1990.
A disappointing year for World Championship Wrestling concluded with an unimaginative end at Starrcade. The Black Scorpion storyline had failed to capture the fans’ hearts with its comedic magic tricks and laughable voice-overs from the Black Scorpion. After taunting the NWA World Heavyweight champion Sting for months, the feud between Sting and the Black Scorpion culminated when Sting defeated the infamous Black Scorpion in a Steel Cage match. In a post-match scramble, Sting removed the Black Scorpion’s mask, revealing the culprit and Sting’s nemesis of 1990 to be… Ric Flair. Shocker.
Starrcade had failed. Reception to the event was poor, and the buyrates reflected that. In response to this, Ted Turner relieved Executive Vice President of WCW, Jim Herd, from his duties at the request of Dusty Rhodes and the position became available.
On January 2nd 1991, announcer Tony Schiavone signed a contract to officially be installed as the Executive Vice President of WCW, a position which placed Schiavone at the forefront and in charge of all things related to WCW. He immediately increased production quality and reshuffled the structure of the company, most notably the booking committee.
The Schiavone Era had begun.
Champions
NWA World Heavyweight champion:
Sting
NWA United States Heavyweight champion:
Lex Luger
NWA World Tag Team champions:
Doom
NWA World Television champion:
The Z-Man
NWA United States Tag Team champions:
The Steiner Brothers
Tag Teams
Doom (Butch Reed & Ron Simmons)
Ricky ‘n’ Rich (Ricky Morton & Tommy Rich)
The Fabulous Freebirds (Jimmy Garvin & Michael Hayes)
The Hangmen (Arn Anderson & Barry Windham)
The Lightning Express (Brad Armstrong & Tim Horner)
The Master Blasters (Master Blaster Blade & Master Blaster Steel)
The Renegade Warriors (Chris & Mark Youngblood)
The Royal Family (Jack Victory & Rip Morgan)
The State Patrol (Lt. James Earl Wright & Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker)
The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner)
The Young Pistols (Steve Armstrong & Tracy Smothers)
Announcers
Jim Ross & Paul E. Dangerously
Booking Committee
Dusty Rhodes (Head Booker)
Jim Crockett Jr.
Jim Cornette
Kevin Sullivan
Paul Heyman
Mike Graham
World Championship Wrestling Presents
Sting vs. Arn Anderson - non-title
Lex Luger vs. El Cubano - NWA United States Heavyweight Title
The Young Pistols vs. The Fabulous Freebirds
El Gigante vs. Rip Rogers
The Master Blasters vs. Ricky ‘n’ Rich
Pat Rose vs. Owen Hart
Buddy Landel vs. Flyin’ Brian