Luger beating Hogan

[DragonMasterP]

For the WCW title in 1997.

What was your view on it?

Personally, I thought it was great. I really liked that Luger actually got to deal with Hall, Nash and Savage, the three biggest non-Hogan names in the nWo, rather than loser members like Vincent. It was pretty much everything Hogan/Sting at Starrcade should have been.

[lildude8218]

hated it. hated it because it was given away on free TV. hated it because I knew he was losing the belt back at the PPV. hated it because Dennis Rodman completely f***ed up spraypainting the belt the second time and made it look stupid

[hassanchop]

Liked it but at the same time I agree that it should have been a PPV moment. And they should have let Luger carry the belt until Starrcade and have him drop it to Sting.

[WWHHHD]

Apr 17, 2012 14:55:01 GMT -5 hassanchop said:

Liked it but at the same time I agree that it should have been a PPV moment. And they should have let Luger carry the belt until Starrcade and have him drop it to Sting.

No to this guy.

[WWHHHD]

Apr 17, 2012 13:31:28 GMT -5 lildude8218 said:

hated it. hated it because it was given away on free TV. hated it because I knew he was losing the belt back at the PPV. hated it because Dennis Rodman completely f***ed up spraypainting the belt the second time and made it look stupid

Yes to this guy for the addition of the Rodman spray job.

[Blindkarevik]

I thought it was a cool moment. But after a year and a half of building up that Sting was the only one who could possibly take on the NWO, it really seemed more of a ratings ploy than anything else. I was hoping the NWO would just destroy everything in their path, have contender after contender try to take them on, each failing... then Sting, ultimately, being the one to finally take the title from Hogan (clean)... thus starting the downfall of the NWO.

Luger, getting the title, just seemed tacked on and needless.

[malloc]

"LUGER WON THE TITLE, LUGER WON THE TITLE!" Say what you want about Tony but he did have his moments.

[Sir Woodrow]

Should have held it until at least Halloween Havoc, Hogan wins it back and they start the build to Starrcade

[chazraps]

I don't think it was a ratings ploy, but rather probably something contractual where they wanted to/had to give Luger a title reign. Nitro needed absolutely no help in the ratings by then, so it was probably something behind the scenes we've yet to hear about.

I didn't like how close it got to one whole year of a title reign and then swapped and swapped back. Hogan's title defenses really felt special and it fully conveyed the idea that the nWo held all the cards. Even the people who liked the nWo at the time deep down had to want to see who could beat Hogan by that point. Holding it until Starrcade for Sting to beat him for it would have been that much bigger (Assuming then we didn't have the fast count fiasco).

But if it had to happen, I do at least liek the way it did. It really felt like a feel good moment of a united WCW.

I also like that, on the way to Sturgis at an Airport bar, my Dad wound up meeting both Lex Luger and Jeff Jarrett at the time they were the #1 and #2 ranked title holders in the company. My dad was just chilling and both Luger and Jarrett struck up a conversation with him first. My dad played it cool and they talked for about an hour and a half without mentioning wrestling once. Then, when my Dad got up to use the restroom, he got off his stool and did the Jeff Jarrett strut, causing them both to burst out laughing and Jarrett to exclaim "You follow this shit too?!"

When my Dad got back he mentioned that it was my birthday the next week and that I was a big fan of both of them. At that point they both happily motioned that they would be willing to sign an autograph. Luger signed the back of my Dad's wedding invitation and Jarrett signed his hotel receipt. They both took the time to actually write a full message instead of just a quick signature. Luger ended his with "Best always from your friend in WCW, Lex Luger." It was the summer before 6th grade at that point and, like most 6th graders, I felt like I didn't really have many friends. Having Lex f***ing Luger write that to me really meant a lot, and when you're a lonely 11-year-old, things like that become such a cool boost to get you through those pre-teen years.

I've always had a soft spot for Luger and Jarrett as people since then. For all the stories about them, they were great guys to my Dad and gave me a happiness I've never forgotten. Sorry for the rant in the middle of this thread, but I've never shared that story before and remembering Luger's title win made it all come rushing back.

While we're on the subject, how does everyone in this thread feel about the Hall and Syxx losing the tag belts to the Steiners that October?

[The Gambler Fan]

Loved it because it was given away on free tv.

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

Chazraps, I actually welled up a little bit reading that. Genuinely beautiful post.

I love hearing about wrestlers doing things like that for fans, especially guys like Luger who often have bad reps.

[Futureraven: Beelzebruv]

Chazraps, that is a great story, and your dad deserves a major high five for playing it that cool.

[Sir Woodrow]

Apr 17, 2012 19:21:13 GMT -5 chazraps said:

I don't think it was a ratings ploy, but rather probably something contractual where they wanted to/had to give Luger a title reign. Nitro needed absolutely no help in the ratings by then, so it was probably something behind the scenes we've yet to hear about.

I didn't like how close it got to one whole year of a title reign and then swapped and swapped back. Hogan's title defenses really felt special and it fully conveyed the idea that the nWo held all the cards. Even the people who liked the nWo at the time deep down had to want to see who could beat Hogan by that point. Holding it until Starrcade for Sting to beat him for it would have been that much bigger (Assuming then we didn't have the fast count fiasco).

