It's Saturday, August 10th, 1996. Robin Williams is growing up fast with Jack at the top of the box office. The world is now knee deep in the Macarena as it's the number one song on the Billboard charts. And George R.R. Martin publishes a little book called "A Song of Fire and Ice". But in the world of WCW, the company is experiencing it's own game of thrones as a power struggle is on for control of WCW, leading us into WCW Hog Wild 1996, emanating from the 56th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota. Attendance of 5000 bikers with about 2,500 buys. A sharp drop from last month's Bash at the Beach event. So, what's gone down since Bash at the Beach?
July 7th, 1996. The night that changed professional wrestling. After months of teasing a third member of their Outsiders group, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash delivered when it was finally revealed to be none other than Hulk Hogan. Hogan dropped the leg on Randy Savage, and with it finally betrayed the values he claimed to live by. He turned on WCW, Ted Turner, and most importantly all the Hulkamaniacs. Hogan laid low for the most part, only making one live television appearance two weeks later, challenging The Giant to a match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship at Hog Wild, which the champ easily accepted.
But the NWO were far from done sending a message to WCW. Cut to July 29th, where members of the WCW locker room including Arn Anderson, Scotty Riggs and Rey Mysterio Jr. were attacked by Hall and Nash with baseball bats (and Rey getting lawn darted into a trailer). An attack that left WCW reeling and paranoid about what could possibly be next. And the kicker is that Rey stated that there was a fourth man involved in this attack. The NWO continued to make threats, from paid video announcements to a wreath announcing WCW's death. Not to mention a mysterious bag with the Turner logo attached. Tonight, in addition to Hogan VS Giant, we'll also see Lex Luger and Sting take on The Outsiders. Plus Eddie Guerrero challenges Ric Flair for the WCW United States Title, Dean Malenko faces Chris Benoit, Rey Mysterio takes on the blog debut of The Ultimo Dragon and much more.
Commentary as usual is Dusty Rhodes, Bobby "the brain" Heenan and some guy trying too hard to fit in with a bunch of bikers. Wait, that's Tony Schiavone? Well it took all of one minute, but I already have something to love from this show. Brain is, as always, smart as hell and doesn't partake in the leather daddy motif of tonight's event.
Opening action is the Cruiserweight Championship on the line as The Ultimate Dragon takes on Rey Mysterio Jr. Yoshihro Asai of Nagoya, Japan started wrestling in 1987. Initially his gimmick involved him claiming to have been the last student of Bruce Lee. He found success not only in Japan, but especially in Mexico working for CMLL and AAA. Rey also sporting my favorite look of his, the Spider-Man attire. Rey's first major match since being attacked by the NWO two weeks ago on Nitro.
Dragon teases a spin kick, but Rey avoids. Quick holds early on, with Dragon getting the better using the arm, but Rey escapes. Rey works the legs with a death lock until Dragon escapes and rolls him up for two. Rey returns to the leg work, but Dragon turns it into a chinlock. Loud USA chants get to Dragon while someone in the crowd is throwing a blow-up doll in the air. I'd expect nothing less from a biker rally. Rey slides under Dragon, but Dragon jumps right back with a massive spinning heel kick. Rey dodges Dragon and both men hit Asai moonsaunts to show off with each other.
Super fast kicks by Drgaon to the midsection. He follows with a picture perfect dropkick to the midsection. Handspring elbow into the corner. He then goes for a running powerbomb all the way across the ring. Dragon plays to the crowd, opting not to pin the prone Rey. He follows with a figure four however, Rey eventually crawling to the ropes to force a break. He collapses outside to get his bearings. Rey returns to the ring to get caught in a crucifix backbreaker. More playing to the crowd until he goes into a surfboard stretch, Rey sliding out and covering for two. Another handspring is dodged by Rey who springboard dropkicks Dragon to the outside.
He then hits a baseball slide, knocking Dragon into the dirt and follows with a big springboard plancha. He brings Dragon back in and hits a hurricanrana off the tope rope. He drags Dragon and goes for a whip, but Dragon reverses. Rey hits a springboard, but gets caught with another dropkick. Dragon fakes Rey, then hits a baseball slide and a plancha on his own.
The thud on that drop.
