Leno was nowhere near as popular or influential as Carson. Appearing as a stand up on Carson Tonight Show made your career. I can't name a single fucking stand up that appeared on Leno.
Lots of famous comedians appeared on Leno. He didn’t make their careers like Carson did they were already famous when they appeared on Lenos show. He was no Johnny Carson not even close. David Letterman was a lot better than Leno
As an NWA fan of the late 80s and a diehard WCW supporter through 1992, and perhaps a little begrudgingly late 93, I just threw up in my mouth that I just discovered that happened.
WTF are you taking about, all of this was Hogan’s idea, he wanting to be big in Hollywood and do real movies, not shit like Mr. Nanny
Getting on Leno’s good side was the entry door to Hollywood stardom and the Hulkster was fully aware of that
I agree but I just wanted to hear someone on here finally tell the truth.I have nostalgia for older wrestling to but lets face facts everything wasnt great especially since I've been going back and watching it recently it's definitely not as good as I remember it for some reason and not to say you have nostalgia for older wrestling but I see alot of people on here that do myself included until recently when I made the mistake of going back and watching it now that I'm alot older.
Malone hitting a diamond cutter alongside DDP was at least a cool moment.
The Jay Leno thing felt more like a way to get Bischoff involved in a big time angle than anything.
Obviously, that picture of Hogan selling a submission by Leno is ridiculous. However, the angle itself was, oddly enough, what made me a long-term wrestling fan.
I used to watch Leno's Tonight Show with my Mom, and I remember Leno and Kevin Eubanks talking about Bischoff copying his show. More important to me was them talking about Hogan, and then bringing out a "Mini Hogan" to make fun of him. It shocked me to find out on there that he was now a bad guy called Hollywood Hogan. I vaguely remembered seeing him as a little kid when he was Hulk Hogan, and I knew he used to be a red-and-yellow good guy.
When Hogan, Bischoff and DDP actually showed up on Leno's show and DDP issued the challenge for Road Wild, I was hooked. I started watching every WCW show I could from that point on (at least until I became a WWF fan), and DDP became my favorite wrestler for quite a while.
I get that they wanted the mainstream publicity that they would get from Jay Leno and invading the Tonight Show, but I don’t think that they needed to put their biggest star, Hulk Hogan, in a position to get beat up by Jay Leno.
I would have booked it as just a short match between Leno and Bischoff with DDP in Leno’s corner and a member of the nWo B team in Bischoff’s corner. That way they still get the publicity from invading the Tonight Show and having Leno wrestle, but without making their biggest star look weak in the process.
And then you have Hogan free to challenge Goldberg for the title in the main event as well.
I think WCW did a great job at marketing their PPVs as the most can’t miss thing ever. So many of them were bad and/or under delivered and yet I’d be right there with my limited teenager money buying the next one.
That’s fair, but I guess I don’t know if trying to go mainstream really worked. Like, I know I didn’t give two shits about Leno’s match, or Malone, or Rodman. They were all nothing matches.
Naw Malone and Rodman match is levels above this bullshit. Those guys are actual professional athletes and showed they could perform the basics. There match by celebrity guest standards was digestable IMO
My timing is off, this was before Russo came on board wasn’t it? If so they can’t keep blaming him for the downfall it was a sinking ship before he was captain
I was a huge Leno fan when I was younger, thought this was a stupid match, I hate when people from Hollywood or sports get involved in matches
Expessially punters
True, but, your World Champion should be in the main event. Goldberg won the title in July and didn't main event until *Halloween Havoc* in October, and he and DDP had to rescue the show after the Hogan-Warrior II debacle. (That match should have been the main event at *WrestleMania VII*.)
I know that. The War was already over by the time Hogan-Slaughter happened, and they dragged the feud out all year, when it SHOULD have been Warrior returning the job from a year earlier.
Agreed, but everyone at WCW knew that Goldberg was a joke who couldn't wrestle, all he had was an entrance and 2 moves. So it didn't really mater where he as placed on the card even though he was Champ, he would always get the same reaction regardless.
