WCW Blunder - The "Rebirth" of Lex Luger (Episode 3)

See videos early & get the theme remixes: / wrestling_bios
Sweet Merch: www.chinlocks.com
Twitter: / wrestlingbios
When Lex Luger made his return to World Championship Wrestling in August of 1999, he immediately got involved in a storyline featuring Sting and Hulk Hogan. Luger would tell Sting that Hulk wasn't trustworthy, and Sting wasn't sure who he could trust. It turned out that Sting and Luger were working together all along, and immediately following a Sting vs Hogan match at Fall Brawl, both Lex and Sting turned heel.
Lex decided to get a name change and try something different, only problem here though was the fact that this new "Reborn" Lex Luger was pretty much the exact same as the previous Luger. Now going by the name "The Total Package" and nothing else, Luger would try to tell fans that the Lex Luger of the past had disappeared and he wasn't coming back. With Miss Elizabeth at his side, The Total Package character would try to write a new chapter in the career of Lex Luger and, in typical WCW fashion, it was all totally forgettable.
This video looks at Lex Luger changing to "The Total Package" in WCW during 1999.
00:00 - Intro
02:55 - Luger's Injury and 1999 return
07:54 - Lex Luger becomes "The Total Package"
11:03 - The Total Package run in WCW
15:19 - Luger vs Sting at Starrcade '99
17:44 - The New Blood enters WCW
18:59 - Final Thoughts / Credits
#WCW #Wrestling

[@WrestlingBios]

Correction - Luger worked heel again after his debut (and before "The Total Repackaging"). I got the message(s).

[@irishpanic]

Yes he turned heel on my birthday. January 4th 1999

[@icchamp2010]

I just came here to say. Huge fan Wresling Bios! I wanna give you a Davey Boy Smith headlock

[@Media_Gamer_Nation]

Please do a Kronik tribute!

[@primusvsunicron1]

Lex Luger was a heel in The Dungeon of Doom and nWo Wolfpac Elite

[@stinggodswrestler1143]

elizabeth sting and lex had great chemistry working together. i just elizabeth is in heaven.

[@durt9872]

We NEED a “that’s not gonna work for me, brother” shirt

[@wastelander138]

Yellow t-shirt with the red hulkster font. Yeah, I'd buy that.

[@jaystreet46]

Yes!

[@b_side8669]

@@wastelander138 me too I’d by that for a dollar 😂 no seriously I’d buy it too

[@CardPlayingStrategies]

Shut up, and take my money!

[@jimreily7538]

@@CardPlayingStrategies Okay, but you'll need some of my payment details first I think

[@g-dub5272]

Flexy Lexy...definitely one of WCW cornerstone

[@Fantropolis]

Bobby Heenans comment was the best during this. Tony: It's the total package Bobby: Well look at her!

[@TonyPizzaGuy]

The silly string gag is actually awesome!

[@dr.loomis4221]

Oh you like it? You enjoy it? You think it's fun?

[@JSchaffer214]

@@dr.loomis4221 Fun? No. Silly? Absolutely!

[@alexpayne5914]

RIP Lex the Friendly Ghost.😄 More seriously, Luger was at his best in late 89 when he was a heel feuding with Steamboat. "There lays your #1 contender"

[@markmack2746]

The friendly ghost who helped destroy the Lovely Elizabeth. What a great dude

[@georgeh4171]

The one thing missing from “The Total Package’s” entrance is having Bobby Heenan salivating over Lugers muscles saying things like “DONT TEASE ME LEX!!”

[@ricolewis2949]

My Man NAR CISSSSSSUS!

[@Lingerer_]

Favorite channel. I never thought I would fall back in love with pro wrestling again. Thank you Wrestling Bios!

[@nicolasbaker9601]

I haven't watched since the attitude era. As of recently, I am now enamored with all this behind the scenes wrestling content,shoot interviews, etc. Loving it!

[@Antihero297]

Tony Schiavone is like, "He's not to be called Lex Luger anymore" About two weeks later everyone is calling him "Luger" again

[@GibDozer1]

Never been a Luger fan. I admire his dedication to body building. Most people won't have a physique like that for one day of their lives, he maintained it for decades.

