Dusty Rhodes, famously known as “The American Dream,” may not have always been heralded for his booking acumen in wrestling, but one concept he unquestionably got right was the creation of War Games. The idea of combining two wrestling rings surrounded by a massive steel cage was a stroke of genius, inspired by the movie Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome. Just like the chaotic battles in that film, War Games brought forth some of the most brutal matches in wrestling history, where the outcome was often as unpredictable as the carnage within.
War Games originated in Jim Crockett Promotions, eventually making its way to WCW and later finding a home within WWE. Over the years, we’ve witnessed both spectacular and disappointing iterations of this match, but one thing remains constant: the visceral excitement that erupts when any on-air authority figure declares “War Games!” It signals that we’re about to witness something unforgettable, for better or worse.
In this piece, I’ve explored some of the most notable moments from War Games, striving to fairly represent both the NWA/WCW and WWE eras. While it would have been easy to focus solely on WWE’s generally higher-quality matches, I’ve made an effort to include highlights from both organizations to paint a comprehensive picture of this iconic match’s legacy.
5: Fall Brawl 1996 – Team WCW (Sting, Lex Luger, Ric Flair and Arn Anderson) vs. Team NWO (Hulk Hogan, NWO Sting, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash)
A few months before this match, Hulk Hogan shocked the wrestling world by becoming the third man in the NWO, betraying WCW and delivering his infamous leg drop on “Macho Man” Randy Savage. This heel turn marked a pivotal moment for WCW, as it provided them with a compelling storyline to challenge Vince McMahon and thus ignite the Monday Night Wars.
After aligning with the NWO and embracing his role as a villain for the first time in his career, Hogan, along with Hall and Nash, dominated WCW, either defeating or recruiting anyone who dared oppose them. One of their key targets was Sting, the longtime poster boy for WCW. The prospect of Sting joining the NWO would have been a massive coup, and for a while, it seemed like that might actually happen.
In the lead-up to Fall Brawl, “Sting” was seen emerging from an NWO limousine and attacking his close friend Lex Luger, leaving him lying in the ring. This shocking moment put the NWO in the driver’s seat heading into the crucial War Games match. Despite the NWO’s claims that “Sting” would be on their team at the pay-per-view, the real Sting vehemently insisted to Luger, Anderson, and Flair that he was not the man who betrayed them. However, his pleas fell on deaf ears.
As the match began, the burning question on everyone’s mind was whether Sting would indeed join the NWO, as Hogan, Hall, and Nash had claimed, or if he would lead WCW’s charge. When the so-called NWO Sting appeared, it seemed like we had our answer. However, looking back, it’s almost laughable that the creative team thought fans would mistake the imposter for the real Sting. The differences were obvious, and hearing the commentators insist otherwise felt far-fetched.
While the match itself doesn’t rank among the top ten War Games encounters, the ending is what makes it memorable. The real Sting eventually appeared, decisively dismantling the NWO and proving his innocence. However, his anger at being doubted by his WCW teammates led him to shout, “Is that good enough?” before abandoning the match, leaving Team WCW short-handed. This moment marked the birth of the Crow Sting, a darker, more enigmatic character that would become one of wrestling’s hottest storylines for over a year, significantly boosting WCW’s position in the wrestling wars against WWE.
4: WrestleWar 1992 – Stings Squadron (Sting, Barry Windham, Dustin Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat and Nikita Koloff) v The Dangerous Alliance (Steve Austin, Rick Rude, Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton and Larry Zbyszko)
As 1991 drew to a close and 1992 began, many of the wrestlers involved in this War Games match had already been locked in fierce rivalries with one another.
Earlier in the year, after winning the World Heavyweight Championship, Sting hosted a press conference to announce his next title defense. However, the event was interrupted by the United States Champion and Dangerous Alliance member, Rick Rude, who escalated tensions by throwing coffee on Sting. This act of disrespect ignited a brawl between the Dangerous Alliance and Sting, culminating in the return of Nikita Koloff, who intervened to save the champion from a brutal beatdown.
At the same event where Sting claimed the world title, Rick Rude successfully defended his U.S. Championship against Ricky Steamboat. On that very show, Barry Windham and Dustin Rhodes clashed with “Stunning” Steve Austin and Larry Zbyszko in a tag team match. As you can see, most of these competitors had been at each other’s throats long before stepping into the War Games cage, adding layers of history and intensity to the match—something far more satisfying than randomly assembling a team for such a high-stakes encounter.
In terms of name recognition alone, this match stands as one of the best in WCW history. But beyond that, when you watch the match, it’s clear that this is by far the finest iteration of the double-cage War Games match that the promotion ever produced. Unlike some War Games matches, which devolved into monotonous punch-and-kick sequences without fully utilizing the treacherous environment, the 1992 version showcased the brutality and chaos that the format was designed to deliver.
Not long into the contest, Steve Austin was busted wide open, and the sight of him pouring blood across the ring is nothing short of iconic. One particularly memorable moment occurs when Austin’s head is repeatedly slammed against a yellow turnbuckle, gradually turning the pad a dark orange as his blood stains it. In addition to Austin’s crimson mask, both Barry Windham and Arn Anderson executed impressive blade jobs that intensified the match’s brutal atmosphere.
There have been many War Games matches during the WCW era, but none compare to the unforgettable battle that took place at WrestleWar 1992.
