WCW Hog WildSaturday Week 2 August 1996
Sturgis, SD
5,000 in Attendance (SELL OUT)
WCW Saturday Night (Live!)
Alex Wright d. Lizmark Jr
Rough 'n' Ready d. Jey Maggs & Bobby Walker
Billy Kidman d. Super Calo
Steve McMichael d. Konnan
2-Out-Of-3 Falls Match
Chris Benoit vs. Dean Malenko
In a supposed "rubber match", Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko kick off WCW Hog Wild with a 2-out-of-3 falls match. Both men met in singles action on last week's Saturday Night and this past Monday Nitro. Both matches ended in a time limit draw, much to the frustration of both men. The intensity of 'The Crippler' Chris Benoit came back to give Malenko the advantage, as Malenko used it to his advantage to pick up the first victory with an Inside Cradle when Benoit went for the Crippler Crossface, to gain the first decision in the match. Benoit toned the intensity down after that as both men took to the mat to display excellent technical wrestling which Benoit pin Malenko following a Top Rope Back Suplex, to pick up the second decision. The third and final decision did not come easy for either man, as there were near pinfalls multiple times over the next few minutes. In the end, Chris Benoit defeated Dean Malenko in 22:50 two falls to one, after delivering a Flying Headbutt, then following it up with a Bridging Dragon Suplex for the pinfall victory.
After the match, both men lay in the ring exhausted. Chris Benoit is first to his feet with the help of Woman, but Benoit shrugs Woman away. Benoit goes over and helps Malenko off the mat. Some words are exchanged, then Benoit offers his hand to Malenko, who takes it as the two men shake hands out of a sign of respect.
"Well fans, coming up next..." Schiavone says before he's interrupted
"Wait a minute Tony, I've got something to say." Heenan says. "For years, I've been waiting for the death of Hulkamania. Nothing made me more happy than thinking about that no-good and rotten Hulk Hogan to show his true colors. But Hogan, you listen to me and listen to me well!" Heenan says.
"Brain...Brain...baby...get control!" Dusty says as he tries to calm Heenan down.
"No, Dream! You made a big mistake buddy, a big mistake. And if you think you can just show up after taking time off to film a movie and turn your back on everyone and everything that made you what you are, you have another thing coming!" Heenan stresses as the broadcast fades to transition into a hype video for the upcoming match.
Since December 1994, Booker T and Stevie Ray of the Harlem Heat have been on fire, defeating the likes of the Nasty Boys, American Males and even Sting & Lex Luger. In late July, The Steiner Brothers captured the Tag Team Championship for the 4th time, first since mid-1992, only to lose the belts back to Harlem Heat days later. ON their sixth reign, Harlem Heat look to show dominance in the tag team division by defeating the Steiner Brothers once again. This time, to keep the belts around their waists.
WCW World Tag Team Championship
The Steiner Brothers vs. Harlem Heat (c)
In a good match that features a balance of offence between both The Steiner Brothers and Harlem Heat, it was Harlem Heat who gained the match-changing momentum and picked up the pinfall as Booker T pinned Rick Steiner at 12:37 following an Axe Kick to keep the WCW World Tag Team Championship.
"Before we move onto the next match, we're calling in The Professor, Mike Tenay." Schiavone announces.
"Thank you, Tony. Tonight, we're going to see an incredible cruiserweight battle as Ultimo Dragon competes against Rey Mysterio Jr for the Cruiserweight Championship. And I say Ultimo Dragon, Tony, because many have referred to him as Ultimate Dragon. As we welcome cruiserweights from all over the world, we become versed in their traditional names. Since debuting a few short months ago, the WCW Cruiserweight division has lived up to the hype and tonight, we're going to see nothing short of a high flying match sure to get the crowd on their feet!"
WCW World Cruiserweight Championship
Ultimo Dragon vs. Rey Mysterio Jr (c)
In a match that was a bit of an unsure thing heading in, Ultimo Dragon and Rey Mysterio Jr didn't disappoint in showing the fans what the Cruiserweight division was all about. In this decent high flying match, both cruiserweights got the crowd fired up and created an overall positive buzz to their match. Despite a fantastic showing by Ultimo Dragon, Rey Mysterio Jr connected with a Top Rope Hurricanrana that wowed the crowd to pick up the pinfall victory at 14:28 to keep the WCW World Cruiserweight Championship!
In late May, an outsider made his way into a WCW ring. Despite the valiant efforts from three of WCW's top stars, WCW fell to the New World Order at WCW Bash at the Beach, changing the course of professional wrestling forever. One man who was vocally unimpressed with WCW's 'Macho Man' Randy Savage, was The Enforcer of the Four Horsemen, Double A Arn Anderson. Double A was quick to question Savage's loyalty to WCW, amid Savage's closest friend turning his back on the world. Tonight, the veterans take their grievance to the ring.
