24 May 1988 A report covered on the Wednesday edition of the Charlotte Observer stated that the Crockett Family was considering options to sell it’s product to the Turner Broadcasting System. The deal was reported to be worth more than $10 million dollars. According to the deal, the shares held by David, Jackie, Frances Crockett would be traded to Turner, but possibly not the shares of mother, Elizabeth, and James Crockett Jr. Late-May 1988 The National Wrestling Alliance’s largest American promotion, Jim Crockett Promotions Inc., was furthering negotiations with the Turner Broadcasting System about a possible deal which would sell the business to Ted Turner and move wrestling from Charlotte south to Atlanta. After combining several Alliance territories into one, Jim Crockett was the only major NWA promoter left in the United States. The fall of St. Louis, Florida, the Central States, the Northwest and Texas, the Mid-Atlantic NWA, which had gone national in the years before, was about to be moved and altered forever. The original idea was to compete against the WWF on another level. More expansion. Frances Crockett denied any negotiations, reported by the Thursday, May 26, 1988 edition of the Charlotte Observer. Ted Turner was reportedly out of the country until June 6th. 10 July 1988 A Jim Crockett Promotions Inc.-Ted Turner partnership brought the Great American Bash to nearly 4-million households via satellite, a step up from the two-previous NWA pay-per-views. The deal between the two was going to bring 4 PPV's to it’s audience per year. Late-Sept 1988 Seven months of negotiations was about to end. The sale of Jim Crockett’s Promotions Inc. to the Turner Broadcasting System was nearing a close. Going into October, the parties were continuing to meet and prepare the finalize the deal. 03 November 1988 The Turner-Crockett deal was final. According to the Charlotte Observer, Turner Broadcasting Inc. and Jim Crockett Promotions Inc. reached terms to form the “Universal Wrestling Corporation.” The expansion dramatically increased Crockett’s ability to compete with the WWF on a national level. All National Wrestling Alliance Champions continued to be recognized by the new organization. The history of World Championship Wrestling can be literally followed back many decades. Long before the WWF was even a gleam in anyone’s eye. WCW was a part of the National Wrestling Alliance, a branch of the organization, which was bought out by a group from Atlanta led by millionaire Ted Turner. The NWA was begun, in name, in 1948. Jim Crockett Sr. promoted throughout the Mid-Atlantic “territory” for years and was a full member in the Alliance. He retired and his sons, Jim and David Crockett inherited the business. World Championship Wrestling out of Atlanta was purchased by the Crocketts during the mid- 1980s and the Mid-Atlantic Promotions was renamed such. Slowly, regional promotions began to fold as the WWF gained ground on the national circuit. Fans were seeing the WWF on television more and an urging to see Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant in their local rings grew. Jim Crockett Promotions’ own expansion began. The organization bought the Florida Promotion from Mike Graham, UWF from Billy Watts and the Central States “Territory” from Bob Geigel. Houston was slowly growing to a close and the major market in Los Angeles had fizzled out for the most part and become a WWF location. The American Wrestling Association remained a viable organization through the 1980s and continued to promote in Minneapolis, Denver and Chicago, among others. Although he had already joined the pay-per-view business, to further expand and join the national fracas, Jim Crockett sold WCW and the NWA Franchise name to Turner Broadcasting in 1988. The old territories were gone and the wrestlers of the NWA were moving into uncharted water. Ric Flair and Rick Steamboat feuded over the NWA World Title in some of the most respected matches in recent wrestling history. The bouts reaffirmed that the Alliance’s World Title was the top prize in the wrestling world. Steamboat took the belt in February and defended it against Flair throughout the nation successfully until May. Former champion, Terry Funk attacked Flair after the latter regained the belt at the May pay-per-view in Nashville. Flair suffered a “broken neck” and received sympathy from the fans. He eventually returned as a fan-favorite and feuded with Funk through November. In December ‘89, Sting established himself as the top face and challenged for the belt. Sting pinned Flair at Starrcade during the Iron Man Event and earned a World Title shot at the February WrestleWar Show. Instead of meeting the champion, Sting suffered a ruptured patella at the January Clash in Texas. Months of rehab were in store for him. Flair remained the title- holder through