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SuperBrawl
SuperBrawl
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SuperBrawl
PromotionsWorld Championship Wrestling
BrandsWCW/NWO (1998–1999)
First eventSuperBrawl I
Last eventSuperBrawl Revenge

SuperBrawl was an annual professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) held in May 1991 and February from 1992 through 2001. Along with Starrcade, Bash at the Beach, The Great American Bash, and Halloween Havoc, SuperBrawl was booked to be one of WCW's flagship pay-per-views. The first SuperBrawl was held in May, but from 1992 onward it was held in February to coincide with the Super Bowl, which inspired the SuperBrawl name. Events from 1992 to 1999 were identified by Roman numerals in its logo and announced on-screen with its corresponding number. The final installment in 2001 was the penultimate WCW PPV as the organization folded a month later. Sting holds the record for most appearances at the pay-per-view with eight. In 2015, all WCW pay-per-views were made available on the WWE Network.

The trademark was owned by the WWE after it bought the promotion's intellectual properties in March 2001 and expired in 2005. Cody Rhodes subsequently filed to claim the SuperBrawl trademark in November 2019.[1] In November 2020, a settlement was reached between Cody Rhodes and WWE in which Cody gained the "Cody Rhodes" trademark, which WWE had held onto after his run in that company, in exchange for WWE gaining the WCW event name trademarks that Cody had claimed, including SuperBrawl.[2]

A Super NES video game named after the event, titled WCW SuperBrawl Wrestling, was released in 1994.

SuperBrawl dates and venues

[edit]
WCW/nWo co-branded event
Event Date City Venue Main Event
SuperBrawl I May 19, 1991 St. Petersburg, Florida Bayfront Center Ric Flair (c) vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (c) for the WCW and NWA World Heavyweight Championships
SuperBrawl II February 29, 1992 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee Theatre at the MECCA Lex Luger (c) vs. Sting for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship
SuperBrawl III February 21, 1993 Asheville, North Carolina Asheville Civic Center Big Van Vader vs. Sting in a White Castle of Fear Strap match
SuperBrawl IV February 20, 1994 Albany, Georgia Albany Civic Center Ric Flair (c) vs. Big Van Vader in a Thundercage match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship with special guest referee The Boss
SuperBrawl V February 19, 1995 Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore Arena Hulk Hogan (c) vs. Vader for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship
SuperBrawl VI February 11, 1996 St. Petersburg, Florida Bayfront Center Hulk Hogan vs. The Giant in a Steel Cage match
SuperBrawl VII February 23, 1997 San Francisco, California Cow Palace Hollywood Hogan (c) vs. Roddy Piper for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship
SuperBrawl VIII February 22, 1998 Sting vs. Hollywood Hogan for the vacant WCW World Heavyweight Championship
SuperBrawl IX February 21, 1999 Oakland, California Oakland Arena Hollywood Hogan (c) vs. Ric Flair for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship
SuperBrawl 2000 February 20, 2000 San Francisco, California Cow Palace Sid Vicious (c) vs. Scott Hall vs. Jeff Jarrett in a Triple threat match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship
SuperBrawl Revenge February 18, 2001 Nashville, Tennessee Nashville Municipal Auditorium Scott Steiner (c) vs. Kevin Nash in a Retirement match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
SuperBrawl was a recurring (PPV) event produced by (WCW), featuring high-profile matches between top stars and serving as one of the promotion's flagship annual spectacles from 1991 to 2001. The inaugural event, , took place on May 19, 1991, at the Bayfront Arena in , headlined by WCW World Heavyweight Champion against NWA World Heavyweight Champion , with the WCW World Tag Team Championship defense by The against widely regarded as a standout for its intensity and athleticism. Subsequent events shifted to starting in 1992, aligning with the weekend to capitalize on the name's thematic nod to a "super" brawl in wrestling, and ran for a total of 11 installments until WCW's decline. Over its decade-long run, SuperBrawl showcased pivotal moments in WCW history, including title changes, intense rivalries, and innovative stipulations like strap matches and Thundercage bouts that heightened the drama. Notable highlights included the 1993 edition's brutal strap match between Sting and Vader, which underscored the event's reputation for physical confrontations, and the 1998 clash between Sting and Hollywood Hogan for the , billed as a major rematch following prior controversies. While early SuperBrawls were praised for strong in-ring action—such as under new executive producer , marking a creative turning point for WCW—later years saw mixed reception due to booking inconsistencies and undercard filler, exemplified by the infamous 2000 match over a contractual letter "T" between Booker T and Big T. The series ultimately concluded with in February 2001, reflecting WCW's fading prominence amid competition from the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).

