heal his back while Hart would use this run to springboard himself into the WWF Title picture. Hart defeated Hennig to win the title. **** ½ rating.

Match #1 – War Games. WCW WrestleWar from February 24, 1991. The Four Horsemen of Ric Flair, Barry Windham, Sid Vicious and Larry Zbyzsko subbing for Arn Anderson defeated Sting, Brian Pillman, and the Steiner Brothers in the most outstanding match of 1991. An absolute must see match. During the match, the cameras picked up Vicious calling moves to Rick Steiner and Brian Pillman. Vicious gave Pillman a powerbomb and literally dropped him on his head. Then he did another one and the referee ruled Pillman was unable to continue. **** ¾ rating.

There is my list of the top ten matches of 1991. Feel free to send me your list and/or critique mine. You can contact me at bhoops@iw.net and view my blog at www.midwestmarketsolutions.com/blog.

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