41 Most Disgusting Promotional Tactics In Wrestling History RANKED
20. 1998 - WCW Exploiting Scott Hall’s Alcoholism
Competition for the top prize was rarely so fierce.
It was the first full year of the Attitude Era. 1998 was so loaded with shock-bait that a certain, rancid angle received not one vote: the Rock threatening to sexually assault Chyna before deeming her too unattractive to bother. There was simply too much muck through which to wade - that, or the typical wrestling fan of 1998 wasn’t bothered about that sort of thing.
Votes did include…
The Kaientai stable was shockingly racist. Moreover, the actress who played Mrs. Yamaguchi-san, love interest of Val Venis, was, per the sleuthing of David Bixenspan, underage when the WWF filmed her at the upskirt angle. Jacqueline was stripped to her bare breasts at the UK-exclusive Capital Carnage pay-per-view with children in attendance. When Louie Spicolli died, after mixing somas and wine, his onscreen rival and commentator Larry Zbysko said “I will not comment” when WCW talked around the death on Nitro. His death was virtually ignored.
Spicolli - born Louis Mucciolo, Jr. - died on February 15, 1998. He was 27 years old. Later that year, both the WWF and WCW booked storylines to capitalise on the real-life substance abuse issues faced by Hawk and Scott Hall, respectively. Each company sold the grotesque idea that, if you just tune in next week, you might see one of them suffer a terrible fate. That was the implication. What other endgame was possible? A feel-good ending? In 1998? When both performers were in legitimately, seriously rough shape?
Hall’s storyline won the award - probably because he was a bigger name, it’s grim to say.