But yes I see your point
One of those rare times when what’s good for business is bad for fans.
Just like David Arquette winning the world title…yea ratings were up for a short time and it was a big one-time deal, but it hurt the existing fan base more than it helped and business ultimately suffered because of it.
I actually still have yet to watch this ppv or this match. I’ve only seen the battle royal.
Similar to the zombies lumber jack match, I pretty much avoid wrestling segments where I know I’ll question myself being a wrestling fan.
It was fine. This was the 9th most purchased show in WCW history, they were still a hot commodity (despite the fact we are literally like 4 months away from the start of the out of control downward spiral).
People acting like Leno just owned Hogan all over this match here are being silly. He got in just a couple of holds, and while ridiculous visually, it's not like he mopped the floor with the guy.
I think as an idea of "holy shit - Jay Leno wrestling Hogan, are you serious?!?" it had some legs. It just probably belonged on Nitro, which almost definitely would have drawn a great quarter hour. The better move would have been for Hogan to lose to Goldberg a second time before pivoting off to Warrior, but I realize Hulk likely wouldn't have gone for a second clean pinfall loss in such a short window.
This was after the Karl Malone/DDP-Rodman/Hogan match right? That was an awful two match run. I remember being a kid and I fell asleep because the matches were so boring
It was a horrible, horrendous mistake. At least with Malone and Rodman, they were athletes and were believable enough. They didn’t do anything too complicated or outrageous during their match. The diamond cutter is a move that can be learned quickly and believe to be effective. Jay was neither. He should not be in the ring unless he was going to interfere when the referees back was turned to turn the tables on and Company. Like hit hogan with a belt. For example, when Mr. T was with Hogan, he looked in very good shape. Seemed very credible and did simple power-based moves. Of course, when he was going against Piper in the boxing match, they actually recorded him being trained along with Piper. That kept the air of believability.
Fucking horrible n abysmal. Had they just not done the Rodman n Malone stuff the month prior, and actually had some build, at least you could have drawn serious money
Hurt WCW more than the Finger Poke of Doom imo. It hurt the ENTIRE roster because in Hogan was the ‘best’ in the company and was getting clowned on by Leno, what does that say about everyone else?
Also the argument for it was in was for the ‘mainstream’ audience, and yes, Leno was a big star at the time. But he was an old star in a lot of ways and WCW should have been capitalizing on the younger audience that the NWO brought in. Especially with how hot stars like Austin and DX were. Not many people watching wrestling at the time cared about Leno.
i was too young to buy ppvs and watched recaps on nitro. they could have lied saying it was the greatest ppv of all time and i would have bought into it hook line and sinker.
They really were jumping the shark in mid 98. Malone and Leno involvement was not the same as Tyson at WM 14. Not sure if that was what they were going for...
All I know is there is a moment in that match where there is silence from the crowd and hogan is throwing Leno into the ropes as someone slowly shouts “Hogan sucks”. Then immediately after Hogan says back. “So does your Mother”. Amazing moment
I just want to know about the pitch meeting….
“ALL RIGHT, CHECK THIS OUT BROTHER! THE BIG DUDE IN THE SKY MAN…. HE TOLD ME TO GIVE JAY LENO A CALL AND OFFER HIM A SHOT AT THE TITLE AND I SAID TO MYSELF…. WITH THESE PYTHONS BROTHER…. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF ITS CONAN, DAVID, OR OPRAH; I AM NWO 4 LIFE!
After all the docs and books on WCW/Bischoff, I’m surprised this wasn’t on a Nitro. As crappy as it was, it would’ve brought in a huge rating and would’ve helped sell out an arena that might not have already been sold out. You know… with fans… that pay to attend.
Just another instance of a non-wrestler wanting to participate and the WCW hoping it'd draw more eyes to the promotion. The only thing it did was make the current fans groan.
Love Jay Leno! Surprisingly strong performance but nothing I would book for a serious wrestling company. Maybe a one off smack backstage that gets broken up but a match is a little much. Jay though did the best with what he had to work with.
