WCW Starrcade 1997 - The "Reliving The War" PPV Review

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WCW Starrcade 1997 took place in Washington, D.C on December 28th 1997. The event would become the must financially succesful WCW pay per view show in company history with an extraordinary buy rate of 1.9. Fans were paying to see the in-ring return of Sting when The Icon took on nWo leader Hollywood Hogan in the main event.
The Sting vs nWo rivalry had been building up ever since WCW questioned Sting's loyalties all the way back at Fall Brawl 1996. Sting became a reclusive character who would watch over the nWo from the rafters and this created a ton of anticipation for when the Stinger would finally come back to the ring. After around 15 months of build-up, WCW decided to book Sting vs Hollywood Hogan for Starrcade 1997, and fans couldn't wait to see the match. With a their largest PPV audience watching at home, WCW had to get this main event (and entire show) right.
This video (part of the Reliving The War series) covers the entire PPV event.
00:00 - Intro / Eddie Guerreo vs Dean Malenko
06:07 - Scott Hall Promo
08:20 - Steiners & Traylor vs Norton, Vincent & Savage
10:41 - Goldberg vs Steve McMichael
13:13 - Perry Saturn vs Chris Benoit
16:50 - Lex Luger vs Buff Bagwell
20:43 - Curt Hennig vs Diamond Dallas Page
24:17 - Eric Bischoff vs Larry Zbyszko
29:58 - Build-up to Sting vs Hollywood Hogan
34:04 - Sting vs Hollywood Hogan
38:14 - Final Thoughts / Credits
#WCW #nWo #wrestling

[@jjbjjb273]

There's a rumour that when hogan goes to bed at night he sleeps on top of his cover out of fear the cover going over him

[@HabsMike25]

You win with best comment 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@marcusmoss3399]

That's to funny good one

[@strcash-fs8of]

Lmfaooooo u got it

[@naluminolinyandi6755]

😹😹😹😹😹

[@sloth021]

😭😭😭🤣🤣

[@TiVo67]

Starrcade 97 is the “Jump the Shark” moment of WCW. I don’t care what the excuses Eric & Hulk have made up since, not having Sting going over clean & decisive after a year and a half build is the start of their decline.

[@TimmyTickle]

Some would argue that the Fingerpoke of Doom was WCW’s real JTS moment

[@MR.__G]

@@TimmyTickle I’d say that was the nail in the coffin

[@tylongkicks8821]

@@TimmyTickle That was the nail in the coffin

[@Paranitis]

@@kidz4p509 Which was probably why WCW went downhill since it happened. All the hype, means more people watching it, and with everyone seeing how disappointing it was, there was no reason to bother continuing to watch.

[@Marc_Masters]

Facts

[@ellismarquez8410]

I'll never forget that contrast. Fall semester '97, everyone at school was wearing Sting and NWO shirts; by the end of Spring '98, everyone was all about DX and Austin 3:16.

[@JGD185]

WCW was running with the ball about to score a touchdown and they fumbled...BROTHER

[@namikstudios]

Hardly. 1998 belonged to one man - Da Man! Goldberg. That's who everyone was talking about all the way up to the next Starrcade.

[@thepeoplesartist2863]

Yep spot on

[@Magaman82]

It’s because Wal-Mart was selling them

[@advantagetraining6761]

25 years later it's still crazy to think WCW dropped the ball on Sting vs Hogan.

[@assclown452]

Yeah they screwed the pouch with the bs "fast count " finish. And sting wasn't in good shape.

[@ITGShaddyMaCC]

Was the match that was supposed to change the landscape

[@Venemofthe888]

him losing clean needed to happen to be perfect but his ego and contract ruined WCW. It didnt sink the ship but it put a massive hole in it and this is why having creative control with someone like Hogan makes things impossible. It should of been the beginning of the end for the nWo when Hogan lost clean but unfortunately Bischoff at the time didnt get it. Power of hindsight and all that but even people at the time could probably see it

[@briankenney6246]

WCW doing WCW things , You can and rightfully so say many things wrong with WWE but they knew how to make many storylines pay off and make matches feel huge . WCW with all its money and talent at its peak never seemed to get it right

[@BiggusYuichi]

It was all Hogan fault.

[@JobberBud]

When Buff Bagwell said "Hi Mom!" we had no idea he was foreshadowing one of the greatest angles in wrestling history.

[@Brochnick]

Right?! Who could for the old lady on a pole match? I wish I could...

[@Wilcat1033]

😂 long term storytelling right there

[@ham-mantheman-ham634]

I will never forget how big of a deal this was. My father didn't even like wrestling but we went to one of his friends houses to watch this like the superbowl. It was very exciting.

[@tylongkicks8821]

Yep it was huge even my Uncle ordered it. This and WrestleMania 14. He wasn't even a big wrestling fan

[@MrJermeyp]

Most of the PPV around this era were all like that, the hype was REAL back then lol.. many many people I knew that weren’t wrestling fans made SURE they watched the PPVs every time it was crazy, the NWO really was a pop culture phenomenon

[@9mmsafetyalwaysoff00]

@@MrJermeyp I can remember having multiple parties where friends were invited over to watch PPV. I can't even remember which PPVs were bought now. We'd been out to shows too, can't even remember if they were WCW or WWF lol.

