Today in Pro Wrestling History: On January 8, 1998, at the Ocean Center, WCW launched the debut episode of Thunder, continuing the storyline from Starrcade. In a significant moment, Sting was stripped of the WCW World Heavyweight Championship due to the controversial finish against Hogan at Starrcade 1997.
Today In Pro Wrestling History (Jan 8): Champion vs. Champion on The Island
This episode was also notable for Sting speaking for the first time in over a year, directly confronting JJ Dillon and Hulk Hogan in a dramatic segment. While Thunder’s debut drew high ratings, it eventually became a burden for WCW, moving to a taped format and shifting from Thursday to Wednesday nights on TBS. The show aired from January 8, 1998, to March 21, 2001.
Adding to the drama, this episode of “Thunder” featured Sting breaking his silence after more than a year. He had maintained a mysterious and silent persona, adding to his allure and the intrigue surrounding his character. However, on this night, Sting chose to confront two pivotal figures in WCW: JJ Dillon, a key authority figure, and Hulk Hogan himself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-wulDEzRSs
Canโt get enough pro wrestling history in your life? Sign up to unlock ten pro wrestling stories curated uniquely for YOU, plus subscriber-exclusive content. A special gift from us awaits after signing up!
Want More? Choose another story!
Be sure to follow us on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, TikTok, and Flipboard!
Pro Wrestling Stories is committed to accurate, unbiased wrestling content rigorously fact-checked and verified by our team of researchers and editors. Any inaccuracies are quickly corrected, with updates timestamped in the article's byline header.
Got a correction, tip, or story idea for Pro Wrestling Stories? Contact us! Learn about our editorial standards here.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us provide free content for you to enjoy!