Did it need to be the main event? It wasn't as big as Rodman/Malone the month before, especially coming off of that heated finals between the Bulls and Jazz. I remember at the time (I was only 5), I was flabbergasted that my guy Goldberg only got two ppv main events over his 5 1/2 months as world champion. Of course now I know that part of that was his limited skills...
He did an awesome job. I’m not much of fan of celebrities coming in for matches (Dennis Rodman, anyone?). I am cool with it if they can do it competently. Wasn’t a fan of Logan Paul before he came to WWE, but he’s impressed me a great deal.
I think it was fine. Hog Wild/Road Wild was typically a lower drawing PPV for WCW and this one drew huge numbers plus running the storyline ON the Tonight Show at the height of The Tonight Show was a huge deal for WCW as well. It was completely innocuous in the position they put it in.
What if bischoff rang the bell on the arm lock screw job finish- the music guy shoots on Leno- when he gets hit from behind with a shovel by Paul Schafer who gives the belt to Letterman fingerpoint of doom style.
Can't believe hogan sell for jay leno lmao
I agree jay Leno getting the drop on hogan said as Bad and made hogan look weak
Hogan was desperate for Hollywood approval. Leno was basically the King of Hollywood at the time, much like Johnny Carson was in his day
Imagine calling Jay Leno the king of hollywood just because you want to dunk on Hogan.
Leno was nowhere near as popular or influential as Carson. Appearing as a stand up on Carson Tonight Show made your career. I can't name a single fucking stand up that appeared on Leno.
With the exception of a clown like Jimmy Fallon whomever hosted the Tonight Show was very influential in Hollywood back in the day
Lots of famous comedians appeared on Leno. He didn’t make their careers like Carson did they were already famous when they appeared on Lenos show. He was no Johnny Carson not even close. David Letterman was a lot better than Leno
Do you understand how much these guys made that night. I bet they all sat in a room and smoked a cigar.
Yeah but this was part of why WCW started to go down hill.Its up there with the finger poke of doom
Can’t believe he dropped the belt to Goldberg so he could wrestle Jay fucking Leno lol
Vince Russo was the champion at one time. It's more unbelievable that Hogan didn't drop it to Leno.
WCW wrestling legends Vince Russo, Jay Leno and David Arquette...
As an NWA fan of the late 80s and a diehard WCW supporter through 1992, and perhaps a little begrudgingly late 93, I just threw up in my mouth that I just discovered that happened.
One headbutt and Hollywood is going home in a coffin, he knows this and fears Leno because it.
Of all the times Hogan didn’t use his creative control clause he chose this time.
that works for me, brother
WTF are you taking about, all of this was Hogan’s idea, he wanting to be big in Hollywood and do real movies, not shit like Mr. Nanny Getting on Leno’s good side was the entry door to Hollywood stardom and the Hulkster was fully aware of that
And how did that work out for terrible Terry?
Oh for sure he failed, that's obvious, but I think my point still stands
I agree but I just wanted to hear someone on here finally tell the truth.I have nostalgia for older wrestling to but lets face facts everything wasnt great especially since I've been going back and watching it recently it's definitely not as good as I remember it for some reason and not to say you have nostalgia for older wrestling but I see alot of people on here that do myself included until recently when I made the mistake of going back and watching it now that I'm alot older.
😅😅😅😅😅😅touché touché
I mean seriously🤣🤣🤣
It made the entire professional wrestling business look very stupid.
I know it killed any realism that wrestling had at that point.
The business did a pretty great job at that long before Leno got involved.
awful
This is incorrect
Stupid, just like 99% of all other celebrity ring appearances.
At least the NBA guys were at least athletes lol
Malone hitting a diamond cutter alongside DDP was at least a cool moment. The Jay Leno thing felt more like a way to get Bischoff involved in a big time angle than anything.
Wasn’t it Malone that actually trained for a bit so he wouldn’t fuck up simple moves?
Malone wasn't bad
Malone was a beast.
Literally a beast. Impregnated a child.