[@AFMountaineer2000]

Smart man not wasting his money on this

[@regalsylvester]

Never imagined their popularity would wane

[@at3479]

When WCW had the WWF down for the count......and blew it

[@constablekennedy7705]

Agreed 💯

[@constablekennedy7705]

@@joedavidson6556 Until the Paralegal finally made Vince McMahon Tap Out …. 👀

[@Hilversumborn]

@@joedavidson6556 Nah, he did the Undertaker sit up dodging at the last second

[@OreO2405]

28-3 before 28-3

[@namikstudios]

@@joedavidson6556 thank god? Have you seen wrestling post-2001 at all? WCW being sold off to WWE was the worst thing that has ever happened to the industry. Besides, Vince didn't "kick out", he just got lucky when AOL TimeWarner came along and totally screwed up Turner with their disastrous merger/takeover.

[@A1PrimeTimeMovies]

Regardless of everything else from this ppv, Sting’s entrance here remains one of the greatest ever.

[@TheSerpentsEye]

It gave me goosebumps at 14 years old and still does today. Absolutely stellar production on that intro.

[@falloutghoul1]

That look on his face. He knew how it was going to end.

[@thepubknight6144]

​@@TheSerpentsEye his theme is badass

[@Sparkledash1]

What could've been the greatest night in WCWs history, turned out to be WCWs slow decline going forward. I mean, yes 98 was also a good year with Goldberg. But you could see that Hogan and his friends would never let anyone overtake them.

[@constablekennedy7705]

Hulk Hogan Never Legit heading into Politics is shocking to me as he was so good at the Shenanigans in Professional Wrestling ….

[@johnbubbaloo436]

They didn't even try to salvage it with a "Bret screwed Hogan" storyline or anything.

[@maxdecphoenix]

Leading in to starcade, WCW had babyface Sting, a babyface Bret Hart riding a big sympathy wave, and a green juggernaut in a recently debuted Bill Goldberg. It's amazing how just by not having Nick do a fast count, Hogan was able to rob Sting of an undisputed win (belt was taken back the following night) and also tarnish Bret Hart within weeks of his debut. I think Bret was the first guy to come from WWF that wasn't brought in to reignite an old rivalry like Piper and Warrior were. Where they basically just did the job and were brushed aside. I don't think Hogan planned to ever work with Bret, but he didn't want him gaining traction so he made him look like an idiot. Basically in early 97, Sting was the only threat to a returning babyface Hogan, but at the end of 97 that simply wasn't the case. Sting, Goldberg, Hart, and really DDP as well. I swear the more i think about this night the more i feel like Hogan did this just to tarnish Bret.

[@namikstudios]

Hogan put Goldberg over clean as a whistle.

[@namikstudios]

@@maxdecphoenix the reason Bret was a special ref was because he was still under a legal no-compete clause with the WWF that prevented him from wrestling for another company for 90 days after leaving them.

[@fast_mattw8059]

I wish my Dad was still here to watch these along with me. We watched wrestling when i was a kid and I so vividly remember these times of course. Been following this series for a long while now, this one was unforgettable for many.

[@KidGravityBeyond]

This PPV is special for me because I had my grandparents at the house for Christmas and my dad (who hates wrestling) put it up on the “Entertainment Center” and EVERYONE watched it together.

[@vincesmith2499]

And was everyone disappointed together?

[@jjbjjb273]

A terrible ending to the biggest match in WCW history. A year of excellent build up between sting and hogan that put WCW ahead of the WWF gone down the toilet. This is a important event in the monday night wars that slowly over the next coming months the wwf would start to close the gap. The rise and fall of wcw in my opinion should be taught in universities

[@johnmcnamara8741]

I used the Monday night wars as an example on a paper I wrote in college hahah

[@jessemunnings]

I think you’re right. It should be taught in business and media courses.

[@TheRustedShackleford]

If only Sting were tanner...

[@GoGetYourShinebox]

They could have rode that storyline for another year. Sting should have won at Starrcade 97, then there should have been a rematch down the line with Hogan winning, then a trilogy match for all the marbles

[@TheRustedShackleford]

@@GoGetYourShinebox they couldn't even handle storytelling 101

[@LibertyJefferson]

They literally had a license to print money with this, and managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

[@tomlehmann306]

All for Hogans ego

[@constablekennedy7705]

Well said Fella

[@KnightlyBrosGaming]

Sting's entrance at Starrcade 97 is the stuff of legend. The narration to start, the music, the lighting, and it was flawless.

[@mulvihillmatt]

…And then the match happened…

[@mattgeer5609]

It was trash.. Eric bishoff and Conrad both said him just walking out was a mistake. Him coming out like a normal match , normal wrestler after him coming down from the rafters for a year

[@dominicderubeis6627]

He ABSOLUTELY should have come down from the rafters

[@ShaunInce123]

That's the only highlight of the main event. Everything else, however was a shitshow

[@pezpowerproductions2602]

1997 can we go back. the world was better. wrestling was better. damn man i miss this.

