World War 3 was an annual professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Championship Wrestling. The pay-per-view's title also was the name of its signature match, a three-ring, sixty-man battle royal which was their answer to the World Wrestling Federation's Royal Rumble. The event took place every November. Like the Royal Rumble, the World War 3 match was held at the event that shared its name. All of the events took place at two venues, the Norfolk Scope and The Palace of Auburn Hills. In 1999, it was replaced by Mayhem. The rules for a World War 3 match were similar to the rules for a Royal Rumble match. There were two major differences: - The WW3 match is played out in three rings, each holding twenty men.
- All sixty men start the match at the same time (the same rules as a traditional battle royal).
The rules for the World War 3 match were: - All sixty men were randomly assigned a specific ring before the match began.
- The match began with all sixty men, in three rings, when the bell rings.
- A competitor must knock his opponent over the top rope of the ring, and both feet must touch the floor of the arena in order to eliminate said opponent from the match. This rule was amended in 1998 to allow for eliminations if a person leaves the ring in any way, in addition to counting pinfalls and submissions.
- When thirty men remained, they moved to the central ring and the match continued. This rule was amended in 1998 so that the competitors had to move to the central ring once forty men had been eliminated.
- The last man standing in the ring was declared the winner.
At the inaugural World War 3 (1995), the winner (Randy Savage) was awarded the vacant WCW World Heavyweight Championship. In subsequent years, the winner would be awarded a World Title shot at a designated time. 1996 winner The Giant was given a WCW World Heavyweight title shot at Souled Out 1997. 1997 winner Scott Hall was given a WCW World Heavyweight title shot at Uncensored 1998. 1998 winner Kevin Nash was given a title match at Starrcade the following month. World War 3 1995 took place on November 26, 1995 from the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Virginia. Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match. - Johnny B. Badd defeated Diamond Dallas Page to retain the WCW World Television Championship (12:35)
- Big Bubba Rogers defeated Jim Duggan in a Taped Fist match (10:08)
- Rogers won via KO after knocking Duggan out with a chain.
- Bull Nakano and Akira Hokuto (with Sonny Onoo) defeated Mayumi Ozaki and Cutie Suzuki (9:16)
- Nakano pinned Ozaki after a leg drop from the top rope.
- Kensuke Sasaki (with Sonny Onoo) defeated Chris Benoit to retain the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (10:00)
- Lex Luger defeated Randy Savage (5:28)
- Luger forced Savage to submit with an armbar.
- Sting defeated Ric Flair (14:30)
- Randy Savage won the Three Ring, 60 man battle royal to win the vacant WCW World Heavyweight Championship (29:40)
- Also in the match were: Scott Armstrong, Steve Armstrong, Arn Anderson, Johnny B. Badd, Marcus Bagwell, Chris Benoit, Big Train Bart, Bunkhouse Buck, Cobra, Disco Inferno, Jim Duggan, Bobby Eaton, Ric Flair, The Giant, Eddy Guerrero, Hulk Hogan, Mr. JL, Chris Kanyon, Brian Knobbs, Kurasawa, Lex Luger, Joey Maggs, Meng, Hugh Morrus, Maxx Muscle, Scott Norton, One Man Gang, Paul Orndorff, Diamond Dallas Page, Buddy Lee Parker, Brian Pillman, Sgt. Craig Pittman, Stevie Ray, Lord Steven Regal, Scotty Riggs, Road Warrior Hawk, Big Bubba Rogers, Jerry Sags, Ricky Santana, Kensuke Sasaki, Shark, Fidel Sierra, Dick Slater, Mark Starr, Sting, Dave Sullivan, Kevin Sullivan, Super Assassin #1 and #2, Booker T, Squire David Taylor, Bobby Walker, VK Wallstreet, Pez Whatley, Mike Winner, Alex Wright, James Earl Wright, The Yeti, and Zodiac.
