On a special tribute episode of “Talk Is Jericho,” veteran wrestling journalists Dave Meltzer and Mark Madden provided a detailed breakdown of one of the most infamous and damaging moments in wrestling history: the main event of WCW’s Starrcade 1997, where Hulk Hogan refused to cleanly lose to Sting.
The Hottest Angle in Wrestling
The match was the culmination of an 18-month storyline that had seen Sting transform into his silent “Crow” character to battle Hogan and the New World Order (nWo). The angle had made Sting the hottest babyface in the industry and positioned Starrcade to be the biggest event in WCW history. The planned finish was for a crooked referee to make a fast count, only for Bret Hart to intervene and restart the match, leading to a triumphant and clean victory for Sting.
“Hogan Went to Nick Patrick and Told Him Not to Count Fast”
That, however, is not what happened. According to Meltzer, Hogan used his creative control to change the finish in the moment. “Hogan went to Nick Patrick and told him not to count fast. Didn’t count fast. So the whole thing was ruined,” Meltzer stated. The result was a confusing and flat ending that derailed the momentum of the company’s top babyface. “I think Sting needed to win that match pretty decisively and didn’t,” Meltzer added.
A Damaging Night
Mark Madden was even more blunt in his assessment of the damage done that night. “There’s never been a single more damaging show than Starrcade ’97,” he declared. “No wrestling event has never done more damage to its company than killing off sting and Bret Hart the same night.”
Hogan’s Excuse: “Sting Didn’t Have a Tan”
When host Chris Jericho asked why Hogan would make such a self-serving decision, Meltzer revealed the infamous and bizarre excuse that was given at the time. “He said Sting didn’t have a tan, didn’t look like he was in shape,” Meltzer recalled. “And I remember, like watching him walk down the aisle, man, not looking like a world beater. And then he didn’t really wrestle like a world beater in the match… but it’s still pro wrestling. It still would have worked.”
Long-Term Fallout
Both journalists agreed that the finish permanently damaged Sting’s character and the company as a whole. “I don’t think Sting ever… was never at that level again, after that,” Meltzer said. “That was his window. He was never hotter, and he needed that big win over Hogan… and it didn’t happen.” Madden added, “Hogan was going to find no reason to not want to lose that match… if that was an excuse, if he legitimately felt that way, what should have happened… should have been a lightning fast count, Bret restarts the match, Sting beats Hogan clean. That’s what should have happened.”
The full, in-depth discussion can be heard on the “Talk Is Jericho” podcast.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Talk Is Jericho with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
