Wrestling: Pay-Per-View Players #32 - December 1990

#1 Hulk Hogan [--] (14-3-1) (WWF)

A tournament of eight nations inducts The Steiner Brothers as the hottest tag team heading into 1991! The US Team defeated South Africa, Mexico and Japan to challenge the might of turncoat #1 tag team: The Road Warriors!

The 3-for-1 streak makes Rick Steiner the highest individual ranked for NWA, with brother Scott Steiner projecting the future from the 9th slot. Rick leaps four places to skip even defending World Heavyweight Champion: Sting! The win was tribute to recently passed former NWA World Champion Pat O'Connor.

The Stinger rocked a Steel Cage in the main event, fending off the advances of The Black Scorpion -- mysterious masked man who turned out to be none other than arch-rival and former champion Ric Flair! The Nature Boy went double masked during the match, but couldn't avoid being exposed as the dirtiest player in the game.

Defending the World Tag Team Champions in a no contest were Ron Simmons & Butch Reed -- unable to rank as the #11 team despite retaining the coveted titles! With Flair slinking his way back into the World title spot - Barry Windham replaced him as partner to fellow challenging Horseman Arn Anderson. The void left by the departing Road Warriors has quickly been filled!

Competing in the Pat O'Connor International Cup Tag Team Tournament are two proud wrestlers of Mexico worthy of note: Konan & Rey Misterio! As the WCW era kicks in both names will come to gain greater significance -- Konnan in his own right, while Misterio's son - the venerable Rey Misterio Jr - embarks on one of the greatest international careers of any US based luchadore!

With their late acquisition of The Road Warriors key - WWF ends 1990 in control of the wrestling Pay-Per-View world! The Road Warrior advantage tips the scales to a 60% majority share of both the singles and tag team PPV rankings! With nary a woman in sight on an NWA card, the women's division is 100% the domain of McMahon's Federation! That control will not go unrivalled in the coming year. Ted Turner's WCW will assume control of the NWA pay-per-view line-up, beginning a process of conversion that will lead to the hottest period in wrestling. We're on the ground floor - we watch with interest!

 

Top Ten Singles PPV Players

#1 [--] Hulk Hogan (14-3-1) (WWF)
#2 [--] Randy Savage (13-8-0) (WWF)
#3 [--] Road Warrior Hawk (12-3-0) (WWF)
#4 [--] Road Warrior Animal (11-4-0) (WWF)
#5 [+4] Rick Steiner (11-5-1) (NWA)
#6 [--] Sting (10-1-2) (NWA) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#7 [-2] "Black Scorpion" Ric Flair (10-6-3) (NWA)
#8 [-1] Ultimate Warrior (9-2-0) (WWF) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#9 [new] Scott Steiner (9-4-0) (NWA)
#10 [-2] Brutus Beefcake (8-2-3) (WWF)
 

Top Ten Tag Team PPV Players

#1 [--] Road Warrior Hawk & Animal (11-3-0) (WWF)
#2 [+1] Rick & Scott Steiner (9-3-0) (NWA)
#3 [-1] Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane (6-3-0) (NWA)
#4 [--] Ax & Smash (6-4-0) (WWF)
#5 [--] Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart (6-4-0) (WWF) [Tag Team Champions]
#6 [--] Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson (5-1-0) (NWA)
#7 [--] The Samoan Savage & Fatu (4-1-0) (NWA)
#8 [--] Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (3-1-1) (WWF)
#9 [--] Bushwacker Luke & Butch (3-1-0) (WWF)
#10 [--] Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid (3-2-1) (WWF)

Top Womens PPV Players
#1 [--] The Fabulous Moolah (2-0-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Rockin' Robin (2-0-0) (WWF) [Women's Champion]
#3 [--] Wendi Richter (1-0-0) (WWF)
#4 [--] Itsuki Yamazaki (1-0-0) (WWF)
#5 [--] Noriyo Tateno (1-0-0) (WWF)

 

Recent Pay-Per-View Event Results
- NWA Starrcade '90 (December 16, 1990)
- WWF Survivor Series (November 22, 1990)
- WCW Halloween Havoc (October 27, 1990)
- WWF Summerslam (August 27, 1990)
- NWA The Great American Bash (July 7, 1990)
- NWA Capital Combat (May 19, 1990)
- WWF Wrestlemania VI (April 1, 1990)

 

The Pay-Per-View Players rankings intend to take into account pay-per-view events promoted by NWA, WWF, WCW, ECW, WWE & TNA wrestling organizations. Only broadcast results contribute to the cumulative tally of win/loss record of wrestlers. Pre-show matches will not be included.

Wrestling: Pay-Per-View Players #30 - October 1990

#1 Randy Savage [--] (13-8-0) (WWF)

The shuffling deck of 1990 continues to keep the Top 10 steady as she goes. The Four Horsemen loom large over the action as NWA World Heavyweight Champion Sting overcomes the titan that is Sid Vicious! Meanwhile, Ric Flair & Arn Anderson team in an unsuccessful play to claim the World Tag Team Championships in a double count out against "Doom" Ron Simmons & Butch Reed!

US Tag Team Champions The Steiner Brothers surge back against the ranks, fending off the NWA pay-per-view first appearance of The Nasty Boyz! If Demolition still had the stroke to go toe-to-toe with The Road Warriors, then stat hounds might've viewed the Steiners dream match opponents for Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart.

The Rock 'n' Roll Express drop-off after their first pay-per-view loss. Robert Gibson is nowhere to be seen as Ricky Morton is joined by Tommy Rich in the eternal struggle against The Midnight Express. With eyes on the tag teams, we welcome The Master Blasters: Blade & Steel -- the latter of which will come to be better known as Diesel in a few years, or by his real name, Kevin Nash! Their win over Tracy Smothers & Steve Armstrong marks the ranking debut of Nash.

The rush to the end of 1990 begins! November's Survivor Series promises a massive thanksgiving spread, while the annual Starrcade continues its run in December.

 

Top Ten Singles PPV Players

#1 [--] Randy Savage (13-8-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Hulk Hogan (12-3-1) (WWF) [Royal Rumble 1990]
#3 [--] Road Warrior Hawk (11-3-0) (NWA)
#4 [--] Road Warrior Animal (10-4-0) (NWA)
#5 [--] Ric Flair (10-5-3) (NWA)
#6 [--] Sting (9-1-2) (NWA) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#7 [--] Brutus Beefcake (8-2-3) (WWF)
#8 [+2] Rick Steiner (8-5-1) (NWA) [US Tag Team Champion]
#9 [-1] Smash (8-5-0) (WWF)
#10 [-1] Ultimate Warrior (7-2-0) (WWF) [World Heavyweight Champion]
 

Top Ten Tag Team PPV Players

#1 [--] Road Warrior Hawk & Animal (10-3-0) (NWA)
#2 [+1] Ax & Smash (6-3-0) (WWF)
#3 [-1] Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane (6-3-0) (NWA)
#4 [--] Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart (6-3-0) (WWF) [Tag Team Champions]
#5 [+1] Rick & Scott Steiner (6-3-0) (NWA) [US Tag Team Champions]
#6 [-1] Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson (5-1-0) (NWA)
#7 [--] The Samoan Savage & Fatu (4-1-0) (NWA)
#8 [--] Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (3-1-1) (WWF)
#9 [--] Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid (3-2-1) (WWF)
#10 [--] Ron Simmons & Butch Reed (3-3-1) (NWA) [World Tag Team Champions]

Top Womens PPV Players
#1 [--] The Fabulous Moolah (2-0-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Rockin' Robin (2-0-0) (WWF) [Women's Champion]
#3 [--] Wendi Richter (1-0-0) (WWF)
#4 [--] Itsuki Yamazaki (1-0-0) (WWF)
#5 [--] Noriyo Tateno (1-0-0) (WWF)

 

Recent Pay-Per-View Event Results
- WCW Halloween Havoc (October 27, 1990)
- WWF Summerslam (August 27, 1990)
- NWA The Great American Bash (July 7, 1990)
- NWA Capital Combat (May 19, 1990)
- WWF Wrestlemania VI (April 1, 1990)
- NWA WrestleWar 1990 (February 25, 1990)

 

The Pay-Per-View Players rankings intend to take into account pay-per-view events promoted by NWA, WWF, WCW, ECW, WWE & TNA wrestling organizations. Only broadcast results contribute to the cumulative tally of win/loss record of wrestlers. Pre-show matches will not be included.

