It is a sad fact of wrestling in 2009 that the name and concept of WCW (World Championship Wrestling) is now only represented with a video back catalogue kept somewhere in the vaults of WWE headquarters, snippets of which rarely see the light of day unless dusted off to be included on the latest compilation DVD’s designed to promote or enhance a current WWE superstar.What once was a market leader circa twelve years ago is now but a fond memory for a lot of wrestling fans. However pangs of nostalgia can be pacified if you have access to the world wide web, and if you don’t have access at home then hot foot it to the nearest Internet cafe as there is a whole world of entertainment awaiting you.
The period from 1996 – 1998 is the true golden era of wrestling in both promotions, but specifically a time when WCW would raise to heights never before dreamed off due to the ruthlessness and morally deficient nature of its leader, Eric Bischoff. Such was the success of the company at this time it only served to emphasize how dramatic and rapid the subsequent downturn would be, resulting in the company being bought by its fiercest rival in 2001.
The Revolution Of WCW
Prior to 1996 WCW was really quite dull. It looked like a production from the 1980s compared to the glitz, glamour and cartoonish nature of its rival. WCW’s selling point was that they were all about the “wrestling” and indeed the purist would argue this was true. However nearly every main event feud was a variation on Sting vs Vader vs Ric flair for many a year and something had to be done. That something was Hulk Hogan. Bischoff made an ambitious overture to Hogan and once numbers were discussed a deal was hammered out and the most synonomous in ring performer in WWE (then WWF) history was now working for Ted Turner. The unthinkable had happened.
Undoubtedly this marked a significant boost in the fortunes of WCW as adding Hulk Hogan’s name to the marquee inevitably led to increased buy rates for pay per views and weekly viewing figures. However when the smoke had cleared and the initial excitement dissipated from his first ever Televised clashes with Flair, Hogan was now simply another addition to the main event rota.Bischoff next move was to hire more former WWE legends on large salaries who had definitely seen better days, prime examples being Randy savage and Roddy Piper. Again these names caused initial bursts of interest but nothing of sustained note. Hogan was regularly programmed against the latest giant heel who was out to destroy Hulkamania, just as he had been in WWE for many years before. At one point he was feuding with an entire stable of ridiculous characters in the tragic Dungeon of Doom. Audiences were bored with seeing regurgitated plotlines that had been witnessed dozens of times before in one guise or another.
Hulk Hogan As A Bad Guy!!
Which brings us to the summer of 1996 where Eric Bischoff decided to do the unthinkable again and truly change the face of wrestling forever, he turned Hogan heel. Hogan initially had reservations as he had his demographic to think about, namely kids. Is was a massive risk due to Hogan’s position as the number one good guy in wrestling for a decade. But boy did it pay off.
At the now legendary “Bash at the Beach 96” Hogan shocked the wrestling world by siding with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall (fresh from successful stints in WWE) in the most publicised heel turn that there will ever be. There really is no modern equivalent to compare with this swerve to emphasize how momentous and shocking it was. And as a result, WCW entered its most successful and entertaining period ever.
The Dawn Of The NWO
Hogan and his two buddies formed the NWO (New World Order), sported black and white t-shirts displaying the initials and went on to become the most dominant heel faction that there has ever been and probably ever will be. Those early Monday Nitro’s, WCW’s flagship Monday night programme which went head to head with Monday Night Raw, were essential viewing. NWO would decimate the WCW ranks leaving them lying with NWO spray painted on their backs week after week. And just when you thought WCW might fight back another wrestler would switch allegiance and swell the ranks further in favour of the NWO, Paul Wight and Eric Bischoff’s on screen persona being switches of particular note. As the NWO got stronger it would take over shows and established itself as a separate entity. As Scott Hall and pals used to say as they hit the ring “You’re either with us or against us”. The audience therefore had power; the power to chose and the NWO were both hated and revered depending on which town the house show was taped at that particular week. It was a unique situation where a huge power struggle was being depicted, of course in reality everyone was getting their pay checks from the same place, but the story line was so convincing audiences bought into it in their droves. Week after week WCW and NWO would clash and it was never certain just what might happen next.
Ratings for Nitro went through the roof and they began to beat the WWE for the first time ever. However the NWO’s growth and success as the cool bad guys faction is only one third the story of WCW’s success at this time. The second was Sting.......