Malone, Rodman, Logan Paul and Steven Amell are the only good ones that come to mind
No love for mayweather?
Bad Bunny
Obviously, that picture of Hogan selling a submission by Leno is ridiculous. However, the angle itself was, oddly enough, what made me a long-term wrestling fan. I used to watch Leno's Tonight Show with my Mom, and I remember Leno and Kevin Eubanks talking about Bischoff copying his show. More important to me was them talking about Hogan, and then bringing out a "Mini Hogan" to make fun of him. It shocked me to find out on there that he was now a bad guy called Hollywood Hogan. I vaguely remembered seeing him as a little kid when he was Hulk Hogan, and I knew he used to be a red-and-yellow good guy. When Hogan, Bischoff and DDP actually showed up on Leno's show and DDP issued the challenge for Road Wild, I was hooked. I started watching every WCW show I could from that point on (at least until I became a WWF fan), and DDP became my favorite wrestler for quite a while.
That's basically the same thing that happened to me
I get that they wanted the mainstream publicity that they would get from Jay Leno and invading the Tonight Show, but I don’t think that they needed to put their biggest star, Hulk Hogan, in a position to get beat up by Jay Leno. I would have booked it as just a short match between Leno and Bischoff with DDP in Leno’s corner and a member of the nWo B team in Bischoff’s corner. That way they still get the publicity from invading the Tonight Show and having Leno wrestle, but without making their biggest star look weak in the process. And then you have Hogan free to challenge Goldberg for the title in the main event as well.
Nowhere near as bad as it could have been, but still a very dumb idea.
Bret Hart feels Leno is far more skilled than Goldberg.
Bret/Conan vs Goldberg/Leno is a dream match
Bill Goldberg
is a talentless douche
Yeah but what an entrance though. He was the ultimate wrestler for young marks who knew nothing about wrestling lol
This match is actually better than the Rodman/Malone stuff the month before. It definitely still sucks, but it’s a step above that somehow.
Anything screwed up in the Malone match is because Rodman was drunk.
That was when I stopped buying WCW pay-per-views.
I think WCW did a great job at marketing their PPVs as the most can’t miss thing ever. So many of them were bad and/or under delivered and yet I’d be right there with my limited teenager money buying the next one.
Nah, once they made it look like Jay Leno could hold Hogan in an arm lock, I was on my way out.
Oh, don’t take my comment as an endorsement. It’s more their ability to consistently appeal to my 13 year old brain.
That’s fair, but I guess I don’t know if trying to go mainstream really worked. Like, I know I didn’t give two shits about Leno’s match, or Malone, or Rodman. They were all nothing matches.
Malone was actually pretty awesome.
Naw Malone and Rodman match is levels above this bullshit. Those guys are actual professional athletes and showed they could perform the basics. There match by celebrity guest standards was digestable IMO
My timing is off, this was before Russo came on board wasn’t it? If so they can’t keep blaming him for the downfall it was a sinking ship before he was captain
Correct. Russo did not join WCW until October of 1999. Also, I agree that WCW was in rapid decline prior to Russo.
Russo was still in WWE during 1998, pretty sure he didn’t go to WCW until late 99 or so.
I was a huge Leno fan when I was younger, thought this was a stupid match, I hate when people from Hollywood or sports get involved in matches Expessially punters
Terrible decision. This was the second straight PPV where Goldberg wasn't in the main event despite being WCW World Heavyweight Champion.
Goldberg was never bigger than the Hulkster brother, even if he had the belt
True, but, your World Champion should be in the main event. Goldberg won the title in July and didn't main event until *Halloween Havoc* in October, and he and DDP had to rescue the show after the Hogan-Warrior II debacle. (That match should have been the main event at *WrestleMania VII*.)
[удалено]
I know that. The War was already over by the time Hogan-Slaughter happened, and they dragged the feud out all year, when it SHOULD have been Warrior returning the job from a year earlier.
