On the last Monday Night Nitro, newly appointed World Championship Wrestling Commissioner, James J. Dillon, gave wrestling phenom Sting an ultimatum. Either The Dark Warrior could speak his wishes at the televised Clash Of Champions or the federation would rescind their employment offer.

Straight outta Nashville, Tennessee; Dillon got his answer. Though, he may be scratching a groove in his head trying to figure what it all means.

Billed as an nWo birthday bash at the Clash, the broadcast ran over time and concluded with nWo members, Randy “Macho Man” Savage, The Outsiders (Hall and Nash), “Buff” Bagwell, Scott Norton, Konnan, Syxx, Vincent and nWo-WCW Vice-Prez. Eric Bischoff, partying down in the middle of the ring after their win over Diamond Dallas Page and Lex Luger in a surprise tag-team title bout. Nwo fliers (“The First Year…tooo sweeet!”) and black and white balloons dropping from the ceiling. Ringleader, Hogan wasn’t in attendance since he is on the set shooting a feature film in Montreal.

The house lights flickered. Ominous organ music intoned throughout the arena. As the house lights brightened, there was Sting (known by his friends as Steve Borden) standing high above in the rafters, a large vulture sitting on his shoulder. Emotionless and motionless (except to pat the gruesome bird), The Dark Warrior stared down below while a child spoke on the spooky soundtrack.

The voice said…

When a man’s heart is full of deceit, it burns up, dies, and a dark shadow falls over his soul.
From the ashes of a once great man has risen a curse.
A wrong that must be righted.
We look to the skies for a vindicator.
Someone to strike fear into the black hearts of the same men who created him.
The battle between good and evil has begun.
Against an army of shadows comes a dark warrior.
The purveyor of good with the voice of silence and a mission of justice.
THIS IS STING.

The lights went off again. When they turned back on, a vulture was perched on the top rope of the ring, signaling to the nWo that their demise is at hand. Bischoff and the boys were dumb-struck.

Those familiar with The Crow movie series based on the adult-themed comics written and drawn by James O’Barr, will recognize what inspired Sting’s enigmatic message. The movie opens and closes the story with similar narration. The most well-known being…

“People once believed that when a person died, a crow carried their souls to the land of the dead. But sometimes, something so bad happens that a terrible sadness is carried with it; and the soul cannot rest. Then sometimes, just sometimes, the crow can bring that soul back to make the wrong things right.”

Released in 1994, the motion picture tells the dark, gothic tale of a murdered rock star – Eric Draven – who through supernatural means, comes back from the dead as a “mime from Hell” to exact revenge on his killers.

Modeling his appearance after actor Brandon Lee’s version of the anti-hero (Bruce Lee’s son who died tragically during the filming of the first installment), Sting ditched his flamboyant ring persona when WCW officials accused him of aligning with the New World Order. Presumably betrayed and hurt, Sting has not spoken a word in months, lurking in the rafters, swinging down on occasion to act as a thorn in the nWo’s side.

For weeks, Dillon has offered Sting through a forgotten, outstanding agreement between Hollywood Hogan’s New World Order and World Championship Wrestling, a revenge match against the nWo. Sting tore up the contracts. Everyone but the daft Dillon understands that Sting won’t accept a contract unless it is a match against the leader of the nWo himself: Hollywood Hogan. Speculation is that bout will be held this fall or winter.

Clash Of The Champions Results

Steve “Mongo” McMichael (Challenger) Vs Jeff Jarrett (Champion) (WCW U.S. Title Match)

: Eddie Guerrero mistakenly clobbers Jarrett with the belt. Mongo covers the dazed Jarrett for the pin.
: Debra McMichael attempts to smooth things over. Mongo says..”It ain’t gonna be THAT easy.”

Winner: …and new WCW United States Champion…Steve “Mongo” McMichael at 8 minutes and six seconds.

Stevie Richards Versus Raven

: Announcers say that Raven hasn’t signed a contract with World Championship Wrestling.
: Before the match starts, Raven insists it be a No DQ battle or he won’t wrestle. The ref and Richards agree to Scotty Flamingo’s..I mean..Johnny Polo’s..I mean…Raven’s terms.

Winner: Raven by DDT at 5 minutes and 1 second flat.

Alex Wright (Challenger) Versus The Ultimo Dragon (Champion) (WCW Television Title Match)

: Alex catches the underappreciated Ultimo Dragon in a back-suplex.

Winner: …and new WCW Television Champion…Alex Wright at 14 minutes and 7 seconds.

Eddie Guerrero (Challenger) Vs Chris Jericho (Champion) (WCW Cruiserwieght Title Match)

: Jericho rolls up Guerrero for the 1-2-3.
: Severely pissed, Guerrero drop kicks, brain busters and Frog Splashes Jericho.

Winner: …and still WCW Cruiserwieght Champion..Canada’s own Chris Jericho at 6 minutes and 37 seconds.

Super Calo / Juventud Guerrera / Lizmark Jr. / Hector Garza Vs Psychosis / Vilano 4 / Vilano 5 / Silver King

: Psychosis’ Guillotine Leg Drop on Super Calo scores his team the win.

Winners: Psychosis / Vilano 4 / Vilano 5 / Silver King at 4 minutes and 43 seconds.

Syxx / K-Dawg Konnan Vs Ric Flair / Curt Henning

: Henning accidentally catapults Syxx into Flair’s knee as he is slapping the Figure Four on Konnan.
: Henning hits his Fisherman’s Suplex for the three count.
: Flair doesn’t hold the incident against Henning.
: When asked by Mean Gene if he is a Horsemen…Henning says “No.”
: Flair and Henning go backstage still buddies.

Winners: … Ric Flair and Curt Henning at 5 minutes and 6 seconds.

Diamond Dallas Page / Lex Luger (Challengers) Versus Scott Hall / “Macho Man” Randy Savage (Champions) (WCW Tag Team Title Match)

: Kevin Nash brazenly announces that he’s decided the match will be a title defence.
: No bell is ever rung to start the match.
: Referee, Nick Patrick, tosses every nWo member from ringside besides Nash.
: Nash attacks DDP outside the ring. Patrick sends him to the dressing room as well.
: A stunned DDP bumps into Luger and not aware who it is, applies the Diamond Cutter on the Total Package.
: Hall covers Luger.

Winners: …and still WCW World Tag Team Champions…The Outsiders at 8 minutes and 45 seconds.

PHOTOS

TOP : Sting’s new look.

BOTTOM : Brandon Lee as Eric Draven from the 1994 gothic thriller, The Crow.