Text By Neil Cathan

What if...Hulk Hogan didn't turn heel at Bash At The Beach '96?

Part II

The third man to Hall and Nash's team has still not been revealed. Tensions and paranoia are running wild amongst the WCW wrestlers with no-one truly trusting each other. Tensions are particularly thick between Arn Anderson and Randy Savage. Hogan has returned to the company, only to be accused of treachery by both Arn and Sting, something which is making him increasingly angry, and attacks on Arn Anderson and Dusty Rhodes have set The Four Horsemen out for the blood of The Outsiders. We rejoin the story two nights on from Hog Wild, where The Outsiders referred to their "Golden Friend", placing cruiserweight champion Dean Malenko, TV champion Lex Luger and World champion The Giant under suspicion.

August 12th, 1996: WCW Monday Nitro

Dean Malenko's opening match against Rey Misterio Jr. is of the quality one would expect from two wrestlers of this calibre, which makes the arrival of The Outsiders, armed with steel chairs,  even less welcome than it normally would be. The wrestlers in the ring end the chain wrestling sequence they were part way through to watch both men very carefully. Hall and Nash merely set their chairs up to sit on at ringside, and Hall laughs that they're "just hear to watch". The two gradually, cautiously, get back into the swing of the match. Shortly after they return to the match, Hall grabs Rey's legs as he hits the ropes, pulling him out of the ring to administer a beating. Malenko dives outside onto Nash, who catches him in his arms, and tosses him like a dart into the ringpost. The cruiserweights are beaten down further outside, before Chris Benoit, Arn Anderson and Ric Flair run down to the ring to save their fellow Horseman, Dean Malenko. Hall and Nash jump the guardrail, and escape through the crowd, as The Horsemen help Malenko to his feet. Flair is enraged as he grabs a microphone, screaming after Nash and Hall.

"You two run around this place like you own everything, like you know everything! Well you just made the worst mistake possible, broke the most important rule: do not make The Horsemen angry! You wanna start some kind of revolution, some kind of invasion? Well we've been ruling the ring since we formed, and you just made the most dangerous group in wrestling your enemies. You'll be lucky just to survive! We don't care who your third man is! Bring a third man! Bring a fourth man! Bring an army! It doesn't matter!  The Horsemen are on the hunt, and when we hunt, no prey ever survives!Wooooo!"

Following a battle between Harlem Heat and the Nasty Boys, we go backstage to see Hulk Hogan talking to Mean Gene Okerlund

"Let me tell you something, Mean Gene. I just walked past Eddy Guerrero, a young kid with a bright future. Now, back when I was getting into the business, we looked up to those that paved the way. But this Eddy guy couldn't even look at me. And he's not the first one. Seems everyone wants to ignore everything Hulkamania has done for wrestling, how Hulkamania carried this industry on his back! And why? Because a man who's cheated to win matches, and used run ins says so! Suddenly, Arn Anderson is the voice everyone can trust, and everything I've done means nothing. And I'm getting sick, Gene, I'm getting real sick of it all!"

Mean Gene interjects "Do you have an answer then?"

Hogan looks affronted "What question do I have to answer to you?"

"Not me. The boys in the back. The fans in their seats. The reason everyone's on edge around you is that...well, Hulk, you were gone when we could most have used your help."

Hogan roars, lifting Gene high in the air by his collar.

"I've had enough! Anyone with any questions to ask me can ask them in the ring!"

Hogan storms off camera, dropping Gene. A red faced, wide eyed, obviously shaken Mean Gene hurriedly regains his footing, but not his composure.

