World Championship Wrestling 2002: Rebuilding the Empire

[Hashasheen]

Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. Determined to have the show done tonight... unless more lady-friend drama unfolds...

You let that slip there, Bp42. Anything wrong?

 

I think I just lack the game-patience to build long-term toward a goal like that. I'm like that in Football Manager, too - I can never start out with a tiny club that has no money and no quality, patiently building toward something great.

I'm the opposite. I enjoy the challenge and hate being a Manchester United or Barcelona from the beginning.

 

Tapout would be fantastic if I was going for a specific approach to the show. I've also toyed with the idea of trying to bring in a bit more MMA-influence to WCW, just to further differentiate the product from the WWE, but I'm not certain if that's something I want to pursue or not.

What about Fury, then?

 

Regarding Thunder, I'm just quite hesitant because I don't think its the kind of legacy that they would want to resurrect. The show was basically a joke after awhile, it seems, and not well-regarded or fondly-remember by fans. I see Bischoff wanting to distance the promotion from that era in many ways, and I see the use of Thunder as unlikely just based on that. I actually considered not using Nitro for that reason, but the name value was too strong and that would have been too much of a disconnect, I feel.

Thunder was practically ignored in the final year and a lot of the booking was done by the wrestlers themselves, I understand.

 

I think Empire just became the best possibility. Its simple, its direct, and it ties in with the name of the project. Me likee...

It does roll of the tongue nicely. "What'cha watching tonight?" "Empire, man! What else?"

 

Final note. You mentioned around the beginning that Nitro is taped. Is it still taped or not? If so, why isn't Vince McMahon paying back Easy E for his reveals when Raw was still taped?

[jstarr187]

How about Shotgun Saturday Night?

[Hashasheen]

How about Shotgun Saturday Night?

 

It's WWE.

[jstarr187]

It's WWE.

 

He could just make it different. Like, they could have Sunny do color commentary and have crappy matches.

[Bigpapa42]

Heh. I wrote it down, thought 'Yes, that works!'

 

Then I looked back at the thread title and went 'Oh...'

 

I'm still claiming it's original, though. One man's subconscious plagiarism is another man's victorious royalties battle, as the courts have found on more than one occasion.

 

I won't argue the originality...

 

Random side note... I was going to use "Rebuilding the Brand" as the title for the project, but I though "brand" would make it seem like it was part of the WWE Univese, so I went with Empire. I thought it kinda connected back to the "Turner Broadcasting empire" and countered the "WWE Universe". Now you know...

 

You let that slip there, Bp42. Anything wrong?

 

I'm the opposite. I enjoy the challenge and hate being a Manchester United or Barcelona from the beginning.

 

What about Fury, then?

 

Thunder was practically ignored in the final year and a lot of the booking was done by the wrestlers themselves, I understand.

 

It does roll of the tongue nicely. "What'cha watching tonight?" "Empire, man! What else?"

 

Final note. You mentioned around the beginning that Nitro is taped. Is it still taped or not? If so, why isn't Vince McMahon paying back Easy E for his reveals when Raw was still taped?

 

Ha, no nothing wrong. Just wanted to get it done up last night and got distracted by life. Life happens.

 

I don't mind Fury. Its to the point and aggressive. I know I'm overthinking this as I tend to, but what gives me hesistation with a lot of the more aggressive names - Fury, Carnage, Damage, Chaos, etc - is that I don't really think the show would fit the image that a name like that creates. I just like the thought that the show name fits in a descriptive manner as well as just being the label. Its like WWE Raw... back in the day, when there was plenty of offensive humor, sexuality, and such, the name really fit. But with the contemporary PG product, it doesn't. Its just a name.

 

I still approach it as if Nitro is being taped, for the most part. It saves money and Bischoff really isn't trying to go after the WWE at this point, so the need to be live isn't there. Vince doesn't return in kind partly because Bischoff could still do the same for some of the WWE taped shows. Mostly, its because neither man really wants to reignite the actual war. While the Monday Night Wars created a major boom period, it also damn near killed both promotions at different points. I don't see 2002 Vince as being quite as grounded... He's kicking up his heels after "winning", since WCW was taken off the air and almsot died. He's letting the inmates run the asylum, to an extent. And even if WCW does surpass the WWE at some point, Vince would still look at it as something different - the WWE isn't wrestling, its Sports Entertainment....

 

How about Shotgun Saturday Night?

 

You know, stealing a name from the WWE would be kinda funny. If was a name they used in the future (so it wouldn't be trademarked, in theory) as opposed to the past, I would actually give it some though. It would be a fun little swipe if they were at war. Or maybe change it up ever so slightly... WCW Double-Barrell Sunday Night...

[totti]

Just a suggestion if anybody can come up with anything good, but have you thought of naming the show after a particular WCW legend like what the WWF did with Smackdown? You could use a word or phrase that is familiar with somebody like Flair, Sting, The Horsemen or even Lesner. A catchphrase, a move, I'm sure there's something out there. I can't really think of anything at the moment though, but it'd be a good idea if the right name was there.

[jstarr187]

Just a suggestion if anybody can come up with anything good, but have you thought of naming the show after a particular WCW legend like what the WWF did with Smackdown? You could use a word or phrase that is familiar with somebody like Flair, Sting, The Horsemen or even Lesner. A catchphrase, a move, I'm sure there's something out there. I can't really think of anything at the moment though, but it'd be a good idea if the right name was there.

 

WCW Two Hour Span of Time Where The Big Boys Play

 

WCW Friday 4-Life

 

WCW Here Comes The Pain

 

WCW WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

WCW Space Mountain

 

Since Brock is your guy, I'd name it after something Brock related, ala The Rock and Smackdown

[Hashasheen]

Ha, no nothing wrong. Just wanted to get it done up last night and got distracted by life. Life happens.

