Top 20 worst world title changes in wrestling history

4. Hulk Hogan def. Kevin Nash: Monday Nitro – January 4, 1999

Speaking of Hulk Hogan and controversy, there’s no way that this wasn’t going to make this list. And look, it’s Kevin Nash again. On the night that changed wrestling forever, Hulk Hogan returned to WCW after “retiring” and resumed his ongoing feud with Nash, with whom he had been having problems with since the nWo split into two factions the previous spring. Eight days prior, Nash had controversially won the World Heavyweight Championship from Goldberg (see entry No. 8) after Scott Hall interfered with a taser. Nash, who was a bit of a tweener at the time, offered Goldberg a rematch on Nitro but after Elizabeth accused the former champ of stalking her, he was taken to wrestling jail and Hogan ended up getting the title shot in the main event.

It must be noted that by this time, Tony Schiavone had given away Mick Foley was going to beat The Rock to win his first WWE Championship so a lot of people actually didn’t see this go down live. But being a Hogan guy, I was glued to the screen and was actually expecting to see Hogan go in his street clothes. I’m not saying this would have been a great match but it was exciting. There was a big-fight feel to this at the beginning and when Nash shoved Hollywood back into the corner and threw up the the “Too Sweet” sign, this looked like this was really going to happen. And then it didn’t.

In what many call the death of WCW, the two inched closer to one another and Hogan raised his right hand to strike the seven-footer. But instead of hitting him, he literally poked him in the chest and covered for the 1-2-3 to become the new World Heavyweight Champion. The two stood up and immediately started laughing and were soon joined in the ring by Scott Hall and Scott Steiner, both of whom were at ringside, signaling that the nWo was truly back together. I didn’t know what to think. Still don’t.

Goldberg would return and took a beating for his troubles. Lex Luger came out to help but turned and joined the newly-reunited faction and things just went downhill for WCW from there. The glory days were over and this was the start.