History

Inception and early events

SuperBrawl originated as World Championship Wrestling's (WCW) attempt to establish a flagship (PPV) event, with its name drawing inspiration from the National Football League's to evoke a sense of high-stakes spectacle in . The inaugural SuperBrawl took place on May 19, 1991, at the Bayfront Arena in , marking WCW's second PPV following the March 1991 WrestleWar event. This debut show featured a main event clash between WCW World Heavyweight Champion and New Japan Pro-Wrestling's IWGP Heavyweight Champion in a rematch of their earlier encounter, where Flair emerged victorious to retain his title in a match billed as a unification bout. The undercard included the WCW World Tag Team Championship match where defended against Sting and Lex Luger, with the Steiners retaining the titles, highlighting WCW's emphasis on established stars during its formative PPV era. The event drew an attendance of approximately 6,000 fans and achieved a buyrate of 1.04, translating to about 150,000 buys, reflecting the modest reach of WCW's early PPV efforts amid limited distribution. Following the initial May timing, WCW shifted SuperBrawl to an annual slot starting in 1992 to better capitalize on the post-Super Bowl audience window and directly compete with the World Wrestling Federation's (WWF) in January. , held on February 29, 1992, at the Milwaukee Arena in , , centered on a match between champion and challenger Sting, which Sting won via pinfall to claim the title in a hard-fought encounter reminiscent of WCW's specials. The event helped solidify SuperBrawl's position in WCW's PPV lineup by showcasing internal rivalries and title stakes, though it faced ongoing distribution hurdles that capped its buyrate at 0.96 (around 160,000 buys). SuperBrawl III on February 21, 1993, at the Asheville Civic Center in , introduced greater emphasis on to broaden appeal, featuring bouts such as the Hollywood Blondes (Steve Austin and ) defeating Erik Watts and Marcus Bagwell, and the Rock 'n' Roll Express overcoming the Heavenly Bodies in a high-energy tag title preview. The main event saw Sting defending the against Vader, with Vader securing victory via countout to begin his dominant reign. By on February 20, 1994, at the Albany Civic Center in , the event further entrenched its February tradition with a Thundercage main event where defended the against Vader, retaining the title in a brutal steel cage match that underscored WCW's growing emphasis on hardcore stipulations. These early SuperBrawls unfolded amid significant challenges for WCW, which had transitioned from ' ownership in 1988—following Crockett's aggressive national expansion that incurred massive debts in the millions of dollars— to acquisition by , rebranded as the Universal Wrestling Corporation. Under Turner, WCW grappled with strict budget constraints imposed by corporate oversight, including limited PPV revenue sharing and talent payment issues, while competing fiercely against WWF's established for the winter PPV . Despite these obstacles, the first four SuperBrawls played a pivotal role in building WCW's PPV infrastructure, averaging under 200,000 buys per event and helping to stabilize the promotion's output during a period of financial uncertainty.