[@landeny65]

when you toss in Playstation and N64, and oh idk, no pandemic or 20 year long wars, it really was the best of times.

[@num1Jaysta]

Good times

[@pezpowerproductions2602]

@@num1Jaysta best times?

[@num1Jaysta]

@@pezpowerproductions2602 Right

[@kageakuma3009]

As far as Nash and the heart attack thing goes, he most likely had a panic attack but considering his dad had died of a heart attack I can't blame him in the slightest for being worried. I've had panic attacks and it's a worrying thing.

[@kageakuma3009]

@Antionitonio Bianchinitio no real person, I have autism and a panic attack feels like your having a heart attack. It's scary. If you've never had one, you're lucky. I mean it really feels like a heart attack. First one i had called an ambulance and cost me a fortune. I mean I have high blood pressure I'm a smoker and a drinker scared me half to death.

[@rex788]

Forreal. I had a panic attack one night before bed. I seriously thought this was it. Scary as hell.

[@benespinosa6725]

Nick Patrick's bump when Bret Punched him was absolutely hilarious 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@roryslaine7896]

I was pissing myself at that 😂

[@steveny1658]

As someone who has followed the wars through this series and paid no attention to WCW at the time, and had no idea how this pay per view played out, the way you built up the main event had me so pumped up for it. Excellent work my friend.

[@Acemonkey87]

I watched this on my B-day with my uncle. The last time I saw him. This show will always have a special place in my heart.

[@elonmusksellssnakeoil1744]

Hollywood Hogan leading a heel faction of cool dudes who love the spotlight, hang out with celebrities, and travel in packs was brilliant enough, but to contrast that with Sting's transformation into the Crow, a guy who says nothing at all and exists in perpetual solitude, who was the face of the company before the takeover and is looked to as its savior from the nWo's reign of terror, with that little hint that Sting could follow Hogan's path from the company babyface to its biggest heel...that was sheer perfection. Of course, WCW f----ked it up. But, hey, it was good while it lasted.

[@ace51689]

This is one of, if not, "THE" cautionary tales in wrestling history. The ball was on the 1yd line. Just get it in the end zone.

[@gqsmoove87]

Russell Wilson throwing at the one yard line instead of handed it to Marshawn

[@rdbkfive]

Great analogy. The screwy ending is the equivalent of WCW trying and failing a trick play at the 1 yard line when all they needed to do was rush in.

[@TheGr8T8Channel]

WCW's peak... before the slow and the eventual fast decline. Still a great time to be a wrestling fan.

[@martynodonnell8467]

The beginning of the end for WCW.

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

@@martynodonnell8467 Souled Out '97 & the nWo Nitro show before this PPV were the beginning, this PPV's ending courtesy of Hulk Hogan's Creative Control run amok was a bigger hole in the proverbial ship & the Fingerpoke of Doom coupled with Mick Foley's win on WWF RAW being spoiled ahead of time were the climax & the ill-fated Time-Warner merger coupled with Jamie Kellner cancelling WCW television network deal were what sunk the company.

[@namikstudios]

@@joedavidson6556 WWF were still so far behind at this point. WCW was where it was at.

[@namikstudios]

@@martynodonnell8467 nah, the beginning of the end for WCW was when AOL TimeWarner came along and stuffed up Turner with their merger/takeover. Had nothing to do with anything that happened in the ring or in kayfabe.

[@Rhapsodies_In_Red]

One of the best build ups ever and WCW blew it.

[@constablekennedy7705]

On a lower scale but Tony Khan and AEW seem to be following the same formula with their Angles …. 👀

[@Rhapsodies_In_Red]

@@constablekennedy7705 I'm not too sure about what's going on with AEW lately they seemed to be doing good in the past.

[@BradleyMayhem0729]

Everyone needs to face it, Hogan’s ego was detrimental to WCW and stopped a lot of great matches and storylines from happening! 🤷‍♂️ 👊

[@rayvenkman2087]

Dixie of TNA didn’t get the memo when she signed him on and WWE In early 2000’s was at least wise enough to make him do jobs cleanly to other performers like Brock Lesner. Although, I think he might have only been playing ball because of the amount of heat he had from his antics in WCW and the stuff he pulled on the WWF in the early 90’s due to his backstage pull then. Didn’t have the leverage on Vince during that period with WCW gone.

[@billhicks6449]

Is anyone in denial? I mean I'm pretty sure we all know that.

[@BradleyMayhem0729]

@@billhicks6449 obviously some are, so carry on sir, you’ll garner no attention here 🤷‍♂️

[@billhicks6449]

@@BradleyMayhem0729 I'm not even trying to troll. I'm just a bit shocked there are people out there that don't know Hogan's a tool who killed a bunch of careers and storylines. I honestly thought that was just accepted truth by now.

[@benlamar2017]

You're right ! It is an acceptable truth .

[@mattabshier2494]

Perfect execution over a year and a half, and all WCW had to do was put that final stamp on it, and of course they dropped that ball in spectacular fashion and could never truly get it back again.