Agreed, but everyone at WCW knew that Goldberg was a joke who couldn't wrestle, all he had was an entrance and 2 moves. So it didn't really mater where he as placed on the card even though he was Champ, he would always get the same reaction regardless. But yes I see your point
One of those rare times when what’s good for business is bad for fans. Just like David Arquette winning the world title…yea ratings were up for a short time and it was a big one-time deal, but it hurt the existing fan base more than it helped and business ultimately suffered because of it.
I actually still have yet to watch this ppv or this match. I’ve only seen the battle royal. Similar to the zombies lumber jack match, I pretty much avoid wrestling segments where I know I’ll question myself being a wrestling fan.
It was fine. This was the 9th most purchased show in WCW history, they were still a hot commodity (despite the fact we are literally like 4 months away from the start of the out of control downward spiral). People acting like Leno just owned Hogan all over this match here are being silly. He got in just a couple of holds, and while ridiculous visually, it's not like he mopped the floor with the guy. I think as an idea of "holy shit - Jay Leno wrestling Hogan, are you serious?!?" it had some legs. It just probably belonged on Nitro, which almost definitely would have drawn a great quarter hour. The better move would have been for Hogan to lose to Goldberg a second time before pivoting off to Warrior, but I realize Hulk likely wouldn't have gone for a second clean pinfall loss in such a short window.
The greatest. Give that man a strap
Hulk Hogan selling holds for Jey Leno is one of the silliest things in wrestling history.
IMO it was weird and didn't really make sense, but at the same time it fell in line with their thing for having celebrities involved.
Terrible like most celebs in wrestling matches,at least some of them look like they belong,this guy was a joke.
Is it crazy to think the Gorgeous George vs Charles Robinson match was miles better than the Rodman/Malone/Leno matches?
Pure shit. Eric Bischoff yearned for mainstream exposure and it typically resulted in this kind of trash.
Big bossman. Andre. John Studd. Jay Leno. Checks out
Embarrassing
Leno is successful because no matter what haters say he always keeps his chins up.
It was garbage. Plain and simple
The moment WCW started getting desperate
Awful. And this picture...it's beyond belief. Huck should have hucked out of this instantly.
Drizzlin shits, pal
Lame AF
It's the fact Hogan was willing to sell for Leno but wouldn't for Warrior
Warrior couldn’t help him get a movie deal, that’s the difference
Can't put Jay in a chinlock that's for sure
Don’t love most celebrity tie ins especially when they just look like Craig from accounts. Gets a lot of eyeballs but so does a car crash.
typical dumb corporate wrestling rearing its ugly head during a time they were doing cool edgy shit.
I’m not a fan of Jay Leno in general so that doesn’t work for me brother.
I couldn't sit thru it.. Announcers trying to defend amd act surprised at his wrestling skill him made it worse
This was after the Karl Malone/DDP-Rodman/Hogan match right? That was an awful two match run. I remember being a kid and I fell asleep because the matches were so boring
Horrible
It was a horrible, horrendous mistake. At least with Malone and Rodman, they were athletes and were believable enough. They didn’t do anything too complicated or outrageous during their match. The diamond cutter is a move that can be learned quickly and believe to be effective. Jay was neither. He should not be in the ring unless he was going to interfere when the referees back was turned to turn the tables on and Company. Like hit hogan with a belt. For example, when Mr. T was with Hogan, he looked in very good shape. Seemed very credible and did simple power-based moves. Of course, when he was going against Piper in the boxing match, they actually recorded him being trained along with Piper. That kept the air of believability.
Fucking horrible n abysmal. Had they just not done the Rodman n Malone stuff the month prior, and actually had some build, at least you could have drawn serious money
Totally ridiculous
Imagine John Cena selling for Jimmy Kimmel...
Cena got pinned by Kevin Ferdeline on Monday Night Raw.
WCW never should have involved all those celebs. Remember Rodman? I felt it really devalued the brand. Asking legends to wrestle non professionals.
