WCW Halloween Havoc 1998 Review: Results, Analysis and Grades

Screenshot via WWE Network

The Underrated Moment of Halloween Havoc

The ending of the Bret Hart-Sting match for the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship was brutal to watch and yet, it was a sneaky-good finish.

Over a year prior, Hart defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13 when Austin passed out due to blood loss and being locked in the Sharpshooter. Although Hart was the victor, the loss launched Austin into a new realm of stardom. You rarely see “double turns” in wrestling anymore, but the Hart-Austin double turn at WrestleMania 13 was one of those moments you won’t forget.

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For this “dream match”, it wasn’t a double turn, but it was a nice reference, even if it came from the rival company. Both Sting and Bret Hart are defined by the Sharpshooter (or Scorpion Death Lock, whatever pleases you). What sense would it have made for Sting to tap out to seemingly his own maneuver? Sure, Hart and Sting do differ in the execution of the move — Hart locks the legs on his left leg, Sting on right leg — but this finish worked.

Sting was one of the biggest stars — if not, the biggest star — in WCW. That recognition includes Hollywood Hulk Hogan. It’s weird when you see top stars tap out to conclude matches; not that losing to Bret Hart is something to be ashamed of. It’s odd and a little nit-picky, but this made sense. It established Hart as a big-time heel and kept the face label stronger than ever on Sting when the medics drove him out of the ring in an ambulance.

Next: Rating the PPV