For the very first episode of Monday Nitro, WCW needed something big. Looking to create a shocking moment, the company signed Lex Luger from the WWF, right under the nose of Vince McMahon. Luger had appeared just days earlier for McMahon, but he strolled out on Nitro, fresh off signing a contract with the competition. Going face-to-face with Hulk Hogan, Luger had a serious stare down with the WCW World Champion. The fan response was excellent, and the program went off the air without a hitch. Everybody was delighted with how the broadcast had turned out, everyone that is aside from Hogan. Irate with Luger behind the curtain, Hulk was frustrated that Lex had visibly smirked on camera. According to Luger, he thought the show had gone off the air by the time he smiled. In Hogan's mind, this ruined the confrontation, one which was built around the idea that Lex was coming to supplant Hulk as the top babyface in the company. It's unlikely many fans read into things the same way as Hulk, but there was an argument behind the scenes over what had happened.
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.