"American Made" blares over the speakers as Hulk Hogan stomps his way angrily to the ring and rolls under the ropes. He doesn't bother with his posing, which is probably just as well, as the live crowd is unsure of how to respond to him. Instead, he paces up and down the ring, waiting for someone to make their way to the ring. He doesn't have to wait long before the music of Lex Luger hits the speakers, and the TV Champion makes his way to the stage, mic in hand

"You know, what Hulk? I used to respect you. But when I was out in the ring at Bash At The Beach, and received an injury defending this company's honour, you were sitting at home, enjoying a vacation. And you come out here and complain about how no-one's showing you respect? Hell, I might respect you more if it turns out you are the third man! Because all you are otherwise is a damned coward!"

Luger drops the mic, and makes his way towards the ring, rushing to meet Hogan, who has dropped angrily over the top rope and is storming at Luger. The two meet about six feet from the end of the walkway, and a storm of fists erupts as restraint is disposed of at land speed records.  Security, road agents and referees fly down the ramp, and a combined effort pulls the two apart, but this is obviously not settled.

The camera catches up to Luger again later in the night. Nursing a cut above the eye, he walks tiredly back to his locker room. He places his hand on the handle, pushing down and forwards, the door swinging open in a lazy arc to reveal a waiting Nash and Hall. Luger is pulled forcefully into the room and battered to the ground. Luger returns to his hands and knees, only for Hall to plant a kick swiftly into his ribs, knocking him onto his side. Hall winks conspiratorially at the camera, before pushing the door shut. The camera lingers regretfully on the door, as the sounds of beating and grunts of pain continue from within.

Considering the fate of the other two champions, The Giant is understandably on guard on his way to the ring. Commentator Eric  Bischoff remarks that when even such an immense physical specimen as The Giant is worried, it shows just how much of a threat The Outsiders pose. The whole way through his match, he throws glances to the ramp and to the crowd, expecting an attack. However, his one sided crushing of The Barbarian goes uninterrupted. Nitro goes off air as The Horsemen gather on the ramp, Malenko heavily bandaged, but staring as intently at The Giant as the other three.

August 19th, 1996: WCW Monday Nitro

Conversation from the announce desk reveals that the main event of tonight's show will see Sting face Hulk Hogan, in a follow up from their confrontation at Hog Wild. Chris Benoit will also step between the ropes with Scott Hall tonight. This serves as an overture to the first wrestlers we see tonight, as the Horsemen arrive at the building, each one of them seeming like the embodiment of the horseman of war. A member of staff nervously approaches Arn Anderson, who stares right through him at first.

He quickly hands over an envelope, and tells him "This was waiting at the lobby for you" before scuttling off. The envelope is quietly opened, and steely eyes calculate the letter within, before it is quietly pocketed, and the camera moves to action in the ring for the opening match.

Later during the show we see video footage of Lex Luger at a gym, he comes out of his impressive workout, and slings the WCW United States Title across his shoulders before coming towards the camera.

Looking focused, he stares into it, and talks with cold determination "Hall, Nash, I know you like to think you took me out. All you did is make me angry. But I'm not the only one. See, I was a Horseman once. I know how they operate. And right now, I'll leave them to deal with you. Maybe I'll pick the carcasses they leave behind. Which leaves me free to deal with Hulk Hogan."

He spits the name out with a cobra's venom, and his voice slowly shrugs off its cold precision and gives way to anger and disdain, raising in tone and speed.

 "Hulk Hogan, American-made traitor. Either he's a traitor because he's the third man, or he's a traitor because he's hardly a man at all, choosing a vacation over helping in the war. He's a traitor to this company either through action that night or inaction the whole time they've been here." He points to the title perched upon his shoulder. "And it doesn't make a difference, Hulk. Not a damn bit of one. Because either way, I'm coming to get revenge on you on behalf of the company that gave me the chance to win this title. It's about honour, Hulk, something you used to understand. Something I'm going to teach you the only way I know how."

