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Enter The GOATtsiders.
While Bash at the Beach 1996 falls into the Steady category when compared to Hogan-Vader from 1995, it had the highest buy rate for a non-Hogan WCW PPV since Halloween Havoc 1992 (Sting vs. Jake Roberts) and the most total buys for a non-Hogan WCW PPV since Sting-Flair at the 1990 Great American Bash. Bash at the Beach did as many or more buys than a number of Hogan headlined PPVs that came both before and after (Starrcade 94, Slamboree 95, Fall Brawl 95, Halloween Havoc 95, World War 3 1995, Superbrawl 96, Uncensored 96, Road Wild 96, Fall Brawl 96, Halloween Havoc 96). Since Hogan was not advertised for Bash at the Beach 1996 and his heel turn was a surprise, this establishes that The Outsiders themselves were a significant draw on PPV that heated up a promotion which had been going cold with Hogan as its centerpiece. The Outsiders were just as critical to the new World order’s success as Hogan.
The Outsiders teaming with Hogan at Fall Brawl 96 was up over 30% from 1995 (which Hogan had also been on). In addition to the 1996 World War 3 battle royal (which The Outsiders were in but Hogan was not) where the primary storyline was new World order vs. WCW, the biggest match at that event was The Outsiders defending their tag titles. World War 3 96 was up 27% from 95 (an event Hogan had been on). The Outsiders and Hogan then team up again at Uncensored 97 which was up 42% from 96 (an event Hogan had been on). The Outsiders headline Slamboree 97 without Hogan which garners an increase of 50% from 96, and co-headline the 97 Great American Bash without Hogan which increased by 37%.