[@constablekennedy7705]

WCW Summed up in a nutshell ……….

[@JGD185]

That year and half was honestly my favorite time as a wrestling fan. I had so much fun watching Nitro every monday night with friends. When Nitro was on point I thought it was the best wrestling show ever.

[@DR.64A9]

Hulk realized he wouldn't be the top star anymore and sabotage the show in order to protect his ego. Bischoff can justify it anyway he wants, but this is what really happened.

[@bull6599]

Except for Luger's 5 day title reign in August 97 Hogan had the title for damn near 18 month uninterrupted. How selfish do you have to be to not let Sting go over?

[@jarretc110]

the more i hear about this ppv, the more obvious it is that it was all hogan. bischoff was a hogan stooge effectively and allowed it to happen.

[@tylongkicks8821]

WCW didn't have a Vince McMahon say what you want about him now. He would make sure that Hogan and other stars gets inline. Vince let HBK and Hogan get away with some stuff but not sabotaging a WrestleMania which was WCW Starrcade

[@billyblanx1434]

@@tylongkicks8821 You have a good point, but Vince definitely let Hogan get his creative claws all over Wrestlemania 13 (the one with bret and yoko). Probably why Vince didn't bend to anyone else in the future after seeing Hogan betray him and go to WCW mere months later

[@billhicks6449]

@@billyblanx1434 pretty sure that was WrestleMania 9. 1993.

[@brandonharbin406]

The most hyped match I can remember and the biggest disappointment. I was all WCW up to this point but after this I started watching WWF more.

[@travisgowen5044]

I remember being a kid and starting to realize how absurd it all was. Sting was absolutely iconic at this point, and they butchered his return to the ring, something I don't think he ever really recovered from in WCW.

[@brandonharbin406]

@@travisgowen5044 no doubt, he was over as much as anyone coming into Starcade with that great build.

[@johnepants]

@@kidz4p509 somehow the clusterfuck of Montreal came across as a net positive in the long run while this garbage was where long term casual wcw watchers would go “hey, there is the company I grew up with screwing up a sure thing again”

[@constablekennedy7705]

WCW was a Train wreck Bro …….

[@davidhervey691]

Randy Savage had the smoothest elbow drop.

[@nefariousnilbog]

This series makes it feel like the PPV just happened

[@Nazzers]

This was the first and last WCW PPV I ever bought and we can all see why. Keep in mind that WWF had just screwed Bret so a lot of people were ready to switch to WCW for good. It's absolutely astounding that they dropped the ball this hard.

[@tylongkicks8821]

They had everything in the palm of their hand

[@linkvagar2336]

It didn't really matter whether the ball was dropped or not. In the end, Turner executives would still have screwed over WCW. Most of them simply didn't want wrestling on their network.

[@constablekennedy7705]

Ironically, with Bret Hart on this Card also ……. 💀

[@MrDaveJustice]

The wwf ratings went up by a decent amount after the screwjob, I dont see why bret Hart being screw caused people to switch when it was clearly the other way around

[@Buckdawg]

@@linkvagar2336 Had the product not been losing so much money due to insane mismanagement, the company would have turned a profit, and its doubtful it would have been cancelled.

[@kirkcavanaugh1493]

I always thought that the fights that included guerrero, malenko, benoit, and rey mysterio always seemed to kind of drag on, but I just realized that the reason that I actually sat there and watched the entirety of all those matches was because they were such good wrestlers and entertainers. juventud guerrera too.

[@zlinedavid]

There was a reason that WCW really hit the skids when Eddie, Malenko and Benoit left. You could mix and match those guys together and get an entertaining, relatively long match that chewed up TV time.

[@darthroden]

@@zlinedavid Guerrero and Benoit were the glue that held that place together, along with Jericho and a couple others. Once they jumped ship, that was the sign that WCW became the Titanic.

[@DyspotikOriginal]

I dont think Vincent gets enough credit for the amounts of bumps he took. Made everyone look strong

[@Thor-Orion]

And pulled double duty. You could tell Scott Steiner really liked his selling.

[@SegaDream131]

It was a sweet deal, less bumps, more money .... He wasn't very wise with his pay....

[@superquokka]

Watching this live was so deflating. It's not even like WM14 knocks it out of the park either, but they at least delivered the signature moment for their new superstar

[@dukes1993724]

Exactly. Not a perfect landing but they got the right guy over (Stone Cold). And the next 3 years were amazing for the WWF.

[@Rob_Thorsman]

Normal count on Starrcade, supposed to be a fast count, fast count on WrestleMania, supposed to be a normal count.

[@constablekennedy7705]

Agreed Bro 💯

[@constablekennedy7705]

@@Rob_Thorsman Both very Botched Finishes …..

[@ryankeefe2102]

While the count in Austin vs HBK was fast the finish itself was pretty straight forward unlike Starrcarde which was yet ANOTHER overbooked nwo finish

[@Zim85]

I remember begging and pleading my parents to order this ppv. As a 7 year old, I was on cloud 9 watching Sting win.

[@mickmickymick6927]

This is the night when WCW would either dominate American wrestling for decades to come, or blow it and disappear into obscurity. I wonder which one happened.

