The Definitive Guide To The History Of WCW: From Inception To Legacy

Dalbo 12 May 2024

History of WCW professional wrestling promotion founded in 1988 by Ted Turner and based in Atlanta, Georgia. WCW was the second-largest wrestling promotion in the United States behind the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) and was a major player in the Monday Night Wars of the 1990s. WCW closed in 2001, and its assets were purchased by the WWF.

WCW was founded as a successor to Jim Crockett Promotions, which had been purchased by Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) in 1988. TBS owner Ted Turner wanted to create a wrestling promotion that could compete with the WWF, and he hired Eric Bischoff as the executive vice president of WCW. Bischoff brought in several popular wrestlers from the WWF, including Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, and Sting, and helped to create a new, more edgy style of wrestling.

WCW quickly became a major force in the wrestling industry, and in 1994, it launched its flagship show, Monday Nitro, which went head-to-head with the WWF's Monday Night Raw. Nitro was a huge success, and for a time, WCW was the more popular wrestling promotion in the United States. However, the WWF eventually regained its dominance, and WCW began to decline in the late 1990s.

WCW closed in 2001 after being purchased by the WWF. The WWF purchased WCW's assets, including its video library and trademarks, and many of WCW's wrestlers were signed to contracts with the WWF.

History of WCW

World Championship Wrestling (WCW) was a major professional wrestling promotion that played a significant role in the industry during the 1990s. Here are eight key aspects that shaped the history of WCW:

Ted Turner: The founder and owner of WCW, Turner's vision and financial backing helped WCW become a major player in the wrestling industry.
Eric Bischoff: The executive vice president of WCW, Bischoff was responsible for the company's creative direction and helped to create the edgy style of wrestling that WCW became known for.
Hulk Hogan: One of the most popular wrestlers in the world, Hogan's jump to WCW in 1994 helped to make the company a major force in the industry.
Monday Nitro: WCW's flagship show, Nitro went head-to-head with the WWF's Monday Night Raw in the Monday Night Wars, a period of intense competition between the two companies.
nWo: A popular wrestling stable, the nWo was formed in 1996 and helped to boost WCW's ratings during the Monday Night Wars.
The Fingerpoke of Doom: A controversial incident in 1999 where Hulk Hogan defeated Kevin Nash for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship with a single fingerpoke, leading to a decline in WCW's popularity.
Vince Russo: A writer and booker for WCW, Russo's controversial and often nonsensical storylines contributed to the company's decline in the late 1990s.
Sale to WWF: In 2001, WCW was sold to the WWF, which purchased WCW's assets and many of its wrestlers.

These key aspects all played a significant role in the history of WCW. Turner's financial backing and Bischoff's creative direction helped to make WCW a major player in the wrestling industry. Hogan's star power and the popularity of Nitro and the nWo helped to boost WCW's ratings during the Monday Night Wars. However, controversial incidents like the Fingerpoke of Doom and Russo's nonsensical storylines contributed to the company's decline in the late 1990s. Ultimately, WCW was sold to the WWF in 2001, marking the end of an era in professional wrestling.

Ted Turner

Ted Turner's founding and ownership of WCW, along with his vision and financial backing, played a pivotal role in the history of WCW. Turner's financial resources allowed WCW to compete with the WWF, the leading wrestling promotion at the time. He also gave Eric Bischoff, WCW's executive vice president, the freedom to create a new, more edgy style of wrestling that appealed to a wider audience. This combination of financial backing and creative freedom helped WCW to become a major player in the wrestling industry.

One of the most significant examples of Turner's impact on WCW was his decision to hire Hulk Hogan in 1994. Hogan was one of the most popular wrestlers in the world at the time, and his jump to WCW helped to make the company a major force in the industry. Hogan's star power helped to attract new fans to WCW and boost the company's ratings. Turner's financial backing also allowed WCW to sign other top wrestlers, such as Randy Savage and Sting, which further helped to increase the company's popularity.

Turner's vision for WCW was to create a wrestling promotion that was more edgy and adult-oriented than the WWF. He gave Bischoff the freedom to create a new style of wrestling that was more character-driven and less focused on athleticism. This new style of wrestling, known as the "Attitude Era," helped to attract a new generation of fans to WCW and made the company a major player in the wrestling industry.

