50 Best WCW Moments Ever
9. Hollywood Spray Paints The Belt
Visit Hulk Hogan's shop in Orlando, Florida today and you'll see a version of the old nWo WCW World Title hanging high above the main desk. It's unclear whether or not that's an original. It's probably a replica, but the thing drips with Hollywood cool and is a must-have for any self-respecting WCW belt mark.
According to Eric Bischoff, Hogan's decision to spray paint the main plate at Hog Wild 1996 was off the cuff. Or, at least, it wasn't something Hulk had clued Bischoff or other members of company management in on. He obviously had to plan it in advance, because the whole thing was too staged and deliberate to be totally ad-libbed.
Hogan probs didn't know the legacy he was kicking off by painting "nWo" in black paint over the big gold. That symbolism would become something WCW used for years, and also something Vince McMahon's WWE could monetise for replica sales for up to 30 years later - there's no sign of the clamour for this style dying out amongst collectors.
Hulk beat The Giant in the main event, then got creative and arty. He made history.