[Brock]

Credit to JokerFC on another forum for this, but i read it and thought "Spot fucking on", and thought id post it here:

I have often lamented the awfulness of how Starrcade 97 went down and it is awful.but whats worse is the subsequent misuse of Sting to the point where he is a midcarder(and in the nWo) by mid 98.

Starrcade 97."wins"in an dreadfully booked affair.not what people were expecting from this dream match.....and then has to give the fucking title up on the next night's Nitro.

but WCW still has a chance to recoup and get going again right?

Souled Out 98:Sting wasn't featured on the PPV....... ???

but there's still time to salvage Sting and make him look like a credible threat to ending the nWo right??

Superbrawl VIII:Sting vs Hogan II!!!Sting wins the belt finally......with help from Randy Savage.so Sting CANT get it done on his own....2 PPVs on record to show that now..... :

but now Hogans out of the picture its Stings time to shine as champ.right???

Uncensored 98:Sting defeats Hall in an 8 minute "effort" in a match that not the main event of the card.a rematch from WMV(9 years prior)headlines the card while Sting lops around with mid card man Hall.

then the destruction continues......

Spring Stampede 98:Sting loses the title to Savage after Nash interferes in a match allotted a mere 10 minutes after interference from Nash

ah well-maybe Sting is better chasing the title yeah?

Slamboree 98:Sting and The Giant defeat the Outsiders for the tag titles.at least it main evented the show......it is worth noting however that Hogan wasn't on this show.

sigh......

Great American Bash 98:Sting beats Giant in 6 minutes to wrest control of the tag belts from him.he chooses his new nWo(outfit he swore to destroy) Wolfpac stablemate Kevin Nash(man who cost him world title 2 months previous)to be his new co champ.

oh Jesus.....

Bash at the Beach 98:Sting doesn't make the card dominated by Hogan/Rodman vs DDP/Malone

Road Wild 98:Sting features in the "epic" 8 minute battle royal to determine ?.

Fall Brawl 98:Sting features on Team Wolfpac in the disastrous War Games match.......

Halloween Havoc 98:Sting gets defeated by Bret Hart in a (very good)match for the US title.yes the 2 hottest men in pro wrestling at the start of 98 are scrapping it out for the now nearly meaningless US title while a rematch from WM6 8 years earlier gets all the build.

an injured Sting doesn't appear until Spring 99.....

so how does it look laid out in front of you like this?horrifying isn't it?

Im appreciate Sting is a nice guy who was just going with the flow, and had personal issues at the time, but even so when its analysed like that, its quite sad how it all played out.

 

[11Shareef]

Just WCW pulling a WCW here. I think we can agree that a lot of guys had horrible reigns as champion after the nWo. You'd think it would be an easy slam dunk, but someone couldn't do a clean job when it was the right time. I understand protecting your brand, but Hogan got a little ridiculous with it IMO.

 

[Jupiter Jack Daniels]

Speaks volumes about WCW that their highest paid guy not named Hogan would be portrayed as a mid card guy, fresh off the biggest (and most successful) angle in WCW history.


But, at the same time, you have to take into account the way Sting was viewed (and viewed himself) at the time. Eventhough he was surrounded by egos and political wars, he wasn't into that. You'll never hear about Sting speaking out against something, complaining about how he was used, which he gets commended for because he had stroke, he had enough leverage to say "Either do this or I'm going to New York" and could have gotten whatever he wanted out of WCW but he never did. He took what was given to him and tried to make the best of it, despite so many others not adopting that philosophy.

Along with that, you could look at Sting during that entire period and see something wasn't right. Add in the personal problems, Sting was getting burnt out and pretty much phoning it in, something Barry Windham spoke about during his Timeline 1991 shoot, about how he and Flair would have to encourage Sting to do his trademark howl.



It's easy to say WCW misused him but when you look at what he was going through and everything he had endured for the past 8 years (him and Vader pretty much carried that company for 3 years), you could argue that Sting put himself in that position and was content with it because he never spoke out, when it's all so likely that a guy of his standing, one of the original Turner guys and with all the allies he had in power, could have positioned himself much better.


In other words, he didn't even care. He had more important things to worry about. Too many injuries mounting up, a bad addiction and a marriage that was crumbling. Combine all of that, that's why he was used the way he was, more so because he never complained like everybody else would.

 

[bigbuxxx]

I have often lamented the awfulness of Sting in 1997.

 

[CM4]

The NWO completely dragged WCW down in 1998. Almost all of the top tier stars from the WCW side in '97 were sabotaged in '98 joining w/one of the two NWO factions. DDP was the only top WCW star from '97 that didn't fall victim to the NWO powerplay but he almost became a victim himself. Thankfully he said no to Nash.