Indeed it does.

 

I don't mind Fury. Its to the point and aggressive. I know I'm overthinking this as I tend to, but what gives me hesistation with a lot of the more aggressive names - Fury, Carnage, Damage, Chaos, etc - is that I don't really think the show would fit the image that a name like that creates. I just like the thought that the show name fits in a descriptive manner as well as just being the label. Its like WWE Raw... back in the day, when there was plenty of offensive humor, sexuality, and such, the name really fit. But with the contemporary PG product, it doesn't. Its just a name.

I get what you're saying.

 

I still approach it as if Nitro is being taped, for the most part. It saves money and Bischoff really isn't trying to go after the WWE at this point, so the need to be live isn't there. Vince doesn't return in kind partly because Bischoff could still do the same for some of the WWE taped shows. Mostly, its because neither man really wants to reignite the actual war. While the Monday Night Wars created a major boom period, it also damn near killed both promotions at different points. I don't see 2002 Vince as being quite as grounded... He's kicking up his heels after "winning", since WCW was taken off the air and almsot died. He's letting the inmates run the asylum, to an extent. And even if WCW does surpass the WWE at some point, Vince would still look at it as something different - the WWE isn't wrestling, its Sports Entertainment....

Maybe, but it's something I think McMahon would revel in as a little thing to enjoy doing.

 

You know, stealing a name from the WWE would be kinda funny. If was a name they used in the future (so it wouldn't be trademarked, in theory) as opposed to the past, I would actually give it some though. It would be a fun little swipe if they were at war. Or maybe change it up ever so slightly... WCW Double-Barrell Sunday Night...

How about WCW NXT?

[Bigpapa42]

Just a suggestion if anybody can come up with anything good, but have you thought of naming the show after a particular WCW legend like what the WWF did with Smackdown? You could use a word or phrase that is familiar with somebody like Flair, Sting, The Horsemen or even Lesner. A catchphrase, a move, I'm sure there's something out there. I can't really think of anything at the moment though, but it'd be a good idea if the right name was there.

 

Great concept. Problem is that as I look over the roster, I don't see a ton of options in that regard. I could also try to come up with something for one of my workers, but that's really not a strength for me ("Its showtime", "Have Faith", and "I'm Money" being easy and obvious ones). Still... bears some thought... Nice idea, Totti.

 

WCW Two Hour Span of Time Where The Big Boys Play

 

WCW Friday 4-Life

 

WCW Here Comes The Pain

 

WCW WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

WCW Space Mountain

 

Since Brock is your guy, I'd name it after something Brock related, ala The Rock and Smackdown

 

Nice. Also options, I guess...

 

WCW Saturday Night Suckas!!!

 

WCW Big Poppa Pump and his Freaks Show

 

WCW Whole F*cking Show

 

WCW Who's Next?

 

WCW If We Could Be Serious for a Moment

 

I still like WCW Friday Night WOOOOOOOO! Flair definitely needs his own show at some point, I think...

 

Indeed it does.

 

I get what you're saying.

 

Maybe, but it's something I think McMahon would revel in as a little thing to enjoy doing.

 

How about WCW NXT?

 

Vinnie Mac certainly seems like he is ego-driven. He might proclaim otherwise, but it sure seemed like ego killed the Invasion and was what was behind the horrid booking. I don't think Vince has lost ego. Rather, he is simply less involved on a day to day basis than he was in reality at this point. The way I see it, if Bischoff evolved in some ways, so did Vinnie Mac.

 

I actually quite like the NXT name. It would work best for a B show, I think. If I do add another B show down the road, it would definitely be a possibility...

[Bigpapa42]

World Championship Wrestling

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k235/Bigpapa42_2006/WCW/Logos/Small/WCWSmall.jpg

 

August 2002

 

As the calendar turned to August, World Championship Wrestling's New Blood Rising pay per view was on the horizon. It would mark the one year anniversary of Brock Lesnar's debut in the promotion. With a seven month world title reign and nearly one hundred and forty consecutive wins, Lesnar was atop the pro wrestling world. And to many industry observers, therein was the problem.

 

In his year-long run of dominance, Lesnar had run through virtually the entire WCW roster. His decisive victory over Shawn Michaels left no clear number one contender. Although Michaels was already asking for a rematch, there was little need for an immediate repeat encounter. After losing to Rob Van Dam, Goldberg was out of the picture for the moment. The remainder of the top babyfaces in WCW – Sting, Ric Flair, Eddie Guerrero, Booker T, Diamond Dallas Page – were not really positioned to be title contenders. Many observers and fans questioned whether Paul Heyman had booked himself into a corner...

 

That was not the case. Rather, Heyman was setting up the next step in the evolution of Brock Lesnar. Since winning the WCW World Heavyweight Championship at Starrcade 2001, Lesnar had only defended it against single opponents at a time. So the next step would be to force Lesnar to defend his title in a multi-man match. Could the big champion maintain his dominance when the match format introduced an element of chaos. Could he survive a Four-Way Dance?