- The last two competitors were Savage and Hogan. The Giant pulled Hogan under the ropes. The ref saw Hogan on the floor and deemed him eliminated.
World War 3 1996 took place on November 24, 1996 from the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Virginia. Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match. - The Ultimate Dragon (with Sonny Onoo) defeated Rey Misterio, Jr. to retain the J-Crown Championship (13:48)
- Chris Jericho defeated Nick Patrick (8:02)
- Jericho pinned Patrick after a superkick.
- Jericho had one arm tied behind his back during this match.
- The Giant defeated Jeff Jarrett (6:05)
- Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) (with Sister Sherri) defeated The Amazing French-Canadians (Jacques Rougeau and Pierre Ouelette) (with Col. Robert Parker) (9:14)
- Booker pinned Oulette after a Harlem Hangover. As a result, Sherri got to have a match with Parker.
- Sister Sherri defeated Col. Robert Parker by countout (1:30)
- Parker was counted out when he ran back to the locker room.
- Dean Malenko defeated Psychosis to retain the WCW Cruiserweight Championship (14:33)
- The Outsiders (Scott Hall and Kevin Nash) defeated The Faces of Fear (Meng and The Barbarian) (with Jimmy Hart) and The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags) in a Triangle match to retain the WCW World Tag Team Championship (16:08)
- The Giant won the Three Ring, 60 man battle royal (28:21)
- Also in the match were: Arn Anderson, Marcus Bagwell, The Barbarian, Chris Benoit, Big Bubba, Jack Boot, Bunkhouse Buck, Ciclope, Disco Inferno, Jim Duggan, Bobby Eaton, Mike Enos, Galaxy, Joe Gomez, Jimmy Graffiti, Johnny Grunge, Juventud Guerrera, Eddy Guerrero, Scott Hall, Prince Iaukea, Ice Train, Mr. JL, Jeff Jarrett, Chris Jericho, Kenny Kaos, Konnan, Lex Luger, Dean Malenko, Steve McMichael, Meng, Rey Misterio, Jr., Hugh Morrus, Kevin Nash, Scott Norton, Pierre Ouelette, Diamond Dallas Page, La Parka, Sgt. Craig Pittman, Jim Powers, Robbie Rage, Stevie Ray, Lord Steven Regal, The Renegade, Scotty Riggs, Roadblock, Jacques Rougeau, Tony Rumble, Mark Starr, Rick Steiner, Ron Studd, Kevin Sullivan, Syxx, Booker T, David Taylor, the Último Dragón, Villaño IV, Michael Wallstreet, Pez Whatley and Alex Wright.
- Giant last eliminated Luger to win a shot at the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.
World War 3 1997 took place on November 23, 1997 from The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match. - The Faces of Fear (Meng and The Barbarian) defeated Glacier and Ernest Miller (9:09)
- Perry Saturn defeated Disco Inferno to retain the WCW World Television Championship (8:19)
- Yuji Nagata (with Sonny Onoo) defeated Último Dragón (12:45)
- Nagata pinned Dragon.
- If Dragon had won, he would have got 5 minutes alone with Onoo.
- The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) defeated The Blue Bloods (Lord Steven Regal and Squire David Taylor) to retain the WCW World Tag Team Championship (9:45)
- Raven defeated Scotty Riggs in a No Disqualification match (9:43)
- Steve McMichael defeated Alex Wright (3:36)
- Eddy Guerrero defeated Rey Misterio, Jr. to retain the WCW Cruiserweight Championship (12:42)
- Curt Hennig defeated Ric Flair to retain the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (17:57)
- Hennig pinned Flair after hitting him with the US title belt.
