Editing Lex Luger (section)

=== Jim Crockett Promotions/World Championship Wrestling (1987–1992) ===
==== The Four Horsemen (1987–1989) ====
{{Main|Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)|l1=Four Horsemen}}
In 1987, Luger went to work for [[Jim Crockett Promotions]] (JCP), which was under the NWA banner, with the nickname "The Total Package" and began using "[[#In wrestling|The Human Torture Rack]]", an [[Backbreaker#Argentine backbreaker rack|Argentine backbreaker rack]], as his finisher.<ref name="acceleratorbio">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/luger.html|title=Lex Luger|access-date=October 29, 2008|publisher=The Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref> He was first [[List of professional wrestling terms#B|booked]] as an associate to [[Ric Flair]]'s "Four Horsemen" [[List of professional wrestling terms#S|stable]] until [[Ole Anderson]] was kicked out and he became an official member of the group.<ref name="OWW" /> His first big [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feud]] was with [[Nikita Koloff]], whom he defeated for the [[WWE United States Championship|NWA United States Heavyweight Championship]] on July 11, 1987.<ref name="acceleratorbio" /> [[Manager (professional wrestling)|Manager]] [[J. J. Dillon]] threw a chair over the top of the cage while the referee, [[Earl Hebner]], was down. Luger knocked Koloff unconscious with it and then lifted up Koloff in the Torture Rack. A revived Hebner then dropped Koloff's arm three times with no response and awarded Luger a submission victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/unitedstates/30445412212|title=Lex Luger's first United States Championship reign|publisher=WWE|access-date=April 17, 2008|archive-date=June 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603035737/http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/unitedstates/30445412212|url-status=dead}}</ref>

It was during this time that the Horsemen debuted the [[WarGames match]].

He held the title until JCP's first [[pay-per-view]] event [[Starrcade (1987)|Starrcade]] in November, when he [[List of professional wrestling terms#D|dropped]] it to [[Dusty Rhodes]] in a steel cage. This loss set the stage for Luger leaving the Four Horsemen, as manager Dillon's interference cost Luger the match. A steel chair thrown in by Dillon was dropped by Luger and Rhodes DDT'd Luger on it prior to pinning him for the win.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/starrcad.html#87|title=Starrcade 1987: Chi-Town Heat results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=April 17, 2008}}</ref> Luger left the Four Horsemen on December 2, 1987, at the Knight Centre in Miami, Florida,<ref name="lexleaves4h">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/jcp87.htm|title=JCP 87|website=The History of WWE |access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref> after he and his stablemates ([[Tully Blanchard]], [[Arn Anderson]], and Dillon) were the sole wrestlers left in a [[Battle royal (professional wrestling)#Bunkhouse Stampede|Bunkhouse Stampede]] [[Battle royal (professional wrestling)|battle royal]] and Dillon asked the other wrestlers to eliminate themselves so he could win. Although Blanchard and Anderson complied, Luger refused and eliminated Dillon,<ref>{{Citation|title=Lex Luger turns against The Four Horsemen, NWA 1988|url=https://www.bitchute.com/video/pakfdWPmy52y/|language=en|access-date=July 3, 2021}}</ref> leaving the Horsemen in the process.<ref name="lexleaves4h" /><ref name="OWW" />[[File:Lex Luger robe 1988.png|thumb|285x285px|Luger, {{Circa|1988}}]]Luger then befriended [[Barry Windham]], his former Florida ally, and together they formed a [[tag team]], dubbed '''The Twin Towers'''. Their first match as a team was on February 3, 1988, at a TV taping at WTBS Studios in Atlanta.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/jcp88.htm|title=JCP 88|website=The History of WWE |access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref> On March 27, 1988, at ''[[Clash of the Champions I]]'' they defeated [[Brain Busters|Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson]] for the [[WCW World Tag Team Championship|NWA World Tag Team Championship]].<ref name="nwatag">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midatlantic/nwa/ma-nwa-t.html|title=NWA World Tag Team Title (Mid-Atlantic/WCW)|publisher=Wrestling Titles|access-date=October 27, 2012}}</ref> Only a few weeks after the title win, Windham suddenly turned on Luger during a title defense (against Blanchard and Anderson, who regained the title as a result) and joining Luger's former stable, The Four Horsemen.<ref name="acceleratorbio" /> Days later, the [[Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament#1988|Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament]] was held with its first night in [[Greenville, South Carolina|Greenville]], South Carolina. A partner-less Luger was teamed with [[Steve Borden|Sting]] (whose partner [[Ron Garvin|Ronnie Garvin]] had been [[kayfabe]] injured) and the impromptu team won the entire tournament, defeating Blanchard and Anderson in the finals.<ref name="croccup" />

