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WCW rebounds at Havoc

John Powell

Much to the relief of wrestling fans who’ve complained bitterly for the better part of two years, WCW has at long last turned that corner. The hiring of former WWF writers Vince Russo and Ed Ferrera has sparked a renewed excitement that has spread throughout the locker room as was evidenced by the work rate and careful planning that went into Sunday’s Halloween Havoc card from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. In signing Russo and Ferrera (referred to as ‘the powers that be’ throughout the broadcast), WCW has a guiding force which eliminates the rampant confusion that had decimated the organization’s product to the point where it became a hardship to watch.

The successful formula that Russo and Ferrera had employed in the WWF is re-emerging in WCW. More interview time. More backstage happenings. More coherent storylines. More scantily clad women. More colorful language. And buckets upon buckets of blood. Not counting ECW events, Halloween Havoc was the bloodiest pay-per-view to air this year. Sid spouted like a faucet. Flair hemorrhaged as only he can. You wanted blood. You got it.

That is not to say the card was flawless. The incident between Hogan, Sting and WCW management almost sent the entire pay-per-view into a tailspin. As reported in the wrestling media, either Hogan steadfastly refused to ‘job’ to Sting ever since the Havoc match was booked or Hogan didn’t like what Russo and Ferrera had planned for him. In any event, the incident at Havoc will go down as a black eye on the business for some time to come.

Hogan, who had been brutalized by Sting and his pal Lex Luger for weeks on end, was supposed to have a showdown for the WCW World Heavyweight Title at Havoc. Some match it was, if you can call it a match. Hogan’s entrance music played. The cameras showed Hogan fans in the crowd for minutes on end stalling for time but The Hulkster didn’t show. The producers cut Hogan’s theme switching to Sting’s. Sting made his entrance. Again, Hogan’s music blared over the speakers as red and yellow lights shone on the en trance way.

Ultimately, Hogan did come down to the ring. Wearing his street clothes (a T-shirt, jeans and black boots) Hogan had a conversation with Sting in the middle of the ring. Sting did not look pleased. When he had finished what he had to say, Hogan dropped to the mat on his back. Sting reluctantly fall over Hogan pinning him. The fans let out a chorus of angry boos. Sting shot Hogan a look of disgust as he left the ring. The announcers claimed not to known anything about what happened promising to explain the situation on Monday Night Nitro. The announcers quickly cut away to a Goldberg and Sid promo.

When the Goldberg and Sid match was over Sting came to the ring. “I didn’t come to Las Vegas for a night off. I came to Las Vegas for a fight,” said The Stinger challenging anyone in the back to face him after the upcoming DDP and Flair match.

Bill Goldberg, who had already beaten Sid and won the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (see the Results below), answered Sting’s dare. The announcers made a point of saying the was a non-title bout. That declaration would come back to haunt them in the end. Sting and Goldberg waged war for just over three minutes. Sting gave Goldberg three Stinger Splashes in the corner. Goldberg countered with a Spear and The Jackhammer for the victory. Referee, Charles Robinson, awarded the WCW World Title to Goldberg. The broadcast team sounded genuinely baffled. Sting argued with Robinson. Robinson said the decision would stand. Sting Death-Dropped him onto the mat.

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