Turner's financial backing and vision were essential to the success of WCW. He provided the resources and the creative freedom that allowed WCW to become a major player in the wrestling industry. Without Turner's involvement, it is unlikely that WCW would have been able to achieve the success that it did.

Eric Bischoff

Eric Bischoff's role as executive vice president of WCW was pivotal in shaping the history of the company. Bischoff was responsible for the company's creative direction and helped to create the edgy style of wrestling that WCW became known for. This new style of wrestling, known as the "Attitude Era," was more character-driven and less focused on athleticism than the WWF's style at the time. Bischoff's creative direction helped to attract a new generation of fans to WCW and made the company a major player in the wrestling industry.

One of Bischoff's most significant contributions to WCW was his decision to hire Hulk Hogan in 1994. Hogan was one of the most popular wrestlers in the world at the time, and his jump to WCW helped to make the company a major force in the industry. Hogan's star power helped to attract new fans to WCW and boost the company's ratings. Bischoff also gave Hogan a lot of creative freedom, which allowed Hogan to help shape the direction of WCW. Hogan's influence on WCW was significant, and he helped to make the company more popular than ever before.

Bischoff's creative direction was also responsible for the creation of the New World Order (nWo), one of the most popular wrestling stables of all time. The nWo was formed in 1996 and featured Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall. The nWo was a major success and helped to boost WCW's ratings even further. Bischoff's creative direction helped to make WCW a major player in the wrestling industry, and he is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of the company.

In conclusion, Eric Bischoff's role as executive vice president of WCW was pivotal in shaping the history of the company. Bischoff's creative direction helped to create the edgy style of wrestling that WCW became known for, and he was responsible for hiring Hulk Hogan and creating the New World Order. These factors helped to make WCW a major player in the wrestling industry, and Bischoff is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of the company.

Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan's jump to WCW in 1994 was a major turning point in the history of the company. Hogan was one of the most popular wrestlers in the world at the time, and his decision to leave the WWF for WCW sent shockwaves through the wrestling industry. Hogan's arrival in WCW helped to make the company a major player in the wrestling industry, and he played a key role in the company's success during the Monday Night Wars.

Hogan's star power: Hogan was one of the most popular wrestlers in the world, and his arrival in WCW helped to attract new fans to the company. Hogan's star power was a major factor in WCW's success during the Monday Night Wars.
Hogan's creative freedom: Hogan was given a lot of creative freedom in WCW, which allowed him to help shape the direction of the company. Hogan's creative input helped to make WCW a more edgy and adult-oriented promotion, which appealed to a wider audience.
Hogan's leadership: Hogan was a natural leader, and he helped to unite the WCW locker room. Hogan's leadership was a major factor in WCW's success during the Monday Night Wars.

Hulk Hogan's jump to WCW in 1994 was a major turning point in the history of the company. Hogan's star power, creative freedom, and leadership helped to make WCW a major player in the wrestling industry. Hogan's arrival in WCW helped to launch the Monday Night Wars, and he played a key role in the company's success during that time period.

Monday Nitro

The Monday Night Wars was a period of intense competition between the WWF and WCW that lasted from 1995 to 2001. During this time, Nitro and Raw went head-to-head in a ratings battle that helped to shape the history of professional wrestling.

Ratings dominance: Nitro was the first WCW show to consistently beat Raw in the ratings, and it held the top spot for 83 consecutive weeks. This was a major accomplishment for WCW, as the WWF had been the dominant wrestling promotion for many years.
Star power: Nitro featured some of the biggest stars in wrestling, including Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, and Sting. These stars helped to attract viewers and make Nitro a must-watch show.
Edgy content: Nitro was known for its edgy content, which often pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable on television. This content helped to attract a younger audience and set Nitro apart from Raw.
nWo: The nWo was a wrestling stable that debuted on Nitro in 1996. The nWo was a major success and helped to boost Nitro's ratings even further.