Wrestling: Pay-Per-View Players #28 - July 1990

#1 Randy Savage [--] (12-8-0) (WWF)

The era of the Stinger is here! The Great American Bash sees a fully recovered Sting claim the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in a massive summer celebration! Ric Flair passes the torch and settles for the #5 rank, while Sting leaps up to meet "The Nature Boy" at #6! It looks like Sting is the man to lead NWA/WCW into the nineties -- but he isn't the only one pushing the Alliance forward in the PPV ranks!

Rick Steiner returns to the Top 10 with a tag team win opposite brother Scott! They go without titles, however, as Ron Simmons & Butch Reed make their stamp as World Tag Team Champions, entering the ranks at #10! The Doom tandem were responsible for handing The Rock 'n' Roll Express their first defeat on the pay-per-view stage! Rubbing salt in the wound is the success of NWA US Tag Team Champions Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane - The Midnight Express! They picked up a win against PPV fresh faces The Southern Boys (Tracy Smothers & Steve Armstrong).

In the future stocks: Big Van Vader made his first entry into the US PPV results! He defeated Tom Zenk in a 2 minute squash match! Mean Mark Callous fared better in his NWA US Heavyweight Championship match against retaining holder Lex Luger! Callous, of course, will be of far greater significance in a year or so as WWF's Undertaker.

On the flipside, some blasts from past returned to the ranks at Great American Bash! Paul Orndorff & Junkyard Dog teamed with El Gigante in a six-man tag team win over The Four Horsemen's Sid Vicious, Arn Anderson & Barry Windham!

The summer fun continues as WWF host the annual Summerslam!

 

Top Ten Singles PPV Players

#1 [--] Randy Savage (12-8-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Hulk Hogan (11-3-1) (WWF) [Royal Rumble 1990]
#3 [--] Road Warrior Hawk (11-3-0) (NWA)
#4 [--] Road Warrior Animal (10-4-0) (NWA)
#5 [--] Ric Flair (10-5-2) (NWA)
#6 [+2] Sting (8-1-2) (NWA) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#7 [-1] Brutus Beefcake (8-2-3) (WWF)
#8 [-1] Smash (8-4-0) (WWF) [Tag Team Champion]
#9 [--] Dusty Rhodes (7-4-0) (WWF)
#10 [RE] Rick Steiner (7-5-1) (NWA)
 

Top Ten Tag Team PPV Players

#1 [--] Road Warrior Hawk & Animal (10-3-0) (NWA)
#2 [--] Ax & Smash (6-2-0) (WWF) [Tag Team Champion]
#3 [+1] Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane (6-2-0) (NWA) [US Tag Team Champions]
#4 [-1] Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson (5-1-0) (NWA)
#5 [--] Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart (5-3-0) (WWF)
#6 [+1] Rick & Scott Steiner (5-3-0) (NWA)
#7 [-1] The Samoan Savage & Fatu (4-1-0) (NWA)
#8 [--] Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (3-1-1) (WWF)
#9 [--] Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid (3-2-1) (WWF)
#10 [new] Ron Simmons & Butch Reed (3-3-0) (NWA) [World Tag Team Champions]

Top Womens PPV Players
#1 [--] The Fabulous Moolah (2-0-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Rockin' Robin (2-0-0) (WWF) [Women's Champion]
#3 [--] Wendi Richter (1-0-0) (WWF)
#4 [--] Itsuki Yamazaki (1-0-0) (WWF)
#5 [--] Noriyo Tateno (1-0-0) (WWF)

 

Recent Pay-Per-View Event Results
- NWA The Great American Bash (July 7, 1990)
- NWA Capital Combat (May 19, 1990)
- WWF Wrestlemania VI (April 1, 1990)
- NWA WrestleWar 1990 (February 25, 1990)
- WWF Royal Rumble (January 21, 1990)
- WWF No Holds Barred: The Match/The Movie (December 27, 1989)

 

The Pay-Per-View Players rankings intend to take into account pay-per-view events promoted by NWA, WWF, WCW, ECW, WWE & TNA wrestling organizations. Only broadcast results contribute to the cumulative tally of win/loss record of wrestlers. Pre-show matches will not be included.

Wrestling: Pay-Per-View Players #27 - May 1990

#1 Randy Savage [--] (12-8-0) (WWF)

It's The Road Warriors' world and we're just living in it! NWA Capital Combat extends the Road Warrior dominance over the Tag Team rankings, uniting the pair as the Top 2 individually ranked NWA Pay-Per-View stars as well! Ric Flair remains World Heavyweight Champion, but concedes defeat in a steel cage disqualification to Lex Luger in a title retaining loss!

It's 50/50 in the NWA v WWF rankings stakes. At this time one has to marvel at the enduring presence of Ricky Steamboat! The former World Champion hasn't been seen on PPV for quite some time, but persists on the back of memorable matches with Ric Flair and Randy Savage. The situation speaks to the shuffling of talent occurring further down the list. As we move into the nineties, you would expect some of those names to bubble to the fore.

Future prospect Mark Callous picked up a singles win against Johnny Ace. In tag team match-ups Ron Simmons & Butch Reed claimed the NWA World Tag Team Champions from The Steiners in only their second PPV victory. Cactus Jack was on the losing side of the Road Warriors, teamed in six-man competition with Kevin Sullivan & Bam Bam Bigelow. It's a school of hard knocks that will deliver many of these names to greater stardom in the future!

The Rock 'n' Roll Express stay in the region, picking up their 5th unanswered pay-per-view victory! Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane of the arch-rival Midnight Express claimed their second NWA US Tag Team Championship on PPV. The New Wild Samoans stay strong, but titleless.

The battle moves to the summer as NWA present their annual Great American Bash in July, and WWF follow the next month with Summerslam! As we enter the second half of 1990, who will be the stars who rise to the top? The winds of change blow warm heat across the sands. The warriors of all nations beckon to the rude one. The championship must reach the ultimate! Behhhhhh!!!