 

The opening to the first Nitro of August was Paul Heyman leading out his Dangerous Alliance trio, then proclaiming to all the fans that Brock Lesnar has proven himself to be simply superior to not only every other wrestler on the WCW roster, but anywhere on the planet. Immediately following Heyman's proclamation, Shawn Michaels appeared to a big pop from the fans and made his way down to the ring. "The Heartbreak Kid" began to explain that he had given Lesnar a helluva test, and if he got another shot, one on one... But he never got to finish, as Rob Van Dam interrupted him and got in his face, saying they had some unfinished business. As Michaels found himself surrounded by the Dangerous Alliance trio, it became obvious that coming out by himself might have been a poor choice. Before anything could happen, however, Booker T made his way to the ring. He wasn't coming to rescue HBK, however, but to assert himself as the number one contender. What was hardly civil discussion prior descended into chaotic yelling, and it looked likely to get worse, until Commissioner Cat appeared. He implored them to keep things reasonable. Heyman told the Commissioner to shut it. After months of the manager running roughshod over the WCW Commission, Ernest Miller finally took something of a stand. Having Mick Foley standing beside him, whispering in his ear like a guardian devil, might have helped. Miller proclaimed that Brock Lesnar would defend his WCW World Heavyweight championship at New Blood Rising against Booker T... and Shawn Michaels... and Rob Van Dam... In a Four-Way Dance.

 

Paul Heyman was not impressed but there was little he could do. The fans loved that Commissioner Cat was finally showing some spine. For months, Heyman and his Dangerous Alliance had pretty much done as they pleased. The Alliance threesome, combined with Torrie Wilson's trio, were continually causing trouble. Heyman was careful with the booking here, as he never made the group to be too strong, dominant, or troublesome. It quite intentionally never crossed into nWo or D-X territory. They still managed to cause some damage. Such as O'Haire, Adams, and Clark beating down Diamond Dallas Page after a match with O'Haire, forcing Kanyon to make the save with a couple big Kanyon Cutters, which set up a tag match for the WCW World Tag Team Championships at the pay per view. Oddly, the Four Horsemen did little to oppose the two groups, despite Flair deciding reassemble the stable to do just that. The Horsemen were a bit preoccupied with the "styling and profiling" aspects of being Horsemen.

 

The build toward the New Blood Rising pay per view was nothing particularly notable. Given that NBR is not one of WCW's major pay per view events, that is not surprising. Part of the lack of real hype is that no one really believed that Brock Lesnar would drop the WCW World Heavyweight championship in a rather random four-way dance. After such an epic build-up of "The Prototype", that kind of loss would have felt entirely anti-climactic.

 

The pay per view turned out to be a fairly solid show. There were unexpected title changes, as Jamie Knoble lost the WCW Cruiserweight championship to AJ Styles in a four-way ladder match, and Diamond Dallas Page and Kanyon - the duo still going by the ironic name The Triad - took the tag team titles from Kronik. Rey Mysterio defended his US title against Scott Steiner. Goldberg downed Hugh Morrus in a mundane match. Sean O'Haire took a surprise win over Sting after interference from Torrie Wilson and Paul Heyman. The semi main event was Eddie Guerrero and Ric Flair taking the win over Totally Buff, a match where both teams look unmotivated, but at least for the two new Horsemen, it was intended to be that way.

 

The main event was not a great match, in terms of execution. While a bit sloppy at times, it certainly made up for it with plenty of drama. The opening ten minutes saw plenty of teamwork between the champion Lesnar and Rob Van Dam. There was some great action between RVD and HBK that the fans loved. Things got serious at about the twelve minute mark, when Michaels cleanly landed his Sweet Chin Music superkick square on Lesnar's jaw, sending the champion out to the floor and putting him down for several minutes. The concerned look on Heyman's face told the story. When the champion did mange to return to the ring, he helped Van Dam clear the ring. Without hesitation or provocation, Lesnar turned on Van Dam, hammering his stablemate with heavy blows. Heyman watched coldly. Lesnar got RVD onto his shoulders to deliver his F-5, but Van Dam managed to counter it, grabbing onto the ropes, driving a knee into the champions ear, then pulling the champion down and rolling him into a pin. The crowd was stunned at the near three count. The next fifteen minutes of the match were dramatic chaos, with endless near-falls and interrupted pin attempts, with the fans seeming to buy buy into the possibility of an upset, at least based on their reactions. The rivals HBK and RVD actually ended up working together a bit. Michaels hit a springboard drive onto the other three on the floor, but took the security barrier in the back in the process, which left him with little to do with the final proceedings of the match. The action made it back into the ring, where Van Dam seemed to be taking the brunt of the damage. After Booker delivered a Ghetto Blaster to RVD, Lesnar grabbed him and delivered an emphatic F-5. Booker stood and watched while the champion pinned his stablemate. Booker moved as if it break up the pin, but he simply stepped out of the ring instead as the ref counted out the three. Booker T simply walked away while Heyman raised Lesnar's arm in victory, the huge youngster still holding the WCW World Heavyweight championship. Van Dam still lay in the ring, not hurt so much as stunned at what had happened in the match. As Lesnar and his manager walked away, Michaels made it back into the ring with some difficulty, still selling the back injury. He leaned down and said something to RVD, then helped his rival to his feet. The two men nodded at each other, then stared out at Lesnar walking away triumphant, as the fans went wild.

 

To many observers, the drama-filled main event saved an otherwise-mundane event. It left plenty of questions to be answered, such as whether Booker T was now part of the Dangerous Alliance and what would become of Rob Van Dam. Despite emerging victorious, Brock Lesnar has seen his vaunted F-5 finisher countered for the first time and it came very close to costing him the match.

 

The following Nitro answered some of the questions. Paul Heyman started the show out by coming down to the ring with Brock Lesnar and Scott Steiner, but without Rob Van Dam. Or Booker T. Heyman explained the Rob Van Dam was "persona non grata" to the Dangerous Alliance and that should he interfere in their business in any way, he would quickly come to regret it. Commissioner Cat, apparently still feeling empowered, came out to announce that Heyman best find some new members for the Alliance, as they would be partaking in a War Games match at Fall Brawl in September. Later, Booker T addressed the fans, apparently to explain his actions, but he really didn't - instead, he coined a new catchphrases as he repeated that "Booker Does for Booker". Chavo Guerrero, angry over his uncle's "betrayal" in becoming a Horsemen, completed his heel turn when he teamed up with Jamie Knoble to win a four-team ladder match for the WCW Cruiserweight championships.

