The Complete History Of The New World Order | Wrestling Timelines
August 4, 1997 - Luger Wins!
Lex Luger is one of the three key babyfaces in the fight against the nWo.
The nWo remains white-hot; while the WWF is getting its sh*t together creatively, and how, we are deep in the ‘83 weeks’ era of consecutive Nitro wins in the Monday Night Wars ratings battle. The nWo also remain an unstoppable force, having held the WCW World Heavyweight title hostage since August 10 of the prior year, when Hogan dethroned the Giant at Hog Wild.
Spray-painted with the logo, it is referred to by members of the faction as the nWo World Heavyweight title. The nWo’s invincibility heats up the faction, but renders the week-to-week experience of Nitro a constant blitz of heel heat.
Luger shockingly wins the World title on Nitro. It’s thrilling in and of itself, and the sensation is dreamlike, since the main event was made on an impromptu basis earlier in the show.
In one of the most enduring moments in Nitro history, fondly remembered forever for its rare, true joy, Luger cleanly defeats Hogan with his Torture Rack submission to a mass eruption of a pop. Luger is beloved, had apologised for not trusting Sting in a great, heartfelt promo delivered on the November 11, ‘96 Nitro, and his cocky demeanour, once a bit off-putting, soars in the era of the cool heel - but he isn’t Sting.
The purpose behind this glorified ‘Dusty finish’ is questioned when Hogan regains the title days later at Road Wild. What WCW accomplishes here is twofold.
The monotony of the nWo is suspended. It was getting a bit much.
Also, ahead of Starrcade, the fans are conditioned to believe that Hogan is capable of doing a job.