The Complete History Of The New World Order | Wrestling Timelines
July 1, 1996 - Mabel
Just to clarify a certain narrative…
It is reported in the July 1, 1996 Wrestling Observer Newsletter by Dave Meltzer that the Outsiders’ third man is a certain, not-great former WWF headliner:
“Bischoff, Hall, and Nash were discussing names this past week with Mabel as the top candidate.”
However, in the July 8, 1996 Observer - which was released before Bash At The Beach, but was dated as such for postal reasons - Meltzer gets the actual scoop.
“My feeling is that [the third man is] Hogan because a reader was working on the set of the movie Hogan is doing with Roddy Piper and said that Hogan told Piper he was asked to be the third guy and that he was probably going to do it.”
July 7, 1996 - “But Which Side Is He On?”
The Outsiders wrestle the WCW babyfaces - Randy Savage, Sting, and Lex Luger - at an initial disadvantage. Luger is quickly injured in the storyline to correct the psychology.
Hulk Hogan strides into the Bash At The Beach main event while it’s in progress. On commentary, Bobby Heenan asks: “But which side is he on?”
Strangely, Heenan is criticised for this call in subsequent years - even though his entire genius schtick is to doubt the moral compass of the heroes with the straightest of faces. Moreover, there’s no spoiling the surprise. It is simply too inconceivable.
Hogan - who has played heel before, but in another lifetime and not for well over a decade - drops the big leg on Randy Savage. This is the most jaw-dropping moment in wrestling history. That is not hyperbolic. Even when the magic is gone, the lore of Hulkamania is too overwhelming to comprehend what you are seeing. Hogan is a hero. Hogan “pins” Savage after the match is thrown out.
The “Hogan effect” existed. Before he ruined his reputation, even the people who hated him on tape were cast under his spell live - and these fans in Daytona Beach let him have it.
Hogan gets the name of his own stable wrong at one point - “the New World Organisation of Wrestling!” - but gets everything else right.
In recent years, it was all too easy to disregard who Hogan was, since he was playing a caricature of a cartoon character. This, instantly, is different. With his gruff voice and gigantic frame, Hogan within seconds becomes threatening, nasty.
Gene Okerlund is superb at registering his disgust as Hall and Nash mock Hogan’s old posing routine in the background of the shot. Hogan explains his actions. He says that “Billionaire Ted” promised him movies and marquee match-ups.
In a genius line, Hogan says “I’m bored, brother”. This is great. The boredom is obvious, a feeling WCW fans know all too well. Hogan is going through the motions, with his awful monster-of-the-week formula, and he has the temerity to say that he’s bored?
It’s so easy to resent him. He is Hollywood Hogan now.
In an iconic scene that will become very familiar, Hogan is pelted with garbage. The scene is alive and real, a feeling intensified by two stunning ad-libs. Gene says the garbage is fitting; that’s who Hogan has aligned himself with. Hogan plays off Gene playing off the detritus, saying “all this crap in the ring represents these fans out here”.
Setting the promo template for virtually every turn thereafter, he blames the fans, telling them to “stick it”.
The big bang just happened. Everything changes subsequently.