 

Everyone wanted to know who would face the Dangerous Alliance in the War Games match. Commission Cat wasn't saying, but he appeared to be leaning toward the Horsemen. For their part, the Horsemen seemed more intent still on partying and living the good life than climbing into "the match beyond". Lance Storm continued to play the straight man in a series of vignettes. A lengthy segment of Flair trying to teach Guerrero to golf was particularly amusing, especially as "Latino Heat" seemed more intent on learning to cheat than leaning the rules of the game. On the final Nitro of the month, Sting confronted Flair, telling his old friend and rival that "The Nature Boy" had better focus on what he brought the Horsemen together for or WCW would suffer for it.

 

The same Nitro saw Shawn Michaels and Rob Van Dam take their mutual respect to a new level, as they approached Commissioner Miller backstage. They told him that they both wanted one-on-one shots against Brock Lesnar for the world title, but that could wait. For the moment, they wanted to their team to face the Alliance in War Games. When asked who their team was, Van Dam said they had a list of wrestlers who would join them... Diamond Dallas Page, Kanyon, AJ Styles, Rey Mysterio, even Sting... The Commissioner finally told them he would consider their request...

 

On ECW, the highlight of the month was a series of matches between Sabu and Rey Mysterio, Jr. The United States champion was a special guest of Commissioner Mick Foley on Warfare, and he put on some innovative and entertaining matches with Sabu. The fans in attendance - still a lot of ECW hardcores - loved it, and the shows drew strong ratings (at least by ECW Warfare standards). The series of matches all featured inconclusive finishes, until the final ECW Warfare of August, where Mysterio went over clean. The rise of Samoa Joe and Low Ki continued, as the pair turned babyface essentially due to crowd reaction - their approach in the ring never really changed at all. Team No Fear began to work with Kensuke Sasaki and Tommy Dreamer to oppose Raven's run of dominance. The ECW champion's "Dark Carnival" stable grew by one with the introduction of a tattooed kid they simply called "Punk". The new member took a lot of verbal abuse from Raven, similar to Stevie Richard's role in the heyday of ECW.

 

Outside of WCW, Edge's reign with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship continued. He defended it against Hulk Hogan in a shockingly good match at SummerSlam. It is notable, however, that the world title match was only the semi main event. The main event was Kliq-heavy, with Nash and Hall taking on Triple H and Kane, which had been built up with a storyline of the Kliq breaking apart and feuding. In a predictable swerve, Triple H turned on Kane and stood tall with his friends as SummerSlam ended. There was almost as much grumbling within the WWE as there was from fans over the group holding far too much power backstage. The big news out of Total Nonstop Action was the lack of news, as Schiavone and Jarrett focused on trying to put on more frequent shows than their current monthly schedule. According to rumors, the pair expected to have a TV deal by this point. The fledgling promotion needed more name power than Jarrett provided, but available wrestlers with name value was not easy.

 

Ironically, World Championship Wrestling rolled out of August much in the same position as it had rolled in – with no clear number one contender for Brock Lesnar's world title. With a War Games match on the slate for September, Paul Heyman at least had more times to find someone... and it would turn out to be an unexpected choice...

 

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k235/Bigpapa42_2006/WCW/PPV/WCW/WCWNewBlood.jpg

WCW New Blood Rising 2002

 

Rey Mysterio Jr © d. Scott Steiner for the WCW United States Championship

 

AJ Styles d. Jamie Knoble ©, Jushin Lyger & Chavo Guerrero for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship

 

Goldberg d. Hugh Morrus

 

Sean O'Haire d. Sting

 

The Triad d. Kronik © for the WCW World Tag Team Championships

 

Ric Flair & Eddie Guerrero d. Totally Buff

 

Brock Lesnar © d. Shawn Michaels, Rob Van Dam & Booker T for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship

[juggaloninjalee]

It looks like the Danger Alliance may be falling apart as we know it. We have War Games next month and the following month could we be seeing an RVD vs Brock Lesnar match or maybe HBK's rematch? Then the following month an RVD Lesnar match after he shows he is a deserving #1 contender? This is getting really good! As for the Horseman "horsing" around. Love the golf scene you described.

[mad5226]

Yeah the Golf thing really made me laugh. I'm expecting a hge Eddie G push once that start actually wrestling. My prediction is The Horsemen start to focus on wrestling and get booked into the War Games match (maybe even have 3 teams instead of the normal 2.) Eddie becomes the MVP of the match then goes on the following month to challenge for the title. Something to that effect, I'm just guessing obviously =)

[Lo-Drew]

you seem to have a niche for funny golf scenes. I remember in your Gen Supreme diary Rich Money and Remo did the same thing. Anyway, can't wait to read War Games and the Dangerous Alliance situation seems interesting KUTGW

[FlameSnoopy]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Lo-Drew" data-cite="Lo-Drew" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="28471" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>you seem to have a niche for funny golf scenes. I remember in your Gen Supreme diary Rich Money and Remo did the same thing.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I remember that as well. </p><p> </p><p> Other than the War Games -match, I think your running low on explosives and you need to regain some after the War Games match happens.</p>

[Anderz]

<p>really enjoying the read so far, the style is definatwly holding up and the wriring ia great.. </p><p> </p><p>

