Well let's put it this way!!! Would we still be talking about it to this day if it's not Hogan like 20yrs later?? I mean short of a Rock or Austin it never would have lasted, especially this long!!! 👀🫵🏻🙏🏻
Hogan definitely wouldn't have worked as the baby face standing up against cool bad guys like Nash and Hall. Nash and Hall made NWO, and kept Hogan relevant despite himself.
No Scott Hall and Kevin Nash did. Hogan as the leech he is and Eric bischoffe as hogan's biggest arse licker pollotict to be the NWO leader. Not saying that it did not work but hogan was not the stand alone in making the NWO
It had to be Hogan! It would never been as impactful a heel turn than any. Plus working with Hall and Nash who were up to date with modern culture, made it work.
Probably the greatest heel turn in wrestling history. If you or anyone knows one better please share because nothing comes to mind as I type this. Austin’s heel turn just didn’t work
@@ArchThaBoss The biggest: Larry Zbyszko turning on Bruno Sammartino. It pretty much sent the entire Tri-State Area into a total frenzy. To say Larry had nuclear heat would be an understatement as not only he, but his entire family received death threats from angry fans over it and for the longest time Larry needed private bodyguards and massive security everywhere. He also drew massive crowds because everybody wanted to see him getting beaten up in the ring. Other big ones: - Ole turning on Dusty. A full year in the making without anybody noticing but when Ole let loose in that promo, everything fell into place and fans went "Oh shit, it was all so obvious, how didn't we realize?" and the single biggest, most important moment for Georgia Wrestling - Hogan vs. Andre. There's no explanation needed. Wrestlemania 3 broke records, Main Event 1 set the record for most viewed wrestling match of all time.
Being a fan of Sting, I'm glad that Sting didn't get the job to turn heel. Where Sting has gone throughout his career and where he is now shows that he made the right decision, although, I say that I wish he never went to WWE from how things happened there.
Given the whole initial idea of the nWo, I think the leader had to be Hogan. Sting just doesn't fit into that original idea of WWF guys taking over WCW. Hogan was the WWF poster child for 8-9 years, he's the most perfect leader you could ask for
Exactly. I love Sting, but it wouldn't have worked. It was an invasion angle, so the 3rd guy needed to be a wwf guy, and who is/was more wwf thank Hulk Hogan? Sting was all wcw while Hulk was the poster child for New York. As someone else replied, it killed 2 birds one stone. Hogan needed a new image as well. It was magic
Eric is a good storyteller.. This was an interesting story. Im also glad Hogan called Eric at the right time or the history of wrestling would have been written differently..
It needed to be Hogan. Hogan being the one to turn revitalised him and to a large chunk of the audience, he had never been a heel and him being a heel was fresh...even to the hardcore who remember his heel run in the late 70's/early 80's. Also think about this way: If anybody else was in Hogan's shoes...what would Hogan be doing? Most likely? Being the babyface to fight the heels. Without Hogan being in it, the nWo becomes another faction for Hogan to overcome and then there is no boom...they become just like the Horsemen and the Dungeon of Doom
thank wrestling-god that he became the third man. I can only assume the worst: Hogan as a face taking on the NWO all by himself and beating them and making a mockery out of them. shame if someone at WWE did that *cough*cena*cough*
@@GooglyMcDoubleface Andre. Not talked about much now, but he was always a face, then suddenly he turned on Hogan, it was the reason wrestlemania 3 was so big.
While this might have been rude towards Sting inititally, it enabled him turning into Crow Sting and beeing the Boogeyman towards the NWO which was a totally badass character
Luckily Hogan did it - and it changed the business. It was even on THE NEWS!!!! It was crazy...it changed perception of reality. I was in shock. Disbelief. I told my friends and they didnt belive me.
At the end of the day, wcw died because of him.Wrestling business started to become stall.Owen hart,Chyna,Rick rood and many others were collateral damages of Monday night wars. EB should have never let the ginni come out of the bottle. He is the father of wrestling tribalism today.
He contributed never anything except shit ideas like Kiss, Megadeth, Road Wild, Jay Leno, Blood runs Cold. Let alone the fact he fired all the future superstars from WCW, nearly screwed up Dennis Rodman coming to WCW (because he was too lazy and drunk to make a call). His one thing was the nWo idea and that was stolen from Japan but all he contributed was the base invasion idea. Everything else about it was the workd of Kevin Sullivan, Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Andre Freitas (who came up with the idea for the unique promo video style, clothing style, entrance style and th set of Souled Out)
When Lex Luger got knocked out and taken back to the dressing room I thought it was going to be him getting payback on Sting and Macho Man for taking him out
It had to be Hulk or Macho Man. The invasion angle was these WWF guys coming to conquer WCW. They started with Hall, then it got bigger with Nash. The third guy had to be even bigger than Hall or Nash. WCW didn't sign Bret Hart or Shawn Michaels, so the only 2 people that were bigger names were Macho and Hogan. Once the third guy showed up, the element of surprise was gone since it demonstrated someone who was WCW could turn. So it was Hall, then Nash, then Hogan, then Giant... following the pattern of one bigger than the next.
@@OikPoinFive - the biggest problem with wrestling fans is that they cannot see past who they like and are always trying to fit them where they don't belong. At this point I shouldn't be astounded by the comment sections in wrestling videos but here we are - that someone would even entertain the idea that MM would have made an impact as the third man is insane.
@@1980Triumphmacho man wasn't big enough, even though he is in everyone's all time top 30 WWF guys. However.... He could have pulled a double swerve taking out Scott hall, attempting to fight Kevin Nash and then walking up the ramp to high five Hogan on his way down
It was the Hogan turn that changed wrestling . He ( Hogan character ) the taking your vitamins say your prayers and exercise so it was Superman going bad it shocked the wrestling world and i say the NWO will be remembered forever or 4 life it was to sweet
This, Sting turning heel would have been shocking only to WCW fans but Hulk turning bad reverberated around the mainstream media and got latent fans or brand new ones tuning in to see what this was all about.
when Hall and Nash tell the story they always said they had to convince Hogan and they weren't sure up until the PPV that he would actually go through with it and Sting was the backup plan
Hulk needed a revamp, and boy what a revamp it was. Legendary in fact. I always wished Cena did something similar about 8 years ago, wearing darker instead of the brighter colors as he was already on his way out.
