5 current WWE superstars who competed in WCW

WWE endured tough competition from WCW throughout the '90s. Especially intense were the days of the Monday Night Wars, which saw the flagship weekly programs of both promotions go head-to-head. WWE and WCW's attempts to one-up each other included the usage of defections and insults.

At one point, WCW seemed to win the heated battle. However, WWE changed its family-friendly image to introduce more adult-oriented entertainment. This led to the Vince McMahon-led promotion gaining an advantage. Ultimately, WCW lost the war, and its assets were bought by Vince McMahon.

Even after two decades of WCW's demise, multiple wrestlers from the promotion are going strong in WWE. Many have become major superstars, winning world championships and maintaining popularity after decades of competing in the ring. Here is a list of five current WWE stars who competed in the WCW ring.

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#5. WWE NXT UK Women's Champion Meiko Satomura

Regarded as one of the greatest women in the history of professional wrestling, Satomura signed a WWE contract in 2020 after wrestling all over the world.

The current NXT UK Women's Champion wrestled in Gaea Japan throughout the promotion's lifetime. Gaea Japan had a working relationship with WCW, which led a young Satomura to occasionally enter the WCW ring.

Satomura unsuccessfully took part in the tournament to crown WCW Women's World Championship. She continued stepping inside the WCW ring until the working relationship with Gaea Japan ended in 1997.

Satomura has already reaped success in WWE. She is on top of the mountain in the NXT UK Women's division. WWE views her as a major star, and while she may never become a staple on the main roster, an appearance or two is not outside the realm of possibility.

#4. Former WWE Champion AJ Styles

AJ Styles became a rare independent superstar to bypass WWE NXT and directly enter the main roster. After a remarkable Royal Rumble debut, he cemented himself as a vital talent and won world championships.

Styles presently partners with Omos as a dominant tag team, with Randy Orton and Riddle their biggest rivals. The Phenomenal One is using his experience to mentor the giant rookie.

Styles was part of a tag team in WCW as well. Air Raid appeared on both Thunder and Nitro, although the team did not enjoy much success.

Styles went on to stabilize TNA as a major force in the world of professional wrestling before earning ample success in NJPW and WWE.

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#3. Former WWE Champion Triple H

Triple H survived several ridiculous gimmicks to become the iconic WWE superstar he is today. One of them was Terra Ryzing, which he used during his initial WCW days.

WCW later switched his gimmick to a French aristocrat called Jean-Paul Levesque. He occasionally teamed with current NXT General Manager William Regal, who played a British aristocrat persona.

Triple H's original WWE gimmick was a modified version of Jean-Paul Levesque. During the Attitude Era, he transformed into Triple H and became an integral part of D-Generation X, a far cry from the upper-class, etiquette-friendly character of his initial WWE days.

#2. Former WWE Champion Rey Mysterio

Since his WWE debut, Rey Mysterio has remained a marketable face owing to his incredible in-ring skills and colorful Lucha libre masks. However, he was already famous in the US before his WWE debut.

Rey Mysterio was an integral component of WCW's Cruiserweight Division. The cruiserweights delivered high-octane, fast-paced matches week after week and were widely appreciated for their abilities.

Mysterio's WCW days saw him popularize the Lucha libre style until WCW decided to mess things up. In a questionable booking decision, Rey Mysterio lost his mask and moved around from faction to faction until the demise of WCW.

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#1. Former WWE Universal Champion Goldberg

WCW provided Goldberg with an unprecedented undefeated streak, leading him to instantly become a crucial star in the company. He enjoyed multiple championship reigns and was generally considered one of the greatest talents to come out of WCW.

Goldberg's insufficient wrestling skills have always been countered by his intensity, charisma, and the relative shortness of his matches. He uses the same style in WWE today, dominating main eventers in physical and short battles in which he remains a formidable adversary for any opponent.