It has been 30 years since skilled wrestling was modified for good, when Hulk Hogan was revealed because the now-infamous “third man” of the nWo, alongside Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, at WCW Bash on the Beach 1996. Many inside the industry are looking back on the now-historic event, including then-WCW official Eric Bischoff. On an episode of “83 Weeks,” he discussed feeling prefer it wasn’t that way back.
“I take a look at [Hogan], now, in [photos] and I still cannot consider he is not here,” Bischoff said. “I still hear his voice every so often, pops into my head. Same with Scott Hall. Obviously, [Hall] passed awhile ago, but I have not really accepted that yet… Once you say 30 years ago, it looks like endlessly and it looks like five minutes ago, within the sense that I still feel like I must be getting a phone call from Scott or Hulk anytime now.”
Bischoff discussed how infamously, Hogan wasn’t sure if he desired to turn heel for the primary time in his already-lengthy profession. Sting was on deck to turn into the third man if Hogan modified his mind on the last moment, but Bischoff doesn’t think “The Icon” would have been the leader of the nWo.
“Just the characters, the personalities, I might say probably not,” he said. “I believe at that time, it might have been Kevin who would have probably taken that lead role.”
As Bischoff and Conrad Thompson were talking about other options for the “third man,” Bischoff revealed he hadn’t ever considered Lex Lugar. Bischoff said now, he realized that would not have been a foul idea, however it was never discussed.
“Would it not have been as big as Hulk Hogan? Absolutely not,” he said. “Would it not have been pretty rattling good? Yeah, it might have been.”
Scott Hall: A Jack of All Trades
When occupied with what would have happened if Hogan hadn’t turn into leader of the group, Bischoff pondered Hall’s profession. Hall and Nash, as The Outsiders, were one among the most important parts of WCW as a tag team. Bischoff said if Nash emerged as leader of the nWo, he doesn’t think it might have impacted how successful Hall’s profession was.
“Scott was so perfectly positioned,” Bischoff said. “He was a man that he didn’t need a belt, he didn’t must be a champion to be an especially helpful character. I believe Scott enjoyed type of being principally a jack of all trades. You would plug Scott into any situation.”
Bischoff said that Hall would kill it irrespective of where he was on any card, whether it’s the primary event, opening match, or an angle in between. He explained that he believes it was easy for Hall to tackle a more passive role, because he was so good at all the things, and maintained his profession with that approach.
“From just my perspective, Scott was in some ways cooler than his personality,” Bischoff said. “He had that cool vibe to him. There was just no one cooler than Scott Hall, really. But, as cool as that character was, he was even cooler.”
Should you use any quotes from this text, please credit “83 Weeks” and supply a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.