I, for one, enjoy the selection of Eddie as a horseman; hell give the group a different dynamic and has thus far provided some good moments with Flair..</p><p> </p><p>

Loving the continued development of the Lesnar train and i like that the Dangerous Alliance has taken a new direction as well.. will Booker join? I think he will and use them as a vehicle to gain revenge on Flair for snubbing him..</p><p> </p><p>

War Games should be good, be interesting to see who ends up on both teams.. and I'm hooked to see who, if anyone, dethrones Lesnar..</p>

[Guest cmdrsam]

<p>What can I say that hasnt already been said? Nothing I guess, except I'll take another order of wings please.<img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p>

Seriously though, fine stuff as always sir. Your very creative, and you change your style and approach with every diary you write. I appreciate the time and effort in every work you do sir.</p>

[Hashasheen]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Bigpapa42" data-cite="Bigpapa42" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="28471" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><p> Vinnie Mac certainly seems like he is ego-driven. He might proclaim otherwise, but it sure seemed like ego killed the Invasion and was what was behind the horrid booking. I don't think Vince has lost ego. Rather, he is simply less involved on a day to day basis than he was in reality at this point. The way I see it, if Bischoff evolved in some ways, so did Vinnie Mac. </p></div></blockquote> If you say so.<p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="28471" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><p> I actually quite like the NXT name. It would work best for a B show, I think. If I do add another B show down the road, it would definitely be a possibility...</p></div></blockquote> NXT as another B-show... <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p> </p><p> Nice update. I'm enjoying the problems of booking Lesnar as much as I am seeing Heyman try to get around them. With RVD turned face, there's only Lesnar, Steiner and Kronik and Sean O'Haire as the heels, and the latter three aren't really main event.</p>

[Bigpapa42]

<p>In case anyone noticed, the "cliff hanger" at the end of the July recap hinted at something happening for the New Blood Rising pay per view which didn't... I'll explain down the road a bit, but plans changed.</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="juggaloninjalee" data-cite="juggaloninjalee" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="28471" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>It looks like the Danger Alliance may be falling apart as we know it. We have War Games next month and the following month could we be seeing an RVD vs Brock Lesnar match or maybe HBK's rematch? Then the following month an RVD Lesnar match after he shows he is a deserving #1 contender? This is getting really good! As for the Horseman "horsing" around. Love the golf scene you described.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> There are plenty of options going forward, which is what I was hoping to establish. There are even some options for what could happen in the War Games match at Fall Brawl.</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="mad5226" data-cite="mad5226" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="28471" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Yeah the Golf thing really made me laugh. I'm expecting a hge Eddie G push once that start actually wrestling. My prediction is The Horsemen start to focus on wrestling and get booked into the War Games match (maybe even have 3 teams instead of the normal 2.) Eddie becomes the MVP of the match then goes on the following month to challenge for the title. Something to that effect, I'm just guessing obviously =)</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Or maybe Flair blames Eddie for the Horsemen's lack of focus and boots him, so he ends up joining up with the Dangerous Alliance and becoming Brock's regular tag team partner....</p><p> </p><p> :-)</p><p> </p><p> Lots of possibilities going forward. </p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Lo-Drew" data-cite="Lo-Drew" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="28471" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>you seem to have a niche for funny golf scenes. I remember in your Gen Supreme diary Rich Money and Remo did the same thing. Anyway, can't wait to read War Games and the Dangerous Alliance situation seems interesting KUTGW</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> The Gen-S scene, which was quite enjoyed apparently, was the reason I went with the same here. I was trying to think of a funny setting for the Horsemen.... I considered a few different ones, but the going back to the golf course just seemed to work. Plus, I figured long-time BP readers might remember that Gen-S segment... and I was right...</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="FlameSnoopy" data-cite="FlameSnoopy" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="28471" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I remember that as well. <p> </p><p> Other than the War Games -match, I think your running low on explosives and you need to regain some after the War Games match happens.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I still have a trick or two up my sleeve...</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="|Anderz|" data-cite="|Anderz|" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="28471" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>really enjoying the read so far, the style is definatwly holding up and the wriring ia great.. <p> </p><p> I, for one, enjoy the selection of Eddie as a horseman; hell give the group a different dynamic and has thus far provided some good moments with Flair..</p><p> </p><p> Loving the continued development of the Lesnar train and i like that the Dangerous Alliance has taken a new direction as well.. will Booker join? I think he will and use them as a vehicle to gain revenge on Flair for snubbing him..</p><p> </p><p> War Games should be good, be interesting to see who ends up on both teams.. and I'm hooked to see who, if anyone, dethrones Lesnar..</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Glad you are still enjoying. </p><p> </p><p> I will say that someone will dethrone Lesnar at some point... and it may or may not include the use of a tazer...</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="cmdrsam" data-cite="cmdrsam" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="28471" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>What can I say that hasnt already been said? Nothing I guess, except I'll take another order of wings please.<img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p> </p><p> Seriously though, fine stuff as always sir. Your very creative, and you change your style and approach with every diary you write. I appreciate the time and effort in every work you do sir.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Thanks. I'm definitely having fun with this one. </p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Hashasheen" data-cite="Hashasheen" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="28471" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>If you say so.<p> </p><p> NXT as another B-show... <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> Nice update. I'm enjoying the problems of booking Lesnar as much as I am seeing Heyman try to get around them. With RVD turned face, there's only Lesnar, Steiner and Kronik and Sean O'Haire as the heels, and the latter three aren't really main event.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> No, the Kronik trio really aren't main event, but they aren't too far away. Booker T is acting heelish.... and the new combo of Chavo and Knoble could probably make the jump up pretty quickly if necessary. They are part of the cruiserweight division and I tend to keep the cruisers fairly separate, but I can move them up if need be. Elevating heels quickly always seems a bit easier - they can cheat their way to the top.</p>

