The Great 8: Top Eight Halloween Havoc Matches

As I said in last week’s column, this is my favorite time of year. A running joke in my house is that Halloween is every day for me. I can’t say I was always a fan of horror, because when I was a little kid, everything scared me. But once horror clicked, it clicked hard, and it’s been a fascination for me ever since. So, what better way to celebrate my favorite time of year than by celebrating the best of the PPV that pays tribute to this delightful night of horrors?

The first Halloween Havoc took place in 1989 and became a staple event for WCW until 2000. Since then, it has become an NXT event, first as a special and, as of this year, a PLE. As with all WCW PPVs, there was a large mix of good, bad, and mediocre. For every Eddie Guerrero vs Rey Mysterio, we have a Coal Miner’s Glove or Chamber or Horrors match. And as with all my WCW based columns, one day I could probably due a worst of list. But for now, let’s get on with the greatness!

Disclaimers

Caveat: I am only rating the matches from the annual WCW PPVs. There have been some great NXT matches since it was brought back. So, special shout-outs to Ilja Dragonuv vs Carmelo Hayes from 2023. and Io Shirai vs Candice LeRae from 2020.

Disclaimer: This is my list; if you don’t like it or have a different list, awesome! Please share your own list and opinions in the comments section. I welcome open discourse about this wacky art we all love. It is an art form, so it is subjective; we all have our opinions on it, and all of them are valid. So, if you want to share your thoughts and opinions, don’t insult others for their opinion. There is enough negativity in the world right now; let’s not add to it. And with that, on to the list!

HM: World Championship Scott Steiner vs Booker T, 2000, United States Championship Dustin Rhodes vs Steve Austin, 1993, and United States Championship Sting vs Bret Hart, 1998

The Great 8

8. Ricky Steamboat vs Brian Pillman, 1992

I looked everywhere for a video of this match, and the only one I could find is from the WWE website, and it doesn’t embed. So, if you have Peacock go watch this now, or click the link for a clipped version.

I think this match gets slept on, as I rarely, if ever, see it come up. Pillman is coming off a heel turn in September, and shows a more mean streak here. This is also when Bill Watts has the book, so the turn helped Pillman add more than just high flying.

The match itself is just fun to watch. You get to see Steamboat play the power guy here, which is rare for him. He also does a fun spot after Pillman takes him down. Steamboat gets up, sees Pillman isn’t looking, so he lies back down to bait him in for an attack.

There is a lot of good limb work and reversals in this as well. You have two of the best to ever do it in there, and if you go back and watch this, you won’t be disappointed.

7. World Television Championship Dustin Rhodes vs Steve Austin, 1991

It’s always interesting to go back and see Steve Austin before his injuries started piling on. He moves so quickly in this match; that leapfrog spot early on is so smooth. WCW era Dustin Rhodes also gets slept on. He was stuck in his dad’s shadow, which is a shame because he could go. These two start at a quick pace and throw in some good reversals and technical wrestling before they smoothly transition into brawling. Dustin continues to try anything he can to put Austin away in the 15-minute time limit, while Austin does everything he can to fend him off and try to win or outlast the clock.

Much like most of WCW’s history, the undercard in the early 1990s was incredibly solid, and the main event scene was decent during this time. Hogan was still a couple of years off, Sting and Luger were at the top, and Vader was running wild. If they had led Austin, Pillman, and Rhodes to rise further up the card, they would have caught fire a lot sooner.

6. World Television Championship Davey Boy Smith vs Steven Regal, 1993

This was unlike anything going on at the time. From the start, you have Bulldog and Regal working the classic British wristlock reversal spots. They set a good pace and didn’t let the technical aspects slow down the match. Bulldog shows off his athleticism, and even Regal pulls out a cartwheel! Re-watching this today reminded me of why I love Regal. He is just so smooth and has some of the best facial expressions ever.

The scientific wrestling breaks down as the match continues, and we see Bulldog pull out the power to try and stop Regal. But Regal uses his submission game to find a way to stay in the match the entire time. Just like the previous entry, this is a match that deserves more attention and should be required viewing for wrestlers.