Cena wanted to but Vince kept saying no. Hogan had a similar issue, he suggested after Warrior beat him that he turn heel but Vince didn’t see any money in it.
@@dougcrawford6386 yeah, but I really want to see not just this one, but all these live interviews that ITR does. Unfortunately, I just read somewhere that they only do them for the live crowd that bought a ticket and occasionally post a clip of said live interview. Which IMHO is a mistake by ITR. They could probably make a lot of money if they made these live shows available for download or streaming because not all of us can make it to England to see the live events.
Sting turning heel would’ve been massive, do NOT get it wrong. But it does make soooooo much sense and it was right for Hulk to. As much as I don’t like the man, he was perfect for that part.
I like Sting but it wouldnt have been an invasion type feel if he was the 3rd guy. Hogan was the right one for the spot. If it was Savage or Luger, or even Waltman or DiBiase, it wouldn't have felt right either. Hogan had been a top guy for over 10 years at this point and it was the perfect fit, almost ruined by Heenan.
Bobby was always Anti-Hogan. It was just him being in character. He was always going on about how Hogan was a fraud and a liar and no one would believe he or take him seriously.
I'm sorry, but Hogan *is* the nWo, and it needed to be him. Despite being past his prime and fans getting sick of the red and yellow, Hogan's name still had value and he still had a huge notoriety. Having the biggest hero of the 80's join the dark side was monumental. This isn't to take away anything from Hall and Nash, but Hogan was the critical piece to the puzzle. Plus, wasn't the original idea of the nWo having all these WWF guys take over WCW? Sting just wouldn't have made sense, and having the biggest name in the WWF join was just perfection.
Bischoff should still be in charge of one of the major wrestling promotions. idc I miss him and th storylines that entertained me more then the majority of the new product out there.
Sting as the third guy could have worked especially aesthetically if the white Crow sting debuted at that same time. He probably would have held the title more and not been screwed around.
All I know is sting would have never worked well in the NWO as a heel leader of that group, Hogan was perfect and his heel turn is what made the NWO huge from the get go,like it or not Hogan was the only option for MR Bischoff
How come Sullivan says that Hogan did not want to turn heel? He claims until the last day spent time in Hogan's house because Hogan wasn't convinced to turn heel.
Hulk was initially against it but then he saw the direction Hall and Nash were going and he changed his mind but then people in his circle started telling him it would kill his career, that is what made Hulk get cold feet about it, which is a normal reaction to that kind of advice. So Eric separated Hogan from his circle and helped Hogan see the bigger picture.
Basically Hulk Hogan had watched how good the Outsiders were, and knew that it was going to be huge so he suddenly wanted to be part of it. Hulk said no, nWo were getting over, Hulk said Yes. As usual Hulk in it for Hulk, wouldn't let anyone else be the guy.
When Hogan went to "the dark side" in late '95, it was a test run to see how fans would react to a heel-Hogan. And suposedly Hogan told of wanting to turn heel in the WWF back in '93 and had the Hollywood gimmick planned out back then. Hogan wanted to turn heel, he himself knew Hulkamania was dead at that point.
''He knew Hulkamania was dead '' in 1993 and wanted to turn heel in WWF despite demanding a '' happy ending '' for Mania 93 by him winning the title .... He also then paraded around in Hulkamania garbage when debuting for Wcw , couple years later ...... As I say , '' Terrys tales '' aka Lies
If it was Hogan’s idea to begin with, how come I have heard stories how they didn’t even know if Hogan was going to show up or not that night or back out of it?
The issue is Hogan was for it but others in his circle started to put doubt in his head, telling him it would kill his career so Eric made a strategy to separate Hogan from those people so that Hogan could see the big picture. Hogan was already being booed at that point and his red and yellow gimmick had become boring and out of date and he was paying attention to what Hall and Nash were doing. But if you have people telling you it could end what you love doing it will cause you to have cold feet.
This story changed from Hogan was always the 3rd man and was on the fence about it up till he came out at bash at the beach with Sting as the back up option, Sting even saying he has no clue about him even being considered as the 3rd man, to now Sting was convinced to be the 3rd man and Hogan chose himself. Eric probably spoke to hogan and he's changed his memory to Hogan choosing himself, even Nash said hogan wasn't sure about turning heel and Sting was the back up.
I think the plan was just the outsiders Vs WCW. They wanted Sting, Luger and Hogan Vs Outsiders more as WCW Vs WWF. There were attempts to bring Bret Hart and Undertaker as the 3rd guy just to do the storyline. Hogan most likely was considered but refused to do it. I think eventually he thought it was a good idea to do something different. Hogan was getting mixed reactions in WCW with the more loyal WCW fans booing him and the casual audience cheering him. Hogan as the 3rd guy made NWO a huge success. Anyone else including Sting or Bret Hart would have just been an angle. Hogan made it the hottest act.
TBF with Eric the story changes quite a bit. I've heard Nash say he, Scott and Eric had to convince Hogan to be the third man. I've heard Flair say that as well. I don't think any body knows the truth is anymore
@@reoreborn1209 It's typical former WCW wrestlers and bookers telling stories like this one that always are told differently. Sullivan says that Hogan did not want to turn heel and that until the last day before BAATB he spent time in Hogan's house because Hogan wasn't convinced to turn heel. This is also true about the fast count at Starrcade 1997, even 26 years later nobody knows the truth
This version contradicts the version in Controversy is Cash. Sting was a backup plan if Hulk pulled out and Hulk was iffy about the turn up until he walked out through the curtain. If it was Hogan's idea then Hogan would of being talking about it for years and jumped in everytime bischoff was given credit.
