Big Van Vader vs. Sting

[9.0] "[4.25*] The last match of the incredible Sting vs Vader trilogy. For about 75% of the match, this was by far my favorite of the three. Everything was just perfectly done since the first few seconds of the match. I said that the 1st and the 2nd matches were pretty similarly worked, but this one was completely different. This was way more vicious, bloody and gnarly. This fucking strap definitely was from real leather because Vader's back and Sting's belly were bleeding a lot, it seemed more painful than 99% of the "Deathmatches" out there. I loved how Sting came in with his energy trying to bring the monster down, but eventually Vader gained the advantage like we all knew would happen he just destroyed Sting. Something I loved here was the start of The Surfer's comeback, when Vader pulled Sting with the strap but Sting used this movement to connect his Karate Kick. It was a fucking amazing spot, full of psychology. However, I can't say the ending stretch was very well done. I get that they wanted to do an anticlimactic ending, okay, but I have an idea of an anticlimactic finish that is even more baffling but it's at least more unique. When Sting was carrying Vader on his shoulders and he tapped the 3rd corner, the referee could have gotten up just to see Vader, on Sting's arms, tap the 4th rope. Then he would win in such a shitty way that everyone would've been mad, but at least it'd be more creative than this boring-ass finish. I didn't even knew the match was really over because it was so, so lazy. But okay, this is still beyond excellent overall, I was just expecting a 10/10 bout and the finish brought it down a little bit."

[9.0] "After the previous two matches you wonder how they can improve, and produce something better, well, here it is, a fantastic strap match, different from what they already presented, but with the same virtues, and equally incredible. This time they're attached to the strap, and that favors Vader, because it's a stipulation that relies mainly on strength, and Vader is clearly the stronger man, despite Sting being super strong too, and having a huge heart. Vader's a monster, and he started the match dominating, he was controlling all the actions, but after some time, Sting managed to hit his comeback, and it was awesome, he was punching Vader, the crowd was going nuts, and he started to violently hit Vader with the strap. This is their most violent match and the visual is tremendous, Vader had a blade job on his back, and that looked nasty as hell, he was all covered in blood by the end of the match, even his ear started to bleed. Sting bled a little too, confirming the vicious nature of the match, a phenomenal brawl. The structure also respected what classic brawls usually do, Vader started really strong, Sting hit a comeback and the crowd went nuts, but the final laugh belonged to Vader, as he reestablished dominance and looked unbeatable at the end of the match, a true monster demolishing the good guy, who kept showing heart and fighting spirit. The near finishes with the corner stuff were tremendous, it's a controversial stipulation and not everybody likes it, but the way they did here, it was a blast, very thrilling, Vader tapped the corner 3 times and Sting somehow managed to survive, the crowd roared. Sting had a little moment as well, the only time he got the best out of Vader in the ending stretch, but after he tapped the three corners, and was going for the last one, the referee wasn't even seeing, and he tripped on the referee... a small glimmer of hope for the Stinger. Vader eventually won the match, and the ending is controversial, but that's a stipulation where's very tough to get the finish right, so in my opinion it was a good outcome, Sting never truly gave up, and Vader won with an asterisk. Sometimes empty finishes are necessary, and not everything has to be a full circle - {****1/2}"

[9.0] "I have hated this stipulation so deeply and for so long, and this just blew me the hell away (save the ending, which is EXACTLY why I hate this stipulation). What a perfect start to this match, demonstrating the relationship between the two wrestlers and the particularity (and brutality) of the stipulation perfectly, all the while building the tension little by little. The juxtaposition of Sting's and Vader's respective sizes, and how it emphasizes the unique ruleset of this match, was a saving grace in terms of making the stipulation interesting and relevant to the story at hand. In fact, by the end, this match serves as a true masterclass in pacing, with a beautiful see-saw between momentum, a great elevation of brutality, and an awesome use of slower (or even actionless) moments to heighten the match further. Truly, the only complaint I could muster, though it's a big one, is that damned ending. It is exactly! why this stipulation struggles, as the push from corner to corner so often kills momentum rather than building it - though truly only the final lap fell victim to that in this match."