Both men return to the ring with Dragon hitting a German suplex, bridging for two. Dragon hits an Asai moonsaunt and still declines a cover. He slams Rey and hits a big moonsault off the tope. Cover for two. He goes for another powerbomb, but Rey reverses it into a hurricanrana. Dragon gets set on the top buckle as Rey goes for a Frankensteiner, only for Dragon to shove him off.
Rey's like "Screw that, you're getting it" and hits it again, covering for the three in a fun opener. Lots of exciting spots within and both men almost evenly matched. I even don't mind Dragon constantly not going for a cover, playing to the crowd like a good heel should. Plus, big ups to taking spots like the plancha with the ring already elevated higher than normal. Overall, a strong way to open Hog Wild.
Mean Gene, Denim Decked, shills the WCW Hotline, mentioning a lot of comings and goings in the world of wrestling.
Up next, it's former Fire and Ice teammates Scott "Flash" Norton and Ice Train going one on one. Ice Train is wrapped up with tape due to a failed attempt to run his mouth at The Giant. No Teddy Long since he was taken out by The Giant last Monday on Nitro. Both men just go at it with stiff chops and hammering fists to start off. Norton hits the injured arm and starts to stomp him down. He continues to lay knees until he throws Ice Train to the outside and rams the injured shoulder on the post. This allows Norton to continue to punch and stomp on the bad wheel.
Ice Train starts fighting back, landing a slam, but sells the bad shoulder, allowing Norton to come right back. Norton takes Train in the corner and continues to pummel. He drives the knee to the shoulder of Train, keeping the pressure. Ice Train recovers with stiff chops, but Norton keeps at him, reapplying the knee to the shoulder. He goes for a clothesline, but Ice Train catches with a powerslam, covering for two. He hits some clotheslines, but Norton lands a shoulder breaker. He applies an arm bar, forcing the finish. It wasn't a good wrestling match, but for a brawl, it worked well enough. Sells the concept of these two wanting to tear each other apart.
We get a video package of Ric Flair, saying that the NWO attacked his best friend, Arn Anderson. He's been up and down the road with Arn for 15 years. He had decided that NWO and the Horsemen could co-exist, but then the NWO turned on Arn. He stands up for WCW and it's on the table. Survival of the fittest. Regardless of if he likes Sting or Luger. If the NWO wants to make their mark, they have their opportunity now because "two of us can't survive".
Up next, it's the battle of the bikes as Madusa takes on her longtime rival Bull Nakano. I haven't forgotten 1994. Sonny Oono comint to the ring in a really nice looking rising sun bike and Madusa comes in in a sweet pink motorcycle. So the winner of the match can destroy the other's bike. Nakano hits Madusa with a nunchuck to begin (Or as Dusty puts it, "A NUUMCHUCK!"). Nakano hair pulls Madusa early on. Facebuster and a cover for two as a loud USA chant comes forward.
Madusa slides out of a cover and lands some clotheslines. Cover for two. Nakano lock for a couple seconds until she transitions into a ddt off the top rope. Cover for two. She locks a chinlock as the crowd chants "Harley" as motorcycles rev. Madusa ducks a clothesline and hits a hurricanrana for two. Spin kick follows. She tries a second but gets hit with a clothesline. Cover, Madusa kicks out at two. Madusa hits a German Suplex for two. She tries a second, but Nakano hits a back suplex for two. Heenan keeps saying "She got her" with every cover, to the annoyance of Schiavone. Nakano hits a second back suplex, but Madusa kicks out despite the referee counting three.
Sonny Oono, thinking this match is set, bashes at Madusa's bike until Madusa grabs the sledgehammer and goes to town on Oono's bike. As for the match, it wasn't bad, but kind of underwhelming when you consider the work rate the two had in their WWF run.
Up next, it's the match between Dean Malenko and Chris Benoit. Malenko being sent by the Dungeon of Doom to get revenge on Benoit over the past few months, especially due to Benoit's ties with Woman. Both men pound on each other early on with Benoit getting the better of the brawl. Benoit whips Malenko and lands a knee to the midsection. He throws Malenko face-first into the buckle with force. Not even face Tatanka would no-sell that ram. Malenko comes back with a corner ram of his own and a nice stalling suplex. Cover, but Benoit kicks out at two.