@@TOFTS77 it was always Hogan. Maybe he hesitated. I don't think Sting was ever the 3rd man. It Hogan wasn't supposed to be the 3rd guy, then they would have delayed the 3rd guys entry at the PPV and done it later by replaning.
You know Eric has some of the longest stories of anyone in the business. He goes into such detail about how it happened. I tend to do that too. 😂🤣🤣. Could you imagine how weird and different it would have been had Sting actually had Hogan's NWO role. I'd imagine it probably wouldn't have been over as much as it was and Hogan would have still been doing Red and Yellow. The way it actually played out was best for business. Unfortunately it got way too huge and controlling and then Russo and the nonsense they were doing pretty much killed the company. But Im glad to have been able to see what I did of WCW growing up.
It's funny how Eric said Summer was the worst time for doing PPVs when historically The Great American Bash PPVs in Baltimore, MD had significantly better attendance than the Starrcades of the late 1980's and early 1990's.
Hollywood Hogan was an amazing heel in fairness and it was cool seeing the Horseman be faces, even though Flair hated being a face apparently I thought he was lovable in that role.
Yeah, it's too bad that no one clued Heenan in on the plan or he probably would have played it the other way instead of his usual Hogan hating schtick.
It worked out for the best. Hogan was perfect as the third man while Sting was perfect as the crow character opposing the nWo. I'm not sure it would have worked as well had the roles been reversed.
They did the NWO wrong. It should have never gotten bigger then there were titles to win. It would have been more realistic because if wrestling was real anymore then the number of titles would have been people unhappy about not being able to hold a title. When half the locker room became a member I quite watching
This is all news to me because in EVERY Nash & Hall shoot interview, Legends of Wrestling, or the JBL show - they both say (ESPECIALLY Nash) that Sting was totally against it. He wanted nothing to do with being a heel.
Well if im Hulk Hogan at that time...i also would have my reservations. People forget just how huge it was that Hogan turned heel. It was the ultimate career risking move. It worked out though because Hogan is such a master of his art in the ring.
Sting had never had anything to do with WWE at that point Hogan made WWE him,hall and Nash were the perfect trio only other guy it could have possibly been was savage, sting wouldn't have made any sense
I think things worked out for the best. If Sting was in NWO, there may not have been Crow Sting and Hogan would have continued floundering (if you want to call it that) being a face that the fans were getting tired of. If anything, Hulk would probably have also joined the NWO at some point later - maybe the 5th-10th guy in. Maybe NWO Sting and NWO Hogan would feud for control of the NWO after some weeks/months. ~puts away crystal ball~
Hulk Hogan and the New World Order (nWo) played pivotal roles in the wrestling landscape during the late 1990s, particularly in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). The nWo storyline and Hogan's association with it marked a significant shift in professional wrestling, impacting the industry for years to come. Background on Hulk Hogan: Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, is one of the most iconic figures in the history of professional wrestling. He gained fame in the 1980s as the face of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE), where he became a household name and a symbol of the wrestling boom during that era. Hogan was known for his charismatic personality, colorful persona, and catchphrases like "Hulkamania" and "Whatcha gonna do, brother?" Formation of the nWo: In the mid-1990s, WCW was in direct competition with the WWF, and the Monday Night Wars were heating up. In 1996, Hogan, who had been the quintessential hero in wrestling, shocked the world by turning heel (becoming a villain) and aligning himself with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, who had recently arrived in WCW from the WWF. This union marked the birth of the New World Order. The nWo's mantra was "New World Order for life," and their rebellious, anti-establishment attitude resonated with fans. The trio's invasion-style storyline blurred the lines between fiction and reality, creating a sense of unpredictability and excitement. The Impact of the nWo: Shock Value and Ratings War: Hogan's turn to the dark side and the formation of the nWo created massive shockwaves in the wrestling world. WCW Nitro began consistently defeating WWF's Monday Night Raw in the ratings, marking a significant shift in the so-called Monday Night Wars. nWo Expands: The nWo quickly expanded its ranks, with wrestlers like Ted DiBiase, Randy Savage, and others joining. The black-and-white nWo logo became an iconic symbol in wrestling culture. nWo Hollywood vs. nWo Wolfpac: Internal conflicts led to a split within the nWo, with Hogan leading the "nWo Hollywood" faction and Nash leading the "nWo Wolfpac." This dynamic added layers to the storyline and kept fans engaged. Hogan's Hollywood Persona: Hogan's Hollywood Hogan persona was a departure from his traditional "Hulkamania" character. He embraced a more egotistical, arrogant, and sinister persona, which resonated well with the nWo's rebellious narrative. Feuds and Matches: The nWo's presence led to numerous high-profile feuds and matches, including clashes with WCW's top stars like Sting, Goldberg, and others. These storylines created some of the most memorable moments in WCW history. Legacy and Influence: The nWo storyline had a lasting impact on the wrestling industry. Its success demonstrated the appeal of the anti-hero and villainous characters, influencing future wrestling storylines and characters in both WCW and WWE. Downfall and Legacy: Despite its initial success, the nWo storyline eventually faced challenges, including overexpansion, creative struggles, and repetitive storylines. The faction's impact began to diminish, and by the early 2000s, the nWo was no longer the dominant force it once was. Nevertheless, the nWo's legacy endures. The storyline is remembered as one of the most influential and groundbreaking in professional wrestling. Hogan's heel turn and the formation of the nWo are often cited as turning points in the Monday Night Wars. The nWo's impact can still be seen in the way wrestling storylines continue to incorporate elements of rebellion, betrayal, and unexpected character turns. In summary, Hulk Hogan's association with the New World Order in WCW marked a significant chapter in the history of professional wrestling. The nWo storyline, with its shock value, rebellious characters, and real-world implications, played a crucial role in the Monday Night Wars and left an indelible mark on the industry.