 

Top Ten Singles PPV Players

#1 [--] Randy Savage (12-8-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Hulk Hogan (11-3-1) (WWF) [Royal Rumble 1990]
#3 [--] Road Warrior Hawk (11-3-0) (NWA)
#4 [+1] Road Warrior Animal (10-4-0) (NWA)
#5 [-1] Ric Flair (10-4-2) (NWA) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#6 [--] Brutus Beefcake (8-2-3) (WWF)
#7 [--] Smash (8-4-0) (WWF) [Tag Team Champion]
#8 [--] Sting (7-1-2) (NWA)
#9 [--] Dusty Rhodes (7-4-0) (WWF)
#10 [--] Ricky Steamboat (7-5-0) (NWA)
 

Top Ten Tag Team PPV Players

#1 [--] Road Warrior Hawk & Animal (10-3-0) (NWA)
#2 [--] Ax & Smash (6-2-0) (WWF) [Tag Team Champion]
#3 [+1] Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson (5-0-0) (NWA)
#4 [+1] Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane (5-2-0) (NWA) [US Tag Team Champions]
#5 [-2] Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart (5-3-0) (WWF)
#6 [+2] The Samoan Savage & Fatu (4-1-0) (NWA)
#7 [-1] Rick & Scott Steiner (4-3-0) (NWA)
#8 [-1] Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (3-1-1) (WWF)
#9 [--] Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid (3-2-1) (WWF)
#10 [--] Jacques & Raymond Rougeau (3-5-1) (WWF)

Top Womens PPV Players
#1 [--] The Fabulous Moolah (2-0-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Rockin' Robin (2-0-0) (WWF) [Women's Champion]
#3 [--] Wendi Richter (1-0-0) (WWF)
#4 [--] Itsuki Yamazaki (1-0-0) (WWF)
#5 [--] Noriyo Tateno (1-0-0) (WWF)

 

Recent Pay-Per-View Event Results
- NWA Capital Combat (May 19, 1990)
- WWF Wrestlemania VI (April 1, 1990)
- NWA WrestleWar 1990 (February 25, 1990)
- WWF Royal Rumble (January 21, 1990)
- WWF No Holds Barred: The Match/The Movie (December 27, 1989)
- NWA Starrcade '89 (December 13, 1989)

 

The Pay-Per-View Players rankings intend to take into account pay-per-view events promoted by NWA, WWF, WCW, ECW, WWE & TNA wrestling organizations. Only broadcast results contribute to the cumulative tally of win/loss record of wrestlers. Pre-show matches will not be included.

Wrestling: Pay-Per-View Players #25 - February 1990

#1 Randy Savage [--] (12-7-0) (WWF)

A Clash of Champions injury stems Sting's run to the top as he's forced to take a corner, replaced in the WrestleWar World Heavyweight Championship match by Lex Luger! Defending the title is, of course, "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair -- successful and strong in the #4 rank! The late change to the card disrupts another title campaign as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams is denied his shot at Luger's NWA US Heavyweight title.

The NWA Tag Team pedigree is back in force at WrestleWar '90! Welcome back The Rock 'n' Roll Express to pay-per-view! Morton & Gibson fight back into the Top 3 tag teams with their 4th unanswered win on PPV! Reigning World Tag Team Champions The Steiners reinforce their stroke with a title defense that elevates them to #5! The defense against NWA returning Arn Anderson & Ole also elevates Rick Steiner into the overall Top 10! The Road Warriors stay strong - #1 tag team, with Road Warrior Hawk #3 and top NWA ranked star. Road Warrior Animal is firmly entrenched at #5.

The modern fan will be keen to recognize the admission of two new stars into the singles ranks. Cactus Jack and Mean Mark Callous make their NWA pay-per-view debuts this month! The pair will know each other well in time, and be potent forces on PPV in McMahon designed identities. We're a little early for Mankind and The Undertaker, but the seeds are indeed planted!

Transmission goes quiet for a month, only to heat up again in April with the pay-per-view extravaganza of WWF's Wrestlemania! The annual major will be WWF's opportunity to rest back the dominant share of top ranks taken by NWA! Wrestlemania VI will emanate from Canada with a main event quite unlike any other! Hulk Hogan only needs one unanswered win to assume the top spot! The Hulkster has the home ground advantage at Wrestlemania -- but will it be enough?

 

Top Ten Singles PPV Players

#1 [--] Randy Savage (12-7-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Hulk Hogan (11-2-1) (WWF) [World Heavyweight Champion, Royal Rumble 1990]
#3 [--] Road Warrior Hawk (10-3-0) (NWA)
#4 [--] Ric Flair (10-4-2) (NWA) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#5 [--] Road Warrior Animal (9-4-0) (NWA)
#6 [--] Sting (7-1-2) (NWA)
#7 [--] Brutus Beefcake (7-2-3) (WWF)
#8 [--] Smash (7-4-0) (WWF)
#9 [--] Ricky Steamboat (7-5-0) (NWA)
#10 [new] Rick Steiner (6-4-1) (NWA) [World Tag Team Champion]
 

Top Ten Tag Team PPV Players

#1 [--] Road Warrior Hawk & Animal (9-3-0) (NWA)
#2 [--] Ax & Smash (5-2-0) (WWF)
#3 [+2] Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson (4-0-0) (NWA)
#4 [-1] Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane (4-2-0) (NWA)
#5 [+4] Rick & Scott Steiner (4-2-0) (NWA) [World Tag Team Champions]
#6 [-2] Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart (4-3-0) (WWF)
#7 [-1] Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (3-1-1) (WWF)
#8 [-1] The Samoan Savage & Fatu (3-1-0) (NWA)
#9 [-1] Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid (3-2-1) (WWF)
#10 [--] Jacques & Raymond Rougeau (3-5-1) (WWF)

Top Womens PPV Players
#1 [--] The Fabulous Moolah (2-0-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Rockin' Robin (2-0-0) (WWF) [Women's Champion]
#3 [--] Wendi Richter (1-0-0) (WWF)
#4 [--] Itsuki Yamazaki (1-0-0) (WWF)
#5 [--] Noriyo Tateno (1-0-0) (WWF)

 

Recent Pay-Per-View Event Results
- WWF Royal Rumble (January 21, 1990)
- WWF No Holds Barred: The Match/The Movie (December 27, 1989)
- NWA Starrcade '89 (December 13, 1989)
- WWF Survivor Series (November 23, 1989)
- WCW Halloween Havoc (October 28, 1989)
- WWF Summerslam (August 28, 1989)

 

The Pay-Per-View Players rankings intend to take into account pay-per-view events promoted by NWA, WWF, WCW, ECW, WWE & TNA wrestling organizations. Only broadcast results contribute to the cumulative tally of win/loss record of wrestlers. Pre-show matches will not be included.

Wrestling: Pay-Per-View Players #23 - December 1989

#1 Randy Savage [--] (12-6-0) (WWF)

From one extreme to another! WWF Survivor Series paraded a roster of stars in November multi-man team matches. Starrcade '89 takes a different tact: grounded by two round robin tournaments that feature the cream of the NWA singles and tag team crop!

Sting arrives to the big time with a monumental tournament victory over Ric Flair in the Starrcade main event! The Great Muta goes winless of the four, while Lex Luger finally evens the score to take a positive winning record in his own launch toward greatness. Less revolutionary: The Road Warriors secure their status as the best tag team of the time, ending the tournament with a points winning victory over The New Wild Samoans!

The pendulum of tag team wrestling swings once again! Ron Simmons & Butch Reed go winless in the round robin, but third team The Steiner Brothers find their way into the Top 10 PPV tag teams with a healthy 2-1 tournament record! Their graduation completes a cleansing of the tag team ranks, reducing the field to ten memorable pure duos!

Well short of the elevated 6 win entry point is Hulk Hogan & Brutus Beefcake. They emerged victorious from the WWF steel cage in a promotional double: No Holds Barred: The Movie/The Match! Coming up short in the Summerslam '89 rematch - Randy Savage and film character come-to-life Zeus (aka Tom "Tiny" Lister)!

With that, we roll into the decade that transforms the pay-per-view business into a year-long institution! This is the nineties! 1990 isn't quite ready for a monthly schedule, leaving January the sole domain of WWF and the annual Royal Rumble! The 30-man elimination battle royal strips the scope of opportunity. Will the Federation superstars be able to counter NWA's '89 affirmation of new and old stars? The challenge is set!

