I've a feeling Goldust is going to make a very strong showing here and may even win. While I like Goldust as both a wrestler and a character, Luger should win this in a landslide.
No doubt Goldust was exceptional in the role. And if this tourney should be decided by who has the best act, then Dust should win this hands down. I like to think more goes into these results than mere character, though. It's kind of funny people criticize Luger for being pushed because of his looks but tout Goldy, who is known mainly for his gimmick. Dustin Runnels is a fine, solid wrestler but a bit bland and didn't have extraordinary success without his shtick.
And that's why I see Luger winning this easily....success. Look, I know that hating on Lex Luger is the cool thing to do among the smart wrestling fans. He couldn't work like Windham, he didn't have the charisma of Flair and he never quite lived up to the lofty expectations many had for him, but Lex Luger still ended up with one heckuva' career. Goldust's peak was the upper mid-card and a lot of the time was spent lower than that and even in a comedy role. Luger was at or near the top of the card from his debut to his departure from the ring.
Lex Luger was a strong US champ-possibly even the best-at a time when it was one of the most prestigious belts in the country. Though ultimately on the losing end of it, his feud with Ric Flair was the hottest thing going in the NWA and headlined a lot of big shows. He was a member of one of the strongest incarnations of the most influential group in wrestling history, was part of a team(along with Sting) that prevailed in one of the very best Crockett Cup tournaments and he slammed Yokozuna on a fuckin' aircraft carrier. Sure, it was kind of lame, but it's still a bodyslam on an aircraft carrier. He had memorable moments with his jump to WCW from WWF, his stirring World title win over Hulk Hogan and he co-won a Royal Rumble. His feuds with Flair, Windham, Rhodes, Steamboat and Koloff were terrific and a focal point of the company. He's a multiple time World champion and held the US belt longer than any wrestler in history.
There is no question few-if any-wrestlers could pull off the Goldust character like Dustin Runnels. The man was brilliant in the role. Let's be honest here, though-as entertaining as he was, can you see him being put in a position to have a long-running headlining feud with Ric Flair for the World title? Was Dustin Runnels important enough to be put in the Horseman role Luger held? Would he have been on equal footing in a partnership with Sting? Would the NWA have seen him as being good enough to make a long-term champion of one of their most coveted titles?
Dismiss Lex Luger as a wrestler all you want but you can't dismiss everything he accomplished. And looking back, he accomplished a helluva' lot. Vote Lex Luger.