The Bookerman

WCW Hog Wild | Week 1, August 1996

The Palace at Auburn Hills | Detroit, MI

Tonight’s card:

• Bull Nakano vs Madusa
• Ice Train vs Scott Norton
• Diamond Dallas Page’s open challenge
• Chris Benoit vs Dean Malenko
• Harlem Heat [c] vs The Steiner Brothers [Two out of Three Falls | WCW World Tag Team Championship]
• Ric Flair [c] vs Eddy Guerrero [WCW United States Championship]
• Lex Luger & Sting vs The Outsiders
• The Giant [c] vs Hollywood Hulk Hogan [WCW World Heavyweight Championship]

Dark Match: Brian Knobbs & Jerry Sags (The Nasty Boys) d. Kenny Kaos & Robbie Rage (High Voltage)
Dark Match: Jim Duggan d. Earl Robert Eaton

The broadcast begins with a video detailing the invasion of the Outsiders and the New World Order. We see Scott Hall and Kevin Nash arrive in WCW, the powerbomb of Eric Bischoff, Hulk Hogan’s shocking turn and the assault by the nWo on wrestlers backstage. “Everything has changed!” we’re told.

Then, announcers Tony Schiavone, Larry Zybszko and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan welcome us to Hog Wild, live from the Palace at Auburn Hills in Detroit in front of a sold-out crowd of 20,000. As the announcers run through the big matches, a group of WCW wrestlers—specifically Meng, The Barbarian, Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock—come down to ringside to once again serve as protection.

Next, the announcers throw us to a video presentation setting up the first match of the night, pitting the Steiner Brothers against Harlem Heat for the WCW World Tag Team Championship in a best two-out-of-three falls match.  

Match 1: Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner (The Steiner Brothers) vs Booker T & Stevie Ray (Harlem Heat) [c] [WCW World Tag Team Championship | Best 2-of-3 Falls Match]

The Steiners take the first fall of the match by coming out of the gate quickly. They toss around Booker and Stevie Ray, flummoxing Sister Sherri on the outside. The Steinerizer finishes Booker in just three minutes.

For the second fall, Stevie goes after Scott Steiner, and Booker is able to slow things down against Rick. Booker and Stevie share offense against both Steiner brothers. Double teams and isolation work well, allowing for several near falls. Soon the battle goes to the outside, and the Steiners are able to make a comeback with their power. But as the Steiners start gaining an advantage, Booker cuts them off. More double teams ensue, and Sherri ensures the referee can’t see Harlem Heat using a chair as a weapon. Ultimately, the Harlem Hangover gets the fall at over 12 minutes.

The final fall is a struggle between the two teams, but the Steiners take advantage and start to speed things up. It’s then that Col. Robert Parker heads to ringside and tries to turn the tables for Harlem Heat, but he’s knocked to the outside. That draws Sherri away, as well, and the distraction allows Rick to take out Booker while Scott hits a devastating Frankensteiner on Stevie. It’s a huge win for the Steiners!

Winner: The Steiner Brothers (two falls to one, 17:35)

We head backstage, where Mean Gene Okerlund is with the Four Horsemen, sans an ailing Arn Anderson. Chris Benoit assures Mean Gene that Dean Malenko won’t take him down tonight. Ric Flair is supremely confident that he’ll beat Eddy Guerrero and retain the United States Championship. As for everyone else … the Dungeon of Doom … the nWo? The Horsemen are tried and true, embedded in the history of WCW. There’s nothing stopping them tonight!

Match 2: Chris Benoit vs Dean Malenko

This one goes deep with plenty of mat jockeying, back-and-forth action, near falls and tough submission attempts. At about 20 minutes, Jimmy Hart comes to ringside and attempts to distract the referee, but he and Malenko collide, leading to a super-close near fall. Benoit and Malenko then trade off pinfall attempts, but Benoit emerges victorious by executing a wicked brainbuster. 