The Monday Night Wars was a major turning point in the history of professional wrestling. Nitro's success helped to make WCW a major player in the industry, and it set the stage for the eventual purchase of WCW by the WWF in 2001.

nWo

The nWo was a professional wrestling stable that debuted on WCW Nitro on July 7, 1996. The stable consisted of Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, and Kevin Nash, three of the biggest stars in wrestling at the time. The nWo was an instant success, and it helped to boost WCW's ratings significantly.

The nWo's success was due to a number of factors. First, the stable was incredibly well-booked. The nWo was presented as a group of outsiders who were invading WCW and taking over. This storyline resonated with fans, who were tired of the same old faces and storylines. Second, the nWo had three of the most charismatic and popular wrestlers in the world. Hogan, Hall, and Nash were all incredibly talented performers, and they knew how to connect with the audience. Third, the nWo was given a lot of creative freedom. Bischoff allowed the nWo to do things that other wrestlers were not allowed to do. This freedom allowed the nWo to create some of the most memorable moments in WCW history.

The nWo was a major factor in WCW's success during the Monday Night Wars. The stable helped to boost WCW's ratings and make it a major player in the wrestling industry. The nWo's success is a testament to the power of good booking, talented performers, and creative freedom.

The nWo's impact on the history of WCW cannot be overstated. The stable was a major factor in WCW's success during the Monday Night Wars, and it helped to make WCW a major player in the wrestling industry. The nWo's success is a testament to the power of good booking, talented performers, and creative freedom.

The Fingerpoke of Doom

The Fingerpoke of Doom was a controversial incident that occurred on the July 4, 1999, edition of WCW Monday Nitro. In the main event of the evening, Hulk Hogan and Kevin Nash were scheduled to compete for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. However, the match ended abruptly when Nash laid down for Hogan and allowed him to win the title with a single fingerpoke. This incident was met with widespread criticism from fans and critics alike, and it is often cited as the beginning of the decline of WCW.

There are several reasons why the Fingerpoke of Doom was so damaging to WCW. First, it showed that the company was willing to sacrifice its credibility for the sake of a cheap pop. Second, it made Hogan look like an unstoppable monster, which made it difficult for fans to root against him. Third, it alienated many of WCW's core fans, who felt that the company had betrayed them.

The Fingerpoke of Doom was a major turning point in the history of WCW. It marked the beginning of the company's decline, and it ultimately led to its purchase by the WWF in 2001. The Fingerpoke of Doom is a reminder of the importance of booking decisions in professional wrestling. When a company makes a bad booking decision, it can have a devastating impact on its popularity.

The Fingerpoke of Doom is also a reminder of the importance of fan loyalty. When fans feel that a company has betrayed them, they are likely to stop watching. WCW made a big mistake when it decided to book the Fingerpoke of Doom. The company paid the price for its mistake, and it ultimately led to its demise.

Vince Russo

Vince Russo was a writer and booker for WCW from 1999 to 2000. During his time with the company, Russo was responsible for a number of controversial and nonsensical storylines that contributed to WCW's decline in the late 1990s.

The Fingerpoke of Doom: This infamous incident occurred on the July 4, 1999, edition of WCW Monday Nitro. In the main event of the evening, Hulk Hogan and Kevin Nash were scheduled to compete for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. However, the match ended abruptly when Nash laid down for Hogan and allowed him to win the title with a single fingerpoke. This incident was met with widespread criticism from fans and critics alike, and it is often cited as the beginning of the decline of WCW.
The Russo Swerves: Russo was known for his frequent use of swerves, or unexpected plot twists. While swerves can be effective when used sparingly, Russo overused them to the point where they became predictable and tiresome. This led to fans becoming frustrated and alienated from the product.
The Invasion: In early 2000, Russo booked an invasion angle in which wrestlers from the rival WWF promotion invaded WCW. This angle was poorly executed and failed to generate any real interest from fans. It also served to further damage WCW's credibility.

Vince Russo's controversial and nonsensical storylines were a major factor in the decline of WCW in the late 1990s. His booking decisions alienated fans and damaged the company's credibility. As a result, WCW lost viewers and ultimately went out of business in 2001.

Sale to WWF

The sale of WCW to the WWF in 2001 was a major turning point in the history of professional wrestling. It marked the end of an era for WCW, which had been a major player in the industry for over a decade. The sale also had a significant impact on the WWF, which became the undisputed leader in professional wrestling.