In the end, I don't think sting turning heel with them would have had near the impact that Hogan finally turning heel did, few saw it coming, and it was definitely needed. And if sting had turned heel then as the 3rd man, would we have ever gotten the crow sting that has become so iconic, or something completely different.
Sting being the third man would've been a disaster, he would eventually turn heel briefly in 1999, but fans were continuing to cheer him despite being a heel (similar to the Road Warriors heel turn in 1988) and had Sting became the third man, the fans would've continued to cheer him and Hall and Nash would've turned on him immediately and the NWO angle would've flopped instantly too.
no doubt hogan was the right choice and as huge of a fan as I am of sting my whole life I sometimes wonder what if sting was the 3rd guy WCWS franchise from day 1 turns his back on the company he made would have been the huge shock factor but I digress hogan had to be the 3rd guy
Everything worked out perfectly with Hogan turning heel and Sting turning into this quiet dark character, both had iconic character changes, also til this day the biggest build up to a main event match in history since Hogan/Andre then once Starrcade 97 came things fell apart
I thought Scott's troubles didn't start until WCW and getting beers from Hulk's garbage can full of them (I think they were Miller light) he had written into his contract
Scott Hall was in WCW as the Diamond Stud before he was in the WWF as Razor Ramon. When he showed up and started the Outsiders/nWo storyline as Scott Hall he was returning to WCW. As for his battles with alcoholism, Kevin Nash has suggested that it was at least partly the result of PTSD stemming from what happened much earlier. Hall shot and killed a man outside a nightclub in 1983 in what was ruled as an act of self defense and he said he could never forget what happened for the rest of his life.
One of the greatest mind in wrestling and one of the worst wrestling mind in history, killing the hottest wrestling company in less than 3 years is simply incredible.
I think the group would have worked with Sting….at first. The issue would be, what do you do with Hogan? Hogan isn’t going to sit silently in the rafters for a year. Then it becomes just another faction for babyface Hogan to take out.
It was crazy to first hear that sting was supposed to be the 3rd guy. Would be very curious to see how that would have worked out over hogan. Feel free to comment
Wth, am I experiencing the Mandela effect?! For as long as I can remember- the story was always that hogan was on the fence and they didn't know if he was going to do it until the last minute...🤯
That was Hall and Nash's perspective. They didn’t know if Hogan was going to go through with the plan. I think basically only Eric and a few others knew that Hogan had agreed to do it.
Even if Sting had worked as the third man be assured that Hogan would have killed the whole thing in a Starrcade 1996 War Games "Hogan & WCW vs. Invaders" type of a match where Hogans beats all of them on his own. lol
Did Hulk Hogan make the NWO? Let us know in the comments below!
I think so. The man was the face of all that was good for years. The role model, the hero. For him to now be the bad guy? Great move.
Well let's put it this way!!! Would we still be talking about it to this day if it's not Hogan like 20yrs later?? I mean short of a Rock or Austin it never would have lasted, especially this long!!! 👀🫵🏻🙏🏻
Well someone completely f@cked it up ,that's for sure
Hogan definitely wouldn't have worked as the baby face standing up against cool bad guys like Nash and Hall. Nash and Hall made NWO, and kept Hogan relevant despite himself.
No Scott Hall and Kevin Nash did. Hogan as the leech he is and Eric bischoffe as hogan's biggest arse licker pollotict to be the NWO leader. Not saying that it did not work but hogan was not the stand alone in making the NWO
I've never like Bischoff that much on TV, but I've got to admit he's a great story teller and seems like a pretty cool guy.
It had to be Hogan! It would never been as impactful a heel turn than any. Plus working with Hall and Nash who were up to date with modern culture, made it work.
Probably the greatest heel turn in wrestling history. If you or anyone knows one better please share because nothing comes to mind as I type this. Austin’s heel turn just didn’t work
@@ArchThaBoss.....yeah what about Andre the Giant turning heel against Hogan.....
Should have been Mabel
@@ArchThaBoss The biggest: Larry Zbyszko turning on Bruno Sammartino. It pretty much sent the entire Tri-State Area into a total frenzy. To say Larry had nuclear heat would be an understatement as not only he, but his entire family received death threats from angry fans over it and for the longest time Larry needed private bodyguards and massive security everywhere. He also drew massive crowds because everybody wanted to see him getting beaten up in the ring.
Other big ones:
- Ole turning on Dusty. A full year in the making without anybody noticing but when Ole let loose in that promo, everything fell into place and fans went "Oh shit, it was all so obvious, how didn't we realize?" and the single biggest, most important moment for Georgia Wrestling
- Hogan vs. Andre. There's no explanation needed. Wrestlemania 3 broke records, Main Event 1 set the record for most viewed wrestling match of all time.
@@ArchThaBoss vince mcmahon on his bret screwed bret promo
Being a fan of Sting, I'm glad that Sting didn't get the job to turn heel. Where Sting has gone throughout his career and where he is now shows that he made the right decision, although, I say that I wish he never went to WWE from how things happened there.
He didn’t make this decision Eric made it. Sting was disappointed. Eric did indeed make the right call.
Sting is legendary
@@datacipher I didn't state that Sting made the decision. I stated that I'm glad that Sting didn't get the job to turn heel.
I think NWO would've failed if Sting was the 3rd man. It had to be Hogan and no one else.
Sting wouldn't have been able to pull it off.
Given the whole initial idea of the nWo, I think the leader had to be Hogan. Sting just doesn't fit into that original idea of WWF guys taking over WCW. Hogan was the WWF poster child for 8-9 years, he's the most perfect leader you could ask for
Hogan's turn was not only shocking, but it also made perfect sense. It was basically killing 2 birds with one stone.
Exactly. I love Sting, but it wouldn't have worked. It was an invasion angle, so the 3rd guy needed to be a wwf guy, and who is/was more wwf thank Hulk Hogan? Sting was all wcw while Hulk was the poster child for New York. As someone else replied, it killed 2 birds one stone. Hogan needed a new image as well. It was magic
Eric is a good storyteller.. This was an interesting story. Im also glad Hogan called Eric at the right time or the history of wrestling would have been written differently..