The video promo cuts out on Luger's ominous promise, and the next thing of note to our story is Scott Hall's match with Chris Benoit. Hall struts down to the ring with his usual cocksure attitude, and it would be hard not to be confident when the looming presence of Kevin Nash wielding a steel chair is with you for backup. Chris Benoit comes out with company of his own, although one less than you'd expect, as 'The Enforcer' Arn Anderson is notably absent. Benoit is all business, striding to the ring flanked by Flair and Malenko, and sliding under the ropes quickly. He doesn't bother with any posing to the crowd, merely points at the referee, tells him to "start it", and strides to Hall, lighting him up with chops. The cold fury of Benoit overpowers Hall for the start of the match, but a thumb to the eye allows him to turn things in his favour. On the outside, Flair and Malenko look ready to start a fight with Nash, but with his steel chair as an equaliser, they keep their distance. Once he has had the advantage for long enough for Benoit to show signs of being worn down, Hall goes for the Outsider's Edge. Benoit is able to float over on the attempt though, and score a german suplex. A pair of lariats follow and secure control of the match to Benoit again, and he is soon able to apply the crossface. Nash steps into the ring at this point, drawing both of the Horsemen in as well. The official steps between the two groups and is batted casually aside by Nash. Nash swings the chair, connecting with Flair's head. Malenko and Benoit both rush him at the same time, and while the former is dropped with a chair shot, the latter unloads a series of strikes on him, briefly overwhelming him with his fury, until the forgotten opponent downs him with a kick between the legs. Triumphant this time, The Outsiders drop over the ropes and make their exit.

From the announce desk, Bischoff tells the viewers that he's just been informed of an important development in the arena's parking lot. We cut immediately to footage of Arn Anderson laid out and bloodied on the tarmac floor of the parking lot, providing a sinister explanation for his absence from ringside.

The main event starts with  Hogan and Sting face to face. Hogan offers Sting his hand to shake. Sting looks down at it, and shakes his head to Hogan. Hogan shoves him angrily, and as Sting steps back to go face to face with Hogan again, Hogan's hand is again extended, again refused, and again used to shove Sting. Sting steps back towards Hogan, and throws a forearm at his chin this time. It's followed by a flurry of chops, sending Hogan reeling into the ropes. Hogan is then whipped to the ropes opposite, and as he bounces from them Sting hits the ones on his side, rushing to meet him with a clothesline. The impact staggers Hogan, but the mighty wrestler is not toppled. Unperturbed, Sting hits the opposite ropes again, but as he charges Hogan, he is met with a big boot. The two heroic figures go back and forth, exchanging punches, suplexes, clotheslines, splashes in the corner and slams, each met with an equal in their power and intensity, the crowd cheering every minute of the battle between these two titans. After a gruelling war, Hogan is able to settle the match with his trademark legdrop. After the match, Hogan waits for Sting to regain his feet, and extends the hand once more. Sting motions to be brought a microphone, and when one of the staff at ringside has brought it, he addresses Hogan: "Hulk, I will always respect you as a wrestler. But Hulk, I can't respect your absence when we needed you, and I can't respect your recent war on the very people fighting these invaders. Frankly, we'd be better off without you. Go back to your vacation, Hulk." Sting drops the microphone and makes to leave the ring, but Hogan grabs him by the arm, pulling him nose to nose with Hogan. Nitro goes off air on the image of a fierce staredown between the two icons.

August 26th, 1996: WCW Nitro

After the blinding opener between Rey Misterio Jr. and Eddy Guerrero, WCW Commisioner J.J. Dillon makes his way to the ring, flanked by over a dozen security guards.

The thirteen men enter the ring, and Dillon talks into the microphone he's holding "Now, I've got two matters of business to deal with tonight, so let's get them out of the way. Firstly, I'd like to call WCW World Heavyweight champion The Giant to the ring."

Out comes The Giant, with a  look of concern as to why he's being called to the ring. He towers over the security, and heads directly to Dillon, asking why he's there.

Dillon replies "We'll get to that in a second, don't even try playing innocent."