Evolution and final years

Under Eric Bischoff's leadership as WCW executive producer, which began gaining prominence in 1993, SuperBrawl underwent significant evolution starting with the 1995 edition, incorporating high-profile signings like and early experiments with lighter-weight divisions inspired by Japanese wrestling styles. SuperBrawl V, held on February 19, 1995, at the Arena, marked a pivotal shift as defended the against Vader in the main event, with emerging victorious via pinfall after a grueling contest that highlighted WCW's push toward mainstream appeal through star power. This event also featured cruiserweight-style matches, such as the bout involving , foreshadowing the division's formal establishment later that year under Bischoff's vision to differentiate WCW from competitors by emphasizing athletic, high-flying action. The peak of SuperBrawl's popularity occurred from 1996 to 1998, aligning with WCW's dominance in the Monday Night Wars, where the promotion's weekly Nitro program regularly outrated WWF's Raw. SuperBrawl VI on February 11, 1996, at the Bayfront Arena in , exemplified this era with its main event steel cage match for the , pitting against The Giant (Paul Wight), whom Hogan defeated to retain the title in a match that underscored WCW's spectacle-driven booking. The following year, SuperBrawl VII on February 23, 1997, at the in , integrated the newly formed New World Order (nWo) storyline, a Bischoff-orchestrated invasion angle featuring WWF defectors like , , and , with the main event seeing Hollywood Hogan defend the WCW title against in a no-disqualification bout that Hogan won by pinfall. This nWo narrative continued to drive SuperBrawl VIII on February 22, 1998, at the , where Sting defeated Hollywood in a rematch for the vacant , capturing the belt in a WCW vs. nWo framework that fueled the promotion's creative momentum amid the intensifying ratings battle. Cruiserweight elements, including title defenses by stars like Rey Mysterio Jr., became staples, adding layers of international flair and athleticism to the events. By 1999, SuperBrawl entered a decline phase amid WCW's broader creative turmoil, exacerbated by the Monday Night Wars' shifting tides as WWF surged ahead in ratings and innovation. SuperBrawl IX on February 21, 1999, at the Cincinnati Gardens in , reflected these struggles with a main event where defended the against , retaining via disqualification in a match criticized for lacking direction under interim booking changes following Bischoff's temporary ouster. Roster splits between WCW loyalists and the nWo faction diluted storylines, while internal power shifts, including Kevin Nash's brief creative control, led to inconsistent booking that alienated fans. SuperBrawl 2000 on February 20 at the featured a triple-threat main event for the WCW title with champion defeating and , but the event underscored waning interest as attendance began dropping sharply from prior years' peaks of over 15,000 to around 8,500. The final SuperBrawl, rebranded as on February 18, 2001, at the , symbolized WCW's impending collapse amid financial losses and the WWF's purchase announcement. The main event saw defend the against in a loser-leaves-WCW match, with Steiner winning via pinfall after interference, in a bout that highlighted the promotion's roster instability and creative fatigue. Attendance had plummeted to approximately 4,500, a stark contrast to the events' mid-1990s highs, as WCW grappled with declining buys and the erosion of its competitive edge in the Monday Night Wars. This edition, the last under the SuperBrawl banner, encapsulated the promotion's transition from innovative peak to dissolution, paving the way for its absorption into WWF just weeks later.