[@Buckdawg]

Guess we'll have to wait for the rest of this series to find out! 😆

[@darthroden]

The Time Warner merger was the final nail. They simply didn't want "rasslin" programs. Even if WCW had the worst NFL ratings, they would have still dropped it.

[@SegaDream131]

We watch old nitro on Mondays or nothing.....😤

[@namikstudios]

Such obscurity that randoms are still talking about how revolutionary it was over 20 years later.

[@truesonoflemoynerp7844]

I was and always will be team WWF. Back then I didn’t care at all what was happening on Nitro except when Raw had a commercial. You FINALLY got me excited and interested in WCW with your commentary on all this. Thanks for all you’ve done and will do and thanks for bringing us all back to a time we loved so much.

[@d0ublestr0ker0ll]

I was the opposite. All Nitro unless there was a commercial. Funny, now I'm addicted to catching up on the WWF from that time. In the moment, WCW was my jam...but the WWF at that time has aged like fine wine.

[@vikenmanjikian4607]

As a video editor, watching your rework of the Sting Starcade promo was simply beautiful

[@REblll]

:)

[@smoosev89]

Eddie running on his knees was hilarious 😂

[@BiggusYuichi]

Me and my HS friends all got together for this one. The MT Dew was flowing, the giant 20 inch tv broadcasting it with the rf de-scrambler from the company. Was so great and hyped. Till the main event plunder. I became a mark after this learning about what happened and it was all thanks to Hogan. This moment to me is where WCW started to go down. You had the story, the people, the rating to squash WWF. Yet in the end...Hogan LOL

[@greatheightsu]

amazing editing on that Sting montage

[@SoloSeason]

Holy hell! The transition for main event was perfect-- this - is -Sting

[@iamthurnis745]

10:03 that steiner ddt is one of the craziest things i’ve ever seen. Also, wow your edit for the buildup of the sting/hogan match was amazing. i’m 25, so i was 9 months old when this was happening but man WCW took that amazing build that your eloquently broke down and they flushed amazing storytelling and build down the toilet. should’ve been a 30 second match

[@techtalk7018]

I love the way Scott hall takes the power bomb. He was truly a genius of his time.

[@KidGravityBeyond]

The 97-2000s crowds were the best.

[@constablekennedy7705]

Agreed Bro

[@blippblob]

While watching this whole series I always wanted to try and re-book this PPV Match card (with the circumstances that did hinder the card) so here is my Starrcade card for this show: 1. Eddie Guerrero (c ) vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Billy Kidman - CW Title. - We keep seeing the Flock more and more on shows leading up to this event. Why not start showcasing Billy Kidman who will be a star for WCW in the future. Let Dean have his time off with his new born. Hot fast opener 2. If we had to do the 6 man tag-team match it would: The Steiner Brothers and Lex Luger (sorry but the Ray Taylor stuff I just couldn’t care less for) vs. Scott Norton, Vincent, and Buff Bagwell. - This eliminates the repetitive Luger vs. Buff singles matches but still feature them on the card. 3. Curt Henning Impromptu segment about him gloating that he took out Ric Flair. This then leads to an unannounced match of Curt Henning vs. Bret Hart. - If Bret is able to appear on WCW tv and this PPV I assume he can wrestle on this card. This can lead into “is he really with the nWo or not?” discussion throughout the PPV and also give us a decent match between the two. Also I would have had the DDP U.S. Title win count from a few Nitros prior (you’ll see why in a moment) (Edit note: I see people are saying Bret Hart had a non compete. That is False. Considering he had a 20 year deal and the WWF breached that contract for Bret to negotiate with WCW. This would have null and voided any non compete clause if he had one.....also his deal was for 20 years so youd think hed really have a non compete after that long contract?) 4. Chris Benoit vs. The Flock - Gauntlet match - Benoit destroys Lodi, has a competitive match with Saturn, and in the end, Raven scores the win. SO technically we do get the Raven vs. Benoit match but this can help “hide” his injury. Raven does exactly what he did at this PPV but pins Benoit in the end. 5. Goldberg vs. Mongo - Keep this match, keep it short and it features up and coming Goldberg. 6. Steel Cage Match: U.S. title - DDP (c ) vs Randy Savage - I’ll never understand why the feud ended at Halloween Havoc on kindof a cliffhanger. Regardless it did rise DDP, but I think they could have come back to blow it off here at Starrcade. DDP is champ and Randy has beaten him last time so he’s earned a shot this way. It’s a cage match so eliminates nWo interference and in the end DDP ends this historic rivalry on top retaining the title. 7. Tag team match for control of Nitro - Larry Zbyszko and the Giant vs. Scott Hall and Eric Bischoff (referee: Bret Hart) - Since Nash couldn’t compete just lump Scott and Giant into this match. It would have hid the flaws of Bischoff and to a lesser extend Larry. This way you can still get to the one on one match of Zbyszko vs. Hall down the road. 8. Steel Cage Match (yes another one): WHC - Hollywood Hogan (c ) vs. Sting - This eliminates interference from nWo and Sting beats Hogan Clean. That would be my re-book card. Sorry for the long comment haha I know its not perfect but I think this would have been better of a watch.

