On this day in Pro Wrestling history on July 9, 2000, WCW Bash at the Beach 2000 took place and it is known for the “WCW Screwjob”. This PPV would turn out to be Hulk Hogan’s final WCW appearance. Hulk Hogan was scheduled to face Jeff Jarrett for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship but got screwed by Vince Russo. The PPV got 100,000 buys while the 1998 edition of this PPV got 580,000 buys. Booker T won his 1st World Title at this event.
Vince Russo wanted to push younger talent instead of veterans and wanted Hogan to lose to Jarrett in the main event. Hogan knew it was not a wise decision to lose to Jarrett and used his creative control (and rightfully so) to make him go over Jarrett. But Russo screwed him as Jarrett went to the ring and layed down so that the Hulkster can pin him. Hogan grabbed a microphone and said “this is the reason this company is in the damn shape it’s in, because of bullsh*t like this.” Hogan then pinned Jarrett and Jarrett immediately left the ring. Russo later came out and said the following (credit to CageMatch for the transcript):
“Three weeks ago, I left WCW…and quite frankly, I didn’t know if I was gonna come back. And the reason I didn’t know if I was gonna come back or not is because from day one that I have been in WCW, I’ve done nothing, nothing but deal with the bullshit of the politics behind that curtain. The fact of the matter is, I’ve got a wife, I’ve got three kids at home, and I really don’t need this sh*t.
But let me tell you the reason why I did come back. I came back for everyone of the guys in that locker that week in, week out, bust their ass for WCW. I came back for the Booker T’s, I came back for every single guy in MIA, I came back for the Animals, I came back for Jarrett, I came back for the guys behind that curtain that give a sh*t about this company.
And let me tell you who doesn’t give a sh*t about this company, that Godd*mn politician Hulk Hogan. Cause let me tell you people what happened out here in this ring tonight. All day long I’m playing politics with Hulk Hogan, because Hulk Hogan tonight wants to play his creative control card. And to Hulk Hogan, that meant that tonight in the middle of this ring, when he knew it was bullsh*t, he beats Jeff Jarrett.
Well guess what, Hogan got his wish, Hogan got his belt and he went the hell home, and I promise everybody or else I’ll go in the Godd*mn grave, you will never see that piece of sh*t again! But I also, I sat out there in the people just like you, and I know you paid good money to come here tonight, and nobody is gonna be ripped off here tonight.
So Hulk Hogan now has the WCW belt, and Hulk, let’s refer to that as the Hulk Hogan Memorial Belt, because from here on in, that belt don’t mean sh*t! Because there will be a new WCW belt, and as far as I’m concerned, that belt still belongs to the one guy that busts his a$$ week in and week out in the middle of this ring. And you people can love him and hate him, but he doesn’t screw anybody back there and that’s Jeff Jarrett.
Now hold on a minute, Jeff Jarrett is still the official WCW champion, but he will defend that title in this ring tonight. And he will defend that title against the son of a b*tch back there who for fourteen years has been bustin’ his a$$ in WCW and can’t get a Godd*mn break because of the Hulk Hogans! And I’m talking about Booker T! Booker T and Jeff Jarrett are the two reasons why I’m in this damn stinkin’ business to begin with! So tonight in this ring, for the WCW title, two deserving guys, Jarrett and Booker will compete for the WCW…and tear this godd*mn house down! And Hogan you big bald son of a b*tch, kiss my a$$!”
Hulk Hogan filed a defamation lawsuit claiming that the promo damaged his wrestling career. Below are the results from the PPV:
– Lt. Loco def. Juventud Guerrero to retain the WCW Cruiserweight Championship
– Big Vito def. Norman Smiley and Ralphus in a Handicap match to retain the WCW Hardcore Championship
– Daffney def. Ms. Hancock in a Wedding Gown match
– KroniK (Brian Adams and Bryan Clark) def. The Perfect Event (Shawn Stasiak and Chuck Palumbo) to win the WCW World Tag Team Championship
– Kanyon def. Booker T
– Mike Awesome def. WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Scott Steiner by DQ
– Vampiro def. The Demon in a Graveyard match
– Shane Douglas def. Buff Bagwell
– Hollywood Hogan def. WCW World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett
– Goldberg def. Kevin Nash (Scott Hall’s WCW contract was on the line)
– Booker T def. Jeff Jarrett to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship
