Near the end of WCW...

[PullMyFinger]

You know, looking back, I think before WCW got the plug pulled, it was actually just starting to pick up again. If it wouldn't have died so quick like that...it probably might have won the ratings somewhere down the line.

The Vampiro/Sting feud was actually real interesting.
Booker T's reign wasn't that bad at all.
Lance Storm's "if I can be serious for a moment"/having most of the titles around his belt was humourous and great.

Some of the other wrestlers that were coming in such as Palumbo, Skipper, O Haire, etc were pretty exciting.

[The One]

By the end of WCW, Storm was more or less a Tag Wrestler with Mike Awesome and he has said (on commentary on his website) that on the final Nitro he and Awesome were supossed to win the titles and go on to have a long reign as Tag Champs...but due to change in owner, blah blah blah, all the faces walked out with the gold.

No but seriously, the Cruiser Tag Division was aces, I was getting into Sugar Shane Helms, not to mention that somehow (I don't know how) they made Streiner entertaing to me. Jeff Jarrett was floundering, but he would have picked up some steam sooner or later. The down side of the later days of WCW was the same problem that TNA has right now...Dusty and Dustin Rhodes.

[PullMyFinger]

Well, according to whats been going around lately...Dusty will be fired from TNA.

[Gouda]

somehow (I don't know how) they made Streiner entertaing to me.

Yeah. I enjoyed the Booker/Steiner feud. I don't know how they did it.

Today I can't imagine Booker, and especially Steiner, holding the gold again, much less be that entertaining.

[The One]

It's funny how one company can get so strong, so much support, take nothing and make it into a show with a TV Deal, monthly PPVs, and then one man takes over and in 6 months drives it to the ground...good work Dusty.

[olympic hitman]

WCW was just starting to "put over" new stars and faces, but, it was much too late. A little too much time, effort, and money had been put into "established stars" like Hogan,Savage, Flair[which was the only one worth it], and Luger[who couldn't actually wrestle].

Booker seems to have seen his better days of wrestling in WCW as well. He always loses when going for a WWE World Heavyweight title. I was also finding Scott Steiner's reign was awesome too. He was by far the best heel WCW had and proved it week-by-week.

WCW would have done better if they'd had either of Austin, HHH, or The Rock. Those guys would've been the difference-makers. If any one of those guys had jumped to WCW before 2001, the result might have been vice-versa. Bischoff and Co purchasing WWE and then running it into the ground....

[Sickboy]

Yeah. I enjoyed the Booker/Steiner feud. I don't know how they did it.

Today I can't imagine Booker, and especially Steiner, holding the gold again, much less be that entertaining.

Well you gotta admit that Steiner was hella entertaining back in the WCW. He did great promos and had good matches too, although the older he got slower and less flexible he became.

[Innovator]

It's funny how one company can get so strong, so much support, take nothing and make it into a show with a TV Deal, monthly PPVs, and then one man takes over and in 6 months drives it to the ground...good work Dusty.
You're giving Dusty Rhodes too much credit, he's only been booker for 4 months

[Just John]

I liked the best of 7 seiries with Booker T and Chris Benoit

[The One]

we all did...not to be an ass, but that was no where near the end of the WCW run...then again I went off on a TNA tangit....ahhhh to be two-faced. :p

Now I would say the best thing WCW ever did was nWo...and the worst thing WCW was nWo...the entire popular time of WCW and the ultimate death of WCW was all because of nWo and their influence.

[PureHatred]

Scott Steiner stopped having "good" matches a decade ago after he injured his back. His last run in the WCW was entertaining because of his work on the mic which was just way over the top.

I do agree that WCW was started to head in a posiive direction near the end. It would've needed a good two years to full recover completely and become anywhere near an actual competitor to the WWE again.

[The One]

I don't know...I think WCW had some good ideas, and they were turning the product around, but there was just nothing they could do to stop their ultimate death in my eyes. I honestly think that ECW was going to become the #2 fairly quickly. No way would they ever be in position to mount an attack on WWE, but they didn't need to. WCW was just going down and even once they did start to do good in my books, there was no way they could ever get the marks back on board with them again...the WWE fued left them in a bent over position.