Arn Anderson vs. Randy Savage
This match, a potential 'must win' for both Arn and Savage, had fantastic heat from the live Sturgis crowd. The psychology was on full display in this match, as Arn and Savage traded back and forth verbal jabs at each other during the match. With Arn having the momentum, The Outsiders make their way to ringside, applauding the match as they approach. With Savage down, Arn appears poised to make a move when Scott Hall reaches under the ropes and grabs Arn's leg, distracting him. Arn turns toward The Outsiders, then backs off a foot or two. He looks over at Savage and points at The Outsiders, claiming they are here to back up Savage. The Macho Man doesn't back down, insistent that he has nothing to do with The Outsiders or the New World Order as the two argue back and forth in the ring. As The Outsiders walk around the ring, Hall gets up on the apron and is met by Nick Patrick, who is now in between Hall and an irate Savage. With Savage distracted, Arn grabs him by the shoulder, spins him around and connects with a DDT! Hall jumps down from the apron and Patrick races over to count Savage down for a 3 count, as Arn Anderson picks up the victory at 10:17.
After the match, The Outsiders backtrack down the entrance aisle as Hall looks around and shrugs with an arrogant look on his face. Arn stands in the ring as Savage gets to his feet and argues again. Arn points to the entrance, then to the ringside area, then to the mat before slapping his hands together 3 times while saying something that the camera isn't able to pick up. Savages gets up in Arn's face, but Arn walks past Savage, bumping his shoulder on the way as he exits the ring, leaving Savage frustrated in the ring.
Diamond Dallas Page vs. Sgt. Craig Pittman
In a decent match that saw the energy brought down to give the fans a breather, we saw Diamond Dallas Page defeat Sgt. Craig Pittman at 8:06 by pinfall after a Diamond Cutter.
Eddy Guerrero, an underrated wrestler in the Cruiserweight division, is looking to upgrade to the heavyweight division as he goes one-on-one with the WCW United States Champion, 'Nature Boy' Ric Flair. Guerrero has the skill and finesse to put on a brilliant match. But can he against the dirtiest player in the game?
WCW United States Heavyweight Championship
Eddy Guerrero vs. Ric Flair (c)
In an exceptional match that just may be the surprise performance of the night, Eddy Guerrero pulled out all the stops against Ric Flair. From matching Flair's technical wrestling to one-upping Flair with high flying, Guerrero looked to have Flair's number. As Guerrero comes off the top rope with a Frogsplash, the impact on his knee sends him rolling off Flair in pain instead of going for a pinfall. Guerrero unfortunately could not come back from this unfortunate circumstance. Both men got to their feet and Flair easily took Guerrero down with a one-legged takedown, then applied the Figure Four Leglock. The look of desperation in Guerrero's eyes, to decide on serious injury or continuing the match, lasted for about 30 seconds before he gives up at 15:03 as Ric Flair wins by submission, keeping the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship.
On May 27, the professional wrestling world changed forever. Scott Hall debuted on WCW Monday Nitro, intruding through the crowd. He asked if we wanted a war, and weeks later, Kevin Nash showed up and we saw The Outsiders for the first time. Over the course of the next month, these two men terrorized anyone they could, leading to a big six-man tag team match at Bash at the Beach. Unfortunately, we know how that went and the New World Order is here. Sting and Lex Luger, the heart of WCW, continue to fight The Outsiders off and tonight, meet in a tag team match that could have significant ramifications Monday on Nitro.