He then turns to address the crowd "Now, as you all know, Arn Anderson, the leader of the fight against those Outsiders, a fight that concerns this whole company, was attacked by an unknown person last week. I, like most of you, had assumed that it was the work of The Outsiders. However, I have reviewed the security footage for that night. Let's watch, shall we?"

 The large screen plays a black and white tape, which first shows Arn Anderson arriving at the parking lot, and waiting by a concrete pillar. There's a cut of static, and the time stamp reveals fifteen minutes has passed. Arn is now the way he was when last we saw him: bloodied and unconscious on the floor.

Dillon resumes his speech "Doesn't seem able to prove anything, does it? Turns out someone forced the door to the office these tapes are kept in, and erased fifteen minutes. But that someone isn't the brightest bulb. Let's see who a camera at a different part of the lot picks up, arriving just five minutes before the tape cuts out." The screen flickers into the video again, and, throwing nervous looks around him, as if to check if anyone is around, The Giant arrives at a different entrance.

Dillon turns to the livid Giant, shouting "You disgust me! You have absolutely no right to represent this company! Next week Arn Anderson will be fully recovered, and so I am placing you in a no disqualifications title match, against Arn Anderson, with the World Title on the line, next week on Nitro. As for this week, go home. You sicken me, I don't want you anywhere near my ring! Security, take this Judas away!" The mammoth champion is surrounded by security, and while he begins to shove them away, eventually the sheer weight of numbers is enough to subdue him.

We catch up to The Giant later in the show, being forced out the door, ironically enough into a parking lot. He kicks a nearby bin in frustration, sending it flying, and shouts an obscenity. He makes his way across the lot, when suddenly, from off-screen to the left, a sharp screeching sound can be heard. The Giant turns to face the source of the sounds, which is made apparent, as a jeep smashes into him, rolling him across its hood. The announcers are shocked by this development, and promise to bring us more news as soon as it becomes available.

And the news, when available, is this: The Giant is currently in a stable condition, but is in no shape to defend his title. As such, the title will be vacated, and starting next week and culminating at Fall Brawl, there will be an eight man tournament to name the new champion. The four quarterfinal matches will take place next week, and Bischoff smugly gloats about how with a card like they have, there's no reason to watch Raw next week. And it's hard to argue; Hulk Hogan will face Arn Anderson, Lex Luger will go up against Randy Savage, Kevin Nash will have to deal with Sting, and Scott Hall will go toe to toe with Ric Flair.

September 2^nd, 1996: WCW Monday Nitro

The announcers and live crowd are a buzz with excitement for the tournament quarterfinals tonight, and the sheer number of marquee matches and big names this week. Sting vs Nash is the first match to take place, both on the show and in the tournament. Nash looks as arrogant as ever making his way to the ring. Sting on the other hand is focused, and he rushes the ring, unable to wait to get his hands on Nash. Sting unloads a barrage of shots into Nash, rocking him backwards. Sting's aggression towards the invader carries him a great way through the match. Nash is able to grab moments of control, catching Sting with a big boot, pavement slam or some other big move, but he always follows up with a chinlock, punches in the corner, or some other move intended to wear Sting down rather than to finish him off. Nash's lack of killer instinct contrasted against Sting's furious delight at being able to get his hands on one of the Outsiders leads to a fairly quick victory for Sting, as he is able to deliver a Stinger Splash followed by a Scorpion Deathdrop within ten minutes, putting Nash away for three. Nash is oddly fine post match, getting fairly quickly to his feet, and leaving without much lamentation of his loss, or search for revenge.

