wrestling / TV Reports
411’s WWE Greatest Moments Report: Lex Luger
Image Credit: WWE
-Written: 7.20.26
-Source: A&E
-Run Time: 30 minutes (w/ commercials)
-Plug: NXT TakeOver Brooklyn
-Michael Cole is our host and narrator!
10. A Legendary Night
-Sept. 1, 1986
-This was Battle of the Belts III as Championship Wrestling from Florida put on a super card under the NWA banner and rising star, Lex Luger, gets a World Title Match against Ric Flair. The match was 2 of 3 Falls and they went to a 60 minute draw as each won one fall. Flair notes he was the traveling World Champion and had to prove he was the best. Bill Alfonso says Flair made rookie Luger look like a million dollars. Lex calls Flair a star maker.
9. Caged Nightmare
-July 11, 1987
-Luger vs. Koloff in a cage! Koloff notes he had the honor of putting Lex on the map that night. Lex says it established him as a heel with The Horsemen. He cheats to win and Lex wins The US Championship. That belt looked great on him. Great stuff!
8. Slaying Rodzilla
–Bash at The Beach 1997
-Hogan/Rodman vs. Luger/Giant. Bischoff says Hogan and Rodman made Luger a bigger star than he had ever been that night. Luger racks Hogan for the win and racks Rodman for good measure. That’s a heck of a highlight and Bischoff is right as Luger got white hot.
-Commercials!
7. All Aboard The Lex Express
-Summer 1993
-I never got into Lex and the Lex Express Campaign. Lex says it was an incredible tour and mentions the first appearance in Massachusetts with 7000 people. Matt Hardy says it was a mark out moment for him. No mention of how they paid off that Lex Express run at SummerSlam?
6. Split Decision
-Royal Rumble 1994
-I have this show reviewed and in the can. It should drop after my NXT shows are done. This is the famous Rumble where we got a tie as Lex and Bret both go over the top and hit the floor at the same time. Bret and Lex both put over how they hit at the exact time. Luger calls it a huge honor to win the Rumble (even as a Co-Winner).
-Commercials!
5. A Champion For America
-June 10, 1989
-Lex regains his US Title from Michael Hayes. Hayes mentions Luger could do things with his strength that was rather impressive. He wins this match with a roll-up though. Luger mentions he still holds the record for longest US Title reign at 523 days. Don’t say that too loud or HHH will have someone break it.
4. A Bash for a Champion
–Great American Bash 91
-Oh this show! This was supposed to be Luger’s coronation but WCW brass pissed off Ric Flair, so he left the company and took The Big Gold Belt with him. Lex gets to face Barry Windham for the Championship inside a cage and the crowd chants for Flair. That’s not mentioned here. Lex turns heel (while the crowd cheers) as Harley Race comes out as his new manager. He beats Windham with a piledriver to finally win The World Title.
3. Total Shocker
–WCW Nitro: Sept. 4, 1995
-The first shot in the Monday Night War as Lex Luger is a free agent who worked for WWF on Sunday and then showed up on the first Nitro the next night. It seems Luger only had a handshake agreement with Vince. After all the time Vince screwed someone, it was fine having someone do the same to him. It was also the big statement WCW needed to show they were going after the WWF’s throat with Nitro.
-Commercials!
2. Taking Hollywood
-Nitro: Aug. 4, 1997
-Really? This isn’t #1? It’s the 100th episode of Nitro and Lex Luger ends Hollywood Hogan’s run as WCW World Champion. Great moment and listen to that crowd. Eric says it was important to Lex to be recognized as one of the top guys. The WCW roster hits the ring and celebrates with Lex. Hogan says Lex had it all and was the right guy at the right time.
1. Uncle Slam
-July 4, 1993
-What is this nonsense? They really put a WWF moment over Lex beating Hogan? This being #2 would be fine, but no way it should be above LUGER BEATING HULK HOGAN FOR THE WORLD TITLE. Lex Luger was a heel, but WWF needed a new Hogan, so Lex shows up on The USS Intrepid in a helicopter and bodyslams Yokozuna on July 4. Great visual for sure, but come on man. They didn’t even follow up with the proper ending.
-My complaining about the top moment aside, this was a fun list and the nostalgia was strong. They usually stick the landing in this series, but this is one time, I will disagree with their choice for the top spot. It should have been Luger beating Hogan as he was never more over than he was that night and it gave him the big time World Title win he didn’t really get when he beat Windham.
-Thanks for reading!
