WCW Monday Nitro only lasted for about six years, but it was packed for of This Day in Wrestling History moments as it helped transform the sport and propelled professional wrestling mainstream once again.
One of the best moments during it’s run from a fan’s standpoint came on August 4, 1997 when Lex Luger faced Hollywood Hulk Hogan for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.
It was a long time coming as Hogan and the nWo had run roughshod over WCW for several months at this time, and Luger had been pressing Hogan for a while.
Bringing hope
When Luger made Hogan submit to his torture rack, the fans, there and at home, exploded in cheers as the build up was perfect and it felt like WCW had finally turned the table on Hogan and the nWo.
This win came six days shy of Hogan holding the title for a full year, and was the second longest title reign in the company’s history.
Special thanks to @awrestlinghistorian for the excerpt.
“I didn’t learn until I basically went to the ring that I was going to win the World Title that night. I’ll never forget that. People ask me about the highlights of my career. That was such an honor that you and Hogan gave me since he had some creative control as well. You could tell because of Nick, the referee. His eyes were as wide as saucers. It was such a shock.
“That crowd, it was a huge pop, probably one of the biggest pops I ever had in my career because the NWO had left us laying and had so much heat that the crowd in Detroit when I had the World Title and all of the WCW guys filled the ring, you guys wanted to throw me a little bone and of course Hogan would win it back six days later at Hog Wild.
“And it was a brilliant idea because it was just a little bone. I think that you guys knew much more than I ever knew about the fans saying, ‘We’ve left them laying 47 weeks in a row.’
“You had the courage to keep it going knowing that wrestling psychology of having to throw the fans a bone…or you’ll lose the audience and we didn’t. I never knew why you guys did that, but you must have wanted to give the fans just a little bit of bone with the blue collar babyface, who had been laying in nachos and beer every week at the end of each show.
“It was delayed. People waited like ten seconds when they realized I really did win the World Title and beat Hogan. They couldn’t believe it. It was done LIVE on Nitro. Hogan never got beat live on television. It was an incredible moment in my career.” – Lex Luger, Bischoff On Wrestling interview, February 8, 2017.
Cool side facts
This was Luger’s second stint as WCW champion but it didn’t last long as Hogan defeated him to win the title back five days later at Road Wild.
This was technically Nitro’s 99th episode to air on television, but WCW counted the internet only episode from June 28, 1997.
Who are we to complain? This Day in Wrestling History was an awesome one, and we’re happy to consider it the 100th Nitro.
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