more challenges from Lex Luger, Junkyard Dog, Bobby Eaton and others. In July 1990, Sting pinned Flair and took the NWA World Title. As the promotion grew, it was decided that they were going to alter the name of the promotion from strictly “NWA” to “World Championship Wrestling.” At Clash of the Champions XIII in Jacksonville, “NWA” was not mentioned. At the December pay-per-view in the Alliance’s capital, St. Louis, “NWA” was not mentioned. Going into January and the new year, the name “WCW” was more prevalent. Fans recognized the World Champion as the NWA World Champion and the tag team champions as the NWA World Tag Team Champions. The few other members of the Alliance did the same. Those champions became WCW Champions. In July 1991, Flair left WCW and took the NWA World Title Belt with him to the WWF. A legal battle ensued over the “Gold Belt” and WCW eventually won. The damage had been done. Flair migrated to a rival, taking the top prize of the NWA/WCW with him. At the Great American Bash, two former Horsemen clashed for the vacant WCW World Title. Lex Luger beat Barry Windham and captured the vacant WCW World Title and the initial WCW World Belt. The organization had seen many changes since 1983. Beginning in 1991, promoters in WCW were officially looking for a new, national audience that they knew was out there. The WWF had capitalized on it. Was the United States big enough for two major national organizations? It soon became apparent that Sting was going to be the man that the organization revolved around. Between ’91 and ’93, after both Flair and Luger had left, leaving the popular Californian to battle the “monster” Big Van Vader for the World Championship. Ron Simmons also received a push to the top of the throne in late 1992. Vader was able to recapture the championship and entered 1993 as the champion. Rick Rude, Barry Windham, Dustin Rhodes, Rick Steamboat and Steve Austin were appearing for WCW and reigning as the top contenders for most of the titles, if they hadn’t already been wearing at least one of them. Organizers for WCW made special arrangements to provide members of the United States Army with entertainment on Wednesday, May 20, 1992. An event was held on Fort Irwin, California, in the middle of the unbelieveably moody Mojave Desert and the home of the National Training Center. “NTC,” as it is known, has been experienced by this writer and given it’s respects by all military personnel as a fine training ground for military forces. Spend a month out at NTC and become a warrior. World Championship Wrestling honored those soldiers not with a class “B” house show but it’s top notchers at the Army Field. Sting wrestled and beat a future “Stone Cold’ Steve Austin in the main event. Rick Steamboat, Rick Rude, Rick and Scott Steiner, Arn Anderson, Larry Zbyszko, Nikita Koloff, Raven, Brian Pillman, Ron Simmons and Mick Foley were among those who competed on that special wrestling extravaganza. The U.S. Army appreciated their effort. Moving forward to August 1992, WCW worked with New Japan to donate wrestlers in participation for the revived NWA World Title Tournament. World Championship Wrestling was going to recognize two World Titles, the WCW and the NWA, as separate entities. The belt passed through several New Japan artists before the belt landed on Windham’s waist. Early in 1993, several younger stars received a shot in WCW, including Chris Benoit, but some of their tours ended before they really began. Ric Flair returned in the Spring and re-established himself as the “main man.” The Horsemen were again in the saddle and after the July pay-per-view, Flair wore the NWA World Title. It was 1986 all over again. In September 1993, the NWA pulled out of WCW and declared the World Title vacant. Flair and later Rick Rude, were wearing a strap which had to be renamed by WCW. The former NWA World Title became the WCW International World Heavyweight Title. Flair took the WCW World Belt off Vader at Starrcade and 1994 began. 1994 was going to be an instrumental year in the history of professional wrestling no matter who liked it and who didn't. It didn’t matter much. It was all business and WCW made the smartest move it could have ever made. 1991-93 were tough years of acquisitions and losses. By 1994, it seemed that Ted Turner’s product and it’s handlers knew where it wanted to go. What it wanted to achieve in the sporting world. Hulk Hogan drifted away from the WWF the year before and despite a half-hearted reign as the World Champion, it seemed that his acting career was his number one priority. Many could not understand that Hogan was still the top draw in the American game. He was a man which the smarts, marks and everyday folk knew. Hogan had to be respected. In the 1980s, he had altered the way people thought of wrestling. Taking it out of the basement gutter in