- Scott Hall won the Three Ring, 60 man battle royal (29:48)
- Also in the match were: Chris Adams, Brad Armstrong, Marcus Bagwell, The Barbarian, Chris Benoit, Bobby Blaze, Booker T, Ciclope, Damien, El Dandy, Barry Darsow, Disco Inferno, Jim Duggan, Fit Finlay, Héctor Garza, The Giant, Glacier, Johnny Grunge, Juventud Guerrera, Chavo Guerrero, Jr., Eddy Guerrero, Curt Hennig, Hollywood Hogan, Prince Iaukea, Chris Jericho, Lizmark, Jr., Lex Luger, Dean Malenko, Steve McMichael, Meng, Ernest Miller, Rey Misterio, Jr., Hugh Morrus, Mortis, Yuji Nagata, John Nord, Diamond Dallas Page, La Parka, Stevie Ray, Lord Steve Regal, The Renegade, Rocco Rock, Randy Savage, Silver King, Norman Smiley, Louie Spicolli, Rick Steiner, Scott Steiner, Super Calo, Squire David Taylor, Ray Traylor, Último Dragón, Greg Valentine, Villaño IV, Villaño V, Vincent, Kendall Windham, Wrath and Alex Wright
- Kevin Nash (disguised as Sting) descended from the rafters with a baseball bat, causing Hogan to eliminate himself. "Sting" then attacked and eliminated the Giant to give Hall a shot at the WCW World Heavyweight Championship at Uncensored 1998.
- The match began with only 59 competitors. When there were only 3 men left (Hall, Page and the Giant), Hollywood Hogan (who was WCW Champion at the time) entered the match as the 60th entry. He did this to personally eliminate the last competitors so nobody would win the title shot.
World War 3 1998 took place on November 22, 1998 from The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match. - Wrath defeated Glacier (8:22)
- Stevie Ray (with Vincent) defeated Konnan by disqualification (6:55)
- Ernest Miller and Sonny Onoo defeated Perry Saturn and Kaz Hayashi (8:04)
- Onoo pinned Saturn after a Feliner from Miller.
- Billy Kidman defeated Juventud Guerrera to win the WCW Cruiserweight Championship (15:27)
- Rick Steiner fought Scott Steiner (with Buff Bagwell) to a no-contest
- The match ended when Goldberg came out and attacked the referee.
- Kevin Nash fought Scott Hall (with Vincent, Scott Norton, The Giant, Stevie Ray and Brian Adams) to a no contest
- The match never happened after Eric Bischoff came out and ordered Norton, Giant, Vincent, Ray and Adams to attack Hall. Nash then came out and saved Hall from the beatdown.
- Chris Jericho (with Ralphus) defeated Bobby Duncum, Jr. to retain the WCW World Television Championship (13:19)
- Jericho pinned Duncum after hitting him with the TV title belt.
- Kevin Nash won the Three Ring, 60 man battle royal (22:33)
- Also in the match were: Chris Adams, Chris Benoit, Bobby Blaze, Ciclope, Damien, El Dandy, Barry Darsow, The Disciple, Disco Inferno, Bobby Duncum, Jr., Bobby Eaton, Mike Enos, Scott Hall, Héctor Garza, The Giant, Glacier, Juventud Guerrera, Chavo Guerrero, Jr., Eddy Guerrero, Hammer, Kenny Kaos, Kaz Hayashi, Horace Hogan, Barry Horowitz, Prince Iaukea, Chris Jericho, Kanyon, Billy Kidman, Konnan, Lenny Lane, Lex Luger, Lizmark, Jr., Lodi, Dean Malenko, Steve McMichael, Ernest Miller, Chip Minton, Rey Misterio, Jr., Scott Norton, La Parka, Buddy Lee Parker, Psicosis, Scott Putski, Stevie Ray, The Renegade, Scotty Riggs, Perry Saturn, Silver King, Norman Smiley, Scott Steiner, Super Calo, Johnny Swinger, Booker T, Tokyo Magnum, Villaño V, Vincent, Kendall Windham, Wrath and Alex Wright
- Nash last eliminated Hall and Luger at the same time to earn at shot at the WCW World Heavyweight Championship at Starrcade 1998.
- Diamond Dallas Page defeated Bret Hart to retain the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (18:31)
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