[PureHatred]

Well, this is all a huge "what if." Realistically, ECW and WCW were so far in debt that it would've taken a minor miracle to keep those companies alive. Eric Bischoff had investors lined up to purchase WCW, but they disappeared once it was made public that Turner didn't want them on their networks.

And ECW was just...so..well, put it this way: if WWE hadn't bailed ECW out Paul Heyman's grandchildren would've been paying his debt.

So any discussion of WCW surviving assumes a new investment group, a new TV deal, and the fact that many of the more "known" indy guys - Paul London, AJ Styles, Chris Daniels, etc - probably would've ended up there eventually.

You take into account who the WCW still had under contract, who was available after Turner bought them out, and who ended up in WWE and TNA because there was nowhere else to go....anything is possible.

[KayfabeMan]

WCW gets bashed a whole, and for no reason.

They were indeed doing great things, and NONE of their problems were in the ring - but rather who was controlling things from the top / behind the scenes. They were just getting into building future talents like Elix Skipper, Chuck Palumbo, Sean O'Haire, Kid Romeo, etc. - as well using the established guys a whole lot better.

Russo may have done a few things wrong (the Oklahoma angle eating up TV time, etc.), but for the little he did wrong, the more he did right. He gave more TV time and attention to the crusiers, established angles for the younger guys to work with all the established guys, and gave time to talents who were never featured on TV before. He also gave Booker a long overdue chance. WCW's biggest problem was what WWE's is now, the people / politicians controlling everything.

[PullMyFinger]

Yeah Russo did do some great things...ie the Hogan/Kidman feud. I was really into that feud for some reason, and what happens the night after their match up? Viagra on a pole for Kidman. Where's Kidman now? Lost on SD and will never have that golden spot again.

WWE, now, has far surpassed WCWs errors and screw ups. Only thing is, they're surviving b/c there's no competition for them to worry about. If WCW was still around, Triple H would've stopped main eventing a long time ago.

[Just John]

we all did...not to be an ass, but that was no where near the end of the WCW run...then again I went off on a TNA tangit....ahhhh to be two-faced. :p

Now I would say the best thing WCW ever did was nWo...and the worst thing WCW was nWo...the entire popular time of WCW and the ultimate death of WCW was all because of nWo and their influence.

Oh yeah Ive just actually realized the topic title...still, it was a good set of matches. I didnt like the last nitro though who wanted to see sting and flair shake hands?!

[PureHatred]

WCW's biggest problem was what WWE's is now, the people / politicians controlling everything.

That, and losing nearly $62 million in 2000.

Plus, I thoroughly disagee with you about Russo. Some of the stuff he did was ok, near he end. But the constant turning of characters, the endless "shoots," David Arquette, the total misuse of what credible "name" workers they did have, his use of stupid gimmicks like viagra on a pole, and his penchant for starting storylines and then dropping them for no reason made his shows barely watchab;e and totally confusing.

His shows were crap. He had some good ideas, and was willing to look to establish new stars, but his ideas were terrible.

[Gouda]

the fact that many of the more "known" indy guys - Paul London, AJ Styles, Chris Daniels, etc - probably would've ended up there eventually.

Wasn't AJ brought into WCW a bit before it closed? Either him or some other guy with two letters for a first name... I think he teamed with somebody in the whole cruserweight tag thing...

Man... I miss the cruserweight division. It was GOLD.

[The One]

AJ was brought in as Air Styles, Cruiser Tag Partner of Air Paris...they made Air Raid.

[loopydate]

Wasn't AJ brought into WCW a bit before it closed? Either him or some other guy with two letters for a first name... I think he teamed with somebody in the whole cruserweight tag thing...

Man... I miss the cruserweight division. It was GOLD.
If I recall, he was "Air Styles" teaming with Air Paris in the cruiser tag division.

I could be wrong, though.