Production and format

Event structure and themes

SuperBrawl events adhered to a conventional pay-per-view structure, typically comprising 8–10 matches on the main card over a 2–3 hour runtime, often preceded by a pre-show and building to a main event featuring the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. This format emphasized high-stakes "super" rematches designed to culminate ongoing major feuds from preceding WCW programming, providing resolution to key rivalries while showcasing top talent. Most SuperBrawl events included a world title bout as its centerpiece, reinforcing the event's status as a marquee showcase for the promotion's premier prize. Recurring themes in the series evolved from the athletic, championship-focused "Clash of Champions" vibe of the early 1990s to more extravagant spectacles incorporating celebrity crossovers and elaborate production elements by the late decade. For instance, early iterations highlighted intense, no-frills contests tied to NWA-WCW crossover narratives, while later events like featured surprise appearances by figures such as , who performed alongside wrestler Ernest "The Cat" Miller in an in-ring segment. Unique stipulations added thematic flair, including the towering Thundercage structure at , which enclosed brutal encounters like Ric Flair's title defense against , and strap matches that symbolized personal vendettas, such as Sting versus Vader at . Match variety centered on world title defenses, WCW World Tag Team Championship bouts, and, starting in 1996 with the introduction of the cruiserweight division, high-flying showcases that highlighted agile competitors in multi-man contests. Tag team defenses appeared consistently, often involving powerhouse units like the or , while the cruiserweight elements brought innovative aerial maneuvers to balance the card's heavier bouts. Women's matches were absent from SuperBrawl lineups until the final years, reflecting WCW's limited investment in its female roster during the series' prime. Over time, the event's thematic focus shifted markedly: the 1991–1994 installments prioritized pure athletic displays and technical wrestling prowess amid the promotion's transition from NWA territory roots. By 1996–1998, amid WCW's peak popularity and nWo storyline dominance, SuperBrawl embraced Hollywood-style entertainment with cinematic angles and larger-than-life personas. The series concluded with a return to edgier, hardcore-influenced elements in 2000–2001, incorporating unsanctioned street fights and high-risk gimmicks to recapture intensity amid declining fortunes.

Broadcasting and promotion

SuperBrawl events were initially distributed as offerings through major providers such as Viewer's Choice, leveraging WCW's ownership under to secure widespread national cable access across the . This arrangement allowed the events to reach a broad audience via cable operators, contributing to their status as key tentpole shows in WCW's PPV lineup. Buyrates for WCW PPVs, including SuperBrawl, experienced a peak in 1998 with an average of approximately 0.77, exemplified by SuperBrawl VIII's strong performance of 1.10, reflecting heightened interest during the height of the Monday Night Wars. Promotional strategies for SuperBrawl emphasized extensive buildup on WCW's syndicated television programs, including and , where storylines were advanced through matches, interviews, and highlight packages to generate anticipation. extended to Turner Broadcasting's TBS network, utilizing airtime on shows like WCW Prime to reinforce event narratives and ticket sales. Beginning in 1996 with the launch of , hype integrated more dynamic elements such as cinematic vignettes depicting rivalries and occasional celebrity involvement announcements, amplifying mainstream appeal and drawing larger audiences to the pay-per-views. Production for SuperBrawl was handled by WCW's in-house crew, with director Craig Leathers overseeing the live telecasts for multiple installments, including and IX, ensuring a polished broadcast from arena venues. Commentary teams evolved over the series' run, starting with pairings like and in the early events for a professional play-by-play dynamic, later shifting to Schiavone alongside color commentators such as to add personality and regional flavor. Events featured elaborate live elements, including for wrestler entrances and staged lighting to enhance the spectacle, all captured in real-time from major arenas to maintain an energetic atmosphere. Early SuperBrawl iterations operated under constrained budgets typical of WCW's transitional phase in the early , resulting in a more regionally oriented production focus with limited national marketing reach compared to later years. As the nWo storyline dominated in the late , overproduction became prevalent, with extended segments and high-concept staging leading to logistical challenges that strained event timelines and .