[Hashasheen]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Bigpapa42" data-cite="Bigpapa42" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="28471" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><p> No, the Kronik trio really aren't main event, but they aren't too far away. Booker T is acting heelish.... and the new combo of Chavo and Knoble could probably make the jump up pretty quickly if necessary. They are part of the cruiserweight division and I tend to keep the cruisers fairly separate, but I can move them up if need be. Elevating heels quickly always seems a bit easier - they can cheat their way to the top.</p></div></blockquote><p> Chavo, Knoble, Booker T and Kronik trio... Sounds like a real good variety of heels there boss.</p>

[tristram]

Interesting. Loved most of it. Loved the description of how Summer-Slam was put together. I actually feel Edge could make Hogan work a good match in the WWE set-up. They tend to make their main events feel a little more special by and large compared to latter day WCW, they seem to demand that slighty-edgy, slightly-overbooked style, and it seems those that don't wish to go for a multiple fall 'battlerama' won't find their way into the main event in the future as potential punishment for not performing. The Kliq set up seemed extremely interesting. I know that wasn't your booking, but needless to say to turn a cobble of TEW data into something believable in terms of your description of their Pay-Per-View was extremely well done, and I feel this look into the opposition is an unsung champion of your writing.

 

I'm not quite sure how to take this Brock Lesnar run. I can only hope there has to be someone of a very high profile outside of the organisation that you're lining up as a babyface. In some ways I kind of feel Michaels in particular, and to a degree RVD, are being rubbed out by the run of Lesnar. I think in some ways they tended to marginalise themselves with RVD's babyface turn. I guess its setting up for RVD v Lesnar at Starrcade if there is no one from outside to come in. Kudos indeed for booking a superstar Champion from the ground up, that takes balls to do it, and you have definitely got him over I would imagine, the best part of the match was the fact that his F-5 isn't invincible because obviously like Bill Goldberg in 1998 he needs to have fallacies and a way to lose so you buy not only to see him in action, but to see the potential result that could swing either way. IMO, the best way to do that is for the guy to be beaten by an extraordinary athlete, perhaps the best technician in the world, in an epic long battle. The guy can obviously pick up a lot in his 'TEW stats' from working with a technical master, and it gives him every possible reason to have lost because a great technician usually has a trick or two up his sleeve that defies belief.

 

The Horsemen tend to 'turn on' at this time of year. I think it's particularly critical in the next report that the Horsemen indeed do 'turn on' the concentration bells. I'm sure you will run it that way, because the Horsemen are synonymous with War Games-Fall Brawl. I'm glad Sting got in Flair's face over it because IMO he absolutely needed to before the Horsemen lost their sense of who they are. It'd be foolish to lose their overriding motive, and I'm sure that was the intent to take it to the brink and then bring it into line which in the end was smart booking. Sting of course was a one time Horsemen legend, and is of course Flair's arch-nemesis / biggest ally dependent on the storyline being run. Wherever Flair is, Sting is always close by and it was well booked that Sting was the one to give Flair the wake up call. Perhaps at the start of the next month Sting could order some tough love on Flair to get his mind completely back on the job, causing some jealousy and rage, but ultimately full concentration for War-Games.

 

Also, I would gladly have shelled out for the Cruiserweight Championship match alone. You're using it well to bring up and comers through while maintaining supreme agility in the division. You've used it well in that you've essentially raised Rey Mysterio Jr through it again and then onto the upper-midcard title so you are obviously using it as a building stone which is great for AJ Styles in particular. I'd love to see more from Jushin Lyger, perhaps a mentoring role that causes dissent or rabid loyalty dependent on their heel-face status. Jushin is just such a complete and utter master that to me it'd be right if he is at the epicenter of it all and gets due focus for that. That doesn't necessarily mean he has to be the Champion, but he could be the fulcrum that swings the feuds. Almost like a dojo master in some respects. Also, out of curiosity, where does the likes of Ultimo Dragon and Psicosis sit in the world of wrestling? To me, they were two of the premier lucha-cruisers of the WCW cruiserweight period that probably didn't get the recognition they deserved. Psicosis in particular was extremely physical for a cruiserweight, but boy, could he move!

 

The highlight for me undoubtedly was the Jersey Shore Triad. Page and Kanyon... brilliant. You've got Kanyon obviously popping Kanyon Cutters. Brilliant. I'd love to one day see a return to the full-blown character assassin heel Diamond Dallas Kanyon, maybe this 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer' type run as tag champs may bring that together for Starrcade? It'd be a match I'd very much like to see.

 

All in all, great stuff again. Really looking forward to the Horsemen refocusing to ensure War-Games gets it optimal value.

[Bigpapa42]

<p>Damn you, Tristram... Making me want to explain plans and give away things I shouldn't be giving away. I'll bite my tongue (err... fingers, I guess) and let things play out over the next couple of months. I hope it will all pay off for everyone... but I can say that pretty much everything is being done with a plan.</p><p> </p><p>

Ultimo Dragon is out injured - he starts with an injury, actually. Psicosis is working for WWA. I've been tempted to bring Psicosis in and will probably be similarly tempted when Ultimo is back healthy. Why I've held off is that I didn't want to simply end up recreating the entire WCW cruiser division from the late 90s. In terms of talent, that wouldn't be a bad thing. But the idea is also to move WCW forward. So giving some of the younger guys - like the Jung Dragons, Knoble, etc - a chance to shine is key, and to supplement them with some younger new talent who will be coming through "The Pipeline". As using the crusiers to move talent up, that was exactly what was done with Mysterio and is the intent for a few others. But a lot of the cruisers are likely to stay at cruisers and never become a lot more than that.</p>

[Bigpapa42]

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k235/Bigpapa42_2006/WCW/Media/EWR_net3.jpg

Wrestling Heat Editorial

The Pipeline

By A.N. Marshall

 

Professional wrestling is not immune to either fans or wrestlers looking back on the past with longing. Its easy to view the "good old day" with a sense of nostalgia and longing. Its also easy to lose perspective with time and come to overlook the negatives. While many look back on the territorial days in a positive light, there are a great many negatives that many seem to forget or perhaps not even realize in the first place. It is simply idealization of the past...