It needed to be Hogan.
Hogan being the one to turn revitalised him and to a large chunk of the audience, he had never been a heel and him being a heel was fresh...even to the hardcore who remember his heel run in the late 70's/early 80's.
Also think about this way: If anybody else was in Hogan's shoes...what would Hogan be doing? Most likely? Being the babyface to fight the heels.
Without Hogan being in it, the nWo becomes another faction for Hogan to overcome and then there is no boom...they become just like the Horsemen and the Dungeon of Doom
thank wrestling-god that he became the third man. I can only assume the worst: Hogan as a face taking on the NWO all by himself and beating them and making a mockery out of them. shame if someone at WWE did that *cough*cena*cough*
I'm not the biggest Hogan fan but holy cow did his heel turn change the business. It wouldn't of worked with anyone else
You might be right about that one. That is the biggest heel turn ever. Trying to think 2nd and third one.
@@GooglyMcDoubleface Andre. Not talked about much now, but he was always a face, then suddenly he turned on Hogan, it was the reason wrestlemania 3 was so big.
While this might have been rude towards Sting inititally, it enabled him turning into Crow Sting and beeing the Boogeyman towards the NWO which was a totally badass character
Luckily Hogan did it - and it changed the business. It was even on THE NEWS!!!! It was crazy...it changed perception of reality. I was in shock. Disbelief. I told my friends and they didnt belive me.
NWO was one of the best promotions in WCW. That was a great time for WCW.
great time for wrestling period. The nWo angle even made WWF a better product with the Attitude era. WCW really pushed the best out of wrestling.
It was great but they drove it into the ground sadly by adding too many people
@@randomguy4781 i think thats how it was supposed to be. it was a “civil war”. hence why all the PPVs were tagged as WCW/nWo.
No one is perfect, but Eric contributed to some fantastic wrestling shows.
At the end of the day, wcw died because of him.Wrestling business started to become stall.Owen hart,Chyna,Rick rood and many others were collateral damages of Monday night wars. EB should have never let the ginni come out of the bottle. He is the father of wrestling tribalism today.
@@labeebulshah8424 wcw died because Jim crocket went and sold half of the company
He contributed never anything except shit ideas like Kiss, Megadeth, Road Wild, Jay Leno, Blood runs Cold. Let alone the fact he fired all the future superstars from WCW, nearly screwed up Dennis Rodman coming to WCW (because he was too lazy and drunk to make a call). His one thing was the nWo idea and that was stolen from Japan but all he contributed was the base invasion idea. Everything else about it was the workd of Kevin Sullivan, Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Andre Freitas (who came up with the idea for the unique promo video style, clothing style, entrance style and th set of Souled Out)
@@ShadowAngel606 yep, Eric was that broken clock who was right once but wrong 99% of the time.
@@labeebulshah8424I’d argue it was actually Vince Russo that killed WCW, just like he killed TNA.
When Lex Luger got knocked out and taken back to the dressing room I thought it was going to be him getting payback on Sting and Macho Man for taking him out
These stories are nice and it's much better when Eric Bischoff says it.
It had to be Hulk or Macho Man. The invasion angle was these WWF guys coming to conquer WCW. They started with Hall, then it got bigger with Nash. The third guy had to be even bigger than Hall or Nash. WCW didn't sign Bret Hart or Shawn Michaels, so the only 2 people that were bigger names were Macho and Hogan. Once the third guy showed up, the element of surprise was gone since it demonstrated someone who was WCW could turn. So it was Hall, then Nash, then Hogan, then Giant... following the pattern of one bigger than the next.
Macho was a heel most of his career, no one would have cared.
Hogan was the only one who could've actually pulled that off. For the past decade, Hogan was WWF. So it had to be him and no one else.
@@1980Triumphlol at macho as 3rd man. Not big enough!
@@OikPoinFive - the biggest problem with wrestling fans is that they cannot see past who they like and are always trying to fit them where they don't belong. At this point I shouldn't be astounded by the comment sections in wrestling videos but here we are - that someone would even entertain the idea that MM would have made an impact as the third man is insane.
@@1980Triumphmacho man wasn't big enough, even though he is in everyone's all time top 30 WWF guys. However.... He could have pulled a double swerve taking out Scott hall, attempting to fight Kevin Nash and then walking up the ramp to high five Hogan on his way down
It was the Hogan turn that changed wrestling . He ( Hogan character ) the taking your vitamins say your prayers and exercise so it was Superman going bad it shocked the wrestling world and i say the NWO will be remembered forever or 4 life it was to sweet
This, Sting turning heel would have been shocking only to WCW fans but Hulk turning bad reverberated around the mainstream media and got latent fans or brand new ones tuning in to see what this was all about.
The nwo is still one of the highest merch sellers in the WWE
Day in day out Wolfpack for life. 🤟🏿🤘🏿
Eric is a good story teller 👍
when Hall and Nash tell the story they always said they had to convince Hogan and they weren't sure up until the PPV that he would actually go through with it and Sting was the backup plan
Hulk needed a revamp, and boy what a revamp it was. Legendary in fact. I always wished Cena did something similar about 8 years ago, wearing darker instead of the brighter colors as he was already on his way out.
Cena wanted to but Vince kept saying no. Hogan had a similar issue, he suggested after Warrior beat him that he turn heel but Vince didn’t see any money in it.
That’s why Tony Khan should hire Cena, and allow him to turn heel.
Where online can I watch this entire interview? Stories like these are pure gold and I want to see more.
Watch 83 weeks
@@dougcrawford6386 yeah, but I really want to see not just this one, but all these live interviews that ITR does. Unfortunately, I just read somewhere that they only do them for the live crowd that bought a ticket and occasionally post a clip of said live interview. Which IMHO is a mistake by ITR. They could probably make a lot of money if they made these live shows available for download or streaming because not all of us can make it to England to see the live events.
