Barry Windham - the wrestling champion that never was

Barry Windham was a second-generation prodigy of pro wrestling and, at one time, top caliber singles performer destined for greatness as a champion.  Born in to wrestling royalty, his father Blackjack Mulligan was an icon in the 70s, whilst his brother-in-law Mike Rotunda - the future Irwin R Schyster (IRS) - becoming a multi-time tag champ and later behind-the-scenes producer for WWE, and his nephew is one of the industry's top stars today: "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt.

Windham would begin a rivarly with the legendary Ric Flair over the then-prestigious NWA/WCW world heavyweight championship in the mid 1980s.  Signs pointed to an eventual title switch however, in spite of a number of acclaimed challenges for the belt, it wasn't to be.  Following a brief alliance with prototypical muscle man Lex Luger, Windham would turn heel (become a bad guy) and join the "Nature Boy"'s Four Horsemen faction as an on-off member until Flair's controversially left the promotion in July 1991.  Accolades had piled up such as United States and Television title reigns - the latter ended by an up-and-comer named "Stunning" Steve Austin - as well as teaming with the future Goldust, Dustin Rhodes, where they were awarded WCW's Tag Team of the Year for 1992.  While his career remained high-profile, none of this evolved near main event status.

Windham's opportunity finally came in 1993 to be a champ of significance, however things were different from only a few years prior and by then it was arguably too-little, too late.  He was now older, heavier and broken down from injuries. No longer the fresh-faced young challenger but more of a rugged veteran that arguably hadn't reached his full potential.  Another issue regarding Windham's mountain-top moment was, around this time, WCW found itself in a strange position: still a member of the National Wrestling Alliance governing body, the promotion possessed two world heavyweight titles.  The WCW championship, predominantly held by Big Van Vader, a masked menace weighing 450lbs, had been created following NWA champion Ric Flair's aforementioned jump to the WWF two years previously. This left the NWA to fill their own vacancy by holding a tournament in Japan and working with WCW in a platform to allow some television time. 

In early 1993, Windham would defeat The Great Muta to win his only world title, the NWA world championship.  In short though, the title meant nothing.  It's prestige damaged when the Alliance stripped Flair of the belt, thus marking the first time in the body's 43-year history where they didn't have a champion.  The company would continue to promote two world champions - a precursor of sorts to when WWE would have separate kingpins for their separate TV shows in 2002, as well the introduction of their Universal title in 2016.  Ultimately, Windham would defend the championship on pay-per-view, including a forgotten classic with former fellow Horseman Arn Anderson, however these matches would rarely feature in main event spots.  With WCW gradually becoming a distant number-two competitor to the WWF, the NWA name became banished to history and irrelevance.  Windham would lose the title at the 1993 'Beach Blast' show, ironically to a returning Ric Flair in a match with a botched finish and little crowd reaction.

For the remainder of his career, Barry Windham would have a final albeit forgettable run in the World Wrestling Federation between 1996-1998, before ending his full-time days in WCW towards the end of the millennium.  Under a failed 'Stalker' gimmick - as in a deer stalker or Hunter - he shared the ring with a young Rocky Maivia in the latter's first match on a big stage in a '96 Survivor Series match.  Future team mates would consist of a young John Bradshaw Layfield (The New Blackjacks) and older Curt "Mr Perfect" Hennig (West Texas Rednecks) before ultimately calling it a career in the new millennium.  In 2012, Windham 'came home' when he was inducted in to the WWE Hall Of Fame as part of the Four Horseman group, the night before WrestleMania 28.

What could have been is limitless.  The potential prototype of a world champion – 6’7”, blonde hair, charisma to boot and a grasp of what to do in the ring.  Perhaps the business felt there was one too many of those on the other channel(!).  Instead Windham almost by default became the perennial tag team guy.  As evidenced by his resume, who better to team with?  And by teaming with some of the greats, some might say he was frequently in the right place at he right time, but not always.  Here was a man seen as reliable and a good hand in the ring.  According to former partner/opponent Arn Anderson, life worked out for Barry personally as he settled down comfortably.  Still, one can’t help think his Hall Of Fame induction would be been a solo one had more anticipated success come his way.