some likes and giving it a true role model. Allowing parents to trust wrestling enough to purchase figures, cards, dolls, arena tickets and pay-per-views on the monthly cable bill. Turner and his wrestling stable of creativeness went out of their way and signed Hogan to a multi-million dollar deal. Between April and July, the hype began. A parade was held in Orlando to mark the occasion. On the side, Hogan had his “Thunder in Paradise” Syndication Show going and remaining in the Florida area was vital. WCW had previously began taping shows at Disney’s MGM Studios. It seemed that the Hogan-WCW deal was all too good to be true. In July, Hogan pinned Flair to capture the World Title in Orlando with the Magic’s Shaquille O’Neal in his corner. From July to December, other former WWF Stars made their WCW Debut, including Ed Leslie…aka…The Butcher, formerly known as Brutus Beefcake, Jim Duggan and John Tenta. Duggan went on to capture the U.S. Title and both Tenta and Leslie headlined major WCW shows. Some fans were angry at WCW’s approach during this time-frame. They were not creating but reverting back to what had already been done. No matter, it was proving to be successful under their banner. Randy Savage, Bobby Heenan and Gene Okerlund also joined the organization. The Austin’s, the Rude’s and others were placed on the back burner, sidelined by the incoming veterans. With WCW going in a new direction, more and more fans saw the organization as a viable group. In 1995, a three-way feud between Hogan-Vader-Flair dominated the scene. Steve Austin departed WCW for ECW and the Giant appeared as “you know who’s” son.” On March 11, 1995, Gene Okerlund stated that WCW was in for an “Ultimate” surprise at the Uncensored pay-per-view. Fans could only think of one person. The Ultimate Warrior. The surprise turned out to be the Renegade, a man who sported the same look as the Warrior had but was a virtual newcomer to the sport. Soon after his debut, The Renegade captured the WCW World Television Title. Professional wrestling as a whole got a kick in the gut when WCW’s Monday Nitro began on TNT on September 4, 1995 during Labor Day Weekend in September ’95. In opposition to the WWF’s Monday Night Raw, WCW gave fans a choice and forced script writers to up their product. If they wanted ratings, that was. The initial show was headlined by Hulk Hogan and Bubba Rogers and was broadcast live from the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Also on the show was a bout between Ric Flair and Sting that saw Lex Luger’s return to the organization less than 24 hours from being on a WWF program, and a classic aerial contest between Jushin Liger and Brian Pillman. There was no question that WCW’s Nitro directly combat the WWF’s Monday Night Raw, which had been on television since January 1993 and had replaced Prime Time Wrestling, which dated back to the mid-1980s on the USA Network. Live wrestling on Monday Nights from WCW was one of the most important changes promoters made. Towards the latter months of 1995, Nitro made tremendous strides in improving the product in which the public were watching. Commentating the show were Eric Bischoff, Bobby Heenan and former NFL World Champion from the Chicago Bears, Steve McMichael. Fans could see Hulk Hogan, Sting, Ric Flair, Brian Pillman, Arn Anderson, Randy Savage and The Giant on TNT rather than seeing Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Diesel and Razor Ramon on USA. On December 18, 1995, another huge blow to the WWF appeared on Nitro. Alundra Blayze, the WWF Women’s World Champion, appeared on the show and threw the WWF Title in the trash on live television. An amazing act of shooting during a time in which that was rare on American Television. Unexpected. With the new audience behind them, WCW was gaining speed. In the heat of the WCW- WWF battle, Eric Bischoff, on January 1, 1996, announced the finish of the WWF’s four-way tag team match on USA while the match was happening. Needless to say, he was right and the Smokin’ Gunns won the bout. Nitro continued to be a haven of surprise. On March 11, 1996, fans saw the return of the Steiner Brothers after more than three years. The former NWA and WCW World Champions wrestled the Road Warriors on the show and lost to their rivals. Through the latter parts of 1995 and into the early months of 1996, WCW also saw the alterations of one man into the “Loose Cannon.” Brian Pillman was fast becoming the man to watch on WCW Telecasts. What was going to be said and done when Pillman was around, was the talk of the internet. Whether it was a shoot or a work. Confusing the fans to watch. WCW had a spark because of it’s harsh moves towards the top. Pillman did not do it alone, but his persona helped. The appearances of Lex Luger, Madusa and the Steiners added to the excitement. Another former WWF Employee