Everyone benefited. Hogan revitalized his career, best bad guy faction created and got anti hero Sting
now it makes more sense why Sting went with the black and white colors too! lol
Sting turning heel would’ve been massive, do NOT get it wrong. But it does make soooooo much sense and it was right for Hulk to. As much as I don’t like the man, he was perfect for that part.
I like Sting but it wouldnt have been an invasion type feel if he was the 3rd guy. Hogan was the right one for the spot. If it was Savage or Luger, or even Waltman or DiBiase, it wouldn't have felt right either. Hogan had been a top guy for over 10 years at this point and it was the perfect fit, almost ruined by Heenan.
Bobby was always Anti-Hogan. It was just him being in character. He was always going on about how Hogan was a fraud and a liar and no one would believe he or take him seriously.
Eric Bischoff G.O.A.T.
I'm sorry, but Hogan *is* the nWo, and it needed to be him.
Despite being past his prime and fans getting sick of the red and yellow, Hogan's name still had value and he still had a huge notoriety. Having the biggest hero of the 80's join the dark side was monumental. This isn't to take away anything from Hall and Nash, but Hogan was the critical piece to the puzzle.
Plus, wasn't the original idea of the nWo having all these WWF guys take over WCW? Sting just wouldn't have made sense, and having the biggest name in the WWF join was just perfection.
The original NWO happened in NJPW. Eric copied that idea, as did many promotions(ECW, WWE), whether they admit to it or not
Bischoff should still be in charge of one of the major wrestling promotions. idc I miss him and th storylines that entertained me more then the majority of the new product out there.
“That doesn’t work for me brother” 🤣🤣
Sting as the third guy could have worked especially aesthetically if the white Crow sting debuted at that same time. He probably would have held the title more and not been screwed around.
All I know is sting would have never worked well in the NWO as a heel leader of that group, Hogan was perfect and his heel turn is what made the NWO huge from the get go,like it or not Hogan was the only option for MR Bischoff
Eric is so charasmatic, great story teller
The biggest heel turn in wrestling history
Def agreed. Who do you think is the 2nd and third?
Man did that worked out well. We got Hollywood Hulk Hogan and Crow Sting out of that situation.
Sting instead of Hogan wouldn't have had anywhere close to the same impact and wouldn't have made any sense at all.
You are wrong Eric bischoff
Santa with muscles is an awesome movie. I watch it every year around Christmas
How come Sullivan says that Hogan did not want to turn heel? He claims until the last day spent time in Hogan's house because Hogan wasn't convinced to turn heel.
Hulk was initially against it but then he saw the direction Hall and Nash were going and he changed his mind but then people in his circle started telling him it would kill his career, that is what made Hulk get cold feet about it, which is a normal reaction to that kind of advice. So Eric separated Hogan from his circle and helped Hogan see the bigger picture.
I’ve had a Santa with Muscles poster growing up as a kid. Did I do something wrong?
No that's rad
Basically Hulk Hogan had watched how good the Outsiders were, and knew that it was going to be huge so he suddenly wanted to be part of it.
Hulk said no, nWo were getting over, Hulk said Yes.
As usual Hulk in it for Hulk, wouldn't let anyone else be the guy.
The problem is no one else could of been the guy that hogan was at the time
When Hogan went to "the dark side" in late '95, it was a test run to see how fans would react to a heel-Hogan.
And suposedly Hogan told of wanting to turn heel in the WWF back in '93 and had the Hollywood gimmick planned out back then.
Hogan wanted to turn heel, he himself knew Hulkamania was dead at that point.
''He knew Hulkamania was dead '' in 1993 and wanted to turn heel in WWF despite demanding a '' happy ending '' for Mania 93 by him winning the title .... He also then paraded around in Hulkamania garbage when debuting for Wcw , couple years later ...... As I say , '' Terrys tales '' aka Lies
I love listening to Eric
These Bischoff vids are incredible
If it was Hogan’s idea to begin with, how come I have heard stories how they didn’t even know if Hogan was going to show up or not that night or back out of it?
The issue is Hogan was for it but others in his circle started to put doubt in his head, telling him it would kill his career so Eric made a strategy to separate Hogan from those people so that Hogan could see the big picture. Hogan was already being booed at that point and his red and yellow gimmick had become boring and out of date and he was paying attention to what Hall and Nash were doing. But if you have people telling you it could end what you love doing it will cause you to have cold feet.
So what is the true story? I've heard Eric say the 3rd guy was gonna be Sting and I've heard Eric say it was never gonna be Sting
This story changed from Hogan was always the 3rd man and was on the fence about it up till he came out at bash at the beach with Sting as the back up option, Sting even saying he has no clue about him even being considered as the 3rd man, to now Sting was convinced to be the 3rd man and Hogan chose himself. Eric probably spoke to hogan and he's changed his memory to Hogan choosing himself, even Nash said hogan wasn't sure about turning heel and Sting was the back up.
I think the plan was just the outsiders Vs WCW. They wanted Sting, Luger and Hogan Vs Outsiders more as WCW Vs WWF.
There were attempts to bring Bret Hart and Undertaker as the 3rd guy just to do the storyline.
Hogan most likely was considered but refused to do it. I think eventually he thought it was a good idea to do something different.
Hogan was getting mixed reactions in WCW with the more loyal WCW fans booing him and the casual audience cheering him.
Hogan as the 3rd guy made NWO a huge success. Anyone else including Sting or Bret Hart would have just been an angle.
Hogan made it the hottest act.
TBF with Eric the story changes quite a bit. I've heard Nash say he, Scott and Eric had to convince Hogan to be the third man. I've heard Flair say that as well. I don't think any body knows the truth is anymore
@@reoreborn1209 It's typical former WCW wrestlers and bookers telling stories like this one that always are told differently. Sullivan says that Hogan did not want to turn heel and that until the last day before BAATB he spent time in Hogan's house because Hogan wasn't convinced to turn heel. This is also true about the fast count at Starrcade 1997, even 26 years later nobody knows the truth
This version contradicts the version in Controversy is Cash. Sting was a backup plan if Hulk pulled out and Hulk was iffy about the turn up until he walked out through the curtain. If it was Hogan's idea then Hogan would of being talking about it for years and jumped in everytime bischoff was given credit.
