WCW 2001: From the Ashes
 

2001. The year that changed professional wrestling forever. It was the year in which Vince McMahon finally put an end to the Monday Night Wars and put his biggest nemesis, World Championship Wrestling, out of business for good by buying the company for $2.5 million. A truly memorable era in pro wrestling was over. But what if WCW could have somehow survived beyond March 26, 2001?

I will be playing as the head booker for World Championship Wrestling in TEW 2020 with the 'Goodbye and Goodnight?' mod and picking up six weeks later with the much-anticipated reset of the company at the Big Bang pay-per-view. There is no complicated backstory. I’ll play it as if Eric Bischoff was able to buy the company. My first order of business will be to work out as many deals as I can with various networks around the world. The pickings will be slim as WCW’s popularity is way down at this time. The second order of business will be to look at the list of unemployed workers and workers not tied to exclusive contracts in other companies and see if any of them can help WCW.

WCW is rated a ‘Small’ company. I am at 45 popularity in all regions of America except the Southeast and Southwest (WCW’s new location of operations) where we are at 55. In order to get to ‘Medium’ size, I will need to achieve 59 popularity in the Southwest and maintain at least a 35 in either the Great Lakes, Mid Atlantic, or Mid South regions. In addition, I cannot run house shows because WCW is too small. I will have to hit ‘Medium’ for that to happen. I am able to sign workers to exclusive written deals. The mod has WCW at $10,000,000. Not sure if that is realistic at that time. To make the dynasty more of a challenge, I’ll cut it down to $5,000,000 and maybe I won’t go bankrupt in the next three months. If I do, all of this was a waste.

WCW is also rated as having 45% prestige and 20% momentum. Lots of work to do to be respectable again with the incredible star power of the WWF at work.

**I will be posting some of the events leading up to the Big Bang on May 6 such as press releases from WCW, the dirt sheets, roster decisions, finances, etc to give an overall look at the state of the company leading up to WCW Version 2.0. Great to be back on here after a hiatus.

March 28, 2001
From the dirt sheets

Sources inside the World Wrestling Federation say that Vince McMahon is furious and almost inconsolable after his attempted purchase of WCW fell through. It has been said that considering WCW's perilous financial situation Vince's next move will be to sign as many wrestlers as possible that are not under written contracts so WCW will, in his own words, 'die a slow death'.

Awesome, I'll be following!

April 6, 2001
Press release from WCW.com

--Tickets are on sale now for the return of World Championship Wrestling with the Big Bang pay-per-view on Sunday, May 6. WCW owner Eric Bischoff has announced that the event will be offered through iN DEMAND on pay-per-view. The show will originate from Las Vegas.

--It has been confirmed that the WCW World Title, the United States title, the Cruiserweight title, and the World Tag Team titles will be on the line at Big Bang.

--In addition, WCW will stipulate that no one can hold two of the company’s belts at the same time for the sake of competition. Booker T has notified WCW he plans to defend the world title at Big Bang and will forfeit the United States title.

I will deactivate the cruiserweight tag team titles until I can get, at the least, a two-hour show OR a second show for an eventual brand split. I will also look to bring back the World TV title in the near future and keep that exclusive to those workers that are not perceived as major stars.

April 10, 2001
Press release from WCW.com

World Championship Wrestling has announced a permanent move of their base of operations to Las Vegas. Part of the company will also be based out of Los Angeles. NWA Wildside will still maintain their headquarters in Atlanta.

The first few months will see all shows based out of the Southwest, particularly in Las Vegas. When things improve, I will hold the pay-per-views in larger arenas throughout the Southwest region and move the Nitro shows around California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. For right now, Las Vegas is the center of WCW’s attention. I will likely hit the Southeast in the fall for two or three shows where WCW retains good popularity. I do plan on holding the Great American Bash in Los Angeles or Anaheim. Down the road, Starrcade 2001 will be the most important pay-per-view since Starrcade ‘97 and will be held in the Southwest, hopefully at a very large venue.