Event listings

Dates, venues, and attendance

The SuperBrawl series consisted of 11 pay-per-view events held by World Championship Wrestling (WCW) from 1991 to 2001, primarily in February following the inaugural event in May. These events were hosted in arenas across the United States, with a focus on mid-sized venues capable of accommodating 5,000 to 15,000 spectators. The following table lists all events, including dates, venues, and reported attendance figures.
EventDateVenueLocationAttendance
SuperBrawl IMay 19, 1991Bayfront ArenaSt. Petersburg, Florida6,000
SuperBrawl IIFebruary 29, 1992MECCA ArenaMilwaukee, Wisconsin5,000
SuperBrawl IIIFebruary 21, 1993Asheville Civic CenterAsheville, North Carolina6,500
SuperBrawl IVFebruary 20, 1994Albany Civic CenterAlbany, Georgia7,600
SuperBrawl VFebruary 19, 1995Baltimore ArenaBaltimore, Maryland13,390
SuperBrawl VIFebruary 11, 1996Bayfront CenterSt. Petersburg, Florida7,200
SuperBrawl VIIFebruary 23, 1997Cow PalaceDaly City, California13,324
SuperBrawl VIIIFebruary 22, 1998Cow PalaceDaly City, California12,620
SuperBrawl IXFebruary 21, 1999Oakland ArenaOakland, California15,880
SuperBrawl 2000February 20, 2000Cow PalaceDaly City, California8,569
SuperBrawl RevengeFebruary 18, 2001Nashville Municipal AuditoriumNashville, Tennessee4,395
Venue selections emphasized arenas in the during the early years, such as the Bayfront Arena in and civic centers in and Georgia, reflecting WCW's regional strongholds. Post-1996, events shifted to larger or more diverse locations, including repeated use of the in for subsequent installments, though an international event in was considered but ultimately not executed. Attendance for SuperBrawl events typically averaged between 8,000 and 10,000, with a peak of 13,324 at in 1997, underscoring the series' draw during WCW's peak popularity. By 2001, figures declined to under 8,000, mirroring WCW's broader downturn in fan interest and . Buyrates for the SuperBrawl PPVs started at 1.04 for the inaugural and reached a high of 1.15 in 1999, according to analyses of WCW's SEC financial filings, before dropping sharply to 0.15 in both 2000 and 2001. The scheduling aligned with WCW's strategy to build momentum in following major holiday events.

Main events and outcomes

SuperBrawl I, held on May 19, 1991, headlined with defending the against NWA World Heavyweight Champion in a title unification match; Flair secured the victory by pinfall after 15 minutes, unifying the belts under WCW control. The series progressed with on February 29, 1992, featuring Sting challenging for the in the main event; Sting pinned Luger following a Scorpion Deathlock to claim the title. on February 21, 1993, spotlighted a strap match between Sting and as the main event, with Vader winning after a grueling 12-minute battle. In a key undercard bout, Rick Steamboat defeated to win the via pinfall. SuperBrawl IV on February 20, 1994, saw challenge for the ; Flair won by submission with the figure-four leglock after 21 minutes, capturing the title. SuperBrawl V on February 19, 1995, headlined versus Vader for the , ending with Hogan victorious by disqualification due to Flair's interference, allowing Hogan to take the title under special rules. Subsequent events continued the focus on high-stakes clashes. on February 11, 1996, featured defending against The Giant in a steel cage match for narrative supremacy, with Hogan escaping the cage to win after 13 minutes. on February 23, 1997, pitted against for the ; Hogan retained by pinfall after a in 14 minutes. on February 22, 1998, highlighted Sting challenging for the ; Sting reversed a Scorpion Deathlock attempt into a pinfall victory after 16 minutes to reclaim the title. on February 21, 1999, saw defend the against ; Hogan retained via pinfall following a in 19 minutes. In on February 20, 2000, the main event was a three-way match for the involving champion , , and ; Jarrett won by pinfall on Hall after Vicious's injury to claim the title. The final event, on February 18, 2001, headlined defending the against in a loser leaves WCW falls count anywhere match; Steiner retained by winning two falls to one after 18 minutes. The WCW World Heavyweight Championship changed hands in five of the eleven SuperBrawl events, underscoring the series' role in pivotal title shifts: SuperBrawl II (Sting over Luger), SuperBrawl IV (Flair over Vader), SuperBrawl V (Hogan over Vader), SuperBrawl VIII (Sting over Hogan), and SuperBrawl 2000 (Jarrett over Vicious). While the US Championship and WCW World Tag Team Championship appeared frequently in undercard matches, they rarely headlined, with examples including tag title defenses in SuperBrawl I and III. Notable stipulations added intensity, such as the steel cage in SuperBrawl VI elevating the Hogan-Giant rivalry and the three-way structure in SuperBrawl 2000.