 

[USAUSA1]

Sting just was a victim of the times. It was the Attitude era and people wanted to see Goldberg and Wolfpac more than Sting despite WCW bad booking. That's why Sting join the Wolfpac.

 

[CM4]

Sting just was a victim of the times. It was the Attitude era and people wanted to see Goldberg and Wolfpac more than Sting despite WCW bad booking. That's why Sting join the Wolfpac.

Yeah but it's just sad how WCW began unraveling in '98. The NWO overexposure that year was so painful.

 

[DGenerationMC]

Beats Hogan clean at Starrcade 97

Retains against Hogan and Nash on respective PPV matches filled with interference from the nWo split drama while beating Savage, Hall and Giant clean

Trades the title with Bret Hart over the course of 3 months while they watch each other's backs against both nWo Hollywood & Wolfpac

Comes out on top of rivalry with Bret as WCW Champion while having gained/accepted his first true ally that he trusts since his transformation

Finally loses the title to Hogan in Hogan's Last Chance inside a Steel Cage at Halloween Havoc 98 due to interference from Raven and his Flock

Feuds with Raven and The Flock going into Starrcade 98 as Sting's personal demons are brought to light and Raven manipulates him with mind games

Defeats Raven at Starrcade 98 in a brutal, bloody Raven's Rules Match

Disappears from TV and returns to WCW in the Spring of 99 no longer a mute

 

[GillbergReturns]

I really don't have a problem with Sting's misuse in 1998. At the end of the day he was 38 year old wrestler with a gimmick that didn't talk. He wasn't the future so if Hogan skirted his way around him so Goldberg could kill NWO off that would of been perfectly with me. Unfortunately that didn't happen either and that's why WCW isn't around anymore.

 

[Darkest Lariat]

I just watched Starcade '97 again yesterday. It's interesting how my once 12 year old brain interpreted it. That fast count nearly ruined it if not for Hart. I didn't remember they took it away the next day either. Which made that entire story arc and time put into it completely pointless. WCW was only that good for about 2 ½ years.

 

[CM4]

I really don't have a problem with Sting's misuse in 1998. At the end of the day he was 38 year old wrestler with a gimmick that didn't talk. He wasn't the future so if Hogan skirted his way around him so Goldberg could kill NWO off that would of been perfectly with me. Unfortunately that didn't happen either and that's why WCW isn't around anymore.

If you watch WCW in '97 you'll see why people criticize '98 WCW so much. Sting goes from the WCW franchise to being a Nash lackey in the Wolfpac. That's a drastic dropoff, age had nothing to do w/Sting's misusage that year, because except Goldberg everyone else that was in the main event scene in '98 was over 35. Goldberg's push that year had a lot more to do w/Austin's success in the WWF than him being the future of WCW. WCW had almost no long term planning by '98, they were hotshotting big matches on Nitro w/no build up to them. When Hogan was champion Nitro didn't beat Raw once head to head in the ratings in '98 so Bischoff felt that if Hogan dropped it to Goldberg WCW would regain the #1 spot. Unfortunately for Bischoff it backfired because Nitro only won head to head 5 more times after Goldberg won the belt.

 

[Steve-a-maniac]

It just goes to show that no matter how bad WWE currently is at booking talent and maintaining their momentum, they will never, ever be as bad as WCW. There is a veritable graveyard of careers that were fucked with so that Hogan and his buddies could stay in the spotlight and protect their characters.

 

[GillbergReturns]

If you watch WCW in '97 you'll see why people criticize '98 WCW so much. Sting goes from the WCW franchise to being a Nash lackey in the Wolfpac. That's a drastic dropoff, age had nothing to do w/Sting's misusage that year, because except Goldberg everyone else that was in the main event scene in '98 was over 35. Goldberg's push that year had a lot more to do w/Austin's success in the WWF than him being the future of WCW. WCW had almost no long term planning by '98, they were hotshotting big matches on Nitro w/no build up to them.

Why because they're both bald with a goatee? I'm not going to deny there wasn't those parallels but Goldberg and Austin really weren't that similar. People have always been attracted to the indestructible 280 pound freak of an athlete. See Warrior, see Lesnar, see Batista. With or without Austin he would be WCW's future. He just could do things no one else could. To do this day he arguably is wrestling's greatest powerhouse.

For Sting it is a drastic drop off but the landscape was NWO and that's it. NWO Black and White v NWO Wolfpac ended being the premiere storyline. I'm not going to say that was the right move but Wolfpac was certainly over as Hell and people always understate just how over Nash was. There's a lot of things I'd do differently but personally I agree with WCW's assessment that Sting could be pushed down the card despite how over he was. He essentially turned himself into an Undertaker like character and that's #2 at best.

 

[CM4]

Why because they're both bald with a goatee? I'm not going to deny there wasn't those parallels but Goldberg and Austin really weren't that similar. People have always been attracted to the indestructible 280 pound freak of an athlete. See Warrior, see Lesnar, see Batista. With or without Austin he would be WCW's future. He just could do things no one else could. To do this day he arguably is wrestling's greatest powerhouse.