[@cs77smith67]

I actually love this. I'm just shock WCW did not think of it. Also u could have Bret Hart debut and cost Hogan the title as well but I like the idea 💡 of sting beaten Hogan clean better.

[@Venemofthe888]

I don't think bret could compete yet due to his 30 day no compete clause hence why he was a ref

[@rayvenkman2087]

Sadly, Eric would veto that because he didn’t come up with it first.

[@Hyde_Hill]

Looks very good I was thinking along similar lines. 1. Eddy vs Rey. (Eddy) 2. Henning vs Benoit ( you already know pretty early Flair was injured so you can divert Benoit away from the Flock for a bit. They intervene and Henning wins) 3. Steiners vs Vicious and Delicious. (DQ win for V and D after trying to stop NWO interference backfires. showing first signs of WCW solidarity) 4. Goldberg vs Mongo. (Goldberg) 5. DDP vs Savage. Indeed should have been blown off here. (DDP clean) 6. Giant vs Nash (It was day of that Nash bowed out, so doesn't happen. Instead open challange and he beats up some tall dudes like Reese, Rick Fuller etc.) 7. Chris Jericho vs Bret Hart ( Jericho challenges the statement his fellow Canadian would join the NWO so wants to meet him in the ring to see his true colors. Hart wins without cheating and Jericho gets a good showing.) 8. Luger vs Hall, the big 4 of WCW really should have originally been booked vs the big 4 of the NWO. (Luger) 9. Sting vs Hogan. (Sting wins clean, when the NWO tries to intervene for once the WCW roster also pours out and stops the interference. ) Could have easily booked a 9 match card ahead of time as you knew some stuff would go short. Goldberg vs Mongo, Steiners vs V and D, Giant vs Nash. Make the control of Nitro a best of 7 thing and have it end 3 and 3 because Giant vs Nash doesn't happen.

[@tylongkicks8821]

Man this is how Bischoff should have booked the PPV. 15 year old me would have been thrilled with this

[@davidlinehat4657]

As a 14 yr old kid growing up in Washington, DC, I was dying to be at this event. It's so depressing that they screwed up the most important single match in WCW history. Rewatching it now, i'm so impressed by the malenko /guerrero match. Those guys were incredible!

[@dizzy1369]

The reason zbysko was so involved is because he helped Scott hall a lot at the beginning of his career so that was Scott Hall returning the favor to zbysko, he wanted that part of the storyline to happen.

[@matthewcowan9324]

Dean Malenko’s daughter is almost 25.

[@jessaphillips2846]

I really consider this the first step towards the end of WCW

[@denniswilliams6519]

"The commentators are not talking about the match (Malenko vs. Gurerrero) at all, they're building up the big main event." Like WCW had done this throughout its run, annoyingly dipping focus on the match to talk NWO stuff 24/7, but when they do it on PPV it feels especially egregious. Like, it's PPV. You already have their money, who are you still trying to sell the show to at this point? It felt disrespectful and only enforced the "NWO is the only thing we care about" mentality of WCW.

[@corymurphy220]

I was there that night. I remember all the build up for this match. My mom won tickets on the radio so didnt know we were going til 2 days before. Looking back the rest of the ppv was weak compared to what wcw was doin at that time. But stings entrance was awesome and it was awesome being there to see this moment in history. Awesome looking back on this and the whole reliving the war series. Was a good time to be a wrestling fan. Good job.

[@jb888888888]

This has probably already been mentioned; but IIRC Bret Hart had a semi no-compete clause from his time in the WWF he was still working though. He could _appear_ on WCW programming but he couldn't wrestle yet. Him being a special guest referee was the most they could use him on the show.

[@pirajacinto4]

It's amazing. This is a recap show really but it does felt like a BIG event coming into this PPV. Even though it's been covered before by different ways, the build up to this video feels like a wrestling story into itself. Thank you for making this series and keeping it going. We still have SO MUCH MORE to go!

[@cvz14]

Wrestling bios always dropping 🔥🔥🔥

[@PlatinumRoseLady]

If you ever want to see a physical representation of the phrase "I have made a horrible mistake" look at any still photo of Bret Hart in WCW.

[@namikstudios]

Bret is one of only nine WCW Triple Crown Champions. He had a great run there.

[@PlatinumRoseLady]

@@namikstudios You're entitled to your opinion, of course. Mine is that Bret's run was always one step behind Hogan because NOBODY was allowed to outshine Hogan. Even someone who could out-wrestle Hogan blindfolded with one arm tied behind his back. Like Bret Hart.

[@kombatdaddy1773]

Dam Virgil was getting his ass whipped that night😂😂😂

[@jeffm5056]

I remember watching this live, and the highlight of the Bischoff/Zbyszsko match was when the metal plate flies out of Eric's boot, you can see Bret Hart watch it fly into the crowd and he just laughs. Like you could just see the regret in Bret's face for joining WCW.

[@StealthMarmot_]

He makes a note to himself to not put this match anywhere on his resume going forward.