 

Top Ten Singles PPV Players

#1 [--] Randy Savage (12-6-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Hulk Hogan (10-2-1) (WWF) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#3 [+1] Road Warrior Hawk (9-3-0) (NWA)
#4 [-1] Ric Flair (9-4-2) (NWA)
#5 [+4] Road Warrior Animal (8-4-0) (NWA)
#6 [+4] Sting (7-1-2) (NWA)
#7 [--] Brutus Beefcake (7-2-2) (WWF)
#8 [-3] Smash (7-3-0) (WWF)
#9 [-3] Ricky Steamboat (7-5-0) (NWA)
#10 [-2] Dusty Rhodes (6-3-0) (WWF)
 

Top Ten Tag Team PPV Players

#1 [--] Road Warrior Hawk & Animal (8-3-0) (NWA)
#2 [--] Ax & Smash (5-2-0) (WWF)
#3 [--] Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane (4-1-0) (NWA)
#4 [--] Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart (4-3-0) (WWF)
#5 [--] Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson (3-0-0) (NWA)
#6 [--] Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (3-1-1) (WWF)
#7 [new] The Samoan Savage & Fatu (3-1-0) (NWA)
#8 [-1] Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid (3-2-1) (WWF)
#9 [new] Rick & Scott Steiner (3-2-0) (NWA)
#10 [-2] Jacques & Raymond Rougeau (3-4-1) (WWF)

Top Womens PPV Players
#1 [--] The Fabulous Moolah (2-0-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Rockin' Robin (2-0-0) (WWF) [Women's Champion]
#3 [--] Wendi Richter (1-0-0) (WWF)
#4 [--] Itsuki Yamazaki (1-0-0) (WWF)
#5 [--] Noriyo Tateno (1-0-0) (WWF)

 

Recent Pay-Per-View Event Results
- WWF No Holds Barred: The Match/The Movie (December 27, 1989)
- NWA Starrcade '89 (December 13, 1989)
- WWF Survivor Series (November 23, 1989)
- WCW Halloween Havoc (October 28, 1989)
- WWF Summerslam (August 28, 1989)
- NWA The Great American Bash '89 (July 23, 1989)

 

The Pay-Per-View Players rankings intend to take into account pay-per-view events promoted by NWA, WWF, WCW, ECW, WWE & TNA wrestling organizations. Only broadcast results contribute to the cumulative tally of win/loss record of wrestlers. Pre-show matches will not be included.

Wrestling: Pay-Per-View Players #21 - October 1989

#1 Randy Savage [--] (11-5-0) (WWF)

The collapse of The Mega Powers continues to work in the favour of Hulk Hogan -- the WWF Heavyweight Champion victorious in a Summerslam tag team main event against Randy Savage and the No Holds Barred film-inspired nemesis: Zeus! Hogan teamed with Brutus Beefcake, who once again reached the Top 10!

Promotion lines continue to be crossed as Dusty Rhodes makes his first pay-per-view appearance for WWF! The former NWA World Heavyweight Champion defeated The Honky Tonk Man to secure a Top 10 spot for the Federation. In another mid-card bout, Demolition picked up a win in a six-man match, spurring them into the Top 3 tags. Individually, Smash is a step closer to the authentic ticket - Road Warrior Hawk. While the Road Warriors remain unchallenged as the #1 tag team - Animal teeters on the edge of the Top 10.

A big name lurking just outside the top ranks is The Ultimate Warrior! He regained his Intercontinental Championship from the man who defeated him - himself a recent Top 10 name: Rick Rude. The Warrior makes for the perfect WWF rival to rising NWA star Sting! The painted star will have a shot to surpass his rivals when NWA/WCW return in October with Halloween Havoc!

 

Top Ten Singles PPV Players

#1 [--] Randy Savage (11-5-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Hulk Hogan (8-2-1) (WWF) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#3 [--] Ric Flair (8-3-1) (NWA) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#4 [+1] Road Warrior Hawk (7-2-0) (NWA)
#5 [-1] Ricky Steamboat (7-5-0) (NWA)
#6 [--] Smash (6-3-0) (WWF)
#7 [+3] Road Warrior Animal (6-3-0) (NWA)
#8 [RE] Sting (5-0-2) (NWA) [World Television Champion]
#9 [-2] Brutus Beefcake (5-2-2) (WWF)
#10 [-2] Dynamite Kid (5-3-1) (WWF)
 

Top Ten Tag Team PPV Players

#1 [--] Road Warrior Hawk & Animal (6-2-0) (NWA)
#2 [--] Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane (4-1-0) (NWA)
#3 [--] Ax & Smash (4-2-0) (WWF)
#4 [--] Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart (4-3-0) (WWF)
#5 [--] Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson (3-0-0) (NWA)
#6 [--] Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (3-1-1) (WWF)
#7 [--] Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid (3-2-1) (WWF)
#8 [--] Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik (2-0-0) (WWF)
#9 [--] Paul Roma & Jim Powers (2-0-0) (WWF)
#10 [--] Andre the Giant & Rick Rude (2-0-0) (WWF)

Top Womens PPV Players
#1 [--] The Fabulous Moolah (2-0-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Rockin' Robin (2-0-0) (WWF) [Women's Champion]
#3 [--] Wendi Richter (1-0-0) (WWF)
#4 [--] Itsuki Yamazaki (1-0-0) (WWF)
#5 [--] Noriyo Tateno (1-0-0) (WWF)

 

Recent Pay-Per-View Event Results
- WCW Halloween Havoc (October 28, 1989)
- WWF Summerslam (August 28, 1989)
- NWA The Great American Bash '89 (July 23, 1989)
- NWA WrestleWar (May 7, 1989)
- WWF Wrestlemania V (April 2, 1989)
- NWA Chi-Town Rumble (February 20, 1989)

 

The Pay-Per-View Players rankings intend to take into account pay-per-view events promoted by NWA, WWF, WCW, ECW, WWE & TNA wrestling organizations. Only broadcast results contribute to the cumulative tally of win/loss record of wrestlers. Pre-show matches will not be included.

Wrestling: Pay-Per-View Players #19 - July 1989

#1 Randy Savage [--] (11-4-0) (WWF)

The tide turns for the first time since Wrestlemania as NWA stars flood the Top 10 rankings! The Great American Bash introduces some major names to the PPV count, while top stars take a majority share of 6-4! Ric Flair successfully defended the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Terry Funk, stepping back into the Top 3 with fellow World Champion Hulk Hogan.

The on-going success of The Road Warriors syncs Animal into the Top 10 where he finally joins Hawk. Their success is limited to no medium as they assume the #1 slot in the tag team rankings. They led the winning team inside the War Games Steel Cage, with "Dr. Death" Steve Williams and The Midnight Express. That explains Stan Lane's leap into #10 with a perfect 4-0. Future main event draw Sting also makes his debut as reigning World Television Champion. An unsuccessful play at the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship cost Ricky Steamboat his Top 3 rank and also finally gives Lex Luger a PPV win further down the list!

Those new names joining the PPV ranks? Sid Vicious, Scott Hall, Brian Pillman, Ron Simmons, and even Jim Cornette and Paul E. Dangerously! The pressure is back on WWF as they gear up for Summerslam! Will the Federation be able to rest control from the 60% share of the Top 10? Or is NWA turning the tide with the addition of yet more pay-per-views? They'll be back in October with Halloween Havoc! Things are heating up!