Winner: Chris Benoit (pinfall, 20:42)

Once again we head backstage, where Mean Gene is with a special guest, Dusty Rhodes! Gene refers to Rhodes as part of the WCW Board of Directors. The American Dream says that he and the Board have been discussing what to do about the New World Order. They plan to have answers shortly, but rest assured, they see Nash, Hall and Hogan as serious threats. Gene asks Dusty what happens if Hogan were to win the WCW Title tonight; Rhodes says there ain’t nobody above the law, and there ain’t nobody above World Championship Wrestling.

Match 3: Ice Train vs Scott Norton

The former tag partners go shot for shot against one another in this relative slugfest. Norton prevails, however, as he keeps manager Teddy Long at bay and disposes of Ice Train with his shoulderbreaker finisher. The bout goes just a few minutes.

Winner: Scott Norton (pinfall, 4:08)

We then see a video hyping up the United States Championship between Ric Flair and Eddy Guerrero. Flair is the confident champion who’s had some problems with the Dungeon of Doom, while Guerrero is the upstart whose friend Rey Misterio Jr got taken out by the nWo.

Match 4: Eddy Guerrero vs Ric Flair [c] [WCW United States Championship]

A classic matchup here. Guerrero gets the advantage to start, using speed and a little power to dominate. Flair tries to get a timeout or two, but Meng and The Barbarian of the Dungeon get in his face. None of these helps Flair stay composed, as Guerrero continues to get the better of him.

Finally, Steve McMichael and Chris Benoit stalk down the ramp and begin jawing at the Faces of Fear. Guerrero gets a little annoyed by the distraction, allowing Flair to take control by catching the young challenger off his game. Back to the ring they go, and Flair takes clear advantage by slowing things down. Hard chops, big and deliberate moves, and plenty of work on the left ankle keep Guerrero down.

But Guerrero starts fighting back and gets a big atomic drop on Flair. Then come some kicks and a big-time suplex. Guerrero looks for the frogsplash, but Flair catches him and the superplex gets two. Then they go back and forth, climaxing with some rollup attempts until Flair locks in the Figure Four! Kevin Sullivan emerges to distract the referee while Guerrero taps. Flair gets angry and confronts, and Guerrero is able to recover and catch Flair with a dropkick! Frogsplash hits, but Guerrero is too slow to cover and gets a very close two count.

The Horsemen start brawling with the Dungeon, and that allows Flair and Guerrero to finish things off. Guerrero looks to get the big win, but Flair is able to snake his way into another Figure Four. Guerrero taps, handing Flair the big win.

Winner: Ric Flair (submission, 13:35)

The brawl continues on the outside, however. Flair jumps in, and a big ol’ Horsemen vs Dungeon donnybrook is on. The Public Enemy also decide to take part in the fight. Officials try to clear things up, but it’s a mess.

As officials continue to extinguish the brawl, Diamond Dallas Pages heads out and passes through everyone. He grabs a microphone and demands a challenger. He’s answered by the Booty Man and manager Kimberly.

Match 5: Diamond Dallas Page vs The Booty Man

This is a quick one. The Booty Man tries to get in his offense and gyrates here and there, but DDP turns things around. He hits the Diamond Cutter and secures the victory. Kimberly seems relatively impressed.

Winner: Diamond Dallas Page (pinfall, 3:46)

As DDP celebrates, we head to the podium where Schiavone, Zybszko and Heenan recap Hog Wild so far. Suddenly, a group of masked men wearing black t-shirts swarm the ringside area. The broadcasters have no idea what’s going on, but we hear Mean Gene over the PA. The feed goes backstage, where cameramen race to where Mean Gene is calling them. The cameramen get to the main locker room door, which is locked, chained and blocked by a forklift. Mean Gene calls for help, worried that WCW wrestlers are trapped inside that locker room.

Match 6: Bull Nakano vs Madusa

During the match, the announcers debate exactly what is transpiring. The black-suited security force say nothing and do nothing while Nakano and Madusa fight. Ultimately, Madusa avoids a Sonny Onoo interference to beat Nakano.

