Wrestling: Pay-Per-View Players #31 - November 1990

#1 Hulk Hogan [+1] (14-3-1) (WWF)

The wrestling world trembles as the two biggest forces unite to become sole survivors on November 22nd: Hulk Hogan & Ultimate Warrior -- together! Such was the conclusion of Survivor Series 1990, where the survivors of five 4-on-4 elimination matches returned to the ring to compete in a sixth Grand Finale of Survival bout! Tito Santana joined the under-manned babyface team in a 3-on-5 predicament against Ted DiBiase, Rick Martel, The Warlord, Hercules Hernandez & Paul Roma!

This double duty delivers The Hulkster to a long awaited #1 ranking. He dethrones "King Macho" Randy Savage, who appeared in an interview segment to challenge Warrior for the WWF Heavyweight Championship. In terms of PPV statistics, it would be a challenge to restore Savage to the top of the ranks!

Demolition add a third member - Crush - but continue their decline in the tag team stakes. Novelty act The Bushwackers submit their entry into the list with a win, bumping long inactive British Bulldogs to the #10 spot. Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart survive in the Top 5 with a foundation built on the WWF Tag Team Championship, but could not secure victory for their Dream Team led by Dusty Rhodes.

In a bombshell changing of the guard - The Road Warriors cross lines to declare their candidacy for top ranks in the name of WWF! The former NWA stalwarts shared the spoilers of The Ultimate Warrior's success against Curt Hennig's "Perfect Team". The conversion grants WWF a reversal of fortunes, granting 70% of the Top 10 singles ranks! 1990 draws to a close with Starrcade -- the perfect time for NWA to establish a new vanguard of top stars! Will they reclaim control of the Top 10? It's the NWA's last stand as the World Championship Wrestling era dawns!

 

Top Ten Singles PPV Players

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

Top Ten Tag Team PPV Players

#1 [--] Road Warrior Hawk & Animal (11-3-0) (WWF)
#2 [+1] Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane (6-3-0) (NWA)
#3 [+2] Rick & Scott Steiner (6-3-0) (NWA)
#4 [-2] Ax & Smash (6-4-0) (WWF)
#5 [-1] 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 [new] Bushwacker Luke & Butch (3-1-0) (WWF)
#10 [-1] 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
- 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 #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.