 

Top Ten Singles PPV Players

#1 [--] Randy Savage (11-4-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Hulk Hogan (7-2-1) (WWF) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#3 [+1] Ric Flair (7-3-1) (NWA) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#4 [-1] Ricky Steamboat (7-5-0) (NWA)
#5 [--] Road Warrior Hawk (6-2-0) (NWA)
#6 [--] Dynamite Kid (5-3-1) (WWF)
#7 [--] Smash (5-3-0) (WWF) [Tag Team Champion]
#8 [new] Road Warrior Animal (5-3-0) (NWA)
#9 [new] Sting (4-0-2) (NWA) [World Television Champion]
#10 [new] Stan Lane (4-0-0) (NWA)
 

Top Ten Tag Team PPV Players

#1 [+1] Road Warrior Hawk & Animal (5-2-0) (NWA)
#2 [+2] Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane (4-0-0) (NWA)
#3 [-2] Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart (4-2-0) (WWF)
#4 [-1] Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson (3-0-0) (NWA)
#5 [--] Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid (3-2-1) (WWF)
#6 [--] Ax & Smash (3-2-0) (WWF) [Tag Team Champions]
#7 [--] Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik (2-0-0) (WWF)
#8 [--] Paul Roma & Jim Powers (2-0-0) (WWF)
#9 [--] Andre the Giant & Rick Rude (2-0-0) (WWF)
#10 [--] Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage (2-0-0) (WWF)

Top Womens PPV Players
#1 [--] The Fabulous Moolah (2-0-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Rockin' Robin (2-0-0) (WWF) [Women's Champion]
#3 [--] Wendi Richter (1-0-0) (WWF)
#4 [--] Itsuki Yamazaki (1-0-0) (WWF)
#5 [--] Noriyo Tateno (1-0-0) (WWF)

 

Recent Pay-Per-View Event Results
- NWA The Great American Bash '89 (July 23, 1989)
- NWA WrestleWar (May 7, 1989)
- WWF Wrestlemania V (April 2, 1989)
- NWA Chi-Town Rumble (February 20, 1989)
- WWF Royal Rumble (January 15, 1989)
- NWA Starrcade '88 (December 26, 1988)

 

The Pay-Per-View Players rankings intend to take into account pay-per-view events promoted by NWA, WWF, WCW, ECW, WWE & TNA wrestling organizations. Only broadcast results contribute to the cumulative tally of win/loss record of wrestlers. Pre-show matches will not be included.

Wrestling: Pay-Per-View Players #18 - May 1989

#1 Randy Savage [--] (11-4-0) (WWF)

The Varsity Club contests the NWA World & US Tag Team Championships in a surprising double header at the close of the first WCW produced WrestleWar! More pertinent to the top of the rankings was the NWA World Heavyweight Championship match that saw Ric Flair reclaim the title belt from Ricky Steamboat! The battle included special guest judges: Terry Funk, Pat O'Connor and Lou Thesz!

The Road Warriors emerge victorious against Mike Rotunda & "Dr. Death" Steve Williams, but fail to capture the World Tag Team Championships via the disqualification finish. Fellow Varsity Club members Kevin Sullivan & Dan Spivey were unsuccessful in their attempts to take the US Tag Team titles from the combination of Eddie Gilbert & Rick Steiner.

With their DQ win, The Road Warriors become the top ranked NWA Tag Team, surpassing The Rock 'n' Roll Express in their absence from pay-per-view. "Dynamic Dudes" Shane Douglas & Johnny Ace debut as Pay-Per-View Players with a win over The Samoan Swat Team. The rise of Sting continues with another win -- this time defending the NWA World Television Championship against The Iron Sheik. The United States Heavyweight title changed hands, leaving Lex Luger with another loss courtesy of Michael Hayes.

The NWA has the inside track as the pay-per-view countdown heads toward the summer! The Great American Bash comes around for another year in July, with WWF's Summerslam the following August. The momentum is NWA's to seize! Let's see how it unfolds!

 

Top Ten Singles PPV Players

#1 [--] Randy Savage (11-4-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Hulk Hogan (7-2-1) (WWF) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#3 [--] Ricky Steamboat (7-4-0) (NWA)
#4 [--] Ric Flair (6-3-1) (NWA) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#5 [+5] Road Warrior Hawk (5-2-0) (NWA)
#6 [-1] Dynamite Kid (5-3-1) (WWF)
#7 [-1] Smash (5-3-0) (WWF) [Tag Team Champion]
#8 [-1] Rick Rude (4-1-1) (WWF) [Intercontinental Champion]
#9 [-1] Brutus Beefcake (4-2-2) (WWF)
#10 [-1] Davey Boy Smith (4-2-1) (WWF)
 

Top Ten Tag Team PPV Players

#1 [--] Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart (4-2-0) (WWF)
#2 [+4] Road Warrior Hawk & Animal (4-2-0) (NWA)
#3 [-1] Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson (3-0-0) (NWA)
#4 [-1] Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane (3-0-0) (NWA)
#5 [-1] Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid (3-2-1) (WWF)
#6 [-1] Ax & Smash (3-2-0) (WWF) [Tag Team Champions]
#7 [--] Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik (2-0-0) (WWF)
#8 [--] Paul Roma & Jim Powers (2-0-0) (WWF)
#9 [--] Andre the Giant & Rick Rude (2-0-0) (WWF)
#10 [--] Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage (2-0-0) (WWF)

Top Womens PPV Players
#1 [--] The Fabulous Moolah (2-0-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Rockin' Robin (2-0-0) (WWF) [Women's Champion]
#3 [--] Wendi Richter (1-0-0) (WWF)
#4 [--] Itsuki Yamazaki (1-0-0) (WWF)
#5 [--] Noriyo Tateno (1-0-0) (WWF)

 

Recent Pay-Per-View Event Results
- NWA WrestleWar (May 7, 1989)
- WWF Wrestlemania V (April 2, 1989)
- NWA Chi-Town Rumble (February 20, 1989)
- WWF Royal Rumble (January 15, 1989)
- NWA Starrcade '88 (December 26, 1988)
- WWF Survivor Series (November 24, 1988)

 

The Pay-Per-View Players rankings intend to take into account pay-per-view events promoted by NWA, WWF, WCW, ECW, WWE & TNA wrestling organizations. Only broadcast results contribute to the cumulative tally of win/loss record of wrestlers. Pre-show matches will not be included.

Wrestling: Pay-Per-View Players #16 - February 1989

#1 Randy Savage [--] (11-3-0) (WWF)
(World Heavyweight Champion)

The dynamic of the Top 10 changes radically as we see a couple of famous firsts in the Pay-Per-View Players countdown! Chief among these milestone moments is the WWF and NWA World Heavyweight Champions occupying the Top 2 ranks! Ricky Steamboat makes some statistical history with his return to action, winning the NWA title from Ric Flair as he converts his activity from WWF to NWA representation!

Even with the title dropping, Flair walks out of Chi-Town Rumble safely in the Top 10. A little shakier is Dusty Rhodes, who slips back to #10 as a consequence of Road Warrior Hawk's World Tag Team Championship defense! The Road Warriors are back in the mix, defending against "Varsity Club" Dr. Death Steve Williams & Kevin Sullivan. There's still plenty of work to be done if they're to reflect their legendary status.

The pay-per-view landscape steadies as transmission stays dark until April's Wrestlemania V! The saga of the past few months reaches its culmination when The Mega Powers explode! The Hogan & Savage meltdown comes at the perfect time -- an apt response to Steamboat's NWA rise. How will the rest of the rankings shake down? We'll find out after the fallout!

