Even in the lead-up to the match, many grappling enthusiasts and industry critics wondered why WCW weren't promoting Goldberg vs. Hollywood Hogan on Pay-Per-View. Instead, management decided to put the match on an episode of Monday Nitro in July, 1998. The hook was that Goldberg was gunning for Hogan's WCW World Title, but surely millions of dollars in revenue were being thrown down the toilet? In truth, they were, but Eric Bischoff simply wanted to beat the WWF's Raw Is War program in the ongoing ratings war. 1998 had been the year during which - after a lengthy period in Nitro's favour - Raw had once again steered ahead of the WCW boys, and that didn't sit well with Bischoff. Many theorised that Goldberg vs. Hogan had originally been planned for PPV, but the truth is that it was concocted solely for Nitro. The match, taking place in the massive Georgia Dome, was a large draw, but it really should have made WCW millions more on the Pay-Per-View format. It's actually pretty stunning to think that Hogan vs. Goldberg never took place in a one-on-one match on PPV, Yes, the show drew close to $1 million at the live gate, but it could have been so much bigger. For Bischoff, Pay-Per-View never came into the equation, he just wanted to beat Vince McMahon once again and taste that ratings success.
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.