[@LordHeath1972]

20:18 With all the work, time and effort put into making this video, the scripting, the editing, the narration and all the excellent quality of everything.... I just can't get past this shot!!!!

[@cheyennenelson3484]

I never watched WCW as a kid. Was always a WWF fan. But I was only 2 when this happened lol. So going back and hearing your stories and others from that time period really makes me feel great my friend so thank you.

[@chrislawson3134]

I don't believe I was ever as hyped for a match as Sting vs Hogan. To this day every WWE2K game I get, a Sting vs Hogan build up is a necessity in Universe mode.

[@nept1974]

Before the intro is even over I know this will be another excellent episode. You are the man for this history dude and please keep up the good work.

[@mrbrooklynny]

I truly appreciate the fact that he's actually counting Goldberg's streak.

[@tmage23]

Mortis + Alex Wright tag team name: Dead Can Dance

[@jedistreaming4006]

During the Goldberg/McMichael match, the music from WCW/NWO Revenge N64 is playing in the background. Brilliant. The greatest WCW game ever.

[@chrisbelos2834]

Been waiting for this one, thank you Wrestling Bios

[@cryptomnesiac]

Saturn was super underrated in WCW, killer move set

[@bio-jesus6967]

Watching all of these is so awesome. I jumped ship from WWF to WCW shortly after Nitro launched. I was hard-core WWF. I grew up towards the end of the Golden Era. I was born in 84. The Rockers were my ish and the barber shop spot broke my heart when I was a kid. It's been great watching Reliving the War. I get to see all the Raw stuff I missed. I love this channel

[@xancypillosi9497]

Broooo. I’m 84 also. And when Shawn betrayed Marty it killed me. Remember it like yesterday. Crazy

[@martylocke9791]

I love how you cut the music out right as you say Hogan defeats Sting. That's the best way to convey how it felt to learn of the result back then.

[@peterkaniuk8909]

Blessing us with another classic. What can't this man do. Bravo. Thank you 👏

[@chrisolson2846]

Been waiting for this! Thanks for all the work you do!

[@Ronsonator]

I was aware of WCW before this, but getting WCW vs NWO world tour for Christmas and then watching this PPV at my cousin's house is what made me a WCW fan for life.

[@a27dub]

Dean Malenko's child is over 20 now. Man I feel old....great vid!!

[@whosyourdaddymedia]

I love those Mortis and Wright tag team names!

[@jansenmccloud]

"Mortis and Wrathwurst" 😂😂😂😂

[@jimmycr8ckedcorn]

You’ve done a great job of covering the lead up to this. I watched this live at my buddies dads house and will never forget it. Thanks for your work on these, it has truly reminded me of a great time in my life- where I was nWo for LIFE!!

[@AASLT405]

best wrestling channel on youtube beside jc. playing by play is second to none makes jr proud

[@UndergroundSkat2000]

That intro!!! 🔥 Guerrero vs Malenko never disappoints, always well done with these two! It's sad that the rest of the card was kinda underwhelming considering how monumental this show was for WCW. Benoit vs Saturn is always a solid match, regardless of the unnecessary outside interference. Saturn put Benoit in the Rings of Saturn like he always does, complete with Load-eye shoving that sign in his face while he is in that hold. Bagwell was overflowing with charisma. Can't help but laugh with some of the stuff he says to the camera. DDP was the absolute MVP of WCW, he was the People's champion before the Rock was even a star

[@tombardsley3081]

As someone who was too young at the time when the Monday night wars were a thing, these videos really show what a real wrestling war between 2 major wrestling promotions was like. Can definitely agree with many comments on here that the finish to this show might have been the start of WCW’s decline

[@digitalmarketinghumans]

One of the best anticipation to this rivalry in WCW. This was one of the many reasons I was sooo invested in WCW at the time. Everyone was talking about Hollywood Hogan vs Sting!

[@92Rafay]

Starrcade was Forbidden Door of 1997. So many injuries.

[@Papaw.Rooster]

Dude, I love how you report facts as facts and speculation as speculation without sensationalism presenting evidence that supports either explanation or side of the story and let folks decide for themselves with a good sense of humor on top of it. I love your content.

[@digdugdat2847]

I think there should be an appreciation for just how much Vincent got the dogshit beat out of him in WCW for significantly less pay

[@dwightconway4072]

I dont know how to express to you how many times I've checked KZbin and you've made my day. Thx for all the work.

[@roryslaine7896]

Man, I just love this channel so much.

[@greatnezz10]

25 years later and Eric Bischoff still believes he did the right thing and he did nothing wrong.

[@jackcarraway4707]

He probably thinks firing Austin over the phone was the right call.

[@nickbanks7954]

I like Eric but there is a reason why they lost to the same people will do the Katie Vick story years later.

[@violagreene4643]

Eddie's reaction after the power slam read more as "petulant heel" than "determined babyface" to me. But it can be easy to slip from one to the other if you're not careful.

[@benniewoods1124]

I'll come back to this video often throughout the years, just for the Sting/Hogan build up.