 

Top Ten Singles PPV Players

#1 [--] Randy Savage (11-3-0) (WWF) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#2 [+1] Ricky Steamboat (7-3-0) (NWA) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#3 [-1] Hulk Hogan (6-2-1) (WWF)
#4 [--] Ric Flair (5-3-1) (NWA)
#5 [--] Dynamite Kid (5-3-1) (WWF)
#6 [--] Davey Boy Smith (4-2-1) (WWF)
#7 [--] Brutus Beefcake (4-2-1) (WWF)
#8 [new] Road Warrior Hawk (4-2-0) (NWA)
#9 [-1] Andre the Giant (4-3-1) (WWF)
#10 [-1] Dusty Rhodes (4-3-0) (NWA)
 

Top Ten Tag Team PPV Players

#1 [--] Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson (3-0-0) (NWA)
#2 [+3] Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane (3-0-0) (NWA)
#3 [-1] Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid (3-2-1) (WWF)
#4 [-1] Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart (3-2-0) (WWF)
#5 [RE] Road Warrior Hawk & Animal (3-2-0) (NWA)
#6 [-2] Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik (2-0-0) (WWF)
#7 [-1] The Barbarian & The Warlord (2-0-0) (WWF)
#8 [-1] Paul Roma & Jim Powers (2-0-0) (WWF)
#9 [-1] Andre the Giant & Rick Rude (2-0-0) (WWF)
#10 [-1] Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage (2-0-0) (WWF)

Top Womens PPV Players
#1 [--] The Fabulous Moolah (2-0-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Rockin' Robin (2-0-0) (WWF) [Women's Champion]
#3 [--] Wendi Richter (1-0-0) (WWF)
#4 [--] Itsuki Yamazaki (1-0-0) (WWF)
#5 [--] Noriyo Tateno (1-0-0) (WWF)

 

Recent Pay-Per-View Event Results
- NWA Chi-Town Rumble (February 20, 1989)
- WWF Royal Rumble (January 15, 1989)
- NWA Starrcade '88 (December 26, 1988)
- WWF Survivor Series (November 24, 1988)
- WWF Summerslam (August 29, 1988)
- NWA The Great American Bash (July 10, 1988)

 

The Pay-Per-View Players rankings intend to take into account pay-per-view events promoted by NWA, WWF, WCW, ECW, WWE & TNA wrestling organizations. Only broadcast results contribute to the cumulative tally of win/loss record of wrestlers. Pre-show matches will not be included.

Wrestling: Pay-Per-View Players #14 - December 1988

#1 Randy Savage [--] (11-2-0) (WWF)
(World Heavyweight Champion)

Ted Turner enters the professional wrestling annals as he purchases Jim Crockett Promotions and contributes to the first ever World Championship Wrestling hosted Starrcade! Still part of the NWA: World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair defends the title in a 30 minute marathon with Lex Luger!

Luger can't buy a win on pay-per-view: chalking up an 0-4 record via his feud with "The Nature Boy". Flair's previous Starrcade rival Dusty Rhodes finds his way back into the Top 10 with a tag team win that registers Sting his first victory on PPV!

Alas; the Rhodes/Sting combo couldn't resurrect the NWA tag team rankings influence. In fact, by defeating The Road Warriors via DQ in the World Tag Team Championship match, they condemn one of the great Alliance hopes. Only the new Midnight Express could contribute to balancing the tag rankings equation -- victorious over their Paul Heyman managed "original" counterparts: Dennis Condrey & Randy Rose. Kevin Sullivan & "Dr. Death" Steve Williams grabbed the US Tag Team Championships in a Starrcade opener with The Fantastics.

The likes of Bam Bam Bigelow and Junkyard Dog cross lines back to the NWA as the seeds of a future wrestling war are planted by the Turner purchase. The times are changing and that's about to be reflected by yet more pay-per-view expansions! WWF's Royal Rumble arrives on PPV in January, with NWA having their own Chi-Town Rumble in Feb! Prepare for 1989!

 

Top Ten Singles PPV Players

#1 [--] Randy Savage (11-2-0) (WWF) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#2 [--] Hulk Hogan (6-1-1) (WWF)
#3 [--] Ricky Steamboat (6-3-0) (WWF)
#4 [+2] Ric Flair (5-2-1) (NWA) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#5 [-1] Dynamite Kid (5-3-1) (WWF)
#6 [-1] Brutus Beefcake (4-1-1) (WWF)
#7 [--] Davey Boy Smith (4-2-1) (WWF)
#8 [--] Andre the Giant (4-2-1) (WWF)
#9 [--] Smash (4-2-0) (WWF) [Tag Team Champion]
#10 [RE] Dusty Rhodes (4-3-0) (NWA)
 

Top Ten Tag Team PPV Players

#1 [--] Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson (3-0-0) (NWA)
#2 [--] Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid (3-2-1) (WWF)
#3 [--] Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik (2-0-0) (WWF)
#4 [RE] Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane (2-0-0) (NWA)
#5 [-1] The Barbarian & The Warlord (2-0-0) (WWF)
#6 [-1] Paul Roma & Jim Powers (2-0-0) (WWF)
#7 [-1] Andre the Giant & Rick Rude (2-0-0) (WWF)
#8 [-1] Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage (2-0-0) (WWF)
#9 [--] Ax & Smash (2-2-0) (WWF) [Tag Team Champions]
#10 [-2] Road Warrior Hawk & Animal (2-2-0) (NWA)

Top Womens PPV Players
#1 [--] The Fabulous Moolah (2-0-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Wendi Richter (1-0-0) (WWF)
#3 [--] Rockin' Robin (1-0-0) (WWF)
#4 [--] Itsuki Yamazaki (1-0-0) (WWF)
#5 [--] Noriyo Tateno (1-0-0) (WWF)

 

Recent Pay-Per-View Event Results
- NWA Starrcade '88 (December 26, 1988)
- WWF Survivor Series (November 24, 1988)
- WWF Summerslam (August 29, 1988)
- NWA The Great American Bash (July 10, 1988)
- WWF Wrestlemania IV (March 27, 1988)
- NWA Bunkhouse Stampede (January24, 1988)

 

The Pay-Per-View Players rankings intend to take into account pay-per-view events promoted by NWA, WWF, WCW, ECW, WWE & TNA wrestling organizations. Only broadcast results contribute to the cumulative tally of win/loss record of wrestlers. Pre-show matches will not be included.

Wrestling: Pay-Per-View Players #11 - July 1988

#1 Randy Savage [--] (9-2-0) (WWF)
(World Heavyweight Champion)

The World Heavyweight Champion celebrates a successful defense at The Great American Bash '88 to leap back into the upper echelon of Pay-Per-View Players! Ric Flair is now in step with his arch-rival Hulk Hogan, his return to the top ranks at the expense of would-be usurper of Mania: Lex Luger! Meanwhile, further down the card, Sting makes his second PPV appearance and earns his second draw. An interesting start to what is sure to be a PPV legacy.

NWA fire back with tag team pedigree up the yin yang! Welcome The Road Warriors to the top tag team rankings! They arrive with fellow legendary duos: World Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard and US Tag Team Champions The Midnight Express II: Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane! With Morton & Gibson still Rockin 'n' Rollin in the top, WWF are  going to have to fund some legit tag teams to fire back in the 2-man stakes! If you know your Summerslam history you know things are about to get very interesting!