April 13, 2001
From press reports

WCW owner Eric Bischoff has announced that ESPN2 has agreed to a six-month contract to show the WCW flagship wrestling program, Nitro, on Monday nights. It has been reported that Bischoff was seeking a longer deal but ESPN executives hesitated, instead wanting WCW to prove themselves in what looks like a wait-and-see approach. Nitro will return on Monday, May 7—one night after the Big Bang pay-per-view.

Because of the near crash of WCW and our company size (Small), ESPN2 is limiting me to a 90-minute show. I’m sure the jump to ‘Medium’ size would help in my efforts to have a two-hour show. The 90-minute show will also force me to primarily use the stars and major stars. The product requirements have me with longer matches with few, if any, four or five-minute squashes. This basically means I will have five or six matches on the show. Angles will be heavy on the stars, major stars, and the well-known at first. If/When I get to ‘Medium’, I’m pretty sure the change to a two-hour show will not be a huge hurdle.

ROSTER DECISIONS
---I release Sid Vicious, much to the delight of his brother in scissors, Arn Anderson. I also release The Limo Driver (Ice Train), Miss Jones, Jim Duggan, Cash, Brian Adams, Brian Clarke, Road Warrior Animal, and road agent Johnny Ace; all at a total cost of $913,200. All of those releases were negative influences in the locker room, except for Ice Train. This is a massive cost but a lower backstage rating and numerous negative influences would affect show ratings, other workers, and delay the immediate goal of getting to ‘Medium’ size by the end of June before the Great American Bash in July. After the releases and some more perks being given, such as a masseuse and chiropractor being provided and transport and hotels being organized, the backstage rating improves to a respectable 71%.

---The major problem backstage will likely be Kevin Nash and his ‘scumbag’ personality. He is the only extremely negative influence while the remaining negative influences are only mild in nature. I don’t know what to do with him anyway. He is aging at 41 and has a creative control clause in his $114,200 per month contract. Who knows if another world title run is in him. The creative control is a huge roadblock for me in getting him many, if any, world title shots. I will need to put him in some other worthwhile feuds.

April 24, 2001
From WCW.com

WCW has announced the card for Big Bang on Sunday, May 6. In addition, the participants in the United States title battle royal have been named.

WCW World Heavyweight Title, Triple Threat Match
Booker T (c) vs Qualifier #1 vs Qualifier #2

World Title Qualifying Match #1
Jeff Jarrett vs Diamond Dallas Page

World Title Qualifying Match #2
Sting vs Scott Steiner

The winners of the qualifying matches will face Booker T in a triple threat match for the WCW championship.

WCW World Tag Team Titles
Sean O’Haire and Chuck Palumbo (c) vs Team Canada (Lance Storm and Mike Awesome)

WCW United States Heavyweight Title Battle Royal
Buff Bagwell, Dustin Rhodes, Ric Flair, Shane Douglas, Bam Bam Bigelow, Rey Misterio, Vampiro, Rick Steiner, Norman Smiley, Kanyon, Konnan, Mark Jindrak, Mike Sanders, Shawn Stasiak, and The Total Package

WCW Cruiserweight Title
Shane Helms vs Triple Threat Winner

WCW Cruiserweight Title Qualification Match, Triple Threat
Kid Romeo vs Elix Skipper vs Jamie Knoble

The winner will face Shane Helms for the title.

April 26, 2001
From Eric Bischoff, WCW Owner

World Championship Wrestling is announcing a set of deals to show Nitro and the monthly pay-per-views in addition to our coverage on ESPN2: ADN 40 in Mexico, TSN2 in Canada, Sky Sports USA in the British Isles, and J Sports 1 in Japan. WCW is excited to partner with these networks in the hope that we can create a long-term partnership.


A recap of the TV deals
---FX has agreed to let me cancel the deal I had to show Nitro. Apparently, we did not meet the requirements for the network anyway so they had no problem with us cancelling the contract. There is no penalty for the contract termination. The list of available broadcasters showed me that ESPN2 was willing to negotiate. I signed a 6-month deal with the network and am getting a 30% revenue split, though I will pay $40,000 per episode. A little risky but the ‘Medium’ coverage will help. I am banking on getting to ‘Medium’ size by then.

