Dave Meltzer has been the authority on professional wrestling since the early 1980s, and has since awarded Star-Ratings to matches featured on pay-per-view. But what about the entire show? So often I’ve found myself watching an event because I heard one specific match was worth watching, but the rest winds up being unbearable. I’ve been working hard on averaging every single pay per view in WCW history, alongside every WWE pay per view up until 2001. What were the best overall events according to Dave Meltzer’s Star Ratings? I’ve got a lot more information on the way, but I figured I’d preview my forthcoming series with a Handy Top Ten that you can use to navigate the WWE Network. If you’re looking to watch a show you’ve never seen but don’t want to be stuck waiting for one or two solid bouts, then check out my "Top PPVs from 1985 to 2001.”
Note: Some shows have more matches than others. In fact mostВ WCW pay per views featured ten matches on average, while WWE very rarely went beyond seven or eight. In some cases WWE had as few as four matches scheduled for one show. Furthermore, there are noВ WWE or WCW ppv’s from 1985-2001 with an average Star Rating of more than 4. A show with two 5-Star Matches could be brought down by whatever else is booked around it. As you’re about to find out.
В
Bash at the Beach ’97
Dave's Top Match:
Chris Jericho vs. Ultimo Dragon – Cruiserweight Title –
4 ¼ Stars
Mark's Favorite:
Chris Benoit vs. Kevin Sullivan – Retirement Match –
2 ½ Stars
Overall Star Rating: 2 ВЅ
*
*There are plenty of events totaling higher averages than 2.5, but Bash at the Beach '97 is the only event from '85 to 2001 that features TWO five star matches. So I decided to feature it as number 10.
Halloween Havoc ’93
Dave's Top Match:
Vader vs. Cactus Jack – Texas Death Match
4 ¾ Stars
Mark's Favorite:
Paul Orndorff vs. Ricky Steamboat
3 ½ Stars
Overall Star Rating: 3
Survivor Series ’87
Dave's Top Match:
Team Strike Force vs. Team Demolition – Elimination Match
4 Stars
Mark's Favorite:
Team Andre vs. Team Hogan – Elimination Match
3 ¾ Stars
Overall Star Rating: 3
Spring Stampede ’94
Dave's Top Match:
Cactus Jack/Max Payne vs. Nasty Boys – Tag Title Street Fight
4 ½ Stars
Mark's Favorite:
Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat – WCW Title
4 ½ Stars
Overall Star Rating: 3
Beach Blast ’92
Dave's Top Match:
Cactus Jack vs. Sting – Falls Count Anywhere
4 ½ Stars
Mark's Favorite:
Ricky Steamboat vs. Rick Rude – Iron Man Match
3 ½ Stars
Overall Star Rating: 3
Royal Rumble ’01
Dave's Top Match:
Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho – IC Ladder Match
4 ¾ Stars
Mark's Favorite:
The Royal Rumble Match
3 ¼ Stars
Overall Star Rating: 3
Great American Bash ’89
Dave's Top Match:
Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk – NWA Title
4 ½ Stars
Mark's Favorite:
Lex Luger vs. Ricky Steamboat – US Title
4 ¼ Stars
Overall Star Rating: 3
Royal Rumble ’95
Dave's Top Match:
Bret Hart vs. Diesel – WWE Title
4 ¼ Stars
Mark's Favorite:
Jeff Jarrett vs. Razor Ramon – IC Title
3 ¼ Stars
Overall Star Rating: 3 1/4
Starrcade ’88 "True Gritt"
Dave's Top Match:
Ric Flair vs. Lex Luger – NWA Title
4 ½ Stars
Mark's Favorite:
Midnight Express vs. Original Midnight Express
3 ¼ Stars
Overall Star Rating: 3 1/4
IYH #16 Canadian Stampede
Dave's Top Match:
Main Event 5-on-5 Tag Match
4 ¼ Stars
Mark's Favorite:
The Great Sasuke vs. Takamichinoku
Overall Star Rating: 3 1/2
There’s a lot of information to be taken from this study, more than I could possible preview right now. But I look forward to bringing you all the details later this week exclusively at Cheap-Heat.com . Until next time, please LIKE "The B+ Players Podcast" on Facebook , and FOLLOW me on Twitter for all the latest and greatest updates courtesy of Cheap-Heat and Daily Wrestling News !