Hurt WCW more than the Finger Poke of Doom imo. It hurt the ENTIRE roster because in Hogan was the ‘best’ in the company and was getting clowned on by Leno, what does that say about everyone else? Also the argument for it was in was for the ‘mainstream’ audience, and yes, Leno was a big star at the time. But he was an old star in a lot of ways and WCW should have been capitalizing on the younger audience that the NWO brought in. Especially with how hot stars like Austin and DX were. Not many people watching wrestling at the time cared about Leno.
God that match was embarrassing.
All those guys Hogan refused to sell for. Sells for Jay Leno in a heartbeat.
Big Guns Eubanks wasn't to be fucked with thou
i was too young to buy ppvs and watched recaps on nitro. they could have lied saying it was the greatest ppv of all time and i would have bought into it hook line and sinker.
Good publicity
They really were jumping the shark in mid 98. Malone and Leno involvement was not the same as Tyson at WM 14. Not sure if that was what they were going for...
All I know is there is a moment in that match where there is silence from the crowd and hogan is throwing Leno into the ropes as someone slowly shouts “Hogan sucks”. Then immediately after Hogan says back. “So does your Mother”. Amazing moment
I just want to know about the pitch meeting…. “ALL RIGHT, CHECK THIS OUT BROTHER! THE BIG DUDE IN THE SKY MAN…. HE TOLD ME TO GIVE JAY LENO A CALL AND OFFER HIM A SHOT AT THE TITLE AND I SAID TO MYSELF…. WITH THESE PYTHONS BROTHER…. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF ITS CONAN, DAVID, OR OPRAH; I AM NWO 4 LIFE!
After all the docs and books on WCW/Bischoff, I’m surprised this wasn’t on a Nitro. As crappy as it was, it would’ve brought in a huge rating and would’ve helped sell out an arena that might not have already been sold out. You know… with fans… that pay to attend.
Just another instance of a non-wrestler wanting to participate and the WCW hoping it'd draw more eyes to the promotion. The only thing it did was make the current fans groan.
Better Technical Wrestler than Goldberg was 🤣
The true beginning of the downfall of wcw
Terrible.
Love Jay Leno! Surprisingly strong performance but nothing I would book for a serious wrestling company. Maybe a one off smack backstage that gets broken up but a match is a little much. Jay though did the best with what he had to work with.
One of the many, many reasons WCW died!
It was embarrassing
Wrestling is real
Did it need to be the main event? It wasn't as big as Rodman/Malone the month before, especially coming off of that heated finals between the Bulls and Jazz. I remember at the time (I was only 5), I was flabbergasted that my guy Goldberg only got two ppv main events over his 5 1/2 months as world champion. Of course now I know that part of that was his limited skills...
It was silly, and I thought useless. But whatever.
I was there. It was horrid.
Sad I kid I knew that wrestling was scripted but this was when I realized it was completely fake.
WHY??? that's my opinion.
Embarrassment to the profession because Leno wasn't a wrestler.
Chin Diesel
Leno's dad was a professional boxer and prize fighter, and he trained to be a boxer before discovering comedy. So yeah, kinda all tracks.
He did an awesome job. I’m not much of fan of celebrities coming in for matches (Dennis Rodman, anyone?). I am cool with it if they can do it competently. Wasn’t a fan of Logan Paul before he came to WWE, but he’s impressed me a great deal.
It brought eyeballs and that was the name of the game back then. It's still pretty dumb tho XD
I think it was fine. Hog Wild/Road Wild was typically a lower drawing PPV for WCW and this one drew huge numbers plus running the storyline ON the Tonight Show at the height of The Tonight Show was a huge deal for WCW as well. It was completely innocuous in the position they put it in.
What if bischoff rang the bell on the arm lock screw job finish- the music guy shoots on Leno- when he gets hit from behind with a shovel by Paul Schafer who gives the belt to Letterman fingerpoint of doom style.
Why did WCW die? Maybe that photo right there might give some reasons...even though this was still when they were making money.
Phenomenal match one of the best of bash at the beach
Jay Leno is more over than Samoa Joe
So is my Left nut.
This dudes left nut to dethrone Roman reigns!
We need a new gesture to acknowledge me.
Weird flex