But if it had to happen, I do at least liek the way it did. It really felt like a feel good moment of a united WCW.

I also like that, on the way to Sturgis at an Airport bar, my Dad wound up meeting both Lex Luger and Jeff Jarrett at the time they were the #1 and #2 ranked title holders in the company. My dad was just chilling and both Luger and Jarrett struck up a conversation with him first. My dad played it cool and they talked for about an hour and a half without mentioning wrestling once. Then, when my Dad got up to use the restroom, he got off his stool and did the Jeff Jarrett strut, causing them both to burst out laughing and Jarrett to exclaim "You follow this s*** too?!"

When my Dad got back he mentioned that it was my birthday the next week and that I was a big fan of both of them. At that point they both happily motioned that they would be willing to sign an autograph. Luger signed the back of my Dad's wedding invitation and Jarrett signed his hotel receipt. They both took the time to actually write a full message instead of just a quick signature. Luger ended his with "Best always from your friend in WCW, Lex Luger." It was the summer before 6th grade at that point and, like most 6th graders, I felt like I didn't really have many friends. Having Lex f***ing Luger write that to me really meant a lot, and when you're a lonely 11-year-old, things like that become such a cool boost to get you through those pre-teen years.

I've always had a soft spot for Luger and Jarrett as people since then. For all the stories about them, they were great guys to my Dad and gave me a happiness I've never forgotten. Sorry for the rant in the middle of this thread, but I've never shared that story before and remembering Luger's title win made it all come rushing back.

While we're on the subject, how does everyone in this thread feel about the Hall and Syxx losing the tag belts to the Steiners that October?

That is cool

[kdawg]

One of my favorite Monday Night Wars moments! Should the title have changed hands at a ppv? Probably. But that moment, when the nWo was at their peak and Hogan having the long reign, submitting to the Torture Rack....that building erupted! One of the biggest pops I have ever heard. And the "championship celebration" in the back in the locker room with all the WCW guys going crazy, celebrating, spraying champagne and erasing the spray paint from the belt....awesome stuff!!

[Scooterdust]

Apr 17, 2012 19:21:13 GMT -5 chazraps said:

I don't think it was a ratings ploy, but rather probably something contractual where they wanted to/had to give Luger a title reign. Nitro needed absolutely no help in the ratings by then, so it was probably something behind the scenes we've yet to hear about.

I didn't like how close it got to one whole year of a title reign and then swapped and swapped back. Hogan's title defenses really felt special and it fully conveyed the idea that the nWo held all the cards. Even the people who liked the nWo at the time deep down had to want to see who could beat Hogan by that point. Holding it until Starrcade for Sting to beat him for it would have been that much bigger (Assuming then we didn't have the fast count fiasco).

But if it had to happen, I do at least liek the way it did. It really felt like a feel good moment of a united WCW.

I also like that, on the way to Sturgis at an Airport bar, my Dad wound up meeting both Lex Luger and Jeff Jarrett at the time they were the #1 and #2 ranked title holders in the company. My dad was just chilling and both Luger and Jarrett struck up a conversation with him first. My dad played it cool and they talked for about an hour and a half without mentioning wrestling once. Then, when my Dad got up to use the restroom, he got off his stool and did the Jeff Jarrett strut, causing them both to burst out laughing and Jarrett to exclaim "You follow this s*** too?!"

When my Dad got back he mentioned that it was my birthday the next week and that I was a big fan of both of them. At that point they both happily motioned that they would be willing to sign an autograph. Luger signed the back of my Dad's wedding invitation and Jarrett signed his hotel receipt. They both took the time to actually write a full message instead of just a quick signature. Luger ended his with "Best always from your friend in WCW, Lex Luger." It was the summer before 6th grade at that point and, like most 6th graders, I felt like I didn't really have many friends. Having Lex f***ing Luger write that to me really meant a lot, and when you're a lonely 11-year-old, things like that become such a cool boost to get you through those pre-teen years.

I've always had a soft spot for Luger and Jarrett as people since then. For all the stories about them, they were great guys to my Dad and gave me a happiness I've never forgotten. Sorry for the rant in the middle of this thread, but I've never shared that story before and remembering Luger's title win made it all come rushing back.

While we're on the subject, how does everyone in this thread feel about the Hall and Syxx losing the tag belts to the Steiners that October?

Not too long. Read it all. A truly awesome story. Can't say I had any feeling about that tag title change though.

[Been burned too many times]

Yeah I loved it, I was a kid at the moment with no stock in the company I did not care about it happening on free tv. In fact if it didn't most likely I wouldn't have seen the moment happen live same thing with Goldberg beating Hogan for the title.

Short Answer: Loved it, great moment.

[agent817]

Why did Luger win the title anyway? I have read that back in those days, a title match was a requirement after 30 days of not defending it, but I really don't know why Luger won it only to lose the title five days later.

[mrjl]

maybe the way they should have taken it off Luger was an nWo attack that left him injured.