10 Shocking Behind The Scenes Stories WCW Didn’t Want You To Know

2. Sting’s Hidden Starrcade Drama

Hollywood Hulk Hogan Scott Hall WCW Knife
WWE.com

Starrcade 1997 was the biggest WCW pay-per-view of all time, and it's roundly regarded as the highest of highs in company history. Behind the scenes though, there was a bit of panic. Both Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan were left disappointed when Sting showed up for a pre-match meeting looking "pale" and "out of shape".

Bummer.

The Stinger was going through personal problems at the time (his marriage was failing, for example), but Bisch and Hulk felt the biggest match of his career, and the first under his 'Crow' gimmick, would be enough to motivate him. Hogan, in particular, was hesitant about doing the job for the sickly-looking Sting.

Fans didn't see, hear or know any of this. To them, WCW's hastily-rearranged plan to have referee Nick Patrick "fast count" Sting was more poor booking from a promotion known for it. It was, but Bischoff and Hogan had their reasons.

They also couldn't exactly have the announcers acknowledge on air that Sting didn't look like, well...Sting.

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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.