When the nWo faction formed in 1996, WCW management decided that the group would do everything they could to come across as the ultimate bad guys of pro wrestling. That mindset extended to Nick Patrick becoming the nWo's official referee, doing everything he could to screw the babyfaces out of victory, in a manner not too dissimilar to Danny Davis. By 1997, Patrick was booked to approach the WCW announce desk on Nitro and explain that he was sick of working for Eric Bischoff and New World Order. The storyline called for the company to hire back Patrick on a probationary period, but he was soon up to his old tricks again, counting quickly during the huge World Title match between Sting and Hollywood Hogan at Starrcade 1997. Incredibly, Patrick's count didn't look all that fast, which means he either messed up the quick fire count, or didn't get the memo. The result was that Sting looked somewhat foolish, his big babyface moment ruined, and many fans have cast aspersions that Hogan was in Patrick's ear, telling him to count normally. Whatever the case, the count was not quick enough to come across as a screwjob from referee to wrestler, which only made fans more confused when Bret Hart ran down to ringside, grabbed the mic and assured everyone that no-one was getting screwed like he had just one month prior at the WWF's Survivor Series show.
Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.