Luger continued his feud with the Four Horsemen and Windham. At the June 8 ''[[Clash of the Champions II: Miami Mayhem]]'', it was announced that Luger would challenge Horsemen leader [[Ric Flair]] for the [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship]] at [[The Great American Bash (1988)|The Great American Bash]] on July 10 in Baltimore.<ref name="acceleratorbio" /> As Luger arrived at ''The Clash'' in a [[limousine]] he was attacked by The Four Horsemen, leaving him (kayfabe) injured and bleeding in the parking lot on live television.<ref name="acceleratorbio" /> While Luger had Flair in the "Torture Rack" and Flair was about to submit, the match was abruptly stopped by the [[Referee (professional wrestling)|referee]] who cited (kayfabe) "Maryland State Athletic Commission" rules about a cut that had opened up on Luger's forehead "bleeding excessively".<ref name="OWW" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/gabash.html#88|title=The Great American Bash 1988: The Price of Freedom|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=April 17, 2008}}</ref> In November 1988, [[Jim Crockett Jr.]] sold JCP to [[Turner Broadcasting System]], ultimately the promotion was renamed to [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW). The feud with Flair came to an end after December's [[Starrcade (1988)|Starrcade 1988: True Gritt]] where Flair pinned Luger in a rematch [[main event]] for the NWA title by illegally using the ropes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/starrcad.html#88|title=Starrcade 1988: True Gritt results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=April 17, 2008}}</ref>

==== United States Heavyweight Champion (1989–1990) ====
He was then matched up against old foe Barry Windham at [[Chi-Town Rumble]] winning his second NWA United States Heavyweight Championship from him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/unitedstates/30445412131|title=Lex Luger's second United States Championship reign|publisher=WWE|access-date=April 17, 2008|archive-date=June 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603005102/http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/unitedstates/30445412131|url-status=dead}}</ref> He teamed up with [[Michael Hayes (wrestler)|Michael P.S. Hayes]] against Barry and [[Kendall Windham]] in a match, televised on March 18, 1989, which saw Hayes turn on Luger, setting himself as a contender to the U.S. Title.<ref name=hist89>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw89.htm|title=WCW Show Results 1989|publisher=The History of WWE|first=Graham|last=Cawthon|access-date=October 27, 2012}}</ref> Hayes defeated Luger for the US title at [[WrestleWar 1989|WrestleWar 1989: Music City Showdown]] when a surprise appearance by Hayes's ex-[[Fabulous Freebirds|Freebird]] teammate [[Terry Gordy]] helped cost Luger the match.<ref name="acceleratorbio"/> Luger regained the U.S. Title from Hayes in a rematch a couple of weeks later when he broke the rules by pulling Hayes's tights while pinning Hayes to win the match.<ref name="luger3">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/unitedstates/304454122111|title=Lex Luger's third United States Championship reign|publisher=WWE|access-date=April 18, 2008|archive-date=June 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603005639/http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/unitedstates/304454122111|url-status=dead}}</ref> On the June 14 ''[[Clash of the Champions VII: Guts and Glory]]'', Luger attacked the popular [[Ricky Steamboat|Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat]] after Steamboat had defeated [[Terry Funk]] by disqualification.<ref name=hist89/> Luger and Steamboat faced each other at [[The Great American Bash (1989)|The Great American Bash]] in July with Luger winning by disqualification after Luger refused to wrestle Steamboat until the match's no-disqualification clause had been waived.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/gabash.html#89 |title=The Great American Bash 1989 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=April 18, 2008}}</ref>