 

Top Ten Singles PPV Players

#1 [--] Randy Savage (9-2-0) (WWF) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#2 [--] Ricky Steamboat (6-3-0) (WWF)
#3 [--] Hulk Hogan (4-1-1) (WWF)
#4 [RE] Ric Flair (4-2-1) (NWA) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#5 [-1] Dynamite Kid (4-3-0) (WWF)
#6 [-1] Junkyard Dog (4-3-0) (WWF)
#7 [-1] Ricky Morton (3-0-0) (NWA)
#8 [-1] Robert Gibson (3-0-0) (NWA)
#9 [-1] Andre the Giant (3-1-1) (WWF)
#10 [-1] Brutus Beefcake (3-1-1) (WWF)
 

Top Ten Tag Team PPV Players

#1 [--] Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson (3-0-0) (NWA)
#2 [--] Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik (2-0-0) (WWF)
#3 [new] Road Warrior Hawk & Animal (2-1-0) (NWA)
#4 [-1] Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid (2-2-0) (WWF)
#5 [new] Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (1-0-1) (NWA) [World Tag Team Champions]
#6 [-2] Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood (1-0-0) (NWA)
#7 [new] Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane (1-0-0) (NWA) [US Tag Team Champions]
#8 [-3] Bob Orton Jr & Dick Slater (1-0-0) (NWA)
#9 [-3] Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin (1-0-0) (NWA)
#10 [-3] Assassin #1 & Assassin #2 (1-0-0) (NWA)

Top Womens PPV Players
#1 [--] The Fabulous Moolah (2-0-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Wendi Richter (1-0-0) (WWF)
#3 [--] Rockin' Robin (1-0-0) (WWF)
#4 [--] Itsuki Yamazaki (1-0-0) (WWF)
#5 [--] Noriyo Tateno (1-0-0) (WWF)

 

Recent Pay-Per-View Event Results
- NWA The Great American Bash (July 10, 1988)
- WWF Wrestlemania IV (March 27, 1988)
- NWA Bunkhouse Stampede (January24, 1988)
- WWF Survivor Series (November 26, 1987)
- NWA Starrcade '87 (November 26, 1987)
- WWF Wrestlemania III (March 29, 1987)

 

The Pay-Per-View Players rankings intend to take into account pay-per-view events promoted by NWA, WWF, WCW, ECW, WWE & TNA wrestling organizations. Only broadcast results contribute to the cumulative tally of win/loss record of wrestlers. Pre-show matches will not be included.

Wrestling: Pay-Per-View Players #8 - November 1987

#1 Ricky Steamboat [--] (6-2-0) (WWF)
(Intercontinental Champion)

It's WWF going head-to-head with NWA in a November 26 pay-per-view face-off! The stacked card of the annual Starrcade may have granted Ric Flair a return entry to the Top 10 -- but WWF's 5-on-5 Survivor Series keeps the entire Top 5 firmly in the grasp of the yankee promoter. Leading the charge for WWF is still the darling of Wrestlemania 3: Ricky Steamboat -- while down at third the perfect record of Hulk Hogan is besmirched courtesy of sole survivor Andre the Giant and the wall of humanity that kept Hogan out of the ring for a 10 count: King Kong Bundy & One Man Gang!

1987 fuels the Rock 'n' Roll Express as they become the new top ranked NWA stars (#6 & #7) -- top of the tag team ranks as well, of course. NWA's tag pedigree persists as Tully Blanchard creeps into an individual 10th with the World Tag Team Championships around he and Arn Anderson's waists! WWF aren't to be outdone: The British Bulldogs bursting back into the Top 3 tag teams as one of twenty duos participating in a massive Tag Team Survivor Series variant!

Meanwhile, the war of the fairer sex is completely one sided! A women's Survivor Series match bumps the total ranking divas to 11! International talent rounds out the list, but the stroke of The Fabulous Moolah pushes Cyndi Lauper's Wrestlemania leading lady: Wendi Richter. It's worth noting "The Spider Lady" Moolah contributed to stripping Richter of the title this time 2 years ago, beating Montreal to the punch by more than a decade. Allow me also to register personal amazement at Dawn Marie's involvement in the inaugural Survivor Series. I missed that one!

 

Top Ten Singles PPV Players

#1 [--] Ricky Steamboat (6-2-0) (WWF) [Intercontinental Champion]
#2 [+1] Randy Savage (5-2-0) (WWF)
#3 [-1] Hulk Hogan (4-1-0) (WWF) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#4 [+2] Dynamite Kid (4-2-0) (WWF)
#5 [-1] Junkyard Dog (4-2-0) (WWF)
#6 [+2] Ricky Morton (3-0-0) (NWA)
#7 [+2] Robert Gibson (3-0-0) (NWA)
#8 [RE] Ric Flair (3-1-1) (NWA) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#9 [-4] Jimmy Valiant (3-1-0) (NWA)
#10 [new] Tully Blanchard (3-1-0) (NWA) [World Tag Taem Champion]

 

Top Ten Tag Team PPV Players

#1 [--] Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson (3-0-0) (NWA)
#2 [--] Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik (2-0-0) (WWF)
#3 [RE] Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid (2-1-0) (WWF)
#4 [-1] Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood (1-0-0) (NWA)
#5 [-1] Bob Orton Jr & Dick Slater (1-0-0) (NWA)
#6 [-1] Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin (1-0-0) (NWA)
#7 [-1] Assassin #1 & Assassin #2 (1-0-0) (NWA)
#8 [-1] The Assassin & Buzz Tyler (1-0-0) (NWA)
#9 [-1] Hulk Hogan & Mr. T (1-0-0) (WWF)
#10 [-1] Jimmy Valiant & Ron Garvin (1-0-0) (NWA)

Top Womens PPV Players
#1 [+1] The Fabulous Moolah (2-0-0) (WWF)
#2 [-1] Wendi Richter (1-0-0) (WWF)
#3 [new] Rockin' Robin (1-0-0) (WWF)
#4 [new] Itsuki Yamazaki (1-0-0) (WWF)
#5 [new] Noriyo Tateno (1-0-0) (WWF)

 

Recent Pay-Per-View Event Results
- WWF Survivor Series (November 26, 1987)
- NWA Starrcade '87 (November 26, 1987)
- WWF Wrestlemania III (March 29, 1987)
- NWA Starrcade '86: Night of the Skywalkers (November 27, 1986)
- WWF Wrestlemania 2 (April 7, 1986)

 

The Pay-Per-View Players rankings intend to take into account pay-per-view events promoted by NWA, WWF, WCW, ECW, WWE & TNA wrestling organizations. Only broadcast results contribute to the cumulative tally of win/loss record of wrestlers. Pre-show matches will not be included.

Wrestling: Pay-Per-View Players #6 - November 1986

#1 Junkyard Dog [--] (4-1-0) (WWF)

A double disqualification keeps the NWA World Heavyweight Championship around the waist of Ric Flair, but "The Night of the Skywalkers" also keeps The Nature Boy from reclaiming his place amongst the Top 10 Pay-Per-View Players! His opponent NWA United States Champion Nikita Koloff was a late replacement for Magnum TA -- whose life and career was changed forever by a car accident that left him paralyzed.

Victory in a hair vs hair match over Paul Jones delivers the unlikely top ranked NWA star of Jimmy Valiant to the #5 spot. More thrilling might be the rise of The Rock 'n' Roll Express -- NWA World Tag Team Champions Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson! Their second Starrcade win puts them at the top of the NWA dominated tag team rankings, while Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey (The Midnight Express) drop to the bottom with their second loss.

 

Top Ten Singles PPV Players

#1 [--] Junkyard Dog (4-1-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] Randy Savage (4-1-0) (WWF) [Intercontinental Champion]
#3 [--] Ricky Steamboat (4-2-0) (WWF)
#4 [--] Hulk Hogan (3-0-0) (WWF) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#5 [RE] Jimmy Valiant (3-1-0) (NWA)
#6 [-1] The Dynamite Kid (3-1-0) (WWF) [Tag Team Champion]
#7 [new] Krusher Khruschev (2-0-0) (NWA) [US Tag Team Champion]
#8 [new] Ricky Morton (2-0-0) (NWA) [World Tag Team Champion]
#9 [new] Robert Gibson (2-0-0) (NWA) [World Tag Team Champion]
#10 [-4] The Assassin (2-0-0) (NWA)

 

Top Ten Tag Team PPV Players

#1 [+2] Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson (2-0-0) (NWA) [World Tag Team Champion]
#2 [-1] Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood (1-0-0) (NWA)
#3 [-1] Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik (1-0-0) (WWF)
#4 [--] Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid (1-0-0) (WWF) [Tag Team Champions]
#5 [--] Bob Orton Jr & Dick Slater (1-0-0) (NWA)
#6 [--] Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin (1-0-0) (NWA)
#7 [--] Assassin #1 & Assassin #2 (1-0-0) (NWA)
#8 [--] The Assassin & Buzz Tyler (1-0-0) (NWA)
#9 [--] Hulk Hogan & Mr. T (1-0-0) (WWF)
#10 [new] Jimmy Valiant & Ron Garvin (1-0-0) (NWA)

