Hello and welcome back to our little Lesson in Arrogance. When we last left our shows, WCW lead announcer Tony Schiavone, under the behest of show runner Eric Bischoff, just informed the viewing audience that fan favorite Mick Foley was finally going to win the WWF Title. Naturally, millions simultaneously switched over to Raw just to see it happen. And now that you’re up to date, we bring you the exciting conclusion.

As foolish as the move seemed on the surface, there was indeed a method to Bischoff’s madness. Yes, his ratings would temporarily take a nose dive while wrestling fans watched the WWF, but the ratings would immediately shoot back up again after the match ended. How did he know this? Simple — the Foley/Rock title match was taking place before the scheduled Kevin Nash/Hulk Hogan match up on Nitro. While the world was watching the competition, the WCW faithful were “treated” to under card acts like Konnan, Scott Steiner, Wrath, and Bam Bam Bigelow. When the millions returned to Nitro, they were greeted by former champion and fan favorite “Diamond” Dallas Page beating upon perennial jobbers — the wrestling equivalent to a “tomato can” from boxing and MMA — Brian Adams and Mike “Virgil” Jones. Still, everything was riding on the Kevin Nash/”Hollywood” Hulk Hogan main event. If everything happened exactly right, then no one would remember the little “faux pas” involving Mick Foley and “that other company.” The key word in that sentence, however, is “if.”

Before we discuss the actual main event, you have to realize how big this match truly was. By 1999, Hulk Hogan rarely appeared on free television. Bischoff simply mentioning that “Hollywood was in the building” made fans sit up and take notice. Sure, he was usually there to hype some made-for-TV movie or the next pay-per-view event, but that really didn’t matter. The simple fact that he was there at all was good enough. Even those who legitimately hated Hogan wanted to see him, if for no other reason than to boo him mercilessly. But to have him there and working the main event was completely unfathomable. All they would have to do is deliver a solid main event. If they do that, then everything is fine. There’s that “if” again…

So after all the hype, all of the swerves (again, plot twists), and all of the comments, it was finally time for the main event. Hogan came out first, acting like a kid who was just caught doing something he shouldn’t have been doing. Nash, on the other hand, looked primed and ready. He had everything going for him — the fans, the title, even two-thirds of the announce team. Hogan nervously walked over to the champ, only to be pushed back into the corner of the ring. He started to throw a punch, but stopped. Instead, he decided it would be best to lightly poke his opponent in the shoulder. Nash, of course, did what any good champion would do in that situation: Fall flat on his back, acting as if he was just knocked out. Hogan casually got down to the mat and pinned Nash. The newly reunited duo of Kevin Nash and Hulk Hogan spent the rest of allotted television time laughing at the fans.

Just in case you missed the “payoff” (climax), allow me to say it again: Hulk Hogan defeated Kevin Nash in five seconds by pushing him over with his finger. The two wrestlers then began to mock the very people who indirectly pay their salaries. It wasn’t exciting. It wasn’t even enjoyable. To most fans, the so-called “Finger Poke of Doom” was proof positive that WCW was going down the tubes. The next week, many of them switched over to Raw and never looked back. Within six months, Eric Bischoff would be “sent home,” a wrestling term that basically translates to “one step below being fired.” Within two and a half years, WCW would be sold to Vince McMahon for next to nothing. Ted Turner’s worst wrestling-related nightmare had finally come true.

…And there you have it. Come back tomorrow to see how this whole crazy thing ties together.