WWE Bringing Back “Starrcade” Name For November Event

When WWE bought WCW in 2001, they purchased everything. The massive tape library of WCW and NWA was part of what led WWE to create the WWE Network.

But beyond the talent and the tapes came trademarks and copyrights to WCW property – including the names of some of WCW’s iconic events. Ever since the purchase, WWE has used a few of WCW’s pay-per-view names for themselves. WWE continued to use “The Great American Bash” for a few years, and last year they changed the name of the “Night of Champions” to the WCW series “Clash of the Champions.” Now WWE is planning to use perhaps the second most iconic PPV name from World Championship Wrestling. It was a fall classic and considered by many to be WCW’s “Wrestlemania.” Welcome back, Starrcade!

Rhodes Family Reunion?

After the announcement former WWE star and current Ring of Honor Champion Cody Rhodes noted that WWE was using one of his father’s “ideas” in a ploy to sell tickets. Rhodes suggested WWE book his brother, Goldust on the show. This elicited a surprising response from WWE producer and Hall of Famer, Michael PS Hayes

The Bizarre One wants the match-up!

https://twitter.com/Goldust/status/909907245030187008

Adding to the fantasy booking, Matt Hardy suggested the Young Bucks could show up as well!

On the WWE Network?

There was speculation that this special event would air live on the WWE Network. It would make sense, considering what a marquee name and the tradition behind it. Here’s what we know so far.

via WrestlingNewsWorld:

Unfortunately, the big Starrcade event being planned for November 25th will not be a WWE Network broadcast but rather a live event for the Smackdown brand in Greensboro, NC. Tickets have already gone on sale and because they are already seating people on both sides of the hard cam it is likely that nothing will be televised.

But, like everything in wrestling, things could always change. We will update this story if the event is televised.

Click on the next page to get the FULL HISTORY of Starrcade

The History of Starrcade

Appropriately enough, the first Starrcade in 17 years will take place in North Carolina, the heartland of WCW wrestling in its heyday. The event started as Jim Crockett Promotion’s annual Thanksgiving show held in the Greensboro Coliseum. WWE looks to be restarting that tradition.

The first Starrcade was broadcast on closed-circuit television in 1983. It was considered one of the first “Pay-Per-Views” in wrestling history. That event featured Harley Race defending his NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Ric Flair inside a steel cage. Starrcade ’17 continues that tradition with TWO steel cage matches, one of which features a Flair! Ric Flair main-evented the first SEVEN events. The Rock n Roll Express and Ricky Steamboat making an appearance is a further nod to WCW’s past and the history behind the event.

Starrcade will take place the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It stands to reason that it will be a WWE Network special, though there has been no official confirmation as of yet.

As a fan of old-school WCW, this is very exciting. Starrcade’s history is packed with signature moments of wrestling history. Starrcade ’97 was the highest-grossing PPV in WCW history and featured the return of Sting after nearly a year spent haunting the rafters. Though the event ended in controversy, it is still one of the most iconic moments in WCW’s history.

Hopefully Starrcade ’17 can deliver. The card features the best SmackDown Live has to offer. I can’t wait to see it.

Are you excited for Starrcade’s return? Share your thoughts in the comments below.