DDP and Leno Team Up, Beat Hollywood Hogan and Eric Bischoff [August 8th, 1998]

Whether or not you attribute decisions like this to the death of WCW, this team up of the host of The Tonight Show with “The People’s Champion” got the wrestling company major headlines across the nation.

The Diamond Exchange: Diamond Dallas Page, Curt Hennig, and Diamond Doll Tonya - American Wrestling Association [1988]

A great shot of the early days when Diamond Dallas Page and Curt Hennig. At this point, DDP was barely beginning in the world of professional wrestling at the age of thirty-two and stayed exclusively in the role of a manager until late-1991 when he started dabbling with tag-team matches with the Diamond Studd (Scott Hall) in WCW.

Curt Hennig would not stay with the AWA long after this photo was taken, as he’d find himself in the World Wrestling Federation later on that year as Mr. Pefect.

Diamond Dallas Page - WWF SmackDown [3/14/2002]

Great shot of the WWF European Championship during the segment where DDP accepted Christian’s request for a rematch for the title and set the date for the two to meet at WrestleMania.

Around this time, I was more interested in graduating from high school and finishing up my senior year, and I hate the fact that I missed out on most of the Positively Page angle. For someone who loved WCW, these entire era of the WWF should have been the time were I watched the most, but the whole mishandling of the Invasion angle completely turned me off from watching wrestling entirely for a while.

It is what it is, but I probably shouldn’t feel too down about it. I mean, taking a break from certain things you enjoy didn’t really harm my obsession with wrestling one bit.  Having a bit of time off every now and then, that’s not a bad thing… that’s a good thing!

“Diamond” Dallas Page and Scotty Flamingo - WCW Magazine [July 1992]

DDP and Raven during happier times, before the feuding and the bloodshed.

Diamond Dallas Page T-Shirt - WCW [1998]

I wore this shirt proudly all the time as a high school freshman, even if the thing was completely ludicrous to non-wrestling fans. DDP was my guy, and it still bugs me how the WWE handled his run during the Invasion angle. I’ll always believe that they could’ve made so much bank by putting him on the higher tier of the WCW guys right instead of keeping him a midcarder after the Undertaker Staker angle cleared up.

“Diamond Dallas Page - WCW Magazine #1 [November 1991]

If beefy Diamond Dallas Page bugged you, I can only imagine what straight-hair’d DDP makes you feel. Check out that DDP ring too! I wonder if he still has that thing somewhere.

Also, the “boys” that DDP mentioned in his blurb? He was talking about the Fabulous Freebirds, Michael “P.S.” Hayes and Jimmy “Jam” Garvin.

The Jersey Triad - Bam Bam Bigelow, Diamond Dallas Page, and Kanyon - WCW [1999]

While these guys didn’t last long as a stable, I always enjoyed seeing them due to how much I loved heel DDP. I also loved how WCW allowed them to invoke the “Freebird Rule”, a rule that allowed any combination of the three to defend the WCW Tag Team Championship titles.

The Beast from the East, the King of Bada-Bing, and the Innovator of Offense - who betta*?

*the answer is none. none betta

“Diamond” Dallas Page - WCW Magazine Collector Series Special #3 [December 1992]

“‘When I’m good, I’m good! When I’m bad, I’m better! Good gawd!’

Formerly a color commentator for WCW broadcasts and a manager of WCW superstars, ‘Diamond’ Dallas Page is in the midst of a successful transition to full-time wrestler.

This 6’5”, 252-pounder claims to be from The Diamond Mine near Las Vegas, and his personal style certainly reflects the bright lights and gaudy neon of that gambling town. Self-assured and self-centered, Page believes that he is the greatest star ever to grace the mat sport; the beautiful women that often accompany him — he calls them his ‘Diamond Dolls’ — certainly enable Page to bolster that belief in himself.

Presently, Page is teaming with 7’, 300-pound Vinnie Vegas in The Vegas Connection. As this duo pursues the World tag team title, you can be sure that Page will be bringing every managerial rick he knows into the ring to help him and Vegas score the championship gold.

It’s so weird to see beefy Page. I was a huge fan of his during the late Nineties when he was in the main-event picture and will always believe that DDP was the only person who should’ve taken Goldberg’s streak away from him.

WCW Merchandise Catalog - WCW Magazine #56 [December 1999]

If I could go back in time, I think I’d pick up that red WCW Logo shirt along with the normal WCW Monday Nitro one. Also, I’m pretty sure I still have that Hulkster one sitting in a box somewhere around here…

WCW Electronic Interactive Tuff Talkin’ Wrestlers - 1999

I’m guessing that these toys were trying to use Furby technology to impress young wrestling fans by having their toys recognize each other. That’s a fun idea in theory, but I’m sure the only one worth having would be the Scott Steiner figure:

“HEY, RIC FLAIR!! YOU’RE AN ASS-KISSING, BUTT-SUCKING, JEALOUS OLD BASTARD!!!”

“FUCK YOU, DDP! YOU AND YOUR WHITE-TRASH, TRAILER PARK BITCH OF A WIFE!!”

Maybe I should look that one up on Ebay too.