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Steiner Whiner: The Forgotten Heel Turn of 1992

Posted: Oct 16th 2024 By: Brian Damage - RingTheDamnBell.Wordpress.com

We all remember how Scott Steiner turned heel on his brother Rick at SuperBrawl VIII in 1998 and joined the New World Order. As shocking as that turn was, it was even more shocking seeing Steiner transform himself into the future ‘Big Poppa Pump’ by dying his hair and beard blonde. While Scott’s heel turn was surprising and ultimately very successful, it wasn’t the first time he had turned to the dark side in WCW.

About six years prior in 1992…(October 10,1992) to be exact…Scott Steiner was in the middle of another startling heel turn. It was on an episode of WCW Worldwide, where the team of Steve Austin and Brian Pillman were scheduled to meet the Steiner Brothers in a grudge tag team match. It was reported by Tony Schiavone that Rick Steiner had suffered an injury to his pectoral muscle while the brothers were wrestling in Japan and was not able to compete in the scheduled match on Worldwide.

Scotty Steiner, being the ultra competitive babyface, offered to wrestle both Austin and Pillman by himself. WCW management wouldn’t allow it, instead offering for Scotty to pick a new partner of his own choosing. Later that night, in the main event of the evening, Steiner chose another WCW youngster in the name of Marcus Alexander Bagwell to be his partner.

For the majority of the match, Scott was a one man wrecking crew taking on and handling Austin and Pillman by himself. As the momentum began to shift and the heels were starting get in offense on Steiner…Marcus Bagwell was attacked from behind on the ring apron by ‘The Enforcer’ Arn Anderson. When Steiner went for the tag…Bagwell was not there…which led Austin and Pillman to gain the advantage once again. Bagwell was able to get himself back up to his corner, just in time for Steiner to be there ready to tag in.

Instead of tagging in Bagwell, Steiner kicked Marcus in his head and then dragged him into the ring and body slammed his partner. Scotty Steiner then walked out of the ring and headed towards the locker room as the heels scored the pinfall victory over Marcus Bagwell. The WCW announce team consisting of a shocked Tony Schiavone couldn’t understand why Steiner would do such a thing, while the jubilant Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura praised Steiner for turning on Bagwell.

After the incident, Ventura caught up with an angry Scotty Steiner, who started to put down Bagwell in a promo. Ventura would show the video footage of Arn Anderson’s earlier attack on Bagwell as the reason Marcus wasn’t available for the tag and that left Steiner visibly confused and scratching his head.

The very next week, Steiner was given a shot at perennial babyface Ricky Steamboat’s world television title on WCW Worldwide. The match started out with both acting as babyfaces in a scientific match. When Steiner fell out of the ring, Steamboat held the ropes open for him to get back in safely. Later in the match, Steamboat fell outside the ring and when it appeared Steiner was going to hold the ropes for him and return the gesture…he caught Steamboat in a small package and pinned him for the TV title. The announcers made it known that Scott Steiner displayed poor sportsmanship continuing the heel turn.

Steiner’s reign did not last very long, as it was later reported that he and brother Rick decided to leave the company…thus vacating the World TV title. The Steiners eventually made their way to the rival World Wrestling Federation. So what exactly happened? Reportedly, the Steiner brothers were involved in a very bitter contract dispute with WCW head Bill Watts. Allegedly, Watts wanted to sign the brothers to a long term deal, but wanted both to take a pay cut. Rick Steiner was insulted by the offer and walked away. Watts felt that if he could give Scott a run as a singles star…he would re-sign with WCW and perhaps convince Rick to remain as well. Thus, Scott’s heel turn and winning the TV title. Instead, the move backfired and both brothers joined the WWF.

Who knows how the heel turn would have changed the singles career of Scott Steiner? This was still relatively early in his career. He wasn’t as charismatic as he was in 1998, when he developed the Big Poppa Pump gimmick. He was, however, more agile and athletic during the initial turn. Would Steiner get a manager like Paul E. Dangerously or Teddy Long? Who knows what could have been in this well forgotten time in Scott Steiner’s career?