Lex Luger Reveals Hulk Hogan Personally Chose Him to Win WCW Title in 1997: “He Chose Me — That Meant Everything”
In a moment etched into Monday Nitro history, Lex Luger shocked the wrestling world by defeating Hulk Hogan to capture the WCW World Heavyweight Championship on August 4, 1997—delivering a rare blow to the dominant nWo faction. But what many fans didn’t know? The decision to drop the title to Luger came directly from Hogan himself.
On an episode of his podcast Lex Expressed, the former WCW and WWE star opened up about the moment that defined the peak of his career.
“I didn’t find out until I was almost ready to go to the ring,” Luger said. “They asked Hulk, ‘Who do you want to do this with?’ … He [said], ‘100%, I want to do it with Lex.’ That was huge props from one of the biggest stars ever in the business.”
While the reign lasted only five days, the emotional weight behind Hogan’s endorsement meant far more to Luger than the belt itself. At a time when the nWo was steamrolling through WCW, giving fans a glimmer of hope through Luger’s victory served a strategic purpose.
“The short run was intentional,” Luger explained. “Fans needed to believe the title could change hands—even in the face of the nWo.”
Luger would lose the title back to Hogan at WCW Road Wild just days later. Still, the moment solidified his legacy and marked his second and final world title reign.
Around that time, Luger also revealed that Eric Bischoff saw enough in his performance to offer him a raise, even though his original post-WWF WCW contract was a “test-the-waters” deal. The trust, both from Hogan and Bischoff, cemented Luger’s place in WCW through to its end in 2001.
MainEvent.News | Backstage Take:
Lex Luger’s WCW title win may have been short-lived, but the story behind it says everything about wrestling’s brotherhood. For Hulk Hogan—at the height of his villainous power—to hand-pick Luger for the spot wasn’t just a booking decision; it was a sign of deep professional respect. In an industry driven by ego, moments like these show that even the biggest stars can lift others up on their way to greatness.
Be sure to check out the Lex Expressed and H/t to Nick Miller over at Wrestling Inc.