For Sting it is a drastic drop off but the landscape was NWO and that's it. NWO Black and White v NWO Wolfpac ended being the premiere storyline. I'm not going to say that was the right move but Wolfpac was certainly over as Hell and people always understate just how over Nash was. There's a lot of things I'd do differently but personally I agree with WCW's assessment that Sting could be pushed down the card despite how over he was. He essentially turned himself into an Undertaker like character and that's #2 at best.

Except Bischoff constantly criticized Austin's appearance before he won his first World Title, saying someone that wore black trunks couldn't draw. Then saying that Austin was a "big fish in a small pond in the WWF", meaning that in WCW if he wore black trunks, was bald, and wore a goatee he would be a midcarder at best, but more than likely a jobber. Hogan only dropped the belt because Bischoff saw the ratings and realized how Hogan as champion couldn't match up to Austin as champion, so he put it on Goldberg as a short term solution. Guarantee you if Raw wasn't beating Nitro in the ratings consistently after Austin was given the belt Hogan would've continued to hog it that year. Hogan had the stroke to have the WCW Title throughout '97 because he was drawing viewers.

The Wolfpac may have been over, but having 2 NWO factions killed the purpose of an organization being named WCW, didn't it. WCW only had 2 headliners that weren't in an NWO faction by mid 1998, you don't think that's even a little ridiculous?

 

[GillbergReturns]

Except Bischoff constantly criticized Austin's appearance before he won his first World Title, saying someone that wore black trunks couldn't draw. Then saying that Austin was a "big fish in a small pond in the WWF", meaning that in WCW if he wore black trunks, was bald, and wore a goatee he would be a midcarder at best, but more than likely a jobber. Hogan only dropped the belt because Bischoff saw the ratings and realized how Hogan as champion couldn't match up to Austin as champion, so he put it on Goldberg as a short term solution. Guarantee you if Raw wasn't beating Nitro in the ratings consistently after Austin was giving the belt Hogan would've continued to hog it that year.

The Wolfpac may have been over, but having 2 NWO factions killed the purpose of an organization being named WCW, didn't it. WCW only had 2 headliners that weren't in an NWO faction by mid 1998, you don't think that's even a little ridiculous?

Well I'm not going to comment on a kayfaybe character belittling his competition for rating purposes. If he's looking to bring Austin down to me that's realizing he's a threat. How is black trunks a point? NWO was black and white too. Bad *** characters don't wear yellow and pink.

Now it's true he didn't think much of Stunning Steve and let him walk and I'm sure he probably regrets that one.

They also had Hogan lined up into huge celebrity matches so he really didn't need the belt either.

 

[CM4]

Well I'm not going to comment on a kayfaybe character belittling his competition for rating purposes. If he's looking to bring Austin down to me that's realizing he's a threat.

Now it's true he didn't think much of Stunning Steve and let him walk and I'm sure he probably regrets that one.

They also had Hogan lined up into huge celebrity matches so he really didn't need the belt either.

The WWF wasn't a threat to WCW when Bischoff was criticizing Austin, he was just being arrogant at the time. He saw Raw's ratings for the next 3 months after Austin got the belt and that's when he stopped criticizing him. :

 

[GillbergReturns]

The WWF wasn't a threat to WCW when Bischoff was criticizing Austin, he was just being arrogant at the time. He saw Raw's ratings for the next 3 months after Austin got the belt and that's when he stopped criticizing him. :

Nah he did the same thing to Foley and we saw how that worked out. Like I said he's playing a character and he constantly smack talked the WWF.

 

[CM4]

Nah he did the same thing to Foley and we saw how that worked out. Like I said he's playing a character and he constantly smack talked the WWF.

Well at the time only Austin had been a proven draw as WWF Champion so Bischoff had to go after someone else because he thought that the WWF would've been exposed as a one man show if someone else had it and Austin wasn't invovled. By '99 he completely stopped dissing the WWF because he kept being proven wrong. Throughout '98 he thought that the WWF's success would only be temporary and why wouldn't he think that, WCW was also doing well that year. Then he realized that WCW was beginning to lose fans to the WWF in '99 and he finally came back to Earth.

 

[Darkest Lariat]

Nah he did the same thing to Foley and we saw how that worked out. Like I said he's playing a character and he constantly smack talked the WWF.

People act like that was the only time WCW meantioned WWF on air. Eric had them doing that almost weekly for years before that incident.

 

[Brock]

People act like that was the only time WCW meantioned WWF on air. Eric had them doing that almost weekly for years before that incident.

In terms of the NWO angle. he asked Hall and Nash at Great American Bash '96 "Do you work for the WWF".