5. Las Vegas Sudden Death Match Diamond Dallas Page vs Randy Savage, 1997

By 1997, Savage was on the tail end of his career, and Page was quickly making his way up. This match would go a long way in helping to make Page an upper-card mainstay. Savage bumped like a madman and helped Page look strong even in defeat. In the political hell that was WCW, Savage could have buried Page here; he didn’t have to bump and sell like he did.

It really shows the difference between Savage and Hogan. Savage knew his time was limited, and he spent a lot of it trying to help others get over. That probably has a lot to do with Savage growing up in the industry and understanding how the business works.

The match itself is a fun plunder brawl, and at the time, these match types were commonplace yet. I also just want to say that going back and watching old stuff reminds me that I love the less polished production compared to mainstream wrestling today.

4. Texas Death Match Vader vs Cactus Jack, 1993

Talking about matches that weren’t common. Sure, in Memphis and Amarillo, fans were used to bloody brawls. But nothing like this was going on at a national level. It was commonplace to see Flair get busted open, but it wasn’t as violent as what Vader and Jack could do. The only matches I can think of that would have pre-dated this would be Valentine vs Piper and Blanchard vs Magnam TA.

This one starts hot, wth Jack attacking Vader on the ramp and beating him around the ring. He even took a fan’s camera to hit Vader with! It would take five minutes for them to even get in the ring, and from there, it would be back and forth. Jack would get busted open early, and Harley Race would try to interfere a few times.

I feel the finish is anti-climactic, but that is WCW for you. It wouldn’t be the last time we saw a taser finish a match, either! Shout out to Race for taking a double arm DDT on the ramp to close out the night, though!

3. Cruiserweight Championship Dean Malenko vs Rey Mysterio Jr., 1996

Less than a year into the life of the WCW Cruiserweight title, Malenko and Mysterio would help to establish what the division was all about. This is actually the fourth match the two had for the title. With Mysterio challenging Malenko in his debut at Great American Bash, winning a rematch on an episode of Nitro in July, and defending against Malenko at Clash of Champions XXXIII.

This match is a mesh of Mysterio’s high-flying Luchadore style and Malenko’s strong style inspired, strikes and submissions. Malenko is so crisp and smooth with everything he does. I stand by that if he had debuted in the 2000s, and came up in ROH he would be a bigger name. Mysterio is Mysterio, he is probably the most globally famous luchador. He paved the way for everyone after him, and watching him in 1996 shows that if he debuted today, he would fit right in.

This is another match that should be required viewing.  And honestly makes me want to go back and watch more Malenko matches.

2. World Heavyweight Championship Diamond Dallas Page vs Goldberg 1998

WCW, being WCW, forgot to tell PPV carriers that they were going over time. So, young me got to watch this on Nitro. I remember being sucked into the match. Even as a Goldberg fan, I rooted for DDP. I wanted to see DDP finally get the big win, and ending the streak would have been huge. Of course, that wasn’t to be. Goldberg would win and go on to lose to Nash (that’s the other taser loss) at Starrcade.

This match is Goldberg’s best match. Much like Savage did for him the year before, DDP does everything he can to make Goldberg look like a million bucks. I love the start of the match with DDP showing no fear, trying to take it to Goldberg despite the power difference. And from there it just keeps building. DDP made me believe he could win, as he kept finding ways to come back.

DDP showed why scripting the whole match out and practicing it isn’t always a bad thing. Like I said, this is Goldberg’s best match, and that is because of DDP.

1. Cruiserweight Championship Rey Mysterio Jr vs Eddie Guerrero 1997

Was the number one in any doubt? This isn’t just the best Halloween Havoc match; it’s one of the best WCW matches ever. This would be the first, in a long history, of feuds and friendship between Guerrero and Mysterio. I believe Guerrero is the true GOAT he could wrestle any style and do it believably. He had a natural charisma and could cut promos with the best of them.

I’ve already talked about Mysterio; this match shows how much he grew as a performer in just a year. Learning to show more emotion and let things breathe a bit to build tension. This also started a longstanding Mysterio tradition of making outfits based on movies. Though I doubt anyone remembers Mask of the Phantasm today!

A third match that should’ve required viewing here, as two legends go at it in a hard-fought match, filled with high-flying action, energy, and passion.