[@BLACULA-Skeewoah]

Drugs.... Not dedication

[@GibDozer1]

@@BLACULA-Skeewoah You could take all the preformance enhancing drugs in the world you'd still never look as good as Luger did. He had top tier genetics, great muscle insertions, and clearly champion level work ethic.

[@hw5091]

He did. My stepdad played in the usfl with him in the 80's, and they both made fun of wrestling n how phony it was. Kind of funny how he got into wrestling no more than a couple years after that. He said Lex was pretty ripped even then, maybe a little smaller than his 97 luger size, but still around 245 n ripped. Just insane level genetics. Looked like he put on another 15lbs of muscle for his heel gimmick in 99. Pro level bodybuilder physique, easily. @@GibDozer1

[@anthonyanderson9303]

He had a really great run during his initial NWA/WCW run from 1987 to 1992. From joining the Horsemen, to his eventual face turn and feuding with Flair, to his heel world champion run and feud with Sting. Then he arrives in WWF I thought he had potential as he fit the WWF mold of the time, but once the Lex Expressed bombed it was over. By some miracle he was over again in WCW in '96-'97 and next to Sting, was the biggest foil to the nWo at that time. That was the last of his good stuff tho.

[@GibDozer1]

@@anthonyanderson9303 Like I said I've never been a Luger fan, but I won't deny the guy could pop the crowd. Never considered him great in ring or as a promo, but I'll bet he sold shirts! Thought he was okay in the wolf pack. I love that his main angle was always betraying Sting though lol.

[@chriswatson8965]

Absolutely LOVING the way your channel is going! Your confidence has grown in leaps and bounds too and it shines 👍🏻 this series is going great too!

[@BlackieMike14]

Dude I swear I go an rewatch when he first started he has definitely hit his stride wrestling youtube gold

[@baronvonsvengoonie1767]

What are you his psychiatrist?

[@rancidcrawfish]

@@TheSoonToBePurgedJackMeHoff55 lmao

[@aic8001]

Wow, calm down dude

[@JSchaffer214]

@@TheSoonToBePurgedJackMeHoff55 Wow! You're being more than just a bit hypocritical to say someone else is "trying". You're trying way too hard to come across as edgy, gritty and badass. Instead, you come across as a dweeby 13 year old.

[@danchampion4054]

It is time once again to say that Reliving the war (and all other wrestling bio's content) is the best thing in wrestling right now, not just KZbin. I could relive the past via these videos forever and never again watch any new wrestling content if I had to (but I'd rather not).

[@FrickGuyy]

This is so true

[@sebastiannock942]

Between the more frequent Wrestling Bios (feels like Raw/Nitro) and the PPV feel of OSW, I’m happy with that as my wrestling content

[@erikgonzalez1306]

As someone who wasn't able to watch the Monday Night Wars, I've really enjoyed living through the abbreviated Thursday Afternoon War the first time. Just hope it can go all the way

[@azapro911]

Luger was shockingly good at being the sympathetic underdog during the first 18 months of the nWo, WCW's last main event man standing as everyone else, seemingly including his best friend, turned to the dark side. Naturally WCW ended up wasting his momentum and by late '99 the slow death had already begun.

[@GibDozer1]

I'm not a Luger fan, but I have to agree. His work against the nWo was pretty entertaining. I'd say his best work in wrestling.

[@JumpingAssninja]

Lex Luger dressed as sting looks like a drag queen from hell ... Liz was fine

[@NikateeN]

Wow, Luger in Sting face paint… that’s just frightening.

[@TXkid]

Say what you will about this era of The Package but his entrance theme sounded like a boss battle and felt like a spectacle every time he came to the ring

[@kingphillieman]

Yes just like Roman's now. He should have been world champion and got a run like Scott Steiner.

