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With the return of Halloween Havoc looming, it's a wonderful time to look back at a heavily-maligned but legendary event. This show was among the biggest WCW pay-per-views every year, but it also had a history of hosting some unique stipulation matches.
The new NXT special will attempt to live up to its legacy with the return of Halloween Havoc. Besides the outrageous sets and moments, this event has produced several memorable encounters. From the hard-hitting tag team clashes between the Steiner Brothers and Nasty Boys to battles featuring future Hall of Famers like Steve Austin vs. Dustin Rhodes, the matches at Halloween Havoc left a lasting impact on the fans.
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In this article, we will rank the five greatest Halloween Havoc matches in history. This will be a collection of stellar and celebrated contests from this storied event.
#5. Diamond Dallas Page vs. "Macho Man" Randy Savage in a Las Vegas Sudden Death Match - Halloween Havoc 1997
Let's start with one of the very best WCW feuds ever. "Macho Man" Randy Savage vs. Diamond Dallas Page was one of the rivalries that defined the promotion's most acclaimed era. After two stellar clashes at Spring Stampede and Great American Bash in 1997, both men looked to finally settle the score in a Las Vegas Sudden Death Match at Halloween Havoc.
This encounter delivered magnificent storytelling that beautifully showcased the hatred these two men had for one another. It was a brutal brawl that spilled out into ringside as both men attempted to destroy one another at Halloween Havoc in Las Vegas. In the end, Hulk Hogan, dressed as Sting, struck DDP with a bat, which allowed Macho Man to secure the victory.
This was one of the most entertaining WCW Street Fight or No Disqualification matches. Macho Man and DDP's feud came to a wonderful and violent conclusion and elevated the Halloween Havoc 1997 card. This card featured another stellar bout that we will discuss later.
#4. Goldberg vs. Diamond Dallas Page for the WCW Heavyweight Championship - Halloween Havoc 1998
This list continues with another DDP match and a controversial entry due to its polarizing reception among fans and critics. In the main event of Halloween Havoc 1998, Goldberg defended the WCW Heavyweight Championship against Diamond Dallas Page. This was a battle of two of the hottest babyfaces in the company. Although this match was highly anticipated, it didn't go off without a hitch.
Because Halloween Havoc 1998 ran over three and a half hours long, some pay-per-view feeds cut off before the main event. This forced WCW to air the showdown again the following night on Nitro, which was considered one of the many blunders of an often criticized period for the promotion.
The two men had the unenviable task of following one of the worst matches in WCW history, the WrestleMania 6 rematch between Hollywood Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior. Although there was a lot working against them, the two WWE Hall of Famers delivered a thrilling contest that is arguably the best match of Goldberg's career. It also has to be among the best additions from Halloween Havoc.
#3. Ric Flair Sting vs. Terry Funk and The Great Muta in a Thunderdome Match - Halloween Havoc 1989
Before WWE created the virtual fan experience at the Amway Center in Orlando, WCW introduced the Thunderdome match at the first-ever Halloween Havoc event in 1989. This tag team contest inside a 10,000-watt steel cage was the next chapter in the feud between Terry Funk and Ric Flair. The two men started their classic rivalry at Great American Bash 1989, where Flair defeated Funk.
Following the match, The Great Muta came down to beat down Flair at the behest of he and Funk's manager, Gary Hart. Sting made the save, leading to this Halloween Havoc showdown with Bruno Sammartino as the special guest referee. With four of the best competitors of the 80s on hand, this old school cage match was a grueling encounter with a dramatic finish.
With Funk locked in the Figure Four Leg Lock, Sting came off the top rope and landed a huge splash. The Great Muta came in to attack Sammartino, but he struck back, knocking him out of the ring. Hart attempted to interfere, but Ole Anderson cut him off, which forced Hart to throw in the towel and grant Sting and Flair the win.
All four men delivered a remarkable brawl that was built to give the fans a satisfying outcome and end Halloween Havoc 1989 on a high note. This continued the feud between Funk and Flair, which led to their fantastic "I Quit" Match in the following month.
#2. Big Van Vader vs. Cactus Jack in a Texas Death match - Halloween Havoc 1993
Heading into Halloween Havoc 1993, WCW prepared for their second annual "Spin The Wheel, Make A Deal" match. This concept meant participants would have to spin a wheel with different match types on it to determine the stipulation for their contest going into the event. Ahead of the show, fans looked forward to Cactus Jack versus WCW Heavyweight Champion, Big Van Vader.
Before this pay-per-view, Vader concussed Jack when powerbombed him on the concrete floor. As a result, the hardcore legend contracted amnesia and took part in the "Lost In Cleveland" skits. The less said about that the better.
The conclusion to this story came in this Halloween Havoc face-off where the wheel landed on a Texas Death Match. With two of the most well-known brawlers in professional wrestling history on tap, this had all the makings of a barbaric confrontation.
This Texas Death Match featured hard-hitting action and some simply wince-inducing bumps. At one point, Vader nearly ended Mick Foley's career, landing on Jack backward on the entrance ramp. The two men put on one of the most legendary battles of their respective careers that still holds up as one of the very best matches to take place at Halloween Havoc.
#1. Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio in a Title vs. Mask Match for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship - Halloween Havoc 1997
Going back to Halloween Havoc 1997, the highlight of the night had to be Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio's Title vs. Mask Match for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship. Heading into this contest, Eddie had gotten the better of Mysterio, which led the legendary luchador to put his mask on the line at the pay-per-view event.
This WCW Cruiserweight Championship Match featured plenty of high-risk action and innovative offense. The unbelievable chemistry on display in this showing left the MGM Grand crowd stunned at Halloween Havoc 1997. It was nearly fourteen glorious minutes of superb storytelling and creativity in the ring. In the end, Mysterio pulled out the victory to keep his mask and win the Cruiserweight title.
This was a simply phenomenal encounter that became a high watermark in each competitor's career. Mysterio's tremendous aerial arsenal meshed so well with Guerrero's technical prowess in this match. This was not only the greatest Halloween Havoc match of all time but possibly the best match WCW has ever produced.
