WCW: The Early Years 1989-1993 Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In 1989, veteran heel manager Gary Hart formed a stable of wrestlers called "The J Tex Corporation". The main stars of the group were Terry Funk and The Great Muta. Which of the following stars was never a member of the faction?

Answer: Dory Funk Jr.

During the absence of "The Four Horsemen" Gary Hart's "J Tex Corporation" was W.C.W.'s primary heel faction. The group was referred to as such because the stars in it had success in either Texas or Japan. The stable included Funk, Muta, Kendo Nagasaki aka "The Dragon Master", Dick Slater and the late Buzz Sawyer.

They feuded with Sting and Ric Flair whom they tried to suffocate by putting a plastic bag over his head in September 1989.

2. On May 22, 1989 this veteran tag team wrestler upset Lex Luger at "Wrestle War'89" to win The WCW United States Title. Arrogant and self-absorbed, his run with the belt was brief. Who was he?

Answer: Michael Hayes

Michael "P.S." Hayes turned on Lex Luger during a tag team match and then subsequently defeated him at "Wrestle War'89'. Hayes' title reign was very short as Luger regained the title on May 22, 1989 and then immediately turned heel himself.

3. In the spring of 1990, veteran Mike Rotunda was given a rather comedic persona by WCW management. This goofy gimmick was short-lived, thankfully. What was it?

Answer: "Captain" Mike Rotunda

For years announcers had been singing the praises of Mike Rotunda and his amateur wrestling prowess. If I had a dime for every time Jim Ross said he was a Varsity Letterman from Syracuse University, I'd be rich. Well, in addition to that, Rotunda may have been on the rowing team because in the spring of 1990 he donned a Seaman Captain's hat in a lame face gimmick that could have destroyed his career.

4. In early 1990, Teddy Long managed a masked muscular duo who were known simply as "Doom". Eventually they were unmasked. Who was under the masks?

Answer: Butch Reed and Ron Simmons

Initially managed by the late Nancy Benoit aka "Woman" Reed and Simmons, despite good reputations were put under masks by the management. Upon losing a bout against The Steiner Brothers they were forced to unmask themselves. Within weeks of the unmasking Reed and Simmons had advanced significantly going from glorified jobbers to winning The WCW Tag Team Titles at "Capital Combat'90".

5. Before becoming a "Phenom" and a legend in The WWE this towering star had a stint in WCW where he was managed by Paul Heyman. Who was this star known as in WCW during 1990?

Answer: "Mean" Mark Calllous

Mark Callaway aka "The Undertaker" had a stint in WCW before coming to the WWF in late 1990. First, he was Danny Spivey's partner in "The Skyscrapers" replacing Sid Vicious when he suffered a lung injury. Then he became "Mean" Mark Callous who was manager by Paul Heyman and whose highlight was challenging Lex Luger for The United States Title at the 1990 "Great American Bash".

6. The main event of "Wrestle War'91" was the famous gimmick match called "The War Games/The Match Beyond". Arn Anderson suffered an injury and had to be replaced in this match. What veteran star took Anderson's place in the match?

Answer: Larry Zbyszko

The original match was slated as Sting, Brian Pillman and The Steiner Brothers against "The Four Horsemen" which at the time consisted of Ric Flair, Sid Vicious, Barry Windham and Arn. Hours before the match Arn was injured and the cagey veteran Larry Zbyszko took his place. The AWA had folded the previous month and Larry had returned to WCW where he would stay until they folded in 2001.

7. In the spring of 1991 The Steiner Brothers were forced to vacate the WCW Tag Team Titles when Scott was injured by the tag team called "The Hardliners". What veteran stars comprised that tag team?

Answer: Dick Slater and Dick Murdock

Rough and tough veterans Dick Murdock and Dick Slater dubbed themselves "The Hardliners" and feuded with The Steiner Brothers in mid 1991. During a scuffle with Slater and Murdock Scott Steiner suffered an injury which forced him out of action for months thus making he and Rick vacate the titles.

In an era of bad gimmicks this one was good, "The Hardliners" were a precursor to "The APA".

8. In the spring of 1991 a young actor who starred in a popular sitcom of the era had a brief stint as a color commentator. He had a fling with the infamous Missy Hyatt and feuded with Paul Heyman. Who was this actor?

Answer: Jason Hervey

Actor Jason Hervey who appeared on the television show "The Wonder Years" from 1988 - 1993 had a short lived color commentator stint in 1991. Hervey was related to Dusty Rhodes and was constantly needled over that fact by the obnoxious Paul Heyman. Hervey and Heyman had a confrontation which eventually became heated and Heyman smashed his cellular phone over Jason's head.