Malenko lands a neckbreaker and an elbow drop, covering again for two. Malenko grinds the chin with a chinlock until Benoit breaks free. He keeps on Malenko with some stomps and another stiff ram in the buckle. Benoit chokes Malenko on the rope then lands a leg drop. Cover, but Malenko has the foot on the rope. He moves the foot and covers again, but Malenko kicks out at two. He chopes Malenko then hits a back elbow. Cover, but Malenko keeps kicking out. Quick roll ups from both men for a good minute with Malenko winning with a backslide for two.
Malenko locks in an arm bar, but Benoit counters by getting Malenko on his shoulders and dropping him. Cover for two. Snap suplex and another cover only gets two. Benoit locks in an abdominal stretch. He continues to stretch with a chinlock, then it boils down into more strikes from both men, culminating in a double cross body. Benoit throws Malenko in the corner, but Malenko hops over to the top buckle for an ax handle, only for Benoit to turn it into a suplex. He follows with a diving headbutt and a cover for two. He tries for a tombstone piledriver, but Malenko reverses it into one of his own. Multiple covers, but Benoit keeps kicking out.
Northern Lights Suplex and a cover by Malenko for two. Benoit responds in kind, but still just a two count. German suplex by Benoit with a bridge, Malenko kicks out at two. We hear that there's five minutes left to go from the loudspeaker. Benoit goes in for a lion tamer until he can't keep it locked in. Benoit throws Malenko outside and hits a plancha over the ropes. Benoit returns to the ring and goes for a bridge, but Malenko kicks out. Malenko gets a roll up, but Benoit kicks out again. Heenan makes a comment about "a sea of heads" which Dusty loses his mind over.
Backslide by Malenko, but Benoit kicks out yet again. Fast roll up, but Benoit still kicks out. Benoit tries to keep him grounded, but Malenko still kicks out. Stiff powerbomb and a cover, but Malenko kicks out. One minute remaining as Benoit goes back up for a headbutt, but Malenko counters with a superplex of his own. He crawls over to a cover, but Benoit kicks out as we enter the thirty second mark. Another roll, but Benoit kicks out. Malenko hits a powerbomb and covers as the time limit hits.
However, referee Nick Patrick adds an extra five minutes of overtime to give us a winner. Benoit hits a back suplex and covers for two. He lands a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, covering for another two count. He then locks Malenko in a Texas Cloverleaf, keeping him in the center of the ring. He eventually breaks the hold and keeps at him as we're back to three minutes remaining. Enziguri by Malenko as both men are down. Both men collide head-first into each other, with Malenko slowly recovering first. Benoit keeps at him as two minutes remain. He applies a leg scissors. One minute remains as Benoit bashes in the leg on the ropes. He reapplies the leg lock as thirty second remains. Malenko rolls him up as the time goes yet again.
We have yet another overtime, which gets a hot reaction from the crowd. Not sure if that's excitement or exhaustion. Back suplex by Benoit, but Malenko gets in a dragon screw. Malenko goes for a clothesline, but Benoit lands a German suplex for two. Malenko tries a roll up, but Benoit counters to a cover for a two count. Benoit tries a dropkick, but misses, allowing Malenko to lock a cloverleaf. He grabs Woman, but Malenko turns it into an STF. Woman tries to grind the eyes, but Malenko grabs her arm, allowing Benoit to roll him up for three.
What a gruelling match that was. Exactly the kind of hard and fast match I'd expect from Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko. Lots of counters, lots of focus on trying to keep the other man down for the three count. I will say it didn't really need to be 26 minutes, but the story of the double overtime and neither man's ability to stay down really worked. The ending, albeit a bit anticlimactic, also really worked with Woman continuing to be the ace in the hole for the Horsemen's victories. While I liked Rey and Dragon, this is definitely match of the night so far.
Up next, it's Harlem Heat taking on The Steiner Brothers for the WCW World Tag Team Titles. Harlem Heat flanked as always with Colonel Parker and Sister Sherri. Booker and Stevie jaw jack with the many white trash people in the crowd as we start proper with Booker and Scott. Loud motorcyclles revving as we stall some more. We start proper with Scott getting an underhook powerbomb on Booker and a belly to belly on Stevie. A clothesline by Rick sends Harlem Heat in retreat to regroup. Headlock and shoulder block spot by Booker. Booker goes for a side kick, but Scott counters with a press slam, then the ten punches in the corner.
