WCW history would have been a lot different if it was it was Sting, rather than “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan who led the nWo.

In the annals of wrestling history, certain moments stand as seismic shifts, altering the very fabric of the sport. One such juncture unfolded during the inception of the NWO, where the iconic trio of Hollywood Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall emerged as architects of change.

However, behind the scenes, a fascinating mystery lingers. Imagine a world where the renowned Sting, WCW’s paragon of virtue, stood at the precipice of joining this revolutionary faction. Because that’s exactly what almost happened.. What if the leader of the NWO wasn’t Hogan, but rather the enigmatic Sting?

The Birth Of NWO And Uncertainty Around Its Leader

The Mystery Of The Third Man At Bash At The Beach 1996

The formation of the NWO at Bash at the Beach 1996 sent shockwaves through the wrestling world, transcending scripted rivalries into a realm of unpredictability. Hollywood Hogan, an eternal symbol of heroism, turned the tide, aligning himself with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall to forge an alliance that would become the stuff of legends.

When Hall and Nash were alone, a critical question lingered: Who would be the third man in their match at Bash at the Beach 1996? Scott Hall, in a revealing interview, disclosed a fascinating behind-the-scenes dilemma.

In the chaotic moments leading up to the revelation, neither Hall nor Nash knew who would complete their unholy trinity. The names of Bret Hart and even the virtuous Sting were considered, each adding an intriguing layer of uncertainty to this pivotal chapter in wrestling lore. He said:

“We had no idea who it was going to be. The whole third guy thing came up by accident. I remember Kev and I called Bret and I spoke to him, Kev spoke to him, and we told him it was really fun working at WCW.

It was really laid back, guaranteed money, it was easy… Bischoff was interested, he was offering him a pretty sweet deal, but Bret wasn’t interested. We wanted it to be Hulk, but Hulk had creative control in his contract, so he didn’t have to do anything he didn’t want to do.

We went to the ring. We hadn’t even met Hulk yet. I met him briefly at WrestleMania 9. But I didn’t know Hulk. We actually went to the ring in Daytona and Hogan wasn’t even there yet. He was on a jet, flying cross country from shooting a movie. Bischoff wanted it to be Hulk, but before we went out, Bischoff told us ‘If Hulk doesn’t show, I’m gonna send out Sting.’” (H/T WrestleZone)

Sting vs. nWo was perhaps WCW’s most iconic rivalry ever, and these wild moments from that storyline are worth revisiting.

Eric Bischoff Questions If Sting As NWO’s Leader Would Have Worked

Hulk Hogan Has The Biggest Heel Turn Ever

Eric Bischoff, the orchestrator behind WCW’s bold moves, provided crucial insight into the behind-the-scenes deliberations. In his podcast, “83 Weeks,” Bischoff underscored Sting’s pivotal role in the contingency plan for the NWO’s third man.

Bischoff’s revelation sheds light on the strategic thinking within WCW’s corridors, showcasing Sting as the insurance policy in case Hulk Hogan didn’t make the historic turn to villainy. But he admits it wouldn’t have been the same. He said:

“I think it still would have been, if it would have been Sting, I think people would look back at it and go, wow, that was really cool, that was a great story, that was a great angle, because of the way Scott and Kevin came in and the mystery, there hadn’t been a mystery in wrestling for a long time at that point.

I think people were asking the question, who is the third man. That, in and of itself, made it a good angle, or a good storyline, I think, better way to say it, but it certainly wouldn’t have had the impact, nothing against Sting, Sting is a phenomenal performer, nothing but respect for him, but Hogan turning heel, nothing, no one could have made a bigger impact in that moment than Hulk Hogan. And that’s why we’re still talking about it today.”

What Would Sting’s Career Be If He Was The NWO’s Third Man?

There Would Be No “Crow” Sting

Eric Bischoff’s assertion that Sting would have brought success to the NWO, but it wouldn’t have been the same without Hogan, echoes the sentiment of a wrestling era shaped by larger-than-life personas. Hulk Hogan, synonymous with the ultimate good guy, transcended wrestling to become a global icon.

His decision to turn heel at Bash at the Beach 1996 marked a seismic shift, shattering the established norms of storytelling in the industry. This singular moment not only propelled the NWO into legendary status but also propelled WCW to the forefront of the wrestling war.

While many wrestling fans consider Sting vs. the nWo as WCW’s greatest rivalry, others find the feud overrated.

Instead of joining NWO, Sting actually went to war with them. As Sting went on to have an iconic feud with NWO, including joining the NWO Wolfpac after their split, the wrestling landscape would have been drastically different if Sting had led the NWO originally.

The current Sting, known for his black crow persona, emerged from his feuds with NWO. If he had been cast as the original third man, the entire trajectory of his character would have been altered. Hogan’s unexpected heel turn remains a pivotal moment, shaping the legacy of both NWO and WCW, and Sting’s contribution to wrestling history took a different but equally significant path.