While Hervey did not last long on television he did remain with WCW as a producer right thru 2001.

9. Speaking of Paul Heyman from late 1991 thru mid 1992 he headed up the WCW's top heel stable which was called "The Dangerous Alliance". The centerpieces of the faction were Steve Austin and Rick Rude who were the WCW Television and United States champions respectively. Which wrestler was never a part of the group?

Answer: Buff Bagwell

"The Dangerous Alliance" consisted of Rick Rude, Steve Austin, Bobby Eaton, Larry Zbyszko, Arn Anderson, valet Madusa and of course Paul Heyman. The faction was very successful and feuded with the era's top stars like Ricky Steamboat, Nikita Koloff, Barry Windham, Dustin Rhodes, Sting, Brian Pillman and The Steiner Brothers. This group ended far too soon in my opinion.

10. In the summer of 1992, WCW decided to hire this former wrestler and promoter as its head booker. This bombastic gentleman had a famous reputation for firing stars and hiring them back the next day. Who was he?

Answer: "Cowboy" Bill Watts

"Cowboy" Bill Watts became the head booker in mid 1992 and was famous for his volatile temper and "My Way or The Highway" mentality. He was also a shrewd business man who ran the legendary Mid South territory, later the UWF, from the 1970s until 1987. Watts was responsible for cultivating such talents as Ted DiBiase, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Butch Reed, Jake Roberts and The Junkyard Dog.

11. In July 1992, this tag team duo which had tremendous success in Japan defeated The Steiner Brothers for the WCW Tag Team Titles. Despite their hard nosed approach their reign was short, who were they?

Answer: Steve Williams and Terry Gordy

"Dr. Death" Steve Williams and Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy formed quite the formidable duo in the land of the rising sun. Their run as WCW Tag Team Champions only lasted only until September 1992 when they were beaten by Dustin Rhodes and Barry Windham. Sadly both these men are gone as Terry Gordy passed in 2001 from a blood clot and Steve Williams died in 2009 after a lengthy battle with cancer.

12. In March 1993 this former WWF star, who had briefly been rumored to be dead, won the WCW Television Title by winning a tournament. Who was this superstar of the 1980s WWF who had resurfaced?

Answer: Paul "Mr. Wonderful" Orndorff

Paul Orndorff actually had a brief WCW stint in the spring and summer of 1990 when he was a member of Sting's "Dudes with Attitudes" stable. He returned in the late 1992 and in March 1993 defeated Erik Watts, nepotism here anyone, for the vacant Television Title.

The following year he formed a tag team with Paul Roma called "Pretty Wonderful" which won the WCW Tag Team Championships twice.

13. In March 1993 Ricky Steamboat and Shane Douglas lost the WCW Tag Team Titles to a team called "The Hollywood Blondes". What two stars comprised this team?

Answer: Steve Austin and Brian Pillman

The late, great Brian Pillman and future WWF megastar Steve Austin were a tag team called "The Hollywood Blondes". The duo held the titles for five months in 1993 and according to Austin the team was ended for political reasons. This team was truly cutting edge and should have stuck around much longer than they did.

14. During the spring of 1991 weekly vignettes began airing on WCW telecasts centered around three bumbling individuals who called themselves "The Desperados". They claimed they were on a quest to find a famous Texas wrestler. Who was he?

Answer: Stan Hansen

"The Desperados" were a trio which consisted of Black Bart, Dutch Mantel and Randy Cooley aka "Deadeye Dick". The duo wanted to find the legendary Stan Hansen and form a faction with him. The entire angle was dropped fast when Hansen wanted no part of this comedic storyline and bolted from the company.

15. This former basketball star from Argentina had a much hyped debut in the summer of 1990. He was given a big face push the following year including a series of bouts with WCW champion Ric Flair. Who was he known as?

Answer: El Gigante

Jorge Gonzales failed in a tryout with The Atlanta Hawks and then was given a contract from WCW in 1990. Gonzales had limited microphone skills and even more limited ring skills. In 1993 he wrestled in The W.W.F. as The Giant Gonzales in what is regarded as one of the all time worst gimmicks. Sadly, Gonzales died in 2010 at the age of 44 from complications of diabetes, he had last competed in 1997.

Source: Author jperrone

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor kyleisalive before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Who could ever forget the early days of WCW; well they were pretty forgettable actually. The company was run by the inept Jim Herd for two years, had bad gimmicks, and many key stars left. This quiz will test your knowledge of that time.

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