[10.0] "Excellent match that capped off the initial trilogy in this rivalry. The finish was a little anticlimactic but it didnt take away from the match and how it ended. ****3/4. Vader just squeezing by with the win makes a lot of sense. I rank the trilogy from match 2 > 1 > 3"

[8.0] "It's only fitting that the grudge match ends up being the most violent match of the trilogy. Those leather strap shots, that bloody back of Vader, his bloody ear, even Sting gets color. Good use of the stipulation actually, another great babyface performance from Sting while Vader looks like a beast. The finish is quite anticlimactic, especially for a grudge match, but it's still a very solid match. *** 3/4"

[7.0] "This takes a little time to get started, but things eventually pick up. Sting whips the shit out of Vader and scars up his back in the process. Things then get pretty brutal for sting as well who ends up with some hardway juice. It's neat to see Sting hitting Vader back just as hard as Vader has hit him in the previous matches, but ultimately Vader comes away with it."

[8.0] "You know, if you asked me what was the worst stipulation for a wrestling match that was more than just one of the gimmicky one-offs like a Kennel from Hell or reverse battle royale, I'd probably say the "touch the posts classic strap match." They're always stupid and the psychology is bad. So why was this match actually so good? I mean, it comes down to how good, brutal, and over Sting and Vader were at the time. Peak Vader being a monster, Sting at the best of his white meat babyface run, just duking it out and whipping each other, splashing each other, powerbombing each other, and generally throwing the kitchen sink at it. The inherent storytelling of the touch the post gimmick does still interrupt the flow, and I still think the psychology of this kind of match is difficult to wrap your head around to begin with, but this is one of the best strap matches ever regardless, and certainly with that win condition. Great stuff."

[9.0] "This has got to be one of the best strap matches of all time. I love how it's the most competitive of the Sting-Vader trilogy, since now Sting has the ability to use the strap as an equalizer. He makes the most out of this, and finds all manner of ways to use the stipulation to his advantage. Sting really brings the fight to Vader, working extra stiff in comparison with his usual offence. He looks absolutely heroic towards the end, where he wails away on Vader in the corner, then carries his lifeless body on his shoulders as he makes his way to each turnbuckle. This is a rare occasion where Vader looks like he has been through a war by the end of the match, and I really love the visual of him covered in blood after the finish. My one complaint here is that I do think the finish itself unfortunately falls a little flat and isn't executed as well as it could have been. Outside of that, this is a terrific match to cap off an extremely strong trilogy of matches."

[8.0] "The finish was a little anticlimactic, but everything else was perfect. It was a fight, both guys were working stiff and Sting knew like nobody else how to work with Vader. He was able to make him look like a monster, while at the same time produce some fantastic comebacks that were setting the seats on fire. The stipulation let both guys hit some of the more impressive big moves that would usually end the match and because of that we were able to see this incredible top rope Samoan Drop and a lot of other big bumps from Vader that looked phenomenal, plus the blood also added a lot to the overall image."

[10.0] "Idk how I'd never seen this before. It might be the most violent match in WCW history as Vader's skin on his back was falling apart by the end of the match..They beat the heck out of each other, both took big bumps off the top ropes. There were a couple really clever slapping the pole spots. Go watch this if you haven't seen it."

[8.0] "One of the best strap matches ever and a main event level match with some nice brutality. Vader and Sting worked incredibly well together, possibly each others best opponents."

[8.0] "This was a great main event, even though the gimmick was a little silly. These two are great together. Vader actually had my favourite performance of the night and he ended up coming out on top here. This match had its brutal moments; this was a great use of the strap match stipulation."

[5.0] "Probably my least favourite out of their really solid trilogy. The last 10 minutes contain some of the best work of their trilogy, really bloody and brutal as you would expect it to be. The other 15 or so minutes range from solid to just okay. The ending is okay as well but is kind of weird, but its also cool to see Sting snap at Vader as well."

[8.0] "I personally prefer this match to the Starcade matchup between Sting and Vader in which Sting won the title. The strap match gimmick made the whole fight a more difficult and more compelling challenge for Sting, and helped make him look that much tougher as he went toe-to-toe with the big man..."