About half an hour later, the other Outsider finds himself pitched against Ric Flair in our second tournament match of the night. Hall tries his usual dirty tactics, but is faced with Ric Flair, the dirtiest player in the game, who not only knows every trick Hall tries, but invented half of them. The dirty fighting neutralised, this quickly becomes a case of Hall's superior power and strength against Flair's superior wrestling. The two battle back and forth for fifteen minutes, and during a period of Scott Hall controlling the match, referee Charles Robinson is toppled by an errant Scott Hall clothesline during the match. The clothesline having missed Flair, he is able to recover ad turn the match back in his favour, culminating in a superplex that puts both men down, with Robinson still out of it. Just as Flair begins to reach his feet first, Sting rushes to the ring bearing a chair. Flair's back to the entrance way, he doesn't notice, but Sting is quick to drop him with a chair shot to the back of the head, before fleeing through the shocked crowd. Scott Hall rolls himself atop Ric Flair to a chorus of boos from the crowd as Charles Robinson makes the three count.

Randy Savage is warming up for his main event clash with Lex Luger when an unwelcome guest barges into the room.

Savage stands to meet Arn Anderson, asking "What are you doing here, Arn? Shouldn't you be off tying people up with no proof?"

Arn snarls a response "Funny you should mention it Randy, didn't you swear revenge against me for that? Now, I don't buy The Giant as being behind the attack. I buy him less now that he's been run over, The Outsiders benefited huge by getting into the tournament. I know they're only in because Flair and Sting demanded matches with them from Dillon, but still, they gained the most here. So with The Giant out of the running, you're my favourite suspect again. So I figured I'm come here, and let you know I'm coming for you. I'm no coward like you, it'll be in the ring, one-on-one. But your time is coming. I'm a patient man, I'll wait. " Arn turns his back on Savage, who punches a nearby locker in frustration.

Arn Anderson vs Hulk Hogan goes much the same way as their last match, both men being full of frustration, and neither having any qualms about using the other as an outlet for it. The match as a whole contains very little strategy, the two hitting each other with the hardest things in their arsenal. As before, Hogan gets the better of this exchange, and is able to score the victory via legdrop. He makes his way backstage, and the camera catches him coming through the curtains after the match, looking tired. Out of a corridor to the left comes Lex Luger, who blasts Hogan with a steel chair, evidently having waited for him. Hogan topples, and Luger stands above him, and remarks "I liked Arn's speech about waiting for retribution. I guess I'm just not as patient as he is", before discarding the chair and walking off.

The main event between Randy Savage and Lex Luger is a rollercoaster of a match, the two top level wrestlers throwing everything in their arsenal at each other. Luger looks to have the match in hand when he hoists Savage onto his shoulders in the Torture Rack Backbreaker, but the sudden blaring of 'American Made' over the speakers causes him to drop Savage and face the entrance way, watching for Hogan. Savage is able to use this time to recover, and on his feet, turns Luger around to face him. Surprised, Luger is easily hoisted into the air in a suplex position. Luger is held upside down, blood rushing to his head for a long time before he is dropped again. Savage climbs the ropes to deliver his patented Elbow Drop for the three count. Only now that it won't give Luger the win by DQ does Hogan make his way to the ring, and measure Luger for a legdrop.  As he starts to move towards Luger for the move, Savage steps in his way, and shoves Hogan, telling him he could win this without him. An argument breaks out between the two of them, and Hogan shoves Savage back. Luger has recovered his feet in this time, and the three angry men are unable to contain their temper, Nitro ending on a wild three way brawl.

September 9^th, 1996: WCW Monday Nitro

"It wasn't me Flair, it was a damn imposter! Bleached hair, tall, facepaint! That's all it would take! You didn't even see him yourself! I was the first one to stand up to those two when they came here! It wasn't me! Of course it wasn't me!" Sting's verbal defence of himself of himself to The Horsemen backstage in the opening scenes of Nitro falls on deaf ears, and he resorts to an equally futile physical defence of himself against their beating.

Our broadcast team informs us that as Sting is in no condition to perform, Konnan has been selected as a replacement opponent for Scott Hall. When it comes to the match, Scott Hall makes his way out first, dressed in a sharp suit rather than wrestling gear. He waits in the ring for Konnan to arrive. Konnan's music begins playing, and keeps playing, but no sign of the man himself.  Eventually, the match is taken as a forfeit, and Scott Hall is awarded the victory.