[Gouda]

I see. It's a shame I can't remember this stuff. I can barely remember anything. Too bad I don't have any of it on tape...

[Rob]

Had WCW been bought by Eric Bischoff, Rob Van Dam was as good as signed and he was coming in with a mega push.

[YOUR Hero]

Ah yes, Bish and his bid to buy WCW. Too bad it didn't happen.

[Rammsteinmad]

I could be wrong, but I think I remember at one point reading how WWF's ratings had been going down while WCW's had started to gradually go up. Again, I could be totally wrong... but I remember thinking that maybe WCW would end up on top again. Oh well...

[James Steele]

WCW was a victim of its own downward momentum.

[Mr. JL]

My last memory of WCW programming was Cash (Kid Kash) versus Jason Jett (EZ Money) and I was impressed.

[KayfabeMan]

Yeah, EZ was a guy who could've done well in WCW.

I LOVED him, Hamrick and Dinero in ECW. One of the best things ECW had going for them - despite their tensions. Anyhow, he could've easily been a good mid-card guy (like TV or US Title) in WCW, if he would've had enough time / been given a chance.

[KayfabeMan]

Anyone remember the Modest / Daniels match from WCW Nitro, or Modest against The Artist [Prince Iaukea]? I liked the way they booked it, where Modest pulled a big upset over Iaukea, who was WCW Cruiserweight Champion at the time. Good stuff.

[PullMyFinger]

Team Canada in WCW was great. I loved it when Hacksaw Jim Duggan turned on the US and went the way of Team Canada hahaha...but my personal fav was when Mike Awesome wrestled against (dammit I forgot who it was) in a PPV match. Awesome kept losing, but they kept going with the match because it wasn't going according to "Canadian rules." After losing in 3 counts, the announcer would say, "In Canada however, the rules are you must win with 5 counts!" hahahahah

[PullMyFinger]

Anyone remember the Modest / Daniels match from WCW Nitro, or Modest against The Artist [Prince Iaukea]? I liked the way they booked it, where Modest pulled a big upset over Iaukea, who was WCW Cruiserweight Champion at the time. Good stuff.
I remember that name well, and that he was a Prince rip off, but I can't remember the face at all.

Hahahah remember Kwee-wee?

[KillerWolf]

Oh yeah Ive just actually realized the topic title...still, it was a good set of matches. I didnt like the last nitro though who wanted to see sting and flair shake hands?!
you sound like a real moron.

[YOUR Hero]

There was some good thing going on at the end of WCW's run, this statement by JamesSteele, is dead on; "WCW was a victim of its own downward momentum."

<!-- / message -->

[KayfabeMan]

I remember that name well, and that he was a Prince rip off, but I can't remember the face at all.

Hahahah remember Kwee-wee?

http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/p/princeiaukua/01.jpg

That's a photo of him working the Prince Iaukea gimmick. He had some great, great matches in WCW - and, IMO, was underrated. He had good matches in the 90's, and then even toward WCW's end. Matches with Regal, Savage, a few of the lucha guys, Jericho, and others are probably his better bouts.

Definitely remember Kwee-Wee / Alan Funk. I liked him from the first time I saw him on WCW Saturday Night; right after Hart got control of the program and the Power Plant boys were getting a shot on TV. I remember watching him as Alan Funk, and thinking, "Wow, this guys is good". Then he got even better with the Kwee-Wee gimmick. Another underrated guy right there.

That's back when WCW Saturday Night had early matches of the younger guys before they were getting a push on Thunder and then Nitro. You had Alan Funk, then Rick Cornell / Reno, Chuck Palumbo, Mike Sanders in surfing gear, Jindrak with the basketball gimmick, and many other good talents. Lash LeRoux [to an extent - as he wasn't as inexperienced as the other guys] even got some good time on there. I hated when WCW turned Saturday Night into a recap show.

After all of those years as a mainstay on the Superstation, they just killed it off. Then they moved it to AM hours, and you knew it was all over for WCW right there. It was a thing where Nitro could've went off the air, and it'd be OK, but when Saturday Night was gone - you knew it was over for them.