[@pezpowerproductions2602]

You have once again made me glad that i can see my name at the end of these episodes,,,,,,,,, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!!

[@deandredukes95]

One of the early downfalls of WCW

[@isaiahwinbrone]

You are absolutely right

[@tylongkicks8821]

@Chainmastress34 That was the first big hole in the ship

[@FreneticZetetic]

It was the peak into the decline in the same night and match IMHO.

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

nWo Souled Out 1997 & the nWo Nitro attempt before this show both say hi.

[@constablekennedy7705]

Yes Sir

[@mcneilyism]

I can't stop laughing at that metal plate flying off! 😆

[@StealthMarmot_]

Nor can I, that is some Looney Tunes stuff right there. Bret's just looking at where it went thinking "How...did I get here?"

[@canuckj8382]

Love the dude in the crowd shown during Benoit vs Raven wearing NY isles fishermen jersey 👍🏻

[@stefan7399]

Watching this video during a thunder storm. Its adding to the effects of the Sting promo.

[@kerpal321]

i wish 1997 could have lasted forever

[@MachoJoe]

So Hogan did to Sting what Andre the Giant wouldn't to him. Way to pay it forward!

[@2ColdScoprio]

It finally just hit me. On this PPV Eddie Guerrero faced Dean Malenko. Chris Benoit faced Perry Saturn….the original Radicalz exploded on this night! 🤯

[@Eric-wu7bp]

The Way nick Patrick sold that Bret hart shot was priceless 😂

[@johnrodriguez8233]

All I remember sting saying Mamacita at the end....I Said to myself almost a whole year of not saying anything,his first words were Mamacita 🤣🤣🤣ahhhh I love WCW!!!!

[@righthandjds95]

If I it was me: I just signed Bret Hart, I got my main event for Starrcade 97, and I have momentum going into the show. I would’ve had Sting beat Hogan clean and celebrate, in the closing moments of the show let Bret Hart (debut) walkout on stage staring towards Sting, let this be the ending/downfall of NWO, and already got the fans tuning in for Monday.

[@Thor-Orion]

You have them split after the loss.

[@undertakernumberone1]

@@Thor-Orion no. You book their downfall slowly! Have Hogan become erratic and paranoid after he lost his belt. Who does he blame? Himself? No chance Brother. Bischoff? Eh... But who does he blame? The Outsiders, of course! And Syxx! Meanwhile, Bagwell and Norton (mainly using them because they were a tag team) become his sycophantic ear whisperers, seeing their chance of rising from "random members" to the new top guys after Hogan, with the Outsiders, and Syxx, being blamed. This drives them away, causing the Wolfpack to be formed. Members of hte nWo start drifting away and its power weakens. Sting runs as champion, but maybe loses it after a while, maybe to another face. Then, while feuding with the Wolfpack and others, Hogan wins the Big Gold Belt again, Bagwell and Norton win the Tag straps. It seems like the NWO rules agian. The next Nitro, Hogan invites the Wolfpack to come back into the nWo, to the winning team. Of course, only as lesser, cannonfodder members. They decline. Meanwhile, the members who drifted away go "I never left! nWo 4 life!" like the most slimey sycophants. But then, one or three PPVs down the line, Hogan looses the big gold belt to a face, Bagwell and Norton lose their belts to Hall and Nash. All the sycophants running away. Leaving only Hogan, Bagwell, Norton and Bischoff. A shadow of the nWo's former self. And then, in their last PPV match, they loose against the Wolfpack and are forced to disband once and for all. Remmeber, the Woflpack got quite over. Wouldn't want to miss out on that.

[@Thor-Orion]

@@undertakernumberone1 no, I meant split into factions, not completely split apart. The angle was still hot. The crowd REALLY wanted to see the Outsiders turn face on Hogan. When we get to the Slamboree where they're forced to split up the crowd is going crazy begging them not to split up. It's an amazing match, actually. Probably my favorite WCW pay-per-view main event, honestly. The Outsiders were SO over, and were clearly the reason why NWO was so popular and able to sell so many t-shirts. Hogan was getting booed out of the building every single night basically, and despite being in the same faction as Hogan, The Outsiders were cheered like faces most places, because they were SO entertaining and elevated the tag team scene which old school NWA and AWA (and especially WCCW) fans absolutely LOVED tag-team wrestling and were excited to see it end up back in the main event because of The Outsiders being involved in the title picture. They had great feuds with The Steiners, Harlem Heat, Giant and Lugar and several others. They weren't like Hogan where every match is the same and they always had to win or have something screwy happen to "protect" his character. That's the biggest reason people hated Hogan but quickly came to embrace The Outsiders.

[@xavierwilliams2228]

This is WCW at its complete apex. I remember being a 7 yr old kid watching thunder in Jan of 98 and remembering how it felt like wcw was coming dwn from that roller-coaster ride.

[@averywinters2400]

Imagine hart doesn’t get mentioned at all,sting gets a clean 123, confetti is falling while sting celebrates with WCW guys all around then the Guitar hits and out struts Hart in jeans and the leather jacket complete with the iconic pink sunglasses, Starcade fades to black as the most epic of stardowns happens