Interesting Facts about Sycho Sid

Interesting Facts about Sycho Sid

September 13, 2024

By Ryan Porzl

One of wrestling's biggest and most interesting names figuratively and literally was Sycho Sid. A combination of size, power, charisma, and intensity, Sid was one of wrestling's most unique names as well as one of their most successful from the late 1980s to early 2000s. During his career, the man who considered himself the master and ruler of the world did just about everything he could from multiple world title reigns between the two top American promotions to main eventing the premiere events of those promotions to feuding and facing the biggest names of his time. Sadly, I didn't anticipate doing an "Interesting Facts" on Sid, at least not now, but with his recent passing, I figured I do one. As a tribute to one of wrestling's greatest and most charismatic big men, we'll look at some interesting facts regarding Sycho Sid.

Note: I don't own any of the photos. I found them on Google. Credit to WWE, Youtube thumbnails, or whomever they belong to. I apologize for not knowing who exactly owns it.

Was a Six Time World Champion- We start with the obvious. Sid was like many wrestling legends in that he held his shares of world championships. In fact, Sid would hold six world titles from 1994-2000. Sid would first hold the USWA Unified World Championship twice with his first reign seeing him winning it by forfeit from Jerry Lawler on July 16, 1994 and held it till he lost it to Lawler on February 6, 1995 while his second reign saw him defeat Lawler on August 30, 1996 before losing it back to Lawler on September 2, 1996. He then held the WWF Championship twice with his first seeing him defeat Shawn Michaels on November 17, 1996 before losing it back to Michaels on January 19, 1997 while his second reign saw him defeat Bret Hart on February 17, 1997 before losing it to The Undertaker on March 23, 1997. Sid then held the WCW World Championship with his first reign seeing him defeat Kevin Nash for the vacant championship on January 24, 2000 before being stripped of the title by Nash (who was WCW Commissioner) due to controversy on January 25, 2000 while his second reign saw him defeat Nash on January 25, 2000 before being stripped of the championship on April 10, 2000 when all WCW championships were vacated due to a reboot. 

Had Both the Longest and Shortest USWA Unified World Title Reigns- Professional Wrestling has had their share of world championships. In the 1990s, the most notable were the WWF, WCW, and ECW while NWA was still around but a shell of it's former self. One world title (though some would argue it being a world title but rather a regional title) was the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship. The title was the top prize for the Memphis based United States Wrestling Association from 1989-1997 and while the belt was largely dominated by top star Jerry Lawler as he held the gold 27 times, Sid would make his mark with the belt. As mentioned, Sid held the title twice and both reigns were historic. His first reign lasted 205 days which made it the longest reign while his second reign lasted three days which makes it the shortest. Thus, Sid holds the record having both the longest and shortest reigns in the history of the USWA Unified World Championship. 

Sid vs. Scott Steiner (right)

Main Evented the Final Starrcade- From 1983-2000, the biggest show in NWA/WCW's year as well as one of the biggest shows of the wrestling calendar was Starrcade. For seventeen years, Starrcade would play host to some of the biggest moments and matches in wrestling history from some of Ric Flair's biggest world title matches to Roddy Piper and Greg Valentine's dog collar match to the biggest match in WCW history with Hollywood Hogan vs. Sting to the end of Goldberg's undefeated streak. Sid made his appearances for WCW's biggest show and the biggest one would be the literally the last when he main evented the final edition on December 17, 2000. The match would see Sid challenge Scott Steiner for the WCW World Championship but ultimately, he came up short when he passed out to Steiner's Steiner Recliner submission hold in 10:15. While Sid came up short, he'll still go down in the record books as having headlined the final edition to one of Wrestling's greatest events.

Sid (as Lord Humongous) with Shane Douglas

Only Held One Tag Team Title In His Career- Many all time greats have dabbled in tag team wrestling for decades, even a loner like Sid. During his career, Sid would participate in some tag teams like The Skyscrapers with Dan Spivey and The Masters of the Powerbomb with Vader. However, to no surprise, Sid's trophy case doesn't feature many tag team titles. In fact, he only held one during his legendary career. In 1988, Sid, then competing as Lord Humongous, was a regular in Continental Wrestling in Alabama. Here, he would form a team with another future legend Shane Douglas. On July 18, 1988, Sid and Douglas defeated the team of D.I. Carter and Detroit Demolition (Randy Colley a.k.a. the original Demolition Smash) to win the NWA Continental Tag Team Championships. Sid and Douglas' reign wouldn't last as they would be stripped of the titles at an undocumented period later in the year when Douglas left the promotion.

