2. oWn - One Warrior Nonsense
WWELate 1998 saw the WWF continue to reach new heights with its Attitude Era -- featuring the continuation of the Steve Austins angle with the Undertaker, as well as the beginning of the Rock/Mankind feud, and the subsequent birth of Mr. McMahons Corporation stable. Meanwhile, WCW continued to rehash old rivalries for Hogan. Just two years prior he had faced off with Rowdy Roddy Piper in a stinker of a contest, and only a few months previous, had engaged in the aforementioned, dreaded Jay Leno match. Now, with Goldberg and DDP feuding over the WCW title, Hogan was left without much to do. Somehow, it was decided to bring in the Warrior -- ultimately able to use the moniker, because he legally changed his name to Warrior. Warrior made his debut in WCW on the August 17, 1998 episode of Monday Nitro. While Hogan, the Disciple, and Eric Bischoff were in the ring -- going about their typical bragging routine -- the lights suddenly dimmed and music played. Out of the darkness walked the Warrior, who upon entering the ring, cut a laboring, long-winded, unintelligible, 13 minute promo. Warrior would take extraordinarily long pauses between speaking and even used nonwords like unrecreatable. Its clear that only a few minutes into the segment, Warrior went off the rails and into business for himself -- Hogan even gave up midway through and just looked on in disbelief. The shenanigans would continue in the buildup to their match at Halloween Havoc 98. The most infamous incident being Warrior in the mirror. While looking for the Disciple, who had joined Warriors oWn or One Warrior Nation -- not of his own volition, but by Warrior somehow brainwashing him -- Hogan and Bischoff entered a dressing room. Hogan gazed into a mirror on the wall as Warrior appeared to be standing within it. But while Hollywood rambled incoherently, attempting to talk to the Warrior, Bischoff -- who was standing right beside Hogan -- looked confused. For some reason, Bischoff couldnt see Warrior, even though Hogan could -- the commentators even saw and acknowledged the Warriors presence. Finally, Halloween Havoc arrived, and two of the biggest icons of sports entertainment went head-to-head. Just like the rest of the feud, the match was horrid. Both competitors had lost a not just a step or two, but many, since their last encounter at WrestleMania VI in 1990. Their timing was completely gone, and there just seemed to be no chemistry between the combatants. Hogan even attempted to throw a fireball at the Warrior, only to have it blow up in his own face -- a fitting metaphor for the entirety of the feud. As a matter of fact, Dave Meltzers Wrestling Observer Newsletter honored the angle with their Worst Feud of the Year award -- and rightfully so. It was all an utter failure. What could have been something great -- or at least good -- turned out to be absolute trash. Ultimately, the Warrior would only stick around for a couple of months and would compete in just four matches before eventually retiring from active competition -- but not before contributing to one of the worst moments of Hogan's career.