@@TOFTS77 it was always Hogan. Maybe he hesitated. I don't think Sting was ever the 3rd man.
It Hogan wasn't supposed to be the 3rd guy, then they would have delayed the 3rd guys entry at the PPV and done it later by replaning.
Imagine Sting-led NWO. Biggest heel of all time in the making there.
A phone call would have been easier than travelling all of that distance for not much time.
I'd love to be able to actually watch these full interviews but they don't show you where to get them. The website is terrible to navigate as well.
Where on earth did the rumor of Mabel being The 3rd Man start? Meltzer?
You know Eric has some of the longest stories of anyone in the business. He goes into such detail about how it happened. I tend to do that too. 😂🤣🤣.
Could you imagine how weird and different it would have been had Sting actually had Hogan's NWO role. I'd imagine it probably wouldn't have been over as much as it was and Hogan would have still been doing Red and Yellow. The way it actually played out was best for business. Unfortunately it got way too huge and controlling and then Russo and the nonsense they were doing pretty much killed the company. But Im glad to have been able to see what I did of WCW growing up.
It's funny how Eric said Summer was the worst time for doing PPVs when historically The Great American Bash PPVs in Baltimore, MD had significantly better attendance than the Starrcades of the late 1980's and early 1990's.
Be nice if I could find this full interview instead of short little clips.
I think on there channel they have a playlist of full episodes
Hollywood Hogan was an amazing heel in fairness and it was cool seeing the Horseman be faces, even though Flair hated being a face apparently I thought he was lovable in that role.
I hated the Horsemen and Flair as faces. It's the difference between being victims as a face and victimizing others as heels.
But who's side is he on?
Yeah, it's too bad that no one clued Heenan in on the plan or he probably would have played it the other way instead of his usual Hogan hating schtick.
It worked out for the best. Hogan was perfect as the third man while Sting was perfect as the crow character opposing the nWo. I'm not sure it would have worked as well had the roles been reversed.
They did the NWO wrong. It should have never gotten bigger then there were titles to win. It would have been more realistic because if wrestling was real anymore then the number of titles would have been people unhappy about not being able to hold a title. When half the locker room became a member I quite watching
This is all news to me because in EVERY Nash & Hall shoot interview, Legends of Wrestling, or the JBL show - they both say (ESPECIALLY Nash) that Sting was totally against it. He wanted nothing to do with being a heel.
Michael Hayes: “And Sting didn’t want to turn heel?”
Nash: “No!”
Hayes: “LOL. Why?”
Nash: “I don’t know… because it might work…” (Nash Sarcasm)
I hated this man when I was a kid. Now I really enjoy is interviews
Honestly Surfer Sting converting to Crow Sting and turning heel on bash at the beach would have been crazy as well 💯
Well if im Hulk Hogan at that time...i also would have my reservations. People forget just how huge it was that Hogan turned heel. It was the ultimate career risking move. It worked out though because Hogan is such a master of his art in the ring.
Wouldn't have worked with Sting. To think that Hall gave Sting the idea to go "The Crow" and be the dark hero is something else.
Scott Hall gave him that idea
@@JasonVorhers-d2o that's right, he asked him if he had ever seen the movie and he said no.
I guess that going to the nwo worked for him, brother
Never would have had the impact that it did with anyone other than Hogan.
Yeah because hulkster whole career he was a good guy.
Fun fact: Jordan Belfort (yes, that one) was a producer of Santa with Muscles
This is not the story he's told before about this event
4:45 😄
Sting had never had anything to do with WWE at that point Hogan made WWE him,hall and Nash were the perfect trio only other guy it could have possibly been was savage, sting wouldn't have made any sense
Imagine a timeline where Sting turned heel with the nWo instead of Hulk...that's wild to think about
It would have stank.
I think things worked out for the best. If Sting was in NWO, there may not have been Crow Sting and Hogan would have continued floundering (if you want to call it that) being a face that the fans were getting tired of. If anything, Hulk would probably have also joined the NWO at some point later - maybe the 5th-10th guy in. Maybe NWO Sting and NWO Hogan would feud for control of the NWO after some weeks/months.
~puts away crystal ball~
NWO would've failed if Sting was the 3rd man.
Raise your hand if you've even heard of that movie that Hulk was shooting at the time.
Kevin Sullivan and other sources have said Hogan had to be talked into it.
Santa with muscles was in 1996 and it was greatest movie ever
Hulk Hogan and the New World Order (nWo) played pivotal roles in the wrestling landscape during the late 1990s, particularly in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). The nWo storyline and Hogan's association with it marked a significant shift in professional wrestling, impacting the industry for years to come.
Background on Hulk Hogan:
Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, is one of the most iconic figures in the history of professional wrestling. He gained fame in the 1980s as the face of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE), where he became a household name and a symbol of the wrestling boom during that era. Hogan was known for his charismatic personality, colorful persona, and catchphrases like "Hulkamania" and "Whatcha gonna do, brother?"
Formation of the nWo:
In the mid-1990s, WCW was in direct competition with the WWF, and the Monday Night Wars were heating up. In 1996, Hogan, who had been the quintessential hero in wrestling, shocked the world by turning heel (becoming a villain) and aligning himself with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, who had recently arrived in WCW from the WWF. This union marked the birth of the New World Order.
The nWo's mantra was "New World Order for life," and their rebellious, anti-establishment attitude resonated with fans. The trio's invasion-style storyline blurred the lines between fiction and reality, creating a sense of unpredictability and excitement.