[@TXkid]

@@kingphillieman I don't know about this era Packaging be a world champion, but upper-midcard all day, credible threat to anyone no matter their place on the card

[@alexkid2437]

What is the theme? Now I am curious and want to listen to it

[@mississippimeatloaf1637]

And he showed charisma and personality that I never knew he had, besides, I never bought into lex Luger as a babyface, he just looked like a prick and didn't look like the type of guy that would be an underdog

[@1roundleft821]

@@TXkid one of my favorite theme songs. Sounded like something youd hear while Godzilla was tearing through a city lol.

[@GoldenfoxxPrime]

I can't believe how fuzzy my memory is on all of this. I remember them trying to turn Sting heel and hating every moment of that, and that's about it. Elizabeth dressed up as death and accompanying Luger is...creepy as hell in hindsight.

[@mikeroagreschen5350]

I honestly forgot about Sting's heel turn until you brought it up, and watching this video.

[@kidneystonermusic]

Yeah I don't remember that Liz bit at all. I was watching WCW the whole time too, but my brain only chose to remember Raw every week

[@louisvelez40]

I was a fan of Lex, didn’t follow him in NWA until he was the narcissist and obviously the Lex Express All American in WWF(E). I know one thing, he was hella over in WCW for a good period and that was my favorite version of Lex. Love him or hate him he is one of the biggest stars ever in WCW and I enjoyed his work there. The rebirth Lex is the Lex I would like to forget as much as I remember it

[@villainnetwork2479]

This is the best wrestling channel on KZbin 🤘

[@ChrisHopkinsBass]

“That’s when it begins to get a little weird” that’s WCW all over

[@jamesbounds]

Personally I think Lex Luger was the best between 1996 to early 1999.

[@DragoEpyon]

He was my personal favourite in WCW from 96 till 99. I love it when youtubers bring up the fact that, no matter the company, nothing is even close to being as over today as anything was back then. The most over guy in the world today would be getting jobbed out to Billy Gunn during the attitude era.

[@billblaski9523]

Lmao hey I can't front, I was a Billy Gunn fan back then! As a kid, I would always play as him in the video games, the Fameasser was cool AF to 8 year old me 😆

[@GibDozer1]

In the ring Billy G was 10x the wrestler Lex was imo. You're absolutely right though, wrestling was entertaining back then. Wrestlers brought some personality to the ring in those days. Everything now feels scripted to death. It's not that I think today's performers couldn't do it, it's that they aren't allowed to.

[@ronniemoon57]

The Unwrapped package LEX LOSER!!!

[@ZeroValkyrie]

The most boomer thing I read today.

[@ds4life886]

Lex Luger started to lose the incredible popularity of 97 at Road Wild 97. When his reign lasted just 6 days. Being in the Wolfpack didn't help him (basically the Wolfpack helped Nash and Konnan), but this is the last strike for sure

[@S.Dot87]

I agree, I think they should have at least let lex run with the title till Halloween havoc 97, taking the title off that quickly hurt his momentum

[@jackcarraway4707]

Having Lex in the Wolfpack made him look like a complete doofus.

[@TG5455]

Also, Lex rebuild his career in WCW after his time in the WWF in the early/mid-'90s didn't work out for him but the tag team with The British Bulldog in '95 was a good idea, they could have done more with that team.

[@CommodoreFloopjack78]

I loved the whole "Death Of Lex Luger" thing. At the time, I thought it was funnier than hell. The theatrics about it all were great.😁👍

[@TravJam317]

Lex is one of the biggest legends stars ever in this.... gah!

[@Panch21]

Man. I adore your work. And can we just take a minute to appreciate Heenans face in any still from this era. Complete bewilderment and boredom. I miss Bobby

[@MrBeardsley]

I’d completely given up on WCW by this point and haven’t bothered revisiting many Nitros or Thunders from those days, so this is the first I’m hearing of “The Total Repackaging.” I knew Luger had come back from his arm injury as a heel, but jesus murphy that funeral segment is bizarre even by Russo-era WCW standards.

[@WrestlingBehindTheThemes]

AWESOME...Now let's petition the WWE to release their Lex Luger ICONS video!

[@BLACULA-Skeewoah]

I LOVED the episode of thunder with Kevin nash on commentary on his last day as booker. Him and Larry just spend every segment with Luger, making fun of "the total package" rebrand 😂

[@alexrekzu4079]

Luger's screaming\selling always cracked me up.