The Outsiders vs. Lex Luger & Sting
In what we can only expect as an exceptional match, The Outsiders hit the ring first, taunting Lex Luger as he awaits for Sting's entrance at ringside. After some discussion on the outside of the ring, Sting and Luger enter the ring together. When Hall tries to flick a toothpick at Sting, both Sting and Luger start on the offensive hitting multiple shots on The Outsiders, then sending them to the outside of the ring with tandem clotheslines over the top rope to a roar of motorcycles at ringside! Referee Randy Anderson finally gets some order to the match, and we see Kevin Nash and Sting start things out. Sting is quick on the assault, but Nash's size is too much and he takes full advantage over Sting. Frequent tags by The Outsiders keep Sting separated from Luger for a good 10 minutes before a Stinger Splash-sized leap onto Hall gets Sting to his corner and tag Luger! Luger comes in hot with a fury of punches and clotheslines to both Hall and Nash as Sting slides under the bottom rope, laying beat down on the ring apron. An Irish whip by Hall into the awaiting forearm from Nash puts an immediate stop on Lugers momentum when they come back into the ring, as Luger staggers away from the ropes into a modified chokeslam by Hall. Luger, crawling towards the corner, gets a stomp in the back by Hall, then Hall mounts his back and begins slapping the back of his head, much to the delight of The Outsiders, who take the time to laugh at Luger. Kevin Nash is in and sends Luger into the ropes for a sidewalk slam for a 2-count. Nash whips Luger again and goes for a big boot, but Luger ducks, rebounds off the far ropes and hits a diving forearm! That thing must be loaded, because Nash is down! Motorcycles rev up as Lex crawls to his corner, where Sting is still trying to get to his feet as he's taken the brunt of the punishment. As Sting is almost to his feet, he falls off the ring apron and is down on the ringside area! Luger makes it to the corner, but there is no one there to tag! A tag is made on the other side of the ring as Hall comes in attacking Luger, dropping him with a Fall Away slam. Hall picks up Luger and signals for the finish. He hoists Luger up and delivers a devastating powerbomb-like maneuver for the pinfall victory at 15:59.
At WCW Bash at the Beach, 'The Immortal' Hulk Hogan shocked the wrestling world, joining The Outsiders as the third man and forming the New World Order. Returning to Nitro a couple weeks later in all black, Hogan made his motives known. He's coming for what he feels belongs to him, and no one will stand in his way. A new attitude and new look, 'Hollywood' Hogan looks to become WCW World Heavyweight Champion for a second time tonight.
WCW World Heavyweight Championship
Hollywood Hulk Hogan vs. The Giant (c)
As the bell rings and The Giant aggressively pursues Hogan, we get a glimpse of a different in-ring Hogan and a sign of how this match will go; Hogan is exiting the ring to stall The Giant's momentum and bad-mouthing fans at ringside. When Hogan gets into the ring and the two finally lock up, The Giant lays in multiple forearm clubs on Hogan's back, leading Hogan to whimper around the ring until he catches a thumb to The Giant's eye, putting an end to that. Hogan lays in punches on The Giant, rocking him, but not taking him off his feet. Hogan hits the ropes for a running clothesline which sends The Giant out of the ring! Hogan is quick to capitalize and takes it to The Giant on the outside of the ring, slamming The Giant's head into everything from the ring apron to the security guardrails before sending him back into the ring. Back in the ring, Hogan lays some hard shots on The Giant's back as he's down on 1 knee trying to get up. Hogan is feeling the match turn in his favor as he mouths off to the fans between shots. As The Giant gets to his feet, Hogan sends him on an Irish whip, then connects with a big boot! The Giant is rocked, but not down. Hogan presses to the heavens, then easily bodyslams The Giant! Tony Schiavone has gone out of his mind at this superhuman strength! With The Giant down, Hogan hits the ropes and connects with his trademark Atomic Legdrop! Hogan goes for the cover...
The Giant kicks out at 1! Hogan is beside himself, looking around at the fans as motorcycles rev louder. Hogan lays in a few punches on The Giant as he gets up, but they have no effect. The Giant uses his size to force an Irish Whip on Hogan and a big boot takes Hogan down! The Giant mocks Hogan, hits the ropes and delivers a Legdrop! The Giant goes for the cover...
Hogan barely gets a shoulder up at 2! The Giant gets to his feet, takes the strap down from over his shoulder, and signals for the Chokeslam! Suddenly, The Outsiders hit the ring! Nash slides in and charges at The Giant but is met with a big boot that takes Nash off his feet. Hall goes for a shot on The Giant, but The Giant grabs him around the throat and delivers a massive Chokeslam! Nash gets back to his feet and The Giant grabs him around the throat for a Chokeslam when Hogan nails The Giant on the back of the head with the WCW World Championship as the referee is trying to get Hall out of the ring! He didn't see it! Hogan slowly rolls The Giant over onto his back at 14:55 for a pinfall victory to crown a new WCW World Heavyweight Championship!
After the match, we see an absolutely horrible sight as Hogan spray paints "nWo" on the back of a fallen Giant as The Outsiders stand by and laugh. Tony Schiavone is convinced this is the end of professional wrestling as we know it when we suddenly see Hogan spray paint "nWo" on the WCW World Heavyweight Championship! As Hogan taunts everyone through the camera, Schiavone ends the broadcast in disgust with four words... 
"That's it. It's over." Prediction Results:
1. Beejus (7-1)
2. Mike Haggar (6-2)
3. Asaenmon (5-3)