The Impact of the nWo:
Shock Value and Ratings War: Hogan's turn to the dark side and the formation of the nWo created massive shockwaves in the wrestling world. WCW Nitro began consistently defeating WWF's Monday Night Raw in the ratings, marking a significant shift in the so-called Monday Night Wars.
nWo Expands: The nWo quickly expanded its ranks, with wrestlers like Ted DiBiase, Randy Savage, and others joining. The black-and-white nWo logo became an iconic symbol in wrestling culture.
nWo Hollywood vs. nWo Wolfpac: Internal conflicts led to a split within the nWo, with Hogan leading the "nWo Hollywood" faction and Nash leading the "nWo Wolfpac." This dynamic added layers to the storyline and kept fans engaged.
Hogan's Hollywood Persona: Hogan's Hollywood Hogan persona was a departure from his traditional "Hulkamania" character. He embraced a more egotistical, arrogant, and sinister persona, which resonated well with the nWo's rebellious narrative.
Feuds and Matches: The nWo's presence led to numerous high-profile feuds and matches, including clashes with WCW's top stars like Sting, Goldberg, and others. These storylines created some of the most memorable moments in WCW history.
Legacy and Influence: The nWo storyline had a lasting impact on the wrestling industry. Its success demonstrated the appeal of the anti-hero and villainous characters, influencing future wrestling storylines and characters in both WCW and WWE.
Downfall and Legacy:
Despite its initial success, the nWo storyline eventually faced challenges, including overexpansion, creative struggles, and repetitive storylines. The faction's impact began to diminish, and by the early 2000s, the nWo was no longer the dominant force it once was.
Nevertheless, the nWo's legacy endures. The storyline is remembered as one of the most influential and groundbreaking in professional wrestling. Hogan's heel turn and the formation of the nWo are often cited as turning points in the Monday Night Wars. The nWo's impact can still be seen in the way wrestling storylines continue to incorporate elements of rebellion, betrayal, and unexpected character turns.
In summary, Hulk Hogan's association with the New World Order in WCW marked a significant chapter in the history of professional wrestling. The nWo storyline, with its shock value, rebellious characters, and real-world implications, played a crucial role in the Monday Night Wars and left an indelible mark on the industry.
In the end, I don't think sting turning heel with them would have had near the impact that Hogan finally turning heel did, few saw it coming, and it was definitely needed. And if sting had turned heel then as the 3rd man, would we have ever gotten the crow sting that has become so iconic, or something completely different.
Santa With Muscles is actually on Tubi
Hulk hogan was the biggest heel turn ever, can't recall who is the 2nd and third etc. but the montreal screwjob is the greatest story line.
Sting being the third man would've been a disaster, he would eventually turn heel briefly in 1999, but fans were continuing to cheer him despite being a heel (similar to the Road Warriors heel turn in 1988) and had Sting became the third man, the fans would've continued to cheer him and Hall and Nash would've turned on him immediately and the NWO angle would've flopped instantly too.
no doubt hogan was the right choice and as huge of a fan as I am of sting my whole life I sometimes wonder what if sting was the 3rd guy WCWS franchise from day 1 turns his back on the company he made would have been the huge shock factor but I digress hogan had to be the 3rd guy
Hey have you not heard about telephone why you have to fly to talk to him why can't you just talk about it on the phone
Everything worked out perfectly with Hogan turning heel and Sting turning into this quiet dark character, both had iconic character changes, also til this day the biggest build up to a main event match in history since Hogan/Andre then once Starrcade 97 came things fell apart
I thought Scott's troubles didn't start until WCW and getting beers from Hulk's garbage can full of them (I think they were Miller light) he had written into his contract
Scott Hall was in WCW as the Diamond Stud before he was in the WWF as Razor Ramon. When he showed up and started the Outsiders/nWo storyline as Scott Hall he was returning to WCW. As for his battles with alcoholism, Kevin Nash has suggested that it was at least partly the result of PTSD stemming from what happened much earlier. Hall shot and killed a man outside a nightclub in 1983 in what was ruled as an act of self defense and he said he could never forget what happened for the rest of his life.
Sting could have pulled it off but it made more since for it to be a New York guy
One of the greatest mind in wrestling and one of the worst wrestling mind in history, killing the hottest wrestling company in less than 3 years is simply incredible.
I liked Santa With Muscles, definitely not great and kinda dumb but fun
I think the group would have worked with Sting….at first. The issue would be, what do you do with Hogan? Hogan isn’t going to sit silently in the rafters for a year. Then it becomes just another faction for babyface Hogan to take out.
It was crazy to first hear that sting was supposed to be the 3rd guy. Would be very curious to see how that would have worked out over hogan. Feel free to comment
Wth, am I experiencing the Mandela effect?! For as long as I can remember- the story was always that hogan was on the fence and they didn't know if he was going to do it until the last minute...🤯
That was Hall and Nash's perspective. They didn’t know if Hogan was going to go through with the plan. I think basically only Eric and a few others knew that Hogan had agreed to do it.
I liked that story
It’s not that I didn’t trust him : interviewer “ Eric….” 😂😂😂😂
Santa with Muscles is on TUBI!
Am I the only person who knew it was Hogan all along simply because he’s Hulk Hogan and not involved at all in the match.
Of course he didn't wanna do it. He didn't didn't come up with the Idea Brother! Why would he go through with it!
Hate on bischoff but he gave us some good entertainment back n the day
I'm an Eric Bischoff guy
the Ken doll invented a new version of the story that made him a success for 9 months, hilarious
It worked out for both sting and hogan.
I've been thrown out of a Bar before! Not Proud of It!
One for the Hulk fans & none Hulk fans. What do you think Hogans best years where?
Roman Reigns got Paul Heyman doing the same thing for him right now. Acknowledge him ☝️
Bischoff really took a big dump on Hogans movie is hilarious🔥😂🤣
Even if Sting had worked as the third man be assured that Hogan would have killed the whole thing in a Starrcade 1996 War Games "Hogan & WCW vs. Invaders" type of a match where Hogans beats all of them on his own. lol
Sting as a heel has historically never worked so they made the right choice