 

I have often heard, especially of late, the claim that the territorial era of professional wrestling was superior when it comes to developing new talent. The typical process was for a youngster to find someone to train them in the basics, then hopefully catch on somewhere long enough to get noticed. Then spend a good many years traveling from territory to territory, refining skills and character. If you were good and caught a promoters eye, you could hopefully end up working a territory on a near-permanent basis. If you were really good, it could be a major territory, like the Carolina, Georgia, or the mecca, New York. While this system did work in developing talent, it was also fraught with negatives. Workers could be on the road year-round (still a concern in national touring promotions) and have to continually deal with trying to fit into new work environments with already establish backstage politics. Unscrupulous promoters and even less scrupulous veterans could try to advantage of these young wrestlers, whether financially or in more unmentionable ways. When the WWE (well, WWF back then) went national and Jim Crockett Promotions tried to follow suit (thereby going bankrupt, being sold, and eventually becoming World Championship Wrestling), there were still a few regional promotions that managed to hang around. They weren't really true territories anymore. These regional promotions served, to a certain extent, as breeding grounds for new talent, with some ending up in WCW and the WWE. The most notable of these regional promotions was Paul Heyman's Extreme Championship Wrestling, which garnered a notable cult following and a national TV presence. Talent raids, along with poor business decisions, helped doom ECW in 2001.

 

While these regional promotions produced some talent, it was not enough to sustain the massive appetites of WCW and the WWE for new talent. World Championship Wrestling opened the training camp known as the Power Plant in the early 90s, and the facility churned out a fair amount of talent over the years, including three workers who would eventually be world champions. The Power Plant could only develop talent so far, as it gave them no taste of working actual shows in front of an actual audience. WCW began working with National Championship Wrestling (later NWA Wildside), which gave talent additional experience before they moved up to WCW. Heartland Wrestling Association would have a similar function for both WCW and the WWE throughout the late 90s. The WWE began working with the International Wrestling Association in 1999, but it was in 2000 when the WWE started working with Ohio Valley Wrestling that McMahon took things to another level. OVW began to function as a true "farm league" for the WWE, moving past simply loaning young talent and providing some financial support to the smaller promotion. Eventually, WWE employees would hold key roles in OVW, up to and including booking duties.

 

When Paul Heyman first began talks with Eric Bischoff in 2001, he recognized the need for a legitimate and focused developmental system. He saw new talent as being key to trying to make World Championship Wrestling relevant again. The Power Plant was still open, but after going invitation-only in early 2001, it was churning out few legitimate prospects. Some see it as ironic that Heyman's ECW was still running at this point, albeit just barely, and that the promotion had indirectly served as a fountain of new talent for both WCW and WWE. Its unknown whether there were any discussions between the men of ECW functioning as a "child promotion" for WCW, although it seems unlikely - Heyman was heavily focused on maintaining control over ECW assets, which he eventually managed to do. Despite the "proving ground" role that ECW would come to be used for in 2002, being a full child promotion would have been, to many fans, be a far worse form of selling out.

 

It is generally believed that the concept for the development system which would eventually be dubbed "The Pipeline" was from Heyman and that it was essentially something he insisted upon. It was not option but necessary as part him agreeing to become part of WCW. Given how important it would become, it would seem another good decision from Paul E. Heyman.

 

The system was built around a series of steps. The first step was scouting. The second step was the two WCW training camps (which some talent skipped, if they already had basic training). The third was the developmental promotion which was started in the spring of 2002 in Las Vegas under the name Full Throttle Wrestling. The final step in the process was ECW, in its function as a "proving ground" minor brand for WCW. The rather simple intent behind the whole process was that talent brought through the system would be able to debut on WCW with well-developed in-ring and promo skills, experience working in front of live audiences and on television, and possibly even with established characters.

 

Scouting was the base step, and that included both internal (within the industry) and external scouting. While WCW did occasionally employ "professional wrestling scouts" for short periods, most of the scouting was done through a vast network of contacts. Eric Bischoff, Paul Heyman, Ric Flair, Eddie Guerrero, Rob Van Dam, Raven, and many other veterans within WCW sent out word to those they knew in the business who were outside the WWE sphere. It didn't take long for word to get around everywhere. Information on prospects was forwarded directly to WCW, and there was a system of escalating bonuses. Recommending a worker that got signed would net somewhere between $500 and $1000. If the worker later made the main roster, it could increase to several times that. Always looking to innovate and streamline, the recommendation system would eventually be added to a special restricted-access section of the WCW website. While the WWE would come to use a similar open scouting system, they were far more restrictive in what they were looking for, specifically have limits on size and looks. Over time, McMahon would come to prefer just raw, untrained prospects that fit a specific physical mold who could be formed into “WWE style” wrestlers.