[8.0] "Not a fan of this type of match, even more so when you have to hit all four corners, but I have to admit that it was a very good match. The finish is good even if, in the spirit of booking and the wrestlers, you must necessarily try to drag your opponent who is holding on to the ropes when there is still a corner to touch. (4*1/4)"

[7.0] "Sting Vs. Vader III in 1993. I love these two guys beating the hell out of each other. This wasn't their best match as I thought their Starrcade match was the best of the 3."

[5.0] "Really disappointing match between Sting and Vader the match was slow and boring. The blood and the action outside of the ring were good but as soon as they came back in the ring the match became dull again and don't like seeing long match for this stipulation. **1/2"

[9.0] "This is a classic and this match is just so fun to watch I did not expect it to be this good it is pretty brutal as well a very good match. ****3/4"

[8.0] "Ignoring the dumb "White Castle of Fear" name, this was a really good match. Vader and Sting beat the hell out of each other pretty much the entire time. Vader proved in this match like many others that he was one of the best big men when it came to selling for smaller opponents and his willingness to take bumps. The strap shots he took on the back were brutal. Good on WCW not going the obvious route and having Sting win as well, which was the usual par for the course in blow off matches back then. Great ending to the card overall, especially after the two previous matches."

[9.0] "Absolutely incredible match with incredible strap spots and making the best out of the strap gimmick. Finisher is not executed greatly which may be the one thing preventing this from being a 10."

[8.0] "This was a great strap match but definitely below their 1st two bouts imo. They play up to the whole Sting has a great disadvantage because he has to somehow drag Sting to all 4 corners. Both men beat the shit out of each other in this, you can really see the effects on Vader's back when they go outside at one point, and his face was messed up too. Sting as always showed great babyface fire when he made his comeback and actually had the match won at the end but Harley Race got in the way and allowed Vader to stay in and win the match.****1/4"

[8.0] "I came into this one expecting an intense, physical, brutal, barbaric encounter between these two great rivals after a fantastic year-long feud between them. That is exactly what they delivered here, going back-and-forth with shots with the strap (or simply their bare hands) to destroy one another. Vader left the match with a bruised back, unmasked and bleeding from the face; Sting, on the other hand, saw his face paint slowly turn into blood and took some wild strap shots to the back himself. The finish wasn? t decisive, leaving plenty of money on the table for future business. This feud REALLY helped elevate both Sting and Big Van Vader into legendary status. I expected a somewhat more decisive finish, but this was still a terrific strap match, probably the greatest ever. [****1/4]"

[8.0] "This really lived up to the hype as the match not only delivers on psychology and storytelling but on brutality too. A fitting final chapter of this great rivalry that ends in blood and Vader still the champ, but Sting still looking like the ultra babyface the company needed. ****1/4"

[7.0] "Strap matches can be hit-or-miss, but this stipulation worked well as it put Sting at a massive disadvantage as he has to carry Vader's massive weight with him as attempts to touch all four corners and win the match. They were able to milk the drama whenever they would get into a tug of war with the strap. Vader brought out the best in Sting. They weren't afraid to work snug with each other and we get some hardway blood from Vader. This match overall was a step down from their other two matches together as there was too much dead air in between all the action. We also got a weak finish that was clearly trying to make Sting look weak in defeat."

[6.0] "Strap matches with the "touch four corners to win" usually aren't my thing but this one is one of the more brutal examples. Should have been a title match."

[4.0] "Nah, this match sucked. The definition of slow and plodding, the stipulation didn't help it whatsoever. **"

[7.0] "First of all I am disgusted that WCW did a classic bait and switch and had this in a ring rather than a White Castle of fear. This was enjoyable stuff and showed just how good Vader is as it is his work that makes this so good. The man bleeds buckets for his art. I don't love it as much as others but it is still great."

