Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 63: Hollywood Hogan vs. Lex Luger (Nitro 8/4/97)

This was Luger’s big title shot and a rare Hogan Nitro title defense to headline the first three hour Nitro. I remember this night as I was at Stabler Arena for the live WWF RAW the night after Summer Slam. MFP and I made a sign to get on early Internet wrestling site 411 with our names on it. We actually got it on TV, and they never posted the screen cap. Fuck 411 and Stone9Cold, whoever that is. I’m not even sure it has anything to do with the 411 wrestling site out there now. The hell with them too. On to this surefire classic.

Hogan is newly shaved. Good for him. A new man I’m sure. Hogan shows some lazy wrestling holds, but he also takes a few bumps, to his credit. Hogan does have the heel gig down by this point. Crowd is really anti-Hogan. Hogan is actually working the harder of the two, and he’s the only one playing to the crowd. Boy Luger is a crappy face. Just goes to show you how powerful NITRO was a this point, as this crap match headlined the first Monday Night show to gain a 5.0 rating. Luger’s come back consists of kicks to the gut and slamming Hogan’s head off the turnbuckle. Hogan is out working Luger’s move set by far. That’s not to say they aren’t getting across their story, but it’s just funny to me.

Hogan uses his control segment to give shout outs to the ringside camera every five seconds. It becomes distractingly amusing. The offense and story does pick up when Hogan can’t finish Luger. Leg drop gets a bigger pop than the kick out. Luger makes a giant comeback, takes out the interference of Hall/Nash/Savage, and nails the forearm of doom. Pretty great scene and crowd reaction as Hogan sells well and walks into the Torture rack for the submission in nine minutes. I’m telling you, if anyone brings back the rack MFP and I will start a riot at shows cheering this man! Nitro crowd celebrates by being out of control and throwing trash all over, even though the NWO is out of the ring. The babyface locker room emptiest to put this over. I wish they still did this stuff. Sometimes WCW really got stuff right. A crazy time to be a fan of this crap. Fond memories, and a good match taking into account those involved. Still, nothing to transcending in hindsight . A great moment in Nitro history, right Tony? 2 ½ and 5/10.