 

The second step depended on the individual prospect. Those who already had some professional wrestling experience and/or had been trained would skip having to spend time at one of the two training camps that WCW ran. In Atlanta, the Power Plant continued to run under the guidance of Paul Orndorff and The Sarge, and it continued on an invitation-only basis. The second training camp, which was opened in Las Vegas in the summer of 2002, was dubbed WCW Revolution. It had an open-door policy similar to the Power Plant in the past, where a few hundred dollars bought a three-day tryout for anyone who wanted to give it a try. The majority of those who did use that open door policy lasted just a few hours before realizing “it wasn't for them”. Those who survived were allowed into the full training camp. Most full camps took around four months, although some prospects moved through quicker and some took significantly longer. If a prospect showed enough promise in the camp, they could be offered a developmental contact with Full Throttle Wrestling after they graduated.

 

World Championship Wrestling opened up Full Throttle Wrestling in early 2002. It was located in Las Vegas. WCW found a spacious warehouse located just a few minutes north of the old strip, which was quickly renovated. It was split in half, with one portion containing the less-than-glitzy FTW Arena which held somewhere around a thousand people if required, and the other portion was the training facility. Running FTW was left to a young man known as “Chucky R.”, a fast-talking and intelligent New Yorker. After spending his teen years promoting illegal rave parties throughout the Tri State area, he had apparently somehow befriended Heyman in 2001, working with ECW in some unknown role through the last few months. He handled only the business aspects, and proved quite adept at finding innovative ways to promote the promotion in the fast-paced Las Vegas environment. The wrestling side was left WCW employees with plenty of experience in the business.

 

The answer to “why Vegas?” is often given as the too-simple “Bischoff and Heyman like Vegas”. It would appear there was much more to the decision than that. It went beyond WCW's ties to the city, with the House of WCW. It was apparently a well-considered business decision which took into account many different factors, some of which included low cost of travel, availability of space, growth potential, and audience considerations. It was “audience considerations” which was quite key. As one WCW insider stated, “Any bigger city in North America has a history with this business. And any city with a history means fans with expectations. That don't mean you have to do hardcore if your in Philly, or old school in St. Louis... but its always easier to give the fans what they expect. You're fighting uphill otherwise.” Vegas was appealing not so much because it had no history with the business – it did, to an extent – but because the continual rotation of tourists who could function as the fan base. It made for a completely unique and ever changing fan base.

 

Not long after starting, FTW was a show every two weeks. As the roster grew, it began running weekly shows, and then often twice a week. Attendance varied wildly – some shows had just a few dozens fans, just the local regulars. Other shows could have the FTW Arena nearly full. Tickets were cheap - $5 to $10 – but Chucky was innovative in finding ways to spread them around for free. They even went so far as to have the FTW Arena licensed, so people could drink while they enjoyed the action.

 

WCW brought in well-respected retired wrestlers to work with the trainees. Names like Ricky Steamboat, Roddy Piper, and Harley Race. They worked with the trainees on a daily basis, developing their in-ring skills. There was also significant focus on character work and promos, still an important aspect for WCW. Veterans could take “working vacations” by heading to Vegas for short stints to work with the trainees. Lance Storm frequently did this, and became well loved by the trainers for his dedication and teaching skills. The intent of World Championship Wrestling was to develop the trainees into well-rounded wrestlers – that went beyond simple in-ring ability or entertaining aspects, as Heyman and Bischoff wanted these workers to be able to work different styles and against different types of opponents. Things at FTW ran smoothly and efficiently, and the results were strong enough with the ever-growing roster that WCW began to looking at adding a women's “wing” to development.

 

The final stage of The Pipeline was the ECW brand. Heyman, Raven, Foley, and others that were key in the WCW creative system kept a close eye on the FTW talent to pick out who was ready to move up. The timing of when they were brought up was considered key, as introducing the new talent to the fans had to be done “right”. Heyman, Raven, and Foley were well aware that a young wrestler getting over with the ECW crowd was, in many ways, tougher than with the regular WCW fans. That was one of the aspects of ECW being a “proving ground”. The length of stay of a talent on the ECW brand depended on many factors, from how well they got over with the fans to how they could possibly be used on the main Nitro show.

 

The Pipeline was Paul Heyman's carefully-crafted masterpiece. While it did not fundamentally differ from the WWE's developmental system, it was considered more focused. And in many ways, it would turn out to be more successful. While many will point out to the initial talent to come through for WCW – the likes of Samoa Joe, CM Punk, Low-Ki, and Christopher Daniels – as proof of its success, the reality is that those four moved through the system due to individual talent. Despite their relative lack of experience, they were top prospects for obvious reasons. It would be with less obvious prospects that the true value and success of Heyman's program would become apparent. While that would take time, it would prove key to World Championship Wrestling's future.

[Hashasheen]

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k235/Bigpapa42_2006/WCW/Media/EWR_net3.jpg

Wrestling Heat Editorial

The Pipeline

By A.N. Marshall

 

.... Nice. Gave a good breakdown of FTW and how it came into being, as well as the entire new direction of the WCW.

[Bigpapa42]

Thanks Hashasheen.

 

Now, another question for your fine readers... I kind of hinted at it in the editorial piece, but I am curious about how people feel about the possibility of adding a women's division to WCW. Its something they had in the past but clearly never really featured at all. I won't give away names of who it would include, but it would certainly be far from the contemporary WWE Diva approach. A mix between Shimmer and the TNA Knockouts division really. It wouldn't be immediately, but probably in early 2003. The thought process woudl to be add a 2nd "A" show - one A show would feature the cruiserweighs and the other would feature the women's division. No brand split or anything, and the rest of the show woudl be the same "heavyweight" workers and tag teams. Thoughts?

[Guest cmdrsam]

Would not have a problem as long as its not eye candy match. "Legit wrestling" as a focus, I could buy it in a WCW product.