Wrestling gets compared to daytime soap operas so often it's become a cliche, but like many tropes, it's considered as such because it's often true. Like all great drama, storytelling in wrestling relies on conflict, and some of life's most bountiful sources are love, sex and relationships. On-screen romantic couples have long been a part of wrestling and have provided some of wrestling's best moments - and sparked some of its most heated rivalries.
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However, for every great idea in wrestling, there seem to be as many unmemorable ones, and on-screen couples in WCW were no exception. From bookers seizing an opportunity to pair themselves with women seen as sex symbols to duos that didn't have any chemistry whatsoever between them, WCW provided us with several examples of couples we've forgotten over the years - or would have liked.
8 Eric Bischoff and Kimberly Page
Eric Bischoff, 'Diamond' Dallas Page, Bischoff's longtime (and current) wife Loree and Page's then-wife and sometimes-valet Kimberly were neighbors - and rumored to be more - when Page began getting his big push in the mid-1990s. Kimberly joined 'DDP' on TV as the 'Diamond Doll' in 1994, mostly in mid-card angles before he 'lost' her in a match to Johnny B. Badd. When Page began feuding with the nWo's Randy Savage and Elizabeth, it opened the door for Kimberly's on-screen return as Page's valet. However, when the feud was over, Kimberly distanced herself from her husband with her next venture: leading the Nitro Girls.
As WCW's booking began getting more convoluted in 1999, Kimberly found herself physically involved in a few angles, eventually accompanying 'DDP' to the ring as his valet again. When she turned heel on Page in 2000 to join Bischoff, Vince Russo and the New Blood faction, of course 'Eazy E' had to imply that their arrangement was more than just business. Much like just about everything else in WCW in 2000, the entire angle was downright forgettable, at best.
7 Shane Douglas and Torrie Wilson
When Torrie Wilson first arrived in WCW in 1999, her head-turning good looks made her a prime candidate to be somebody's on-screen love interest. During her time in WCW, Wilson was in such high demand that she'd be a source of conflict for several male wrestlers, most notably David Flair and future real-life husband Billy Kidman.
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Wilson briefly disappeared from television after turning on Kidman in his feud with Hulk Hogan. However, when she returned at Bash at the Beach 2000 to align herself with Shane Douglas, Kidman hadn't forgotten the betrayal. Douglas started using his 'Franchise' nickname again and received a renewed push as the two feuded. The pairing of Douglas and Wilson made sense, as his most successful years in ECW were with a valet, usually Francine, at his side. However, few angles designed by WCW creative made much headway in 2000, and they were no exception. Torrie would be gone by the end of the year, and Douglas moved on to other mid-card feuds with Ernest Miller, General Rection and Rick Steiner before WCW's closure.
6 Madusa and Evan Karagias
The handsome, athletic Evan Karagias spent a few years as an underwear model and aspiring soap opera actor before deciding to try his hand at wrestling, joining the WCW Power Plant in 1997. He'd be featured as a jobber on television in dozens of matches throughout much of 1998 before finally receiving the opportunity to be placed in an angle where his experience in daytime television would surely come in handy.
Nearly a decade Evan's senior, Madusa had been a veteran of wrestling for over a dozen years by 1999. However, WCW seemingly focused on anything but serious competition for women at the time. Ironically, Madusa and Karagias' 'May-December Romance' began with a match among the two in the WCW World Championship tournament. However, their conflict eventually led to passion, with Madusa leading Karagias to a Cruiserweight Championship win as his manager. It didn't take long for his 'wandering eyes' to betray him, though, as Madusa was so upset when she found him flirting backstage with Nitro Girl Spice that she challenged him to a match for the title at the following Starrcade. Spice showed some true 'girl power' during the contest by low-blowing Karagias, helping Madusa become WCW's first female Cruiserweight Champion.
5 Rick Steiner and Robin Green (a.k.a. Woman)
When the Steiner Brothers formed their legendary tag team in 1989, WCW bookers thought they would need more than their in-ring ability and babyface appeal to get over.
Along with Missy Hyatt, they brought in a young 'Woman; - then known as Robin Green - Unfortunately for the 'Dog-Faced Gremlin,' she'd end up turning heel when she cost the proud Michigan alumni their NWA World Tag Title shot against Fabulous Freebirds Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin and joined another heel team, Doom, shortly after.
4 Scott Steiner and Missy Hyatt
Although elder brother Rick certainly never became known as a ladies' man, eventually Scott's 'freaks' were just as vital to his gimmick as his 'peaks'. In fact, younger fans probably still associate 'Big Poppa Pump' with Midajah, his main valet in 2000 as WCW World Champion.
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However, fans of a certain age may remember his first on-screen girlfriend, prolific manager and valet Missy Hyatt. She and Rick's then-lady friend, Robin Green, spent most of their time bickering at ringside while co-managing the Steiners, and when Green turned on the duo in 1989, Hyatt then went back to the commentary booth where she made her WCW debut several months prior. Unlike his brother, who was brokenhearted by Green's betrayal, the split with Hyatt didn't seem to bother the future 'Big Bad Booty Daddy' one bit, as it was simply never mentioned again.
3 Rey Mysterio and Tygress
When Vanessa Sanchez, a.k.a. Nitro Girl Tygress, joined the dance troupe led by Kimberly Page in 1997, she - like several other professional dancers and models initially hired for the group - might not have seen herself ever becoming an actual wrestler. However, by 2000, booking in WCW had become so chaotic that several employees found themselves in roles in which they had no business.
By the time he and the Filthy Animals turned heel in 2000, Rey Mysterio had already lost his mask and, aside from his spectacular in-ring skills, much of what made him stand out in the cruiserweight division. Meanwhile, in WCW's attempt to compete with WWE's widespread use of their attractive female performers into relationship and sex-based angles, several new couples seemingly sprung up overnight. Tygress and Mysterio's on-screen partnership managed to last long enough for her even to win a match at Halloween Havoc, teaming with Rey's longtime friend Konnan against Shane Douglas and Torrie Wilson, before the Animals went their separate ways.
2 Elizabeth and Lex Luger
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The 'Macho Man' Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth were wrestling's First Couple for a reason. The iconic duo made huge names for themselves in the late 1980's WWE, and Elizabeth's presence is often considered a vital part of how Savage became such a big star in the first place. Their memorable moments together were so numerous in their time in WWE that even after their real-life divorce in 1992, they found their way back to each other on-screen several times in WCW in the ensuing years.
Nobody would blame either for wanting to move on, personally and professionally, as it must've been awkward maintaining their on-screen partnership with such a complicated history. Despite prior associations with men other than Savage, such the Four Horsemen and nWo, when Liz started accompanying nWo partner Lex Luger it just looked wrong. Although Lex was well-past his prime, they'd remain in WCW through early 2001 and their off-screen relationship lasted until Elizabeth tragically passed in their Georgia home in 2003.
1 Randy Savage and Gorgeous George
When the 'Macho Man' was forced to take a hiatus due to multiple knee surgeries in the summer of 1998, he'd been a member of the nWo Wolfpac for several months. However, by the time he recovered the following April, the nWo was essentially dead and in Savage's absence, his former manager (and ex-wife) Elizabeth had begun accompanying former Wolfpac faction-mate Lex Luger.
The 'Macho Man' embraced these changes with a new look - new piercings and a bulked-up physique were among his most significant aesthetic changes - and a brand-new girlfriend, 22-year-old Stephanie 'Gorgeous George' Bellars - at his side, The two's pairing didn't last long either on-screen or off, as they'd be gone from WCW by that fall.