[@pushon10]

'OH!'

[@alexrekzu4079]

@@pushon10 AAAAOH!!

[@squarepickle]

I remember watching this as a kid, and I didn't even realize Lex changed his gimmick. 😂😂

[@creoleDJ]

It was very brief. One of the many questionable Russo ideas..

[@revevil]

For some reason, Lex in WCW had several heel turns that were secondary to someone else's heel turn. First Jimmy Hart, then Nash, and finally Sting.

[@thecarolinabull01]

Lex Luger is something of a guilty pleasure of mine. Yes, he's not a five-star worker, but, as you said, crowds back then loved him. He had a great look and intensity. Plus, his friendship with Sting (my favorite wrestler) probably helped.

[@brandonperkins176]

Lex Luger was awesome in pro wrestling and even though he had a great run in WCW and terrible run in WWF/E, he truly one of a kind. Now the "new" WCW repackage him into blahh

[@billblaski9523]

Lol yo when he beat Hogan for the title on that random Nitro, the crowd went wild and so did everyone watching on TV too! He lost it a week later, but Luger was red hot during that time. Years later we hear Sting was mad cus he was supposed be the guy to take the belt off him, but Luger winning that night, I think it was a good call!!

[@mikeroagreschen5350]

I was never a Luger fan. I thought he was lost on the microphone and had very little charisma. He was just a bodybuilder who knew a little wrestling. I'm glad he's in a good place now as he's a born-again Christian.

[@downtownchicagobarbi]

Completely agree

[@kingjoshua1788]

Same

[@billblaski9523]

Lol when Luger beat Hogan for the title on that random Nitro, even though he just lost it back at week later, when he won that, the crowd did go wild and guarantee so did people at home. Years later they say Sting was mad at that, but nah Luger was over AF and NWO was cool but there was a point to when we are like 'OK someone needs to beat these guys now' and Luger was that guy!

[@metal_kitsune]

Man WCW couldn't make up their mind with Lex. Its a shame, he could get a good reception when pushed right. Plus the torture rack is one of the coolest finishes of all time, imo.

[@kaynwells6936]

Been watching your vids since way back and the quality gets better with each video. Running jokes, research, passion. I remember getting the lex Luger/sting action figure set for Xmas one year.

[@TheImapotato]

His time with Sting and cheating to get wins behind Sting's back was pretty good and from all I heard is that he was very safe in the ring despite his power moveset

[@hardeepbasran9006]

Another trip down memory lane I've always was a Lex Luger fan since his WWE days he should of been a champion in those days but he was an awesome wrestler 💪

[@slanderman3296]

Bios is right. Lex was helllllla over then

[@Frugal_J]

WCW should have called him Total Repackage or Totally Repackaged, rebranded with a new more aggressive wrestling style, give him a title run, and then have him retire.

[@BlueLighteningGojo]

We already knew him as “the total package” so…. I don’t get why they went with that idea.

[@axebomber2108]

Yeah, it was just his WCW nickname. It wasn't anything new. Otherwise, the gimmick was just a rehash of the Narcissist but with Terminator music.

[@anthonychobotdoespopcultur7762]

Awesome buddy lex luger is one of those underappreciated wrestlers ever her should be in the wwe hall of fame

[@WaterborneCamper]

I've actually always thought that if Lex had changed his character at the same time as Sting, it would have been much bigger.

[@Tj11813]

I'm glad I stumbled upon your channel. I haven't watched wrestling for 20 years and I'm enjoying the nostalgia. Great channel!

[@terencewalker9215]

My new SUNDAY FAVORITE!!!!

[@dannystarkridesfixed]

Though I was a kid when he was jumping between wwf & wcw in the 90s (being born in 1988). I was always a fan. Loved the torture rack too. Also loving this new series it’s been good thus far.

[@TheTenCentStory]

I was always a Lex Luger fan during the Monday Night Wars and I actually stopped watching wrestling for a good 20 years after WCW went under. I thought Lex Luger was awesome until I discovered Old School Wrestling KZbin videos and they informed me that Lex Luger was not awesome. Those people can suck it.

