April 11th in wrestling history is a special one if you’re a fan of the ultimate underdog in wrestling: Diamond Dallas Page.
On this day in 1999, DDP defeated no less than Sting, Hulk Hogan, and Ric Flair to win the WCW Word Heavyweight Championship.
Winning against three of the greatest of all time is special on its on, but DDP’s story makes it that much sweeter.
A manager and behind-the-scenes guy for most of his career, DDP didn’t get into the ring until he was 35. He initially began his career as a jobber and mid-card wrestler, but the Master of the Diamond Cutter wanted more.
He trained harder than anyone and by some accounts invented the now-common practice of taping your matches and watching them back. Dusty Rhodes, among others, motivated him to keep going:
His determination to be one of the best led him into award-winning feuds with Macho Man Randy Savage and the NWO. In DDP’s own words, he knew he made it when Savage took him under his wing:
These rivalries turned DDP into a modern-day folk hero. Everyone wanted DDP to win gold. And at 1999’s Spring Stampede he finally did.
In an era when wrestling was at its zenith, DDP worked his way to the top and became one of the most beloved wrestling figures of all time.
H/T Wrestling Observer.
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