[1995-12-11-WCW-Nitro] Hulk Hogan & Sting vs Ric Flair & Arn Anderson

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

This is awesome! Hogan gets possibly the biggest heel heat of anyone on the entire yearbook -- coming out to LOUD boos, a "Hogan sucks" chant and fans ripping up his merchandise on camera! This is a pretty good match, but I can't get over the crazy crowd! Luger racking Hogan on the outside gets a big babyface pop. I guess in old NWA country, with Flair, Arn and Luger all against him, and Sting as a partner that is annoyed by him, he didn't have a chance, but it's still funny. The hot tag to Hogan gets absolutely no pop, and the reaction to the Hulk Up makes me wonder if we're going to see a riot. The post-match is good, with Pillman going after Sting and Luger making the save but letting Hogan fall by the wayside. Savage gets in Sting's face and gets punched for it! The crowd is totally on his side. Sting and Savage seem to be working out their issue and the crowd is reacting strongly, but Hogan is just KILLING this. Surreal all around, and probably one of the biggest must-sees on any yearbook.

[Tim Evans]

The guy in the crowd looking straight into the camera holding up a Hogan Bandana and then ripping it and throwing it at Savage says it all. Hogan was the biggest heel in wrestling. You almost feel bad for him.

[El-P]

Sullivan's booking was quite intricate, and Heenan made a good job of summerizing it at the beginning of the match. The pro-Horsemen crowd turned this good little match into an awesome segment. I wonder if Hulk didn't ran to the ring during Sting's entrance so he would get less boos. The crowd litteraly shitting on Hogan as he bitches about the tag the referee missed is pure gold. Hogan's overacting in the post-match is pretty funny, you kinda feel he was trying way too hard to get a real babyafce reaction by catering to Sting. Yeah, some excellent stuff here.

[PeteF3]

God, I LOVED this. The match is actually really good, with the Horsemen and Sting working a primo heat segment--well, not "heat," because of course this crowd is behind the Horsemen 100%. Bischoff acknowledges the partisan crowd but also makes a ton of excuses for the loud booing, like that they're booing Randy Anderson for not allowing the tag to Hogan. Sure, Eric. Big boos for the Hulk-Up and pin, but the Horsemen strike afterward. Luger keeps Pillman from attacking Sting, and lets them triple-team Hulk. Then Savage runs in...and Sting pays him back for last week with a punch to the face! Savage and Sting are really good in the post-match, but Hogan is a whiner as usual and also seems pretty pessimistic about Savage's chances against the Giant next week. What a friend.

 

Fan of the Year Award of course goes to that guy in the Braves cap who tears up the Hulk bandana before flashing the four fingers. An image that's stuck with me since this first aired, and I was happy to see it again.

[ajtroma]

The guy in the crowd looking straight into the camera holding up a Hogan Bandana and then ripping it and throwing it at Savage says it all. Hogan was the biggest heel in wrestling. You almost feel bad for him.

Naaahhhh.

[flyonthewall2983]

Flair said on his podcast that he paid people to rip up Hogan merch on camera. That's brilliant as both shoot and kayfabe.

[Superstar Sleeze]

Ric Flair & Arn Anderson vs Sting & Hulk Hogan - WCW Nitro 12/11/95

Nitro Recap: Eddie Guerrero vs JL serves as a backdrop to promote WCW vs New Japan at Starrcade. Best midcard match in quite some time on Nitro about 3 stars I’d say. Eddie gets the majority of the match as expected but Lynn gets a couple good spots as well. Orndorff takes some heat from Disco but beats him with lefts, the Boogie Woogie Elbow and a Saito Suplex. This is a backdrop from the brutal Horsemen beat down in Charlotte. Loose Canon gimmick is starting as Pillman just trashes a bunch of guys including Orndorff. Flair & Anderson have to clean up Pilllman’s mess. Spike Piledriver. Wonderful does the stretcher job. Orndorff comes back a little but ultimately doesn’t go anywhere. They are in Horsemen Country (Charlotte) so this is a great way to give the crowd some red meat to watch a classic Horsemen beat down. Pillman is the new Tully. The heat seeking firebrand and Flair & Double A will have to put out his fires. Luger was wicked over against Duggan. Duggan surprisingly takes most of the match but Luger clocks him from behind with a Forearm thanks to timely Mouth of the South distraction. He racks him up to a big pop. The reactions to Luger and Horsemen do not bode well for the Hulkster. Savage cuts one of his iconic promos one that I still quote to my project teams that I lead “How do you solve multiple problems? One at a time, one at a time, one at a time”. He has a loaded schedule Giant next week, Tenzan and then the winner of the Triangle match. Best Nitro in quite some time as the main event really delivers… 

A fan has a sign that says “The House Flair Built” and that is all you need to know as loud “Hogan Sucks” chants permeate the arena for the whole match and the post-match promo. Sting is still over so this is not a total pro-Horsemen crowd. The babyface shine is fun with Arn eating Press Slams from the Stinger and big rights from the Hulkster. The crowd wants to see the Nature Boy light up Hogan but they play it straight. Usual fun Hogan/Flair exchange loved the Flair Flip running into Sting boxing the ears. The transition to heat was really good. Sting had Anderson in the Scorpion Deathlock but relinquished when Flair came in and went to put him in but Arn dropped his ass with a DDT. Luger comes out and racks Hogan to a big pop. Awesome heat segment on Sting’s knee and big pop for the Figure-4, Sting be damned THIS IS FLAIR COUNTRY! Sting Press Slam! Flair holds onto his foot for dear life. Sting face buster and here comes the Hulkster. Spinebuster! NOPE! HULK-UP! You know the drill. Pillman and Luger attack. Sting fends them off. Macho Man out and Sting levels him but immediately regrets. Sting apologizes in the promo and Hogan is taking his side as the crowd chants Hogan Sucks! Savage says “I am the Master of Disaster of Overreacting, a fault I know” Savage was really on fire tonight and he accepts Sting’s apology. Still some dissension but I am enjoying these powwows immediately after the angle. 
 

The Nitro 6 (Hogan, Savage, Sting, Luger, Flair and Giant) are on fire. The booking is awesome and the characters are well-defined, charisma and heat is off the charts. Wicked fun classic Crockett match in front of a Crockett crowd. *** 1/2