[@bricktop.]

OSW is awesome, those lads make me laugh so much.

[@Smokey1419]

Same dude, after 01 i fell off wrestling, WCW WAS WRESTLING to me, at least from 97 to 99

[@nWg2000]

If you are referring to OSW, had you continued to watch it you'd have found that Mr. OOC managed to turn the lads' opinion on TTP and restore him as the wresling legend he is

[@TheTenCentStory]

@@nWg2000 I wrote old school wrestling as a type of video subject then an actual brand. I took German in college so I'm accustomed to writing nouns Capitalized.

[@nWg2000]

@@TheTenCentStory fair enough and it's a good point tbf. I'd definitely recommend OSW though who are doing a lot to change that lazy narrative

[@dadncaleb]

Another great video! well done man seriously thank you for all the awesome content!!

[@adamwaddoups7811]

Love it! The depth of information and also the use of background music from wcw vs nwo revenge n64 game is nothing short of genius!

[@BlueMageWithSoulEdge]

I know a lot people don't like Lex, whether it be from stories or abilities (and this day and age the stories are turning into an echo chamber them selves and I don't believe them, unless it comes from word of mouth), but Lex was legit big. I remember as a kid when someone didn't like the NWO and came across the crowd that did, to show defiance they did either the Sting "woo" or Lex's gut pose. That was a real thing. I think Lex would have worked heel; but you can see it in the crowd-- the people didn't want to boo him. I remember at a few venues my family went to, when Lex did heel stuff the people either groaned or was silent 'cause the fans still like Lex. At the Mayhem time, he went from heel to lovable goofball and it is rare for an audience to hate a goofball. I think the best time for Lex to shine on his return was during that stupid "authority" arc. Instead of a faceless entity, it should have been Lex being the idiot mouth piece. The audience would associate the entity with Lex and Lex would still be an active wrestler, thus giving the audience a real sense of relief when he did wrestle other stars. Keeping Lex as a goofy dumbass screwing over the other wrestlers, while keeping his record as a threat [allowing him to clean win and dirty win], would have been more interesting than a nameless entity with no real direction. And to sum it up, that was the problem-- no direction. Lex is an example of a story not being made by the wrestler and a team, but by a board-- a board that is actively against the company, and a company that is trying to get rid of the product because it is "beneath" them. WCW could have been great, but as time has shown the real killer of WCW wasn't Vince, nor was it sales-- the real killer was big wig fat cats that didn't respect the Art nor the people that loved it.

[@FrickGuyy]

You put so much effort into your videos, you’re the best channel in the wrestling community.

[@terrysmart2048]

Another classic series , you got the jam WB

[@Makoto03]

Dang i forgot Sting turned heel as well. Terrible booking decisions in late WCW.

[@garyhall7867]

Was a fan of Luger since the 80s. One of my all time faves

[@thedragonchaser]

"SuperBrawl Saturday?!"

[@fishin4bass2002]

I always looked at Lex as the number 2 guy behind sting as a kid when watching wcw. He was stings friend.

[@fitness65]

One of my favorite wrestling KZbin channels you never know what your going to get whenever you tune into a video. And videos like this are no different you are the man

[@hanssprungfeld8487]

Really appreciate how much research and effort goes into these videos very interesting

[@DamnitBobbeh2399]

Quickly becoming my favorite wrestling channel to watch. Keep up the good work.

[@VazzVegas]

Absolutely fantastic video. Sadly whenever I think of Lugar that damn 911 call pops into my head. I wish I'd never heard it. What a tragedy.

[@allenthinkingpositively6271]

Your content is always amazing, but this serious is truly your magnum opus!! Keep up the good work!

[@lisavee4670]

Wow, what a treat...Thanks W Bio!!!

[@chrishollister80]

God, that whole who ran into Nash, hummer stuff was so convoluted, even for modern WWE standards

[@MadcapMachinations]

I have to say I really like the different topics that this is spanning. I hope you expand to other promotions

[@sonny_theone654]

Thank You Wrestling Bios❤️

[@puerulus]

I'm glad I wasn't watching WCW around this time, but it's interesting to learn about what I missed.