The Only Wrestler Who Wrestled In the Main Event of Every Wrestlemania He Wrestled At- For over 40 years, one of, if not, THE premiere event in all of professional wrestling is Wrestlemania. The showcase of the Immortals debuted on March 31, 1985 and has become THE event in all of wrestling. To no surprise, many great matches, title changes, and moments have taken place at Wrestlemania. Also, to no surprise, many great legends have participated at least in one from faces of the WWF/WWE like Hulk Hogan, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, John Cena, and Roman Reigns to great workhorses like "Macho Man" Randy Savage and Shawn Michaels. Sid would be one and while he only competed in two during his career, he left a mark no one else had been able to do. Sid's first Wrestlemania would be Wrestlemania VIII in 1992 where he main evented against Hulk Hogan and came up short as he would lose on a disqualification. Five years later, Sid would compete in his second and final Wrestlemania when he returned to the main event for Wrestlemania 13 in 1997 where he defended and lost the WWF Championship to The Undertaker. With those two matches, Sid has the distinction of being the only wrestler to have main evented every Wrestlemania he wrestled at. Only Lawrence Taylor did it but Taylor was one and done in both Wrestlemania and wrestling when he competed in Wrestlemania XI in 1995. While two matches isn't huge, Sid still did something no other wrestler, no matter how big, were ever able to do. Not even the big names like Hogan, Austin, Cena, and Reigns have done it. Who knows if it will ever happen again.

Won the Shortest Match In Starrcade History- Once again, we return to a Starrcade. As previously mentioned, Sid made history when he headlined the final Starrcade in 2000. However, this wouldn't be the first time he made history at NWA/WCW's granddaddy of them all. Ten years earlier at Starrcade 1990 on December 16th, Sid would reform the Skyscrapers with Dan Spivey for one night only to face the team of the Motor City Madman and the Big Cat (the future Mr. Hughes). To no surprise, the Skyscrapers would make quick work of their opponents but by doing so would make history as it took Sid and Spivey only 1:01 to get the victory which would make this the shortest match in Starrcade's seventeen year history.

Competed For New Japan Pro Wrestling and Even Challenged For the IWGP Heavyweight Championship- During his career, Sid was quite the journeyman. From 1987-2001, Sid was mostly known for his time in the WWF and NWA/WCW but also had runs in many other big promotions such as ECW, USWA, World Class, and Continental. However, one promotion Sid made appearances for that many probably didn't know of was New Japan Pro Wrestling. From February to March 1989, Sid competed on New Japan's Big Fight Series 1989 tour where he competed under the name Vicious Warrior. Though he only did one tour, he made it count competing against the likes of Riki Choshu, Super Strong Machine, Kengo Kimura, and even Antonio Inoki. However, his first match would be his biggest when on February 22, 1989, he challenged Tatsumi Fujinami for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Sid would put up a good effort but came up short losing to a single leg crab hold in 7:28. Sid's run in New Japan was short but certainly a fascinating chapter in his career. 

First Wrestler to Win the WWF Championship On Monday Night RAW- For more than 30 years, one of wrestling's biggest weekly shows is the WWE's Monday Night RAW. While the show has been on for three decades, few, if any, shows have had as many memorable moments, matches, and title changes in wrestling. Sid would be apart of it's history, especially when it came to title changes. On February 17, 1997, Sid challenged new WWF Champion Bret Hart for the WWF Championship. Hart was coming off winning the vacant championship the night before at the In Your House XIII: Final Four. In the end, thanks to interference from "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Sid would emerge victorious after nailing his powerbomb to begin his second run as WWF Champion in 11:54. With the win, Sid made history becoming the first wrestler to win the WWF/WWE Championship on RAW. Since that time, many legends have followed suit from Steve Austin to John Cena but Sid would be the first to win the WWF/WWE's biggest prize on their flagship show.