Legacy

Impact on professional wrestling

SuperBrawl played a pivotal role in establishing (WCW) as a major (PPV) entity during the , serving as one of its flagship events alongside , , and . The series contributed substantially to WCW's revenue stream through consistent high-profile bookings, with events like in 1995 helping elevate the promotion's national profile and attract mainstream attention shortly after Hulk Hogan's debut in mid-1994. The event series provided a key platform for landmark rivalries that defined the Monday Night Wars era, including the 1998 rematch between Sting and Hollywood Hulk Hogan at , which drew a 1.10 buyrate and over 415,000 buys, solidifying WCW's competitive edge against the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Additionally, starting with in 1997, the series showcased the cruiserweight division's innovative high-flying style, which revolutionized match pacing and inspired similar athletic emphases in WWF programming, as evidenced by the division's role in boosting WCW's weekly television ratings. By the late , SuperBrawl began reflecting WCW's broader creative and booking decline, with events from 1999 onward showing diminished quality and audience interest; for instance, suffered a critically low buyrate amid inconsistent storylines, mirroring the promotion's internal turmoil that culminated in its sale to the WWF in March 2001. This downturn contrasted sharply with the WWF's surging popularity during the , highlighting how WCW's failure to sustain SuperBrawl's earlier momentum contributed to its downfall. In the wider industry, SuperBrawl pioneered the PPV slot beginning in , setting a for seasonal event scheduling that influenced the WWF's introduction of No Way Out in 1998 as its own winter showcase. The series also popularized rematch formats for major title bouts, a structure that became a standard in PPVs to build narrative continuity and fan investment across promotions.

Media and cultural references

SuperBrawl events extended into video game adaptations, with released for the in November 1994, developed by and published by FCI. The game features a roster of 12 prominent WCW wrestlers, such as Sting, , and Vader, each with signature moves, and includes single-player, tag-team, and tournament modes that recreate key matches from and II. Contemporary reviews praised the authentic character selection and digitized sprites but criticized the clunky controls, imprecise hit detection, and repetitive , with AllGame giving it 2 out of 5 stars. Documentaries and retrospectives have frequently highlighted SuperBrawl as emblematic of WCW's rise and dramatic moments. WWE's "The Rise and Fall of WCW" (2009 DVD) chronicles the promotion's history, featuring footage and analysis of SuperBrawl events as pivotal in WCW's competition with during the . Similarly, the "Monday Night War" documentary series, originally released in 2014 and streamed on Peacock, devotes segments to WCW's flagship pay-per-views, including the main event at in 1997 between and , which symbolized the nWo storyline's peak intensity. These productions attribute SuperBrawl's cultural resonance to its role in escalating the WWE-WCW rivalry, drawing millions of viewers at its height. SuperBrawl received cultural nods in wrestling literature and media, often referencing its spectacles during WCW's nWo era. In the book "The Death of WCW: Something to Say About That" (2004) by R.D. Reynolds and , SuperBrawl events are cited as high points of the New World Order angle, with chapters analyzing how matches like those at contributed to WCW's temporary dominance in the Monday Night Wars. Occasional parodies in television, such as South Park's season 13 episode "W.T.F." (2009), satirize the dramatic entrances and storylines of spectacles from the era. Merchandise and releases preserved SuperBrawl for fans beyond live attendance. All 10 SuperBrawl events were commercially released on tapes by Turner Home Entertainment between 1991 and 2001, capturing full card matches and backstage segments. These were later added to the in 2015 as part of its WCW pay-per-view archive, transitioning to Peacock streaming, though modern availability remains limited due to ongoing music rights disputes that result in edited versions or omissions of certain entrances and promos.

References

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