Top Womens PPV Players
#1 [--] Wendi Richter (1-0-0) (WWF)
#2 [--] The Fabulous Moolah (1-0-0) (WWF) [Women's Champion]
#3 [--] Leilani Kai (1-0-0) (WWF)
#4 [--] Velvet McIntyre (0-1-0) (WWF)

 

Recent Pay-Per-View Event Results
- NWA Starrcade '86: Night of the Skywalkers (November 27, 1986)
- WWF Wrestlemania 2 (April 7, 1986)
- NWA Starrcade '85: The Gathering (November 28, 1985)
- WWF The Wrestling Classic (November 7, 1985)
- WWF Wrestlemania (March 31, 1985)

 

The Pay-Per-View Players rankings intends to take into account pay-per-view events promoted by NWA, WWF, WCW, ECW, WWE & TNA wrestling organizations. Only broadcast results contribute to the cumulative tally of win/loss record of wrestlers.

Wrestling: Pay-Per-View Players #4 - November 1985

#1 Junkyard Dog [new] (4-0-0) (WWF)

As if anticipating the prestigious rankings of the PPV Players -- WWF launch a second pay-per-view event to counter the NWA's annual spectacular. Starrcade '85: The Gathering packed a punch with its catalogue of national stars, but WWF stormed the stats with their The Wrestling Classic tournament timed a deliberate three weeks ahead on November 7th. The result is (presumably) one of the most unlikely top ranked stars we'll see throughout the ages: Wrestling Classic winner "JYD" Junkyard Dog!

Ric Flair notably concedes the top spot, trading the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and his '84 victory back to Dusty Rhodes in '85. That lone loss has shocking statistical implications as the steadfast "Nature Boy" plummets beneath WWF's tournament challengers and crossover talent. Randy Savage sure knows how to make an impression, debuting as tournament runner-up and #2 PPV Player as of November '85. Hulk Hogan has the WWF World Heavyweight Championship and his first Top 10 ranking. Ever the second - workhorse Ricky Steamboat rides his Wrestling Classic campaign to remain steady at #3.

Tag team wrestling remains a little on the sparse side, but the big news this month is the official registration of new NWA World Tag Team Champions: The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson)! Also on the winners list is defending NWA National Tag Team Champions: "The Minnesota Wrecking Crew" Ole & Arn Anderson! We'll see if/how WWF respond!

 

Top Ten Singles PPV Players

#1 [new] Junkyard Dog (4-0-0) (WWF)
#2 [new] Randy Savage (3-1-0) (WWF)
#3 [--] Ricky Steamboat (3-2-0) (WWF)
#4 [new] Tito Santana (2-0-1) (WWF)
#5 [-3] The Assassin (2-0-0) (NWA)
#6 [new] Hulk Hogan (2-0-0) (WWF) [World Heavyweight Champion]
#7 [new] Manny Fernandez (2-0-0) (NWA)
#8 [-7] Ric Flair (2-1-0) (NWA)
#9 [new] Jimmy Valiant (2-1-0) (NWA)
#10 [new] Ron Bass (2-1-0) (NWA)

 

Top Ten Tag Team PPV Players

#1 [--] Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood (1-0-0) (NWA)
#2 [--] Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik (1-0-0) (WWF) [Tag Team Champions]
#3 [new] Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson (1-0-0) (NWA) [World Tag Team Champions]
#4 [-1] Bob Orton Jr & Dick Slater (1-0-0) (NWA)
#5 [-1] Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin (1-0-0) (NWA)
#6 [-1] Assassin #1 & Assassin #2 (1-0-0) (NWA)
#7 [-1] Ivan Koloff & Nikita Koloff (1-0-0) (NWA)
#8 [-1] The Assassin & Buzz Tyler (1-0-0) (NWA)
#9 [-1] Hulk Hogan & Mr. T (1-0-0) (WWF)
#10 [new] Ole Anderson & Arn Anderson (1-0-0) (NWA) [National Tag Team Champions]

Top Womens PPV Players
#1 [--] Wendi Richter (1-0-0) (WWF) [Womens Champion]
#2 [--] Leilani Kai (1-0-0) (WWF)

 

Recent Pay-Per-View Event Results
- NWA Starrcade '85: The Gathering (November 28, 1985)
- WWF The Wrestling Classic (November 7, 1985)
- WWF Wrestlemania (March 31, 1985)
- NWA Starrcade '84: The Million Dollar Challenge (November 22, 1984)
- NWA Starrcade '83: A Flair for the Gold (November 24, 1983)

 

The Pay-Per-View Players rankings intends to take into account pay-per-view events promoted by NWA, WWF, WCW, ECW, WWE & TNA wrestling organizations. Only broadcast results contribute to the cumulative tally of win/loss record of wrestlers.

Wrestling: Pay-Per-View Players - November 1983

#1 Ric Flair [--] (1-0-0) (NWA)
(World Heavyweight Champion)

Ric Flair defeated Harley Race in a steel cage match at Starrcade '83 to become the NWA World Heavyweight Champion. With a win priority and weighted losses, this makes Ric Flair the first #1 ranked PPV Player, while Harley Race is forced outside the Top 10 by default of booking.

 

As in the Kayfabe Countdown, championship victories break the tie to organize Ric Flair at the top. PPV title wins will be tallied additionally from future results, but individual belt reigns will not be.

From eight Starrcade matches: 12 wrestlers secured victories. The Assassins are the only winners outside the inaugural Top 10, having won an opening tag team bout against Rufus R. Jones & Bugsy McGraw. Both teams have been included in the tag ranks [below].

 

Top Ten Singles PPV Players

#1 [--] Ric Flair (1-0-0) (NWA) (World Heavyweight Champion)

#2 [--] Ricky Steamboat (1-0-0) (NWA) (Tag Team Champion)
#3 [--] Jay Youngblood (1-0-0) (NWA) (Tag Team Champion)

#4 [--] Charlie Brown (1-0-0) (NWA) (Television Champion)
#5 [--] Roddy Piper (1-0-0) (NWA)
#6 [--] Bob Orton Jr (1-0-0) (NWA)
#7 [--] Dick Slater (1-0-0) (NWA)
#8 [--] Abdullah the Butcher (1-0-0) (NWA)
#9 [--] Kevin Sullivan (1-0-0) (NWA)
#10 [--] Mark Lewin (1-0-0) (NWA)

 

Top Tag Team PPV Players

#1 [--] Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood (1-0-0) (NWA) [Tag Team Champions]
#2 [--] Bob Orton Jr & Dick Slater (1-0-0) (NWA)
#3 [--] Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin (1-0-0) (NWA)
#4 [--] Assassin #1 & Assassin #2 (1-0-0) (NWA)
#5 [--] Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco (0-1-0) (NWA)
#6 [--] Mark Youngblood & Wahoo McDaniel (0-1-0) (NWA)
#7 [--] Scott McGhee & Johnny Weaver (0-1-0) (NWA)
#8 [--] Rufus R. Jones & Bugsy McGraw (0-1-0) (NWA)

 

Events Featured In November 1983
- NWA: Starrcade (November 24, 1983)

 

The Pay-Per-View Players rankings intends to take into account pay-per-view events promoted by NWA, WWF, WCW, ECW, WWE & TNA wrestling organizations. Only broadcast results contribute to the cumulative tally of win/loss record of wrestlers.