and headliner, and a man who was known by many as Deebo from the hit comedy, “Friday” joined WCW for a short period of time. The man was Thomas Lister Jr., formerly known as Zeus. Lister joined the Dungeon of Doom in their efforts to beat Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage on March 10th in Tupelo at Uncensored. Even though his name was the “Gangsta,” the Doom’s attempt failed. Hogan and Savage were victorious in a special “Doomsday” steel cage match. Through April, Eric Bischoff continued to give the results to the pre-taped WWF Monday Night Raw at the beginning of Nitro. WCW Monday Nitro went to a two-hour format on May 27, 1996. That night was one of WCW’s most memorable in it’s short history, not because it had extended the time-frame in which angles could build and matches could run. But it was the initial appearance of Scott Hall, who basically challenged WCW’s three best men to a war. Since Hall was only one man, two others were about to appear on the horizon with him. A new coo. On June 3rd, Hall again appeared. He blasted WCW and Eric Bischoff. Sting walked out and the two got into a verbal argument. Sting slapped Hall before he threatened the organization with a surprise on June 10th. The next week, a man formerly known as Diesel, Kevin Nash appeared with Hall on the set of Nitro. The Outsiders were born. During the Great American Bash on June 16th in Baltimore, Hall and Nash not only appeared, but began to break up the foundations of the organization. Bischoff was put through a table during the event and yet another surprise was announced, which had fans reeling. Prior to Hall’s first appearance, even wrestling’s smarts knew that the two were on the outs with the WWF. But that was one, Scott Hall and two, Kevin Nash. Who was the third leg they had boasted about? On July 7th in Daytona Beach, the Outsiders went to the ring against three of WCW’s top stars, Sting, Randy Savage and Lex Luger. Three-on-two before Hulk Hogan went to the ring. The New World Order was born. WCW was changed forever. The NWO went on a rampage. During the August 26, 1996 edition of Nitro on TNT from Palmetto, Florida. Hogan, Hall and Nash roamed the hallways of the Civic Center, ready to remodel. The group stray painted a Turner Broadcasting Truck “NWO 4-Life.” The group ran out during a tag match between members of the Four Horsemen and Lex Luger and Sting. Ric Flair and Arn Anderson also appeared and were also stricken down. Flair’s hair was painted black and “NWO” was written on their backs. In September, they instigated Sting’ s turn into a “free agent” after a Fake Sting attacked Lex Luger during Monday Nitro. Fans were confused, as were the wrestlers. The former “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase joined the group as did Syxx. The latter dropped NWO Pamphlets into the crowd from the ceiling during the September 16th Nitro. The main body of the organization went to Japan for a tour in September, and the NWO had the run of the September 23rd show. Randy Savage seemed to be the lone target. And of course, Savage was on the card to wrestle Greg Valentine. He lost by disqualification when he used the chair, but the Outsiders ran out and attacked Savage. Joining them were DiBiase and Syxx as Elizabeth watched from ringside. Savage was brutalized. The Giant came out and introduced “Hollywood” Hogan. Hogan joined in the attack. Nash slapped Savage with a Slim Jim. He then was sprayed with paint. Hogan and his crew took over the broadcasting booth with Eric Bischoff, telling the world that it was the first ever “NWO Nitro.” Jim Powers, Ron Studd and Jim Duggan were other casualties. Began the “NWO Tag Team Tournament” on September 30th. The Outsiders beat High Voltage. The New World Order again dominated another show. Early in the September 30th show from Cleveland, Eric Bischoff announced that it was his worst mistake bringing Hogan into WCW. The NWO attempted to entice Elizabeth into the group. Officials renamed the WCW Race Car, the WCW Sting Car. An offering to Sting for the mistake many made when they questioned his loyalty. Professionals watched the ratings began to change as more and more fans were getting turned on to the NWO’s rule. WCW signed Jeff Jarrett and many wondered if he was going to join the rebel group. On October 7th in Savannah, the New World Order attacked Ric Flair prior to a match against Randy Savage. Savage was then attacked and chokeslammed by the Giant. They carried him to the ring. Hogan delivered five leg drops on Savage. An NWO Monster Truck rolled towards the WCW Broadcasting Booth as the commentators scrambled for safety. Halloween Havoc saw the return of Roddy Piper to professional wrestling. He returned to confront Hollywood Hogan, teasing a possible future match-up between the two. During the November 4th edition of Nitro