Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 76: DDP vs. Hollywood Hogan (Nitro 10/27/97)

This must have been a competitive Monday Night Wars week since they’ve flown in Buffer to announce the main event. Plus you’ve got Hogan actually wrestling a top pushed babyface DDP. I’m already looking down the aisle for the run-in, folks.

“Self High Five” is still one of the best kick offs to a theme song ever. DDP is announced as being from the famous Jersey Shore. I love it. I’m becoming a retro-active DDP mark in my late twenties now. Heenan sells the heck out of DDP and this match, so for that night he was still on. DDP has his ribs taped up so you know the story of this match already. “th-th-the biggest icon in wrestling” comes down playing his belt like guitar, akin to when he would strum on his ball sack (shout out to MFP).

I’m getting the impression this may be the episode where they officially moved to three hours. Back story of DDP’s ribs is Hogan came out dressed as Sting and hit them with a bat the night before, meaning the Halloween Havoc PPV promoted an angle for Nitro. Backwards, huh? Hogasn uses a freakin’ wristlock/hammer lock early to out-wrestle DDP. My God. DDP tries to brawl back and this thing looks ugly as sin. Thankfully Hogan talks down to him and works the ribs, so some sanity prevails. Hogan needs to stick to a formula, not necessarily the same one, to look good. Calling Pat Patterson.

They tease the Diamond cutter and Hogan freaks on the outside. I like the effort to tell a story. Hogan bails again outside after a DDP come back. Crowd chanted for Hogan for a bit, then got quiet. Not the hottest crowd for a Nitro, but perhaps they are torn between egos and age in the ring.

Hogan short cuts to his control segment like a good heel, so you get several minutes of bad Hogan offense, but good DDP selling. Hogan’s chops are surprisingly solid tonight, and he throws a back drop suplex on the floor! I’ve seen it all now. Haha.

DDP coming from underneath is somewhat compelling to me, and both men are trying, but I enjoy the announcing a lot more than the match. I can’t believe I miss Tony Schiavone. Match does progress well as Hogan keeps beating him down at the ribs, but can’t keep him down for the pin. Hogan does connect with the crowd while heeling – it needs to be said. DDP fights back from underneath to a lukewarm response. Hogan is moving like a man with a broken back. Big boot hits but leg drop misses. DDP signals for the cutter but a fake Sting is down at ringside. You knew this wasn’t going down cleanly. DQ finish in 11:30 and the entire NOW comes down. Oh well. I see Syxx is still employed, as is Virgil/Vincent. The real Sting clears the ring as Hall and Hennig take multiple great bumps for Sting, though the process of feeding the Sting had gotten ridiculous looking by this point. 2 ½ and 5/10.