[[Brian Pillman|Flyin' Brian Pillman]] challenged Luger at [[Halloween Havoc (1989)|Halloween Havoc 1989: Settling the Score]] for the US Title, which Luger won.<ref name="luger3"/> He also defeated Pillman in a rematch on the November 15 ''[[Clash of the Champions IX: New York Knockout]]'' to retain the title and end the feud.<ref name="luger3"/> After the main event of the card, which saw Ric Flair and Terry Funk in an [["I Quit" match]], Luger made a surprise [[List of professional wrestling terms#R|run in]], attacking both Flair and [[Steve Borden|Sting]], who had come out to save Flair from a post match attack by The Great Muta.<ref name="clash9">{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash.html#IX|title=Clash of the Champions IX: New York Knockout results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=April 18, 2008}}</ref> December's [[Starrcade (1989)|Starrcade]] featured an "[[Iron Man match|Ironman]]" tournament between Flair, Sting, Luger, and Muta.

Though Sting eventually won the tournament, Luger was the only participant to go undefeated (Sting got pinfall victories over Muta and Flair, giving him the most points to win the tournament).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/starrcad.html#89|title=Starrcade 1989: Future Shock/Night of the Iron Men results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History| access-date=April 19, 2008}}</ref> This elevated Sting to the status of No. 1 contender for Flair's world title. With Sting and Flair set to square off at [[Wrestlewar 1990|WrestleWar]] in February, Luger was booked to defend the U.S. Title against [["Dr. Death" Steve Williams]] on the card. A [[Legit (professional wrestling)|legitimate]] injury to Sting, however, caused the entire booking of the card to get changed. Luger was elevated to face Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. An injured Sting appeared in Luger's corner during the match, eventually being attacked by Ole and Arn Anderson. When Luger left the ring to help Sting he was counted out, giving the match to Flair.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/w-war.html#90|title=WrestleWar 1990: Wild Thing results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=April 19, 2008}}</ref> The idea here was to build Luger up as a "changed man" who had "gained [[Self-esteem|self-respect]]" by saving Sting. In the final match of the feud, a few months later at the Capital Combat event in [[Washington, D.C.]], Luger won by disqualification against Flair in a steel cage match when the cage rose up from the ground and outside interference marred the match.<ref name="OWW"/>

Luger eventually dropped the title to [[Stan Hansen]] at [[Halloween Havoc (1990)|Halloween Havoc]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/havoc.html#90|title=Halloween Havoc 1990: Terror Rules the Ring results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=April 19, 2008}}</ref> though he won it back at [[Starrcade (1990)|Starrcade 1990: Collision Course]] beginning his fourth NWA United States Heavyweight Championship reign.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/unitedstates/3044541111211|title=Lex Luger's fourth United States Championship reign|publisher=WWE|access-date=April 19, 2008|archive-date=June 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603012253/http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/unitedstates/3044541111211|url-status=dead}}</ref> Luger's third title reign lasted a total of [[List of WWE United States Champions#Reigns|523 days]], making him the longest reigning United States Champion in history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wrestling-titles.com/nwa/others/us-h.html|title=NWA US Title history|access-date=January 9, 2008|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref> During this reign, WCW [[rebranding|rebranded]] the championships they owned and controlled, and the title was renamed the [[WWE United States Championship|WCW United States Heavyweight Championship]]. Luger started a feud with [[Dan Spivey]], whom he defeated at [[WrestleWar 1991|WrestleWar]] to retain the U.S. Title.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/w-war.html#91|title=WrestleWar 1991: WarGames results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=April 20, 2008}}</ref> Following their match, Nikita Koloff was due to present a new championship belt to Luger, but during the ceremony he suddenly attacked the champion, reigniting their feud from 1987. It did not last long, however, as Koloff found himself being pushed into an [[List of professional wrestling terms#A|angle]] with Sting instead of Luger, which began at [[SuperBrawl 1991|SuperBrawl I: Return of the Rising Sun]] when Sting and Luger challenged [[The Steiner Brothers]] for the [[WCW World Tag Team Championship]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Death of WCW|last1=Reynolds|first1=R.D.|last2=Alvarez|first2=Bryan|page=36|publisher=[[ECW Press]]|year=2004|isbn=978-1-55022-661-4}}</ref> During the match, Koloff interfered and hit Sting with a chain, which was intended for Luger.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/s-brawl.html#I|title=SuperBrawl I: Return of the Rising Sun results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=April 21, 2008}}</ref>

