The Bookerman

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

WCW ran its Hog Wild pay-per-view at the Palace at Auburn Hills in Detroit, Michigan. They sold out the house, claiming 20,000. I’m hearing they papered about 2,000, but they’re also hot right now and were expected to do good business in Detroit.

Hog Wild earned 276,000 buys for a 0.78 buyrate. It was a pretty good show, with Hollywood Hulk Hogan winning the WCW World Heavyweight Championship over The Giant in the main event. Not a great match, but the spectacle was big enough, and the extracirriculars made it worth the spotlight.

Elsewhere, the Outsiders of Kevin Nash and Scott Hall beat Lex Luger and Sting, and they ran a big angle where a bunch of WCW guys were gassed up inside a barricaded locker room. Risque stuff, but that’s what this New World Order storyline has been doing. They also had WCW referee Nick Patrick side with the nWo, and they introduced an nWo security team, though it’s unknown whether those guys will factor into future angles. In the best match of the night, Ric Flair defended the United States Championship against Eddie Guerrero.

Match ratings from WCW Hog Wild 1996:

• Steiner Brothers d. Harlem Heat / 2-of-3 Falls Match / WCW Tag Titles – ***1/4
• Chris Benoit d. Dean Malenko – ****
• Scott Norton d. Ice Train – 1/2*
• Ric Flair d. Eddie Guerrero – WCW US Title – ****1/4
• Diamond Dallas Page d. The Booty Man – 3/4*
• Madusa d. Bull Nakano – 1/2*
• The Outsiders d. Lex Luger & Sting – ***1/4
• Hollywood Hulk Hogan d. The Giant – WCW World Title – **3/4

WCW has a Clash of the Champions coming up toward the end of the week. Sounds like they want to end the Four Horsemen vs Dungeon of Doom feud, and thank goodness for that. Hogan won’t be at the show, but the Outsiders will.

I also hear WCW brass is high on Diamond Dallas Page, whose Diamond Cutter is getting over despite him being a heel.

Ted DiBiase will debut in WCW soon. He’s under contract. And Sean Waltman (1-2-3 Kid) is also under contract with WCW, though there’s a hangup with the end of his WWF contract. Looks like WCW may delay Waltman’s debut.

WCW is apparently in talks with Barry Windham on a contract deal. He’s currently working in WWF under a handshake deal as The Stalker.

I’m also hearing that WCW is close to a deal on another former WWF star. It’s either Tito Santana or Bam Bam Bigelow.

Randy Savage’s brother Lanny Poffo is under contract with WCW, though he has no role with the company. It’s possible he begins working as a road agent or manager in the coming weeks, and if he’s a manager, he’ll reprise a version of his “Genius” gimmick.

Not much going on with WWF this week. It looks like they want Steve Austin in the main event of Summerslam against Shawn Michaels, but they’re both not sold on Austin and don’t want him taking the pin, so they’re debating a third person for the bout. It would be the first triangle match in WWF history if they go ahead with it.