[PullMyFinger]

http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/p/princeiaukua/01.jpg

That's a photo of him working the Prince Iaukea gimmick. He had some great, great matches in WCW - and, IMO, was underrated. He had good matches in the 90's, and then even toward WCW's end. Matches with Regal, Savage, a few of the lucha guys, Jericho, and others are probably his better bouts.

Definitely remember Kwee-Wee / Alan Funk. I liked him from the first time I saw him on WCW Saturday Night; right after Hart got control of the program and the Power Plant boys were getting a shot on TV. I remember watching him as Alan Funk, and thinking, "Wow, this guys is good". Then he got even better with the Kwee-Wee gimmick. Another underrated guy right there.

That's back when WCW Saturday Night had early matches of the younger guys before they were getting a push on Thunder and then Nitro. You had Alan Funk, then Rick Cornell / Reno, Chuck Palumbo, Mike Sanders in surfing gear, Jindrak with the basketball gimmick, and many other good talents. Lash LeRoux [to an extent - as he wasn't as inexperienced as the other guys] even got some good time on there. I hated when WCW turned Saturday Night into a recap show.

After all of those years as a mainstay on the Superstation, they just killed it off. Then they moved it to AM hours, and you knew it was all over for WCW right there. It was a thing where Nitro could've went off the air, and it'd be OK, but when Saturday Night was gone - you knew it was over for them.
I know what you mean. When Hart got control of WCW Saturday Night it was actually cool. You got to see new faces, and there was even some small storyline going on there. I agree, it was bullshit when they changed it into Saturday Morning and turned it into a recap show.

I believe 3 Count debuted on Saturday Night too. I actually kinda liked Saturday Night when Hart took control of it.

[PullMyFinger]

oh and thanks, I remember who he is now...the guy with no shoes who wrestled barefoot

[KayfabeMan]

Yep.

When Hart had Saturday Night it felt like the show was just right. It had a good mix of mid-card established guys with the rookie guys that were building up not only ring time but also live TV time, and were - surprisingly - guys that you could do that with. I am not usually for doing that whole 'let the rookie learn on TV' thing, but with these guys, they picked up so quickly that it seemed as if they had more experience than they did.

[KayfabeMan]

oh and thanks, I remember who he is now...the guy with no shoes who wrestled barefoot

Kevin Von Erich? :shifty:

[Gouda]

Kwee-Wee was the best.

So were the Natural Born Thrillers.

I mean.... I loved Mark Jindrak in WCW. Now I see him in WWE and I'm just like "Meh, whatever. Let's get this match over with".

[PullMyFinger]

Exactly Gouda...when people say that WCW made mistakes...WWE is doing them even worse. They're holding so much talent back.

[Rob]

Exactly Gouda...when people say that WCW made mistakes...WWE is doing them even worse. They're holding so much talent back.

How was the WWF doing worse? WCW PPV buyrates were at all time lows and the WWF just did the biggest PPV in wrestling history. Yeah some guys were held back but there were only so many spots then. There are double the spots now so there is no excuse for it.

[PullMyFinger]

How was the WWF doing worse? WCW PPV buyrates were at all time lows and the WWF just did the biggest PPV in wrestling history. Yeah some guys were held back but there were only so many spots then. There are double the spots now so there is no excuse for it.
How many wrestlers are just being buried today? Yes, the difference is there's no competition for WWE...whereas when WCW fucked up, WWE jumped on the spot. Do you think Vince would do half the crap he does now if there was a legit competitor?
No matter how much things get screwed up, WWE still comes out on top b/c they are the only wrestling company.

[Rob]

Actually I think he would. Because if there is one thing I have learnt about Vince McMahon is that he will always do whatever he wants to entertain himself even if 7 million people told him he was wrong.

[PullMyFinger]

Actually I think he would. Because if there is one thing I have learnt about Vince McMahon is that he will always do whatever he wants to entertain himself even if 7 million people told him he was wrong.
:lol: