7. WCW Championship Match: Sting vs. Hulk Hogan - Halloween Havoc 1999
The first pay-per-view under supposed creative "genius" Vince Russo, Halloween Havoc 1999 should have been a turning point for World Championship Wrestling. Instead, it was yet another strike against a company on its descent into oblivion, thanks in large part to a main event that demonstrated everything wrong with Russo's "crash TV" style of booking. Sting's heel turn at Fall Brawl in September 1999 was shocking, especially since the Venice Beach native had not been a full blown villain in well over a decade. It was a fresh development that had potential, even if his opponent was the same tired, red-and-yellow wearing Hulk Hogan that had dominated the industry for far too long. Rather than delivering a straight up main event that paid off the angle that preceded it, Russo tried to get too controversial, booking a scenario in which Hogan walked to the ring, laid down and let Sting pin him. It was controversy for controversy's sake, a huge mistake given the fact that it made no sense whatsoever in the context of the story being told. Fans looked upon the angle as what it was: another lame attempt by Russo to get fans talking. It failed, as WWE was so hot at the time, the twists and turns on their weekly television far more advanced and smarter than any of the desperate attempts to grab the attention of the audience that Russo was manufacturing.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
