Looking back this is the night that Brutus Beefcake proved he was smarter than both The Demon and Roddy Piper. Not only was his main event the last match on the card, but it was also a match against Hulk Hogan, and he made sure it was for the title.
Earlier in the night, “Mean” Hene Okerlund had an interview backstage with Hulk Hogan and Jimmy Hart. Hulk Hogan says he hoped he didn’t have to face The Butcher tonight, which is a feeling that many of us share. Regarding the recently debuted Randy Savage, I missed the rest of the promo after Mr. T’s match. Jimmy Hart says Savage has to choose if he is friend or foe. Hulk Hogan says he will tear apart The Butcher, Randy Savage and maybe even the rulebook. This promo was 30 seconds too long, easily. Heenan says Hogan is scared to death. The match following the promo is Avalanche (w/ Kevin Sullivan) vs. Sting in one of the 3 Main Events. Avalanche is one of the 3 Faces of Fear.
Vader is the #1 contender to Hogan’s Championship but is facing Jim Duggan in a “Special Main Event” and gets on the poster, but he’s in the opener and on the “not quite Bruti” list.
Before the match Jimmy Hart wins PWI Manager of the Year, being presented the award by Bill Apter. He cuts a promo saying Hulk Hogan deserves half of the award and says Hulk brought him back from his evil ways, he says that Jimmy Hart and Hulk Hogan will always be friends.
We get a video package detailing how we got here, but I’m not recapping that and the damn match.
The Butcher makes his way out with Kevin Sullivan and Avalanche. He rips a Hulk Hogan shirt and stamps on it in the ring before the Champion makes his way out, Hulk Hogan is lead out by Jimmy Hart and he has a chair.
Tony Schiavone and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan are on commentary for this match. Bruce Buffer is our ring announcer and I hear Nick Bockwinkle’s name, Nick Patrick is our referee. Bruce Buffer’s introductions give a good amount of information leading into the match. Hulk Hogan’s music plays again before the bell rings.
HULK HOGAN © VS. THE BUTCHER
(WCW Championship)
WCW Starrcade 1994 (27th December 1994)
Hulk Hogan chases The Butcher around the ring, they lock up and Hulk Hogan shoves The Butcher back into the corner. After the third trip into the turnbuckles, The Butcher connects with right hands and chops to Hogan.
The Butcher puts Hogan in a headlock and connects with a shot to the throat out of Patrick’s line of view. The Butcher goes back to the headlock, Hogan blocks the cheap shot and drops Butcher to the mat. The Butcher bails to the floor, tripping Hogan and bringing him out too. Hulk Hogan is sent into the guard rail, The Butcher follows Hogan with basic heel work like back rakes, Jimmy Hart stops Butcher from using a chair, Hulk Hogan’s comeback is on, he hits an atomic drop and sends The Butcher into the ring post and babyface Hulk Hogan is the first one to use a chair. Nick Patrick is right there and just ignores the disqualification.
Hulk Hogan chokes The Butcher with the chair on the floor. Hogan brings the match back in the ring and he sends Butcher into the ropes. The Butcher hits a high knee and chokes Hogan across the middle rope, which is now suddenly a problem as Nick Patrick counts for 5. The Butcher breaks at 4, then rakes Hogan’s back. The Butcher slams Hogan and there’s what looks like a botched attempt at a cover. Butcher takes too long climbing to the middle rope and Hogan avoids a dive. Hulk Hogan connects with 3 right hands, he hits the ropes and knocks Butcher down with another one. Hogan bits Butcher’s forehead and rakes his back. Again, Hogan’s the babyface here. Hogan chops Butcher and sends him off the ropes into a clothesline.
Hulk Hogan connects with right hands and sends Butcher into the turnbuckles, Hogan thumbs Butcher in the eye sends him across the ring and following with a clothesline. Hulk Hogan starts the 10 punches in the corner but ends by biting Butcher’s forehead, Butcher is sent across the ring but Hogan ducks too early. The Butcher connects with a stiff right hand then chokes Hogan on the mat. Butcher puts Hogan in a nerve hold, Jimmy Hart starts a “Hogan” chant from ringside which gets Hulk to his feet. The Butcher beats Hogan back down before leaning over him with the nerve hold. Hulk Hogan won PWI Wrestler of the Year, it is mentioned on commentary.
Hulk Hogan gets back to his feet and elbows out of the hold, Hulk Hogan knocks down The Butcher but runs into a chop to the throat. Hogan is sent into the corner, The Butcher locks in the Sleeper Hold as Hogan walks back, Hulk Hogan starts to fade, but starts to find a second wind, getting back to one knee. The Butcher locks it in tighter and Hogan fades back down, Nick Patrick lifts Hogan’s arm once and it drops, then it drops the 2nd time. Hulk Hogan keeps his arm up but The Butcher doesn’t see it. He starts to celebrate and Hogan plays possum. The Butcher realises the bell hasn’t rung and the referee tells him Hogan got his arm up in time. The Butcher covers Hogan, who kicks out at 1. The Butcher connects with a right hand, so it’s time for the Hulk Up! Hulk Hogan no-sells as he gets to his feet, The Butcher moves on to the point after connecting with a right hand.
Hulk Hogan connects with 3 right hands as Kevin Sullivan and Avalanche run out to the ring. We miss the irish whip into the Big Boot but see Hulk Hogan cutting off the other Faces of Fear before they can get in the ring. The Leg Drop finishes the match with a 3 count.
WINNER: HULK HOGAN (STILL WCW Champion)
This is known as one of the worst Starrcade main events in history and it is easy to see why. The Butcher didn’t deserve to be in the main event of anything broadcast, let alone that viewers had to pay for. Hulk Hogan still had some WWF shine and had to make WCW back some of that lucrative contract money. [*¾] 2.5/10
Hulk Hogan fights off the 3 Faces of Fear, Randy Savage runs down to the ring as Hogan grabs a chair to defend himself. Savage looks like he is going to join Sullivan’s crew, but immediately turns on them to clear the ring so Hulk Hogan can pose and Jimmy Hart can celebrate until we fade to black.
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