The end of an era: The sale of WCW to the WWF marked the end of an era for the company. WCW had been a major player in the professional wrestling industry for over a decade, and its demise left a void in the market. The sale also marked the end of the Monday Night Wars, a period of intense competition between WCW and the WWF.
The WWF's dominance: The purchase of WCW by the WWF gave the company a monopoly on the professional wrestling industry. The WWF was now the only major wrestling promotion in the United States, and it had a vast majority of the top wrestlers in the world under contract. This dominance allowed the WWF to dictate the terms of the industry and to set the creative direction for professional wrestling.
The legacy of WCW: Despite its demise, WCW's legacy continues to live on. Many of WCW's former wrestlers have gone on to have successful careers in the WWF and other wrestling promotions. WCW's creative innovations, such as the nWo and the cruiserweight division, have also been adopted by other wrestling promotions.

The sale of WCW to the WWF was a major event in the history of professional wrestling. It marked the end of an era for WCW and the beginning of a new era for the WWF. The sale also had a significant impact on the industry as a whole, and its legacy continues to be felt today.

History of WCW FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about the history of World Championship Wrestling (WCW):

Question 1: When was WCW founded?

Answer: WCW was founded in 1988 by Ted Turner.

Question 2: Who was the first WCW World Heavyweight Champion?

Answer: Ric Flair was the first WCW World Heavyweight Champion.

Question 3: What was the name of WCW's flagship show?

Answer: WCW's flagship show was called Monday Nitro.

Question 4: Who was the leader of the nWo?

Answer: Hulk Hogan was the leader of the nWo.

Question 5: When did WCW go out of business?

Answer: WCW went out of business in 2001.

Question 6: Who bought WCW's assets?

Answer: The WWF (now WWE) bought WCW's assets in 2001.

These are just a few of the most frequently asked questions about the history of WCW. For more information, please refer to the main article above.

Thank you for your interest in the history of WCW!

Transition to the next article section:

In the next section, we will discuss the impact of WCW on the professional wrestling industry.

Tips for Studying the History of WCW

Studying the history of World Championship Wrestling (WCW) can be a rewarding experience for fans of professional wrestling. Here are five tips to help you get started:

Tip 1: Start with a general overview.

Before you dive into the details, it's helpful to get a general overview of WCW's history. This will give you a foundation to build on as you learn more about the company.

Tip 2: Read books and articles about WCW.

There are a number of books and articles available about WCW's history. These resources can provide you with in-depth information about the company's key events, wrestlers, and storylines.

Tip 3: Watch WCW's old shows.

One of the best ways to learn about WCW's history is to watch its old shows. This will give you a firsthand look at the company's unique style of wrestling and its most memorable moments.

Tip 4: Talk to people who were involved in WCW.

If you have the opportunity, talk to people who were involved in WCW, such as wrestlers, referees, and fans. They can provide you with firsthand accounts of the company's history and give you a unique perspective on its impact on the professional wrestling industry.

Tip 5: Use the internet to your advantage.

The internet is a valuable resource for learning about WCW's history. There are a number of websites and forums dedicated to WCW, where you can find a wealth of information about the company.

By following these tips, you can gain a deeper understanding of the history of WCW and its impact on the professional wrestling industry.

Conclusion:

Studying the history of WCW can be a rewarding experience for fans of professional wrestling. By following the tips outlined above, you can gain a deeper understanding of the company's unique style of wrestling, its most memorable moments, and its impact on the industry.

Conclusion

World Championship Wrestling (WCW) played a major role in the history of professional wrestling. The company's innovative style of wrestling, memorable characters, and intense storylines captivated fans around the world. WCW's success during the Monday Night Wars helped to shape the professional wrestling industry and left a lasting legacy on the sport. As future generations of fans discover the history of WCW, the company's impact on professional wrestling will continue to be felt for years to come.

The history of WCW is a reminder that anything is possible in the world of professional wrestling. With hard work, dedication, and a little bit of luck, even the smallest companies can achieve great things. WCW's story is an inspiration to all those who dream of making their mark on the world of professional wrestling.

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