To the jeers of the crowd, Hall grabs a microphone, and takes a chance to gloat "Hey yo, looks like an easy ride to the top. I always knew that Lady Luck had the hots for the Bad Guy." He struts back up the ramp, but his cocky display is interrupted by the arrival of Ric Flair,  who unloads a flurry of punches to him, sending him staggering back from the onslaught to the delight of the crowd. The rest of The Horsemen stand at the top of the ramp armed with chairs, a strong persuasion against Nash coming out to help his partner. Flair leaves Hall down and out, then joins his stable mates at the top of the ramp, where they all make the Horsemen salute to the crowd before heading backstage to roars of approval.

One man less approving of one of the Horsemen at least is Randy Savage, who is walking through the corridor past the Horsemen's locker room at the same time Arn happens to step out of it. They stop and stand tensely facing each other.

Savage is the first to break the silence "Out of my way. I've got to prepare for my semi-final match. I'm sure you'd understand if you could make it that far."

Arn snorts derisively "You won because of Hogan, pal. Not anything to brag about."

A look of anger flashes across Savage's features, and he goes nose to nose with Arn.

"You want to repeat that?" The rest of The Horsemen make their way into the corridor,  and there's a light chuckle in Arn's voice "In case you hadn't noticed, Savage, The Horsemen are riding in force tonight. We'd be only too happy to add a third name to the list of tonight's victims. I'd just walk away if I were you." Savage is a brave man, and a stubborn one, but he's also not fool enough to pick a fight with all four Horsemen. Especially not when he needs to be at his best to face Hogan  later that night.

Savage backs down, promising Arn once again that "This isn't over."

Savage is able to put up a great challenge to Hogan, and comes close at several points to beating him, but ultimately falls to Hogan's legdrop.

After the match, Savage rolls outside the ring to grab a mic "The great man can find victory in defeat! This frees me nicely up to teach you a lesson this Sunday, Arn!"

September 15^th, 1996: Fall Brawl

Early on during the Pay Per View, we cut backstage to see Mean Gene Okerlund backstage with Konnan.

Mean Gene starts to question him "Konnan, I think the fans all want to know, why weren't you there to face Scott Hall?  There's talk you might be the third man. What's your response?"

"Yo, it's like this. I'm warming up for my match, when two men with steel chairs come up to me. These Outsiders you're all so worked up about. They make something very clear. Scott wants to rest this week, so he'll be in picture perfect shape at Fall Brawl. He can't rest too well if he's got a match. So either I can take a pay-off, which is double what I would have made for working the match, and just not show up, or they can take me out there and then. I made adecision that was best for my business, and best for my health. Sorry to disappoint the conspiracy theorists, but it is what it is, yo. I ain't got no sides in this mess. Only side I got is mine. Interview's over."

Konnan walks off screen, leaving Gene to summarise "Well, there it is folks. No motive but good old fashioned greed and cowardice. What a guy."