[@nightowl8363]

Luger and Sting were like the WCW Vanguard in the nWo invasion times.... Turning him heel was a terrible choice

[@lefty577]

This is a very good channel. Quality content and great narrating.

[@danielnerdal]

Get on the Blunderbus !! Also, pretty sure Luger was a heel when he joined the nWo elite after the fingerpoke of puke.

[@mikeroagreschen5350]

I say this in a lot of your videos, but this is the best wrestling channel on KZbin, period.

[@mredwardtaylor]

Thanks for allowing this video to be commercial free wrestling bios deserves it 👍

[@kevinpayton2664]

You can tell Luger had gotten bigger in his return in late 1999 til the end of WCW.

[@jamminmusicman]

Awesome episode buddy 💯 Lex Luger is one of my all time favorite WCW wrestlers I enjoyed his matched from the late 80's / early 90's to his 1995 return but after the break up of NWO Wolf Pac his character just felt different it's sad to know how his life ended up but I'm glad he definitely turned it around and is doing positive things and he is definitely HOF worthy 💪

[@jamesmckeon9139]

The total package debut is majestic footage one of the greatest moments in wrestling history

[@onionsavoya1506]

Somehow someway this is still twice as good as the best wrestling shows today. They shoulda slapped a title on Luger.

[@tysoncarpenter8628]

I love this channel! Best channel on KZbin!!!!!

[@martynodonnell8467]

Another awesome video from the greatest wrestling channel on the planet!

[@Walkerman404]

I actually like this version of Lex. His theme and entrance were absolutely awesome, and his character work was great too.

[@hellionsentinel]

Luger turned heel when he joined the Wolfpack and attacked Goldberg, so this was his 2nd heel turn since returning to the company

[@shawnblock7335]

Nice Work!

[@GutturalReef]

Seeing that FUBU gear takes me back!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@rstebbing1709]

This is fast approaching RTW in my KZbin must watch list 👏

[@Elfo_Scuro]

Missy was the most gorgeous flower in the battle camp of wrestling. So innocent, so pure.

[@petertr2000]

He didn't have the jam, but then those southern WCW types were more about the peanut butter.

[@bbuchmeier]

I don’t remember much, but I was a Lex fan around ‘90-‘91 when I was a kid. I’d love to see a video of his earlier career.

[@theloveofreading3563]

You do a fantastic job with these.

[@jackdough8164]

Lex Luger has always been awesome, I dunno what he gets any flack for

[@petejackson7108]

Great video, never was a big luger fan, I always found him to be to much like hogan, and I didn't like hogan, but you can't deny the crowd reactions for him in 97.

[@thebigbop5866]

I work late so rarely watch right away, but when I get home I always make sure my dinner is sorted because it really is a perfect accompaniment when you chow down .

[@captainn2094]

Another great video in WCW’s history. Wrestling bios, will you ever cover WCW Festival de Lucha during 99’?

[@andrewnagavelli1215]

“Spooky Luger” is more of a character with a gimmick than the Luger that died 😂😂

[@nicolevarnam2290]

Absolutely Killing It Bro🤘🖤😝🖤🤘

[@brandonearl175]

Best retro content on KZbin

[@ironman2326]

Luger's fake sting hair is hilarious 🤣 😂 😆

[@tonybeattie3980]

Hey Lex, what’s your favourite wrestling bios video? I DON’T KNOW! Seriously though, keep up the good work man :)

[@thedragonchaser]

Can Wrestling Bios even afford to pay him to promote this video?!

[@tonybeattie3980]

@@thedragonchaser Not sure, but one thing’s for sure- his T-shirts are too tight too, Billy!

[@thedragonchaser]

And the door's locked too!

[@ChalkInTheLand]

My guy here is second to none when it comes to wrestling content

[@manchuriancandybar864]

Great channel.

[@SpaceQuack]

Wrestling'Bios... got more hit Franchises than Vin Diesel & the Rock.. The-Past-&-The Lexfurious!!💪