Harlem Heat regroup outside of the ring again until Stevie Ray enters. He shoves Scott then gets some fists and a body slam. Scott ducks a boot and gets an overhead suplex. Tag to Rick who keeps on the offense with some boots in the corner and a twisting chinlock. He ducks a clothesline and hits a bit one of his own ("He lollipopped him" as Dusty proclaims). Tag back to Scott who gets a headbutt into the lower extremities. Tag to Booker who lands the sidewalk slam. Scott gets a boot in and follows with a belly to belly. Slow cover for a two count.
Tag to Rick. Booker goes for a suplex, but Rick counters. You can hear someone in the crowd telling Sherri to "shut up, bitch", to which she responds with "bite me". Stevie comes back in and drives the knee to the face of Rick, then hits an elbow drop. Tag to Booker who keeps the pressure on Rick. Rick catches him with a powerslam. Cover, but only for two. Tag to Scott who whips Booker and hits a nice dropkick. He locks in an STF until Stevie forces a break. Tag to Rick who keeps the lock on. A rare occasion where the referee is distracted and the faces get a tag in and it stays enforced.
Booker whips Rick as Stevie pulls the rope, causing him to tumble in a thud. Booker hits a side kick and throws Rick head-first into the post. They return to the ring. Rick ducks a kick from Booker and punches him over the ropes. Tag to Stevie who drops a forearm to the head. Cover, but only a two count. Big boot by Stevie who then tags Booker who keeps the pressure and covers for two. He places a chinlock as the sun starts to set on Sturgis. We get the arm drop spot, with Rick recovering on the third drop.
Booker slams Rick and goes for an elbow. Rick avoids, allowing Booker to spinarooni and hit a Harlem Side Kick. He plays to the crowd instead of covering. Tag to Stevie who lands a rib breaker. He hits a suplex and covers for two. He works a nerve hold on Rick then lands another slam. Tag to Booker who plays to the crowd and goes for a knee drop, missing as Rick avoids. Tag to Scott who lays out both members of Harlem Heat with clotheslines and Belly to Belly suplexes. Cover, but Stevie hits a leg drop.
Rick brawls with Stevie while Colonel Parker gets on the apron. He throws a bunch of powder, hitting Booker with it, then Sherri manages to throw some at Scott, allowing Parker to nail Scott with his cane. Cover and the three as Harlem Heat retain in a decent enough match. Not as energetic as their other outings, and a lot of face in peril work, but it still was fine enough. I do like the continuing story on if Colonel Parker's involvement with Harlem Heat is a burden or a blessing. The crowd (likely the more racist members of the crowd. Lots of SS shirts in that crowd) pelts Harlem Heat with garbage as they exit.
The WCW United States Title is up next as Eddie Guerrero takes on Ric Flair. Flair once again flanked by Woman and Miss Elizabeth. Flair takes Eddie to the corner, but Eddie turns him around and backs off. Playing those mind games early. Headlock and shoulder block spot by Eddie. This is followed by some shoves by both men. Flair goes after the ref, but gets shoved for his troubles. Flair retreats to regroup with the ladies as Eddie plays to the crowd. Flair returns, and tries to back suplex Eddie, only for Eddie to turn it into a cross body, walling on Flair's hand and seemingly injuring it.
Flair tries to chop Eddie, but Eddie no-sells it, sending Flair in retreat yet again. Headlock by Eddie who runs the buckle to ground down Flair. Flair breaks from the headlock, but Eddie bounces back up. Flair tries chops, but Eddie comes back with some super stiff chops of his own and landing a back body drop. Flair begs off Eddie and gets a thumb to the eye as the sunset begins to dim the light around the ring. The crowd chants for Eddie as Ric returns to the chops and fists. Eddie lands a bunch of punches in the corner, and more stiff chops.