from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Teddy Long was suspended by WCW during an interview segment by Mike Teney with Chris Jericho, Nick Patrick and Alan Sharpe. WCW faced a huge turn on November 18th in Florence when Eric Bischoff helped the NWO attack Roddy Piper on Nitro. Bischoff had jumped ship. Between December 1996 and December 1998, WCW saw it’s greatest times in the history of the organization. The NWO flourished, Sting, Savage, Luger, Hogan and the other top names drew record crowds and huge ratings. WCW signed one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time, Bret Hart in December 1997 after his falling out in Montreal. It also saw the rise of Bill Goldberg, a former Atlanta Falcon and Georgia Bulldog. Goldberg was a Power Plant graduate who entered professional wrestling like a shot out of a cannon. Immediately made an impact. Not before long, fans were booming “Goldberg,” “Goldberg,” in every arena WCW visited. There was no question who was the most popular man in an organization also stocked with Bret Hart, Sting and Hogan. Goldberg was also an unbeatable man. At victory 75, he beat Raven to capture the WCW United States Heavyweight Title. In July 1998, he pinned Hollywood Hogan before a huge crowd at the Georgia Dome and captured the WCW World Heavyweight Title. Goldberg went undefeated until Starrcade 1998 when he met Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and a taser. World Championship Wrestling paid tribute to one of it’s hardest workers on Sunday, November 29, 1998 in Knoxville, Tennessee. The man of the hour was none other than referee Mark Curtis, better known to his friends as Brian C. Hildebrand. Hildebrand was in the fight of his life, battling off a second wave of stomach cancer. Among those who paid tribute to Mr. Hildebrand were Ric Flair, Terry Taylor, Tim Horner, Mike Tenay, Sandy Scott, Tony Anthony, Kimberly Anthony, Les Thatcher, Arn Anderson, Bobby Heenan and Tony Schiavone. By the end of the night, Hildebrand was inducted into the honorary Four Horsemen and was even presented with his own copy of the WCW World Title Belt. Mr. Hildebrand died on September 8, 1999 in Talbott, Tennessee. He was 37 years of age. Towards the end of the decade, ratings for WCW’s broadcasts began to decline and injuries for many of the top athletes in the promotion were taking it’s toll. Things seemed promising after WCW signed several big name creative names away from the WWF during the fall. An attempt for a major turn-around began. The “Powers-That-Be” ruled with an iron fist. WCW paid their respects to Hiro Matsuda during the November 29th edition of Nitro. On January 24, 2000, WCW paid tribute to the late Bobby Duncum Jr. from Nitro in Los Angeles. The orgnaization received early on in the year which to some set the pace for the entire year. Four top wrestlers, including WCW World Champion Chris Benoit, left the promotion for the WWF. Among the others were Eddy Guerrero, Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn. On the home front, injuries continued to plague television ratings and the downward spiral continued. The major stars seemed to drop two at a time. Bret Hart, Bill Goldberg, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Randy Savage and Sting seemed to each fall to different problems. WCW Nitro was not held on April 3rd, only to return on the 10th of April with a bang. Live from Denver’s new Pepsi Center in Colorado, a whole new world of wrestling was opened up to WCW’s longtime fans. A host of wrestlers join in the ring, supported by Scott Steiner, Jeff Jarrett and finally, Vince Russo, one of the organization’s creative heads. Russo spoke to the audience, criticizing the way things were. He was soon joined by Eric Bischoff, and many thought it was going to lead to an altercation. Instead, it was a hug. The two were partners. They announced that all WCW Championships were declared vacant and took the U.S. Title from Jarrett, the World Tag Titles from Creative Control, the Cruiserweight Title from the Artist, and the Hardcore Title from Brian Knobbs. Sid Vicious released his control of the World Title only when Bischoff confronted him and verbally spoke out against him. Russo also spoke out against Flair, Bischoff against Hogan. WCW was changing. The wrestling so-called slang was being presented to a national audience in the form of shooting against each other. Whether it was a work or not, passionate feuds were started. Flair and Shane Douglas, after seven years of calling him out, finally began. Kidman and Hogan went at it. Tank Abbott called out Goldberg. Kevin Nash delivered a speech about Scott Hall and his personal situation before being attacked by the ECW World Champion, Mike Awesome. The ECW and WCW had signed a deal over Awesome but was somehow broken and there was some political turmoil. In