==== World Heavyweight Champion (1991–1992) ====
Luger again began to challenge Ric Flair for the [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] after becoming No.1 contender by defeating The Great Muta on the June 14, 1991 ''[[Clash of the Champions XV: Knocksville USA]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash.html#XV|title=Clash of the Champions XV: Knocksville USA results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=April 21, 2008}}</ref> Luger's title match against Flair was set to be contested at [[The Great American Bash (1991)|The Great American Bash]] in a steel cage match with the added [[stipulation]] that, should Flair get disqualified he would lose the title. The match never occurred, however, as Flair began to have disagreements with [[Jim Herd]], the head of WCW, over his future and salary. He eventually quit the company (being "stripped" of the title in the process) and took [[Big Gold Belt|the world title belt]] with him.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Death of WCW|last1=Reynolds|first1=R.D.|last2=Alvarez|first2=Bryan|pages=37–38|publisher=[[ECW Press]]|year=2004|isbn=978-1-55022-661-4}}</ref>

With the WCW World Heavyweight Championship now vacant, Barry Windham was declared the No. 2 contender and was set to face Luger in the cage match at [[The Great American Bash (1991)|The Great American Bash]]. During the match, [[Harley Race]] and [[Curtis Hughes|Mr. Hughes]] came to ringside. While Hughes kept Windham's attention, Race told Luger that "now is the time" to perform a [[Piledriver (professional wrestling)|piledriver]] on the distracted Windham. Luger did so and won the match, thereby winning his first WCW World Heavyweight Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/gabash.html#91| title=The Great American Bash 1991 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=April 21, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/wcwchampionship/3044541105|title=Lex Luger's first WCW Championship reign|publisher=WWE|access-date=April 19, 2008|archive-date=March 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324112432/http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/wcwchampionship/3044541105|url-status=dead}}</ref> As Flair still had the original championship belt and the new belt was not ready in time, Luger initially wore the [[NWA Western States Heritage Championship]], which had been altered to resemble the world title.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Death of WCW|last1=Reynolds|first1=R.D.|last2=Alvarez|first2=Bryan|page=40|publisher=[[ECW Press]]|year=2004|isbn=978-1-55022-661-4}}</ref>

After Luger won the world title, his first major challenge came from [[Ron Simmons]]. At a signing ceremony for their title match at [[Halloween Havoc (1991)|Halloween Havoc]] in a [[two out of three falls match]], there was a controversial angle where Luger invited Simmons, once his challenge had been turned back, to join his entourage, but as a [[chauffeur]]. Luger went on to retain the championship in the match by two falls to one.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/havoc.html#91|title=Halloween Havoc 1991: Chamber of Horrors results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=April 21, 2008}}</ref> Eventually, Luger began to have his own issues with WCW, and the contract he had seemed to have him wrestling less and less while still collecting money. After ending his feud with Simmons, Luger had a brief feud with [[Rick Steiner]], defeating him on the November 19 ''[[Clash of the Champions XVII]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash.html#XVII|title=Clash of the Champions XVII results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History| access-date=April 21, 2008}}</ref> Luger's contract only required him to work a specific number of dates, and having fulfilled them he "sat out" the end of 1991 and beginning of 1992. Aside from one title defense against [[Masahiro Chono]] at [[WCW/New Japan Supershow#II|WCW/New Japan Supershow II (Starrcade in Tokyo Dome)]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/japanppv.html#II|title=WCW/New Japan Supershow II results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=April 21, 2008}}</ref> Luger did not wrestle a match until [[SuperBrawl II]], where he lost his WCW title to Sting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/s-brawl.html#II|title=SuperBrawl II results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=April 21, 2008}}</ref>