[9.0] "Easily the best strap match of all time. Russian chain, bull rope, leather strap, whatever you want to call it. This is the greatest rendition of any strap match ever. A barbaric, hard-fought, and ruthless war where both men were simply set out to destroy one another. Extremely unconventional and unique usage of the strap that just kept you guessing. Vader's bleeding was scarily fantastic. Ugly in the best way possible. And what a smart finish! Say whatever you want about the whole White Castle build, but it gave us one of the greatest matches of the whole year. [****1/2]"

[9.0] "Excellent match that totally lived upto the hype and praise. It was refreshing not seeing the usual sprint for the final corner finish that usually happens. Instead we get a definitive win, although Sting is protected enough. We got a violent match where both men are covered in welts and blood. Vader showed that he was more than a brute as well with the use of the strap. He used it to bully Sting around the ring at his pleasure using his strength while Sting had to use Vader? s mistakes. It was a fight. And that? s what you want. ****1/2"

[10.0] "HERE WE GO. All stories have to end (or, at least take a break for a year) and this is a fucking doozy of ending. The lashings from both men are horrific and you can the flesh being torn apart before you eyes. Vader bleeding from the eat is a goddamn moment in time, and Sting going insane on it is even better. Watch this match and marvel in it *****"

[7.0] "Not as bad as a match. He had a nice storytelling but the stipulation made the match strange, but still set for a rematch and a third fight and it's fine"

[6.0] "Preferred the match at Starrcade '92. Enjoyable use of match gimmick to build tension throughout the match. Finish came out of nowhere."

[6.0] "I just never really bought into the match. The move sets are small and overdone/tedious. I just never cared what happened. Bonus points for the legit blood, I guess. ***."

[10.0] "The third and final match of the Sting/Vader trilogy and my personal favorite. This is the perfect way to end a blood-feud. Vader and Sting beat the ever living shit out of each-other in this classic. Sting lights Vader with the strap, resulting in Vaders back being cut open, and Vader destroys Sting with punches to the skull, making Sting bleed from the ear. The brutality is off the charts in this match, and the call backs to the previous matches adds to the drama. I can understand why many people don't like the finish, but I think it was to help make Sting look strong in defeat so I understand the booking. A great grudge match. ****3/4"

[9.0] "Of Vader and Sting's major matches, this was the best of the bunch, with the history of their feud playing into what was a great old-school bloodbath."

[10.0] "The last chapter in the Sting/Vader trilogy - and in my opinion their best match together. Definitely the most violent one - the strap stipulation gimmick absolutely added to it, the way they punished each other was brutal. A very memorable ending to a great trilogy of matches. The only thing that dragged it down, just by a little bit, was the very anti-climatic ending. ****1/2"

[10.0] "Final match of the Sting/Vader official trilogy. Not quite as good as Starrcade but close, I would say it is the clear second best match between them and that means the level of quality is extremely high. Fired up performance from Sting but Vader is the true star, fantastic offense, great selling and psychology, and not only does he bleed from the back due to the strap but he ends up gushing blood from his EAR towards the end! Very brutal and highly entertaining, a great main event for the start of 93. Should have been a title match, not sure why it wasn't!"

[8.0] "Except for its name, it's a normal Leather Strap match where they have to touch the four corners to win. It's another good match between Sting and Vader, maybe not my favorite but still a good fight that gets brutal near the end. ***3/4"

[7.0] "I gave this match *** 1/4. This started out pretty well, but then it steadily declines into a pretty boring match"

[8.0] "This leather strap match that WCW dubbed, "The White Castle Of Fear" was definitely a good match and one of the best and probably one of the most underrated matches in the amazing legendary feud between Sting and Big Van Vader! Both of these guys gave it their all in this match as best they could in that match and both Sting and Vader really made you feel like they were out to hurt each other cause they were feuding for a long time and hated each other that much! So without a doubt an amazing story was told by Sting and Vader especially when Vader's back was bleeding from the shots that Sting gave to him with the leather strap and even though I'm sure Sting legitimately didn't mean to make Vader's back bleed with that strap, even THAT was a story in itself cause it made you feel that Sting didn't come into this match to mess around! He was out to hurt Vader just like Vader being the heel that he was at that time wanted to end Sting's career in that match! Last but certainly not least, it didn't end like how you typically see strap matches once in a while today. The match ended with Vader being smart by touching the last turnbuckle after Sting tried to stop his momentum but kicked him near it! I really liked watching that match!"