the end, Bret Hart appeared signifying WCW’s ability to change it’s focus from mediocre to big-time wrestling. A new direction. New heat and an attempt to regain their fans. The ratings did not turn around overnight. It was a beginning. Hollywood Film Actor and star of the wrestling movie, Ready to Rumble, David Arquette entered WCW and captured a claim to the World Title after getting a pin on Bischoff during a tag bout. At one point, Courtney Cox Arquette and Kurt Russell were seen on WCW Television as David Arquette wore the WCW Belt. Headlined by feuds between Kevin Nash and Bill Goldberg and Jeff Jarrett and Hulk Hogan, WCW Predicted that the Bash at the Beach in July was going to be it’s most successful of the year. It was that, the most explosive pay-per-view the promotion had organized in years. When it was all said and done, the landscape had changed. Effective June 24, 2000, WCW Saturday Night, a staple in wrestling on TBS since the 1970s, was cancelled. TBS would instead run a one-hour weekend show on Saturdays at 11: 00 a.m. (EST). The show was once the highest rated program on cable television. Many fans had grown up with the program. A new World Champion had been crowned on Sunday, July 9th, and neither Hogan or Jarrett were wearing the title. Hogan did walk off with a belt. Chavo Guerrero and Big Vito retained their belts and Kronic took the World Tag Title from Chuck Palumbo and Shawn Stasiak. Scott Steiner was stripped of the U.S. Title for using his Steiner Recliner on Mike Awesome, by Commissioner, Ernest Miller. Vince Russo walked out to start the Jarrett-Hogan match, with the defending champ in tow. Hogan entered the stage to a loud crowd and went to the ring. Russo informed Jarrett to lay down and the champion did. Hogan said a few words and pinned him for the WCW World Heavyweight Title. He took the belt and walked away. Russo and Jarrett followed. Later in the night, Russo returned to the squared circle and spoke. He said that the belt Hogan won was the “Memorial Belt” and that Jarrett was still recognized as the WCW Champion. That Jarrett would defend it against Booker T later in the evening. When it came down to it, the former multiple-time WCW World Tag and TV Champion, Booker pinned Jarrett and captured the World Title. Later in the night, Jarrett spoke on WCW Live and said that he did not know if the Russo- Hogan situation was a work or a shoot, but that he was following the boss’ orders. Many smarts and marks agreed that they weren’t sure what was real and what wasn’t anymore. WCW had pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes. Booker T remained the champion through several tough weeks, building up towards New Blood Rising in August. On July 31st, Booker T pinned Sting in defense of his crown. Talk of WCW’s sale continued through the fall and into the winter. Speculation differed from the person claiming knowledge. Hogan remained missing, forcing many fans to wonder. WCW had seen so many different faces since it’s beginning, and there was more predicted in the future. Between July and December 2000, many different changes occurred including the crowning of Scott Steiner as the World Heavyweight Champion with a defeat of Booker T at Mayhem. In January 2001, the longtime rumors were confirmed. World Championship Wrestling was sold. On March 19, 2001, Eric Bischoff spoke to a national television audience via telephone during Monday Nitro. He announced that WCW was in negotiations to be sold and that the March 26th edition of Nitro would be known as “Night of Champions.” WCW World Champion, Scott Steiner would wrestle Booker T, the WCW U.S. Heavyweight Champion, in a title vs. title match. Each of the other belts in WCW would also be up for grabs. The March 26th showing of Nitro from Panama City Beach, Florida was announced the final of the season. In all actuality, it could have been WCW’s final of all-time. News that WCW had been removed from Turner Broadcasting’s Cable System was reported on all sorts of media outlets. Before the end of the month, WCW was sold to the World Wrestling Federation. The March 26th Nitro marked the final showing on TNT, but the first of a new era of professional wrestling. Vince McMahon opened Nitro via video from Cleveland with comments and later held a simulcast with his son, Shane McMahon in Florida. After Booker T had won the WCW World Title and Sting had beaten Ric Flair in a throwback match to their many wars, Shane McMahon was announced as the new owner of WCW. As noted as a possibility a week earlier, Eric Bischoff and several other former WCW World Champions were not on the final showing of Nitro. Several dates were thrown around for the start-up of the new WCW between May and June. None of the predications were correct. Research by Tim Hornbaker |
(WCW) World Championship Wrestling Timeline & History |