Eddie whips Flair to the corner, leading to the classic Flair corner flip. Eddie dropkicks him off the apron. Flair returns to the ring, only to get clotheslined back over the ropes. Flair begs off Eddie, but Eddie returns to the stiff chops, giving us the patented Flair flop. Thumb to the eye by Flair and a kick to the groin. Eddie ducks a chop and lands a cross body for two. He keeps at Flair, covering him again for two. Eddie goes to the top buckle and hits a sunset flip, but Flair goes for a punch, only to hit mat. Drop toe hold by Eddie who then locks in a figure four. Flair manages to grab the rope to force a break. Eddie grabs the arm and goes to the top rope, landing a headscissor. Cover only gets a two.
Both men return to the chops, but Eddie then comes in with a tornado DDT. Cover, still only two. Eddie mocks Flair with the strut, then whips Flair in the corner again. Flair dodges an attack in the corner and goes up top, which means he's going right back down. Cover, but still just a two. Eddie tries a sunset flip again, yanking the trunks, giving us 50% Flair ass in this match. Cover only gets a two. Eddie gets a thumb in the eyes and keeps on Flair. He goes for the frog splash and connects, but he sells an injured knee. Flair locks a figure four with Woman's assistance to get the win. I enjoyed that match. It wasn't about big moves, but told a good story about Eddie holding his own in a match with Ric Flair, and coming close on multiple occasions.
Mean Gene interviews The Giant and Jimmy Hart. Hart tells Hogan not to slip and fall because there will be nobody there to pick him back up. Giant says that he was the biggest Hulk Hogan fan as a kid, but he saw his true colors way before anyone else did. Tonight in Sturgis, he'll be the one to stick his hand around Hogan's neck and drive it through the ring. Ashes to ashes and dust to dust, he lays the Hulkster to rest.
Up next, Lex Luger and Sting face off against Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. Hall and Luger start things off. Hall throws the toothpick at Sting and then locks up with Luger. Luger takes him to the corner until the referee forces a break. Hall locks in a hammerlock, then throws Luger overhead. Hall continues to work the arm, mocking Luger some more. Hall tries a hiptoss out the corner, but Luger reverses with a big one of his own. Knee lift by Luger followed by a big body slam. Tag to Nash who tells Luger to move aside so he can spit on Sting. This is enough for Sting to accept the tag and return the favor.
Nash lays in an elbow and mocks Sting. Sting comes back with a big punch that sends Nash into the ropes. Sting tries for a body slam, but Nash sends him right back down. Ax handles and chops from Sting, while he ducks clotheslines. Eye poke and a body slam finally take Nash down. He also makes sure to punch Hall off the apron as well. Nash catches Sting and drops him head first onto the buckle. Tag to Hall who takes Sting to the corner, allowing Nash to get a cheap shot. Hall gets in a discus punch and tags back in Nash. Nash keeps on knees to the midsection and hits some more elbows.
Tag back to Hall. Sting ducks a clothesline, but gets caught in a fallaway slam. Cover with Hall using the ropes, but Sting still kicks out. Hall mocks Sting with some boots to the face. He whips Sting in the corner and lands another big clothesline. Tag back to Nash who chokes Sting in the corner with his boot and allows for Hall to land a clothesline as well. Sting fights back with rights, but is unable to get into the corner with Luger. Nash returns to offenceh, but Sting collides into Luger, falling head-first into the lower extremities. Tag to Hall who keeps Sting from tagging. Bobby Heenan starts to slowly cheer for the NWO, which annoys Tony and Dusty.
Hall hits another clothesline, covering for two. He rakes the eye and tags in Nash who lands a big boot. Nash signals for Hall to use the Razor's Edge, so he tags Hall who sets Sting up, only to get back dropped. This finally leads to the tag to Luger who lays both men out with clotheslines. Luger punches Hall in the corner as Stings land a stinger splash on Nash. Sting locks a Scorpion Death Lock on Nash on the outside while Luger goes for a torture rack.
He accidentally hits the referee, which leads to Nick Patrick intentionally chop blocking Luger. Cover and a fast count gets the win for the outsiders. A good match to show off Hall and Nash as a threat, but it did suffer from face in peril work and was a bit slow. That being said, I like this added wrinkle of the NWO now seemingly having a crooked referee on the take.
