The next night on "Nitro", Hogan protested the decision claiming that Patrick's decision should have been considered final and a rematch was granted. The match ran over "Nitro's" allotted time slot and the finish was aired later in the week on the inaugural episode of "Thunder". Similar to the Starrcade result, two different referees declared the two different men as the winner. Later that night, Dillon vacated the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, forcing Sting to surrender the belt. Sting responded with his first words (on mic) since October 1996 when he told Dillon, "You've got no guts!" Sting turned to Hogan and said, "And you... You're a dead man!".