Randy Savage's match with Arn Anderson starts with the two going nose to nose, trash talking each other. Savage shoves Arn, a gesture he repays. Savage slaps Arn harshly across the face, Arn responds by spitting in Savage's. Savage loses his temper, headbutting Arn, who drops to the ground. Savage takes control from here, peppering Arn with chops and forearms when he stands, before whipping Arn into the turnbuckle, and following after for a clothesline. He proves too sure of his advantage, however, as he repeats it, only for Arn to move aside at the last moment. Savage stunned in the corner, Arn lays into him with punches until Savage slumps to sit at the bottom of the turnbuckle, where Arn switches to laying the boots into him. Charles Robinson is able to get Arn to stop with threats of disqualification. Arn waits for Savage to reach his feet, at which point he grabs Savage by the neck and right shoulder and hurls him violently through the middle rope, following outside. Arn makes use of the ringside area to beat down Savage, until Savage is able to reverse a whip into the ring post, busting Arn open in the process. Savage rolls into the ring and back out to reset the count, mimicking the actions of Arn when he was using the outside to punish Savage. It is Arn's turn to receive this treatment now, as he is whipped into the barrier, an act Savage follows with a clothesline that knocks Arn over the barricade into the first row of fans. The count is reset again as Arn picks himself up and hoists himself back over the barricade. Savage, who has been standing patiently on the apron while this happens, jumps from there to deliver a double axe handle to his opponent, who is then tossed back into the ring. Savage makes his way back in by climbing the turnbuckle, and descending down with an elbow drop. Arn is able to roll away, however, and Savage connects elbow first with the mat. Arn takes this as a cue to work the elbow over, and takes the time to utilise a variety of stomps, throws and submission holds aimed towards the elbow. Arn wears Savage down to the point where he's ready to go for the kill with a Spinebuster, and he bounces Savage against the ropes for it. Savage sees his opening, and leaps towards Arn as he approaches him, catching him by surprise with a jumping clothesline. While the move takes Arn down, it has possibly hurt Savage an equal amount, as he lies clutching his elbow in pain. Both men regain their feet at six, and begin to trade punches. Arn looks to have the advantage, and swings in for a lariat. Savage is able to duck it however,  and as Arn comes back from hitting the nearby ropes, Savage kicks him in the gut, and pulls him into a piledriver. Savage climbs the ropes again, and manages to connect with the elbow this time. The pain of performing the high impact manoeuvre with his injured elbow proves too much for Savage however, who writhes in pain clutching the elbow.  He eventually comes to his senses and drags himself atop Arn, but the time taken in pain from the elbow allows Arn to recover enough to kick out. Both men crawl away from each other, using the ropes on opposite sides to pull themselves up. They rush towards each other, but Arn stops at the last second, and surprises Savage with a Spinebuster, which puts him away for three. Bloodied and exhausted, but victorious, Arn makes his way backstage, stopping to flash the Horseman salute to the crowd.

A camera catches up with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash backstage, unaware of the cameraman's quiet presence. Hall is toying absent-mindedly with a quarter, and jokes to Nash "Just like we planned man. Me and the big man for the title. May as well flip this coin for WCW man, heads we win, tails they lose. Whether me or Hogan, the gold comes home with The Outsiders tonight, baby."

They make to leave the corridor they're standing in, and spot the cameraman.

Nash shouts "The hell are you doing here?"and we're very quickly shown the ceiling as the cameraman is shoved over, and static once Nash's huge boot descends upon the lens of the camera.

Hogan is given a mixed reception from the live crowd, who are once again unsure what to think of him. Hall, on the other hand, they know what to think of, booing him vociferously. The match proceeds even handedly,  until Hall begins to be overpowered as many of Hogan's opponents often are. Hogan seems notably calmer against Hall than most WCW wrestlers are when facing an Outsider, the fury that seems to drive so many of them seems missing from him. Heenan is quick to notice this and point it out to Bischoff, with whom he spends much of the match arguing, Heenan calling Hogan a traitor, and saying he knew it all along, while Bischoff doesn't want to damn Hogan without more proof. Roughly ten minutes into the match, Charles Robinson is dropped by a punch aimed for Scott Hall, Luger takes this opportunity to rush the ring with a steel chair, with which he blasts Hogan, and, acknowledging Hall's presence in no way, leaves. Hall hoists the downed Hogan up for an Outsider's Edge, and covers him as Charles Robinson recovers in time to make the three count. Both Bischoff and Heenan are stunned by the turn of events,an emotion that pales compared to the frustration and despair at the closing image of Fall Brawl: The Outsiders celebrating in the ring, while Scott Hall proudly holds up the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, a prize he won with the help of Lex Luger

To be continued...