Winner: Madusa (pinfall, 5:02)

After the match, the announcers say that crews are still trying to remove the blockade and open the locker room door; in the meantime, we cut to a video promoting the big tag team match: Lex Luger and Sting vs Kevin Nash and Scott Hall.

Match 7: Lex Luger & Sting vs Kevin Nash & Scott Hall (The Outsiders)

Luger and Sting jump the Outsiders as they get to the ring, but they’re immediately removed by the security force. Luger and Sting jaw back at them as the referee orders the match into the ring. The Outsiders take their time, waltzing into the ring as the bell rings.

From there, the Outsiders dominate, using double-teams to isolate Sting and throwing Luger out to be bullied by the guards. A few times, Luger and Sting come back and make it pretty competitive. But ultimately Nash and Hall are able to throw Sting around as Luger waits helplessly for a tag.

Finally, Sting hits a big-time DDT on Hall, and the hot tag is made. Luger and Nash go back and forth, and it seems like Luger has it won, but Hall distracts the referee, allowing Nash to swipe a bat from a security guard and take out Luger. Hall makes short work of Sting and the powerbomb is elementary.

Winner: The Outsiders (pinfall, 16:18)

Nash and Hall celebrate as the security force ensures Luger and Sting are disposed of. Schiavone, Zybszko and Heenan are not sure what to do and wonder if they’re in danger themselves. We go backstage, where Mean Gene is with the crews finally unlocking the locker room door. They open it, revealing thick fog, as everyone covers their faces. Gene coughs and walks away, saying he believes it’s gas. As it begins to dissipate, the workers run into the room and find a number of wrestlers on the ground.

The announcers are getting pretty scared now, as Schiavone takes us to the video hyping up Hogan vs The Giant.

Match 8: Hollywood Hulk Hogan vs The Giant [c] [WCW World Heavyweight Championship]

The announcers try to calm themselves and show faith in The Giant as he comes to the ring. The security force stands down and doesn’t seem to mess with him, too. 

Hogan faces up with The Giant. After a few moments of jawing, they go back and forth, and immediately The Giant gains control, shouldering Hogan and backing him down. Hogan leaves the ring and regains his composure. He starts back in but The Giant imposes his will. Finally, Hogan starts pushing back and takes Giant off his balance a little. That allows Hogan to come in, but Giant goes right at him. Hogan avoids further damage and gets in a low blow. That gives Hogan what he needs to take control.

At this point it starts to become clear that referee Nick Patrick is letting a few things go. Hogan gets more punches in than is usually permitted. He chokes Giant in the corner for a little longer, too. The Giant is able to push off and keep himself in the game, but Hogan slowly weakens him, all while Patrick stands idly by.

But Hogan bites off more than he can chew, and Giant comes back with a wicked clothesline. A huge slam follows. Giant gets his offense going, but Patrick is quick to back him off. Hogan gets time to recover, and an eye rake leads to a huge slam. Fast two count. 

Giant gets pissed. He starts battering Hogan. Patrick gets in his face, and Giant steps to Patrick, but Hogan turns him around … reversed into the chokeslam! Giant lifts Hogan up and nails it! He goes for the cover, but Patrick is dragged out of the ring before three! He argues with one of the guards, and now Giant is livid. He starts barking at Patrick, but Hogan gets to his feet and, when Giant turns … big boot! Clothesline over the ropes! Giant crashes to the outside and gets assaulted by the guards! They bring him in, Hogan sets him up … another boot! Leg drop! The cover and a faster count! Hogan wins!

Winner: Hollywood Hulk Hogan (pinfall, 10:31)

Hogan celebrates. The announcers are beside themselves, claiming Giant was screwed and Patrick got paid off by the nWo. Nevertheless, it’s all Hogan in the middle of the ring. Nash and Hall join him, and together they spray paint “nWo” on the belt.