YEAR 3 IN REVIEW
1982 YEAR IN REVIEW
YEAR END SINGLES RANKINGS FOR 1982
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP: “Ravishing” Rick Rude
#1 – Missing Link (155 points)
#2 – “Cowboy” Bob Orton (144.5 points)
#3 – King Harley Race (129 points)
#4 – Mr. Perfect (125 points)
#5 – The Mountie (118.5 points)
#6 – Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka (118 points)
#7 – Magnificent Muraco (118 points)
#8 – George “The Animal” Steele (117 points)
#9 – King Kong Bundy (117 points)
#10 – “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan (113 points)
#11 – Andre The Giant (113 points)
#12 – The Sheik (107.5 points) – No longer with the company but earned enough wins to be ranked.
#13 – Iron Sheik (106.5 points)
#14 – Hillbilly Jim (104 points)
#15 – One Man Gang (98 points)
#16 – Cousin Luke (97 points)
#17 – S. D. Jones (95.5 points)
#18 – Koko B. Ware (71.5 points)
YEAR END TAG TEAM RANKINGS FOR 1982
WOLRD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP: THE ROAD WARRIORS
#1 – MIDNIGHT EXPRESS (154.75 points)
#2 – KILLER BEES (129 points)
#3 – THE DREAM TEAM (106 points)
#4 – THE BOLSHEVIKS (101 points)
#5 – MILLION DOLLAR CORPORATION (96.25 points)
1972 MATCH OF THE YEAR
WCCW had just broken away from the the LWA. “Ravishing” Rick Rude, the LWA Champion had just been signed to an exclusive contract. The Missing Link was the current WCCW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION. At HOMECOMING a surprise match was held to determine the Unified Champion!
050 – HOMECOMING – 05.08.2072
Missing Link vs. “Ravishing” Rick Rude
for the WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Missing Link defeated “Ravishing” Rick Rude with a with a pinfall after an ATOMIC DROP
Match Rating: 5.00
Match Notes: Many predicted this would be LINK’S last match as champion. Here you had the defending LWA champion returning to the WCCW to face the man who had entered the LWA title tournament himself and lost. But those predictions turned out to be as unpredictable as the MISSING LINK himself. THis was a wild match that saw chairs, managers and just about everything but the kitchen sink involved. In the end, the LINK was able to put RUDE away.
1982 WRESTLER OF THE YEAR
“Cowboy” Bob Orton
He failed to capture the gold but had the best record of the year and some of the most exciting matches.
1982 TAG TEAM OF THE YEAR
THE ROAD WARRIORS
Though THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS had, on paper, a better record for the year, it’s hard to deny the amazing force that is THE ROAD WARRIORS. They returned to the fed, captured the belts and have defended them against all comers. It’ll be interesting to see what new challenges face THE ROAD WARRIORS in 1983
1982 MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Bobby “The Brian” Heenan
Scheming and unpopular, you can’t argue with his successes. He’s the manager of the WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION and has led his man to retaining that title for months.