3. WCW Championship Match: Goldberg vs. Diamond Dallas Page - Halloween Havoc 1998
The main event of the 1998 Halloween Havoc pay-per-view between heavyweight champion Goldberg and people's champion Diamond Dallas Page was not only a huge babyface vs. babyface bout, it was one of the most anticipated contests WCW still had left to offer. Both men were incredibly popular and key to the success the company was enjoying at the time, even as they began to fall more and more behind WWE in the Monday Night Wars. It was the one match that could have made a difference and helped turn the tide in their favor. Instead, a tremendous production error led to fans who purchased the pay-per-view event not even getting to see the contest they so desperately wanted to witness. The show was running long, thanks to a horribly overbooked and wrestled match between Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior. As champion and challenger took to the ring and the bell rang to signal the start of the match, the screen went black. The signal was cut because someone from production failed to notify the pay-per-view companies that they were running late. It was a disaster of epic proportions for the company, who suddenly had to refund paying customers, then aired the outstanding match for free the following night on Nitro. In what was arguably the greatest performance of Goldberg's career to date, he barely got past a determined Page following the Jackhammer. Unfortunately, what should have been a defining match for the franchise star instead turned in to one more death knell for WCW.
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.