---I am able to work out a deal to show Nitro with TSN2 in Canada for the next three months. I get a 35% revenue split per show.

---In Mexico, I have signed a deal with ADN 40. The coverage is tiny in all regions. 30% percent revenue split per show.

---Sky Sports USA is the lone carrier available for WCW in the British Isles. It is very small coverage but the deal is for three months and a 40% revenue split.

---I have a little more hope in Japan. J Sports 1 has medium coverage and is a pro wrestling channel. I have 20% revenue split for the next three months.

**No TV deals are available for me in Europe or Oceania.

---On the PPV side, I only have two providers available for deals. In America, iNDEMAND has medium coverage in all regions and is highly pro wrestling. WCW will get a 25% split of the revenue. On the downside, I must pay $37,500 per PPV for this timeslot. In Japan, Samurai! TV says that with a company our size and unpredictability, I will get a 20% split of the revenue and it is small coverage in each of their regions.

---I’ve made short-term deals in the hopes I can get better ones through increasing popularity after the three month period is over. A string of good shows in May and June could get us to ‘Medium’ size.

PRODUCTION
I have also lowered some of my production levels to save a little money but still be able to meet the expectations of WCW’s broadcast partners:

Production Values was downgraded to ‘High Quality’ from ‘Majestic’
Majestic - $75,000 per show and $50,000 per month
High Quality - $10,000 per show and $15,000 per month
Saved in May - $295,000

Live Event Experience was downgraded to ‘Large’ from ‘Professional’
Professional - $25,000 per show plus $100,000 per month
Large - $20,000 per show with no monthly expense
Saved in May - $120,000

Broadcast Quality was downgraded to ‘In House’ from ‘Industry Standard’
Industry Standard - $75,000 per month
In House - $7,500 per month
Saved in May - $70,000

Music was downgraded to ‘Licensed’ from ‘Major Licensed’
Major Licensed - $100,000 per month
Licensed - $50,000 per month
Money saved in May - $50,000

The total saved in May by downgrading production for three Nitros and the Big Bang is $535,000. The cost of downgrading all four areas was $27,500 but it will be well worth it when the financial numbers are updated at the end of May. The money saved is a huge number considering the prodigious amount spent on contract releases.

In this mod, ECW is barely alive and well. I jump on the opportunity to snag Styles, who was not under an exclusive written contract. With Lawler quitting the WWF in February 2001 and unemployed, I thought it would be a great opportunity to reboot the announcing team. It seems almost logical, I suppose, to make things feel new again with these two signings. Mike Tenay and Scott Hudson's future in WCW borders on precarious. They do, however, have a positive effect, albeit how minimal it might seem, on the backstage area.

May 2, 2001
From the dirt sheets

Pro wrestling insiders are praising the recent signings of David Batista, Joel Seanoa, John Cena, and Philip Brooks. The ‘experts’ all agree that these four wrestlers are seen as potentially huge stars while Chris Parks is preparing to debut a unique character to Wildside named Abyss.

---Abyss made an immediate impact in Wildside by winning the vacant NWA World Heavyweight title, defeating Caprice Coleman.

---Speaking of Wildside, I kept Bill Behrens at Wildside to run things while Jerry Jarrett will be the head booker. I do not have any training facilities since the Power Plant shut down in March upon what was thought to be the imminent demise and ultimate sale of WCW to the WWF. I am cautious of starting a training facility with the financial situation unclear.

OWNER GOALS
I have received my eight primary goals from WCW owner Eric Bischoff:

1. When the time expires, WCW must have improved upon its worldwide company ranking of #2. This goal is of critical importance and it expires in 1 year, 11 months, and 3 weeks;

2. WCW cannot fall into debt any point over the next 1 year, 11 months, and 3 weeks;

3. Sting must be kept above 71 popularity in America. This is of high importance and expires in 1 year, 11 months, and 3 weeks;

4. Diamond Dallas Page must be kept above 71 overall popularity in America over the next 2 years, 3 months, and 3 