Up next, it's the main event. WCW World Title on the line as The Giant defends against Hollywood Hulk Hogan. Regardless of Hogan's turn, he is still over with the live crowd. Hogan avoids Giant early on, staying out of the ring. Hogan starts to retreat up the entrance way, but finally heads into the ring. Hogan dodges offense from Giant and hits a few strikes, exiting the ring and keeping from offense again. Headlock and shoulder block spot with Giant easily getting the best of Hogan, who yet again retreats to the outside. Hogan returns for another headlock, but Giant picks him up and lands a back suplex. Yet again, Hogan escapes the ring.
Hogan returns to the ring. Giant grabs the hair, but the referee forces a break. Giant goes for a lock, but Hogan avoids again. He grabs at the arm of Giant, but is quickly overpowered. Test of strength, but Giant is yet again the more powerful of the two. Loud chants for Hogan, despite working heel. Hogan starts to get the advantage, but Giant gets back up and brings Hogan down, winning the battle. He works the arm and finally takes down Giant with a hair pull. He slowly transitions into a knee to the back and returns into an top wristlock.
Hogan pulls the hair again to take Giant down. Eventually, Giant breaks free of the wrist lock and slams Hogan to the mat. He lands a series of headbutts, sending Hogan falling out of the ring. Hogan drags Giant out of the ring and throws him head-first into the post, then goes into the back rakes. He tries again to ram Giant, but Giant breaks it and sends Hogan into the steel post. Both men return to the ring, as Giant gets in boots to the midsection followed by a backbreaker. Cover, but Hogan gets the foot on the rope.
Giant goes for a big elbow drop, but Hogan rolls out of the way. Hogan lays punches on Giant, as Giant hulks up. Hogan gets chopped and booted by Giant. Giant goes for a chokeslam, but Scott Hall and Kevin Nash interfere. Hall gets chokeslammed and Nash follows suit. Hogan smashes Giant with the belt and covers for the three, winning the WCW Title yet again. Pretty boring match, even for Hogan standards. Did pick up by the end, but I nearly fell asleep writing this up for the review.
As garbage rains the ring, we see a birthday cake on its way to the ring. And sure enough, there's Hogan's old pal The Booty Man in an NWO shirt. Hogan cuts a promo saying that the NWO is the way to go. Booty congratulates Hogan for being the new NWO champion and wishes him a happy birthday. He shakes Hogan's hand, thanking him for being with him for 22 years. Hogan says he loves him and kisses his cheeks. Having Booty here with the NWO shirt is something special. But there's something you gotta learn is that the reason the NWO is in control is that they never mix business with friendship, but this is a special occasion.
So shocker of shockers, Booty Man gets geeked out by Hogan, Hall and Nash as the NWO is way too cool for ol' Brutus Beefcake (well, at least for now it is). So Booty Man, supposedly the fourth man who aided the NWO a few weeks ago, gets his receipt courtesy of an NWO beat down. Story of Ed Leslie's career. Hogan says if he'll do that to his best friend, what will he do to Flair in Denver Colorado at Clash of the Champions?
Hogan unwraps a can of spray paint and does what he promised. Making the WCW title the NWO title by spraying the initials on the belt. The NWO celebrate as Giant sells that belt shot like death for ten minutes. And thus we end Hog Wild 1996 with the NWO yet again winning the war so far.
Hog Wild was a decent show. I can't say the in-ring was super amazing, but nothing was generally bad either. Fun opener with Rey and Dragon as both men showed their incredible lucha libre style. Ice Train and Scott Norton was a brawl like it should be and mercifully short. Madusa and Nakano was fine, but definitely nowhere as energetic as any of their matches in the WWF. Malenko and Benoit was a great back and forth battle that focused on the fortitude of both men, neither willing to stay down to the point of needed two match restarts. Harlem Heat and Steiners was pretty standard stuff, and Eddie VS Flair was pretty evenly matched.
Hall and Nash VS Sting and Luger was also pretty basic stuff save for the wrinkle of Nick Patrick's deception. Hogan and Giant was a boring slog, but its ending makes sense, both in Hogan quickly attaining the WCW title and his assault on Booty Man, showing he has no ties to any of his old cronies. As such we get a show that isn't the greatest night of wrestling, but still a serviceable show that helps move the NWO angle forward in all the right directions. The world is once again revolving around Hogan-Senpai and the NWO angle, now more than ever, is running in full momentum. Hog Wild gets an A-.
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