3: WWE changes War Games
It was somewhat surprising that, after WWE purchased WCW, it took so long to revive one of the most popular gimmick matches in wrestling history. Thankfully, in 2017, our wait ended, and we finally witnessed WWE’s version of War Games.
As is typical with WWE, they made a few tweaks to the original concept to put their own stamp on it. Often, these changes can detract from the original idea, but in the case of War Games, WWE’s modifications were largely for the better.
The first, albeit minor, change was in the construction of the cage. In WCW, the ring was topped with a steel mesh, creating a sense of confinement. While this worked aesthetically, it had little practical value for the wrestlers, restricting their movement and limiting the types of maneuvers they could perform. WWE improved upon this by removing the mesh ceiling entirely, allowing wrestlers more freedom to move and enabling spectacular spots from the top of the cage.
Another change was placing all participants in a cage at the top of the ramp instead of allowing them to roam freely at ringside. This small adjustment added an extra layer of drama to the match. The visual of teammates trapped in a cage at the top of the ramp, while the action unfolds in the ring, is undeniably striking. This setup also set the stage for some memorable spots, one of which I’ll discuss later.
Finally, WWE addressed an issue that had always bothered me in the old WCW War Games matches. When you place two rings side by side, there’s inevitably a gap between them because the rings can’t sit flush against each other. In the past, this gap led to several cringeworthy moments where wrestlers nearly twisted or broke their ankles. WWE solved this problem by adding a partition in the gap, not only preventing potential injuries but also creating opportunities for some incredible moments in their version of War Games.
2: NXT Takeover: War Games 2019 – Team Ripley (Rhea Ripley, Candace LeRae, Tegan Nox and Dakota Kai) v Team Baszler (Shayna Baszler, Bianca Belair, Kay Lee Ray and Io Shirai)
From a historical standpoint, this match is significant as it remains the only time that female wrestlers have participated in War Games. By this point in WWE, the women’s revolution had been in full swing for several years, with these incredible athletes shattering every glass ceiling in their path. It was fitting, then, that they were given the opportunity to shine inside the iconic double cage.
Beyond the historical implications, these women told a compelling story throughout the match. Rhea Ripley had been making waves in NXT UK, so it was only a matter of time before she crossed the pond to NXT. Leading up to War Games, Ripley was being positioned as the potential challenger who could finally dethrone Shayna Baszler, and this match set the stage for a confrontation between the two.
This was a star-making performance for Ripley, as she and Candice LeRae were at a disadvantage for much of the match—a point I’ll touch on later. While LeRae delivered a valiant effort in supporting Ripley, it was Ripley who truly stood out, putting herself above everyone else in the ring. The handcuff spot at the end of the match, or the moment she slammed a trash can into Io Shirai as Shirai came off the top rope, are prime examples of the insane effort Ripley put into this match.
Another storyline that elevated this match was the tension between Ripley, Tegan Nox, and Dakota Kai. Kai and Nox were close friends, and while Ripley questioned Kai’s loyalty, Nox vouched for her. Unfortunately, Ripley’s doubts were justified. As Kai was about to enter the ring, she suddenly turned on her friend, viciously attacking Nox and repeatedly slamming the containment cage door into her knee. This shocking betrayal added a dramatic twist to the match and helped solidify it as a truly memorable contest.
Io Shirai’s moonsault off the top of the cage and Bianca Belair using her hair to whip Ripley were other standout moments that showcased the greatness of this match. These moments, along with those mentioned above, are what make the women’s War Games one of the most notable matches in the history of the event.
1: NXT Takeover: War Games (2017) – Undisputed Era v Sanity v The Authors of Pain and Roderick Strong
No list of notable War Games moments would be complete without mentioning what many consider the greatest match in the history of this iconic gimmick. In the months leading up to William Regal’s War Games announcement, the three teams involved—Sanity, the Authors of Pain (AOP) with Roderick Strong, and the Undisputed Era—were locked in a heated feud that was spiraling out of control.
At TakeOver: Brooklyn, Sanity defeated the AOP to capture the NXT Tag Team Championship. However, after the match, Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly attacked both teams, leaving them laid out in the ring. That same night, Adam Cole made his NXT debut, aligning himself with Fish and O’Reilly, thus forming the Undisputed Era.
In the weeks following TakeOver, the nine men destined for War Games clashed in various matches, none of which ended cleanly due to the constant brawling among all three factions. During this time, the Undisputed Era attempted to recruit Roderick Strong—a move that foreshadowed future events—but Strong rejected their offer, teasing a potential heel turn before ultimately attacking Adam Cole and siding with the AOP.
With chaos reigning, NXT Commissioner William Regal had no choice but to step in and make his now-famous declaration: “War Games!” Fans erupted in excitement, knowing that one of WCW’s most beloved gimmick matches was finally making its WWE debut.
In my opinion, the match that followed was the best War Games bout ever, whether in WCW or WWE. The action was fast and furious from the opening bell, maintaining a relentless pace until Adam Cole secured the victory for his team. The inclusion of a triple-threat format added a fresh and exciting dynamic, correcting the mistakes of a previous attempt in WCW that fell short of expectations.
There were countless high spots throughout the contest, but two moments stand out above the rest. Roderick Strong’s superplex of Adam Cole off the top of the cage and Alexander Wolfe’s German suplex of one of the Authors of Pain (I still struggle to tell them apart) were not just the highlights of the match—they were among the best spots of the year in WWE.
It is no surprise that given the talent in the ring that we were going to witness a great match but these men gelled so well that we might have seen the best War Games match ever.
