10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (6 Sept)

4. Why WCW Used A Vulture For Sting

Sting Eric Bischoff Vulture
WWE Network

Eric Bischoff has always been rightly patted on the back for the remarkable restraint he showed with Sting's new 'Crow' character between 1996-1997. The fact he managed to wait until Starrcade '97 until pulling the trigger on Sting vs. Hollywood Hogan is astounding, especially when one considers that WCW were smack bang in the middle of a ratings war.

Bisch claimed on his '83 Weeks' podcast that finding fresh things for Sting to do was a weekly ball ache.

That's why they decided to use a vulture at Clash Of The Champions XXXV. The idea was brought to the table by stunt coordinator Ellis Edwards, and it sounded (on paper, at least) like the best way to sell Sting's mind games without having him outright promo and ruin the mystique he was building.

Unfortunately for WCW, the vulture gimmick fell flat. The bird did have experience of working on camera in film, but the live crowd in Nashville likely spooked it and spoiled the moment. Bischoff could tell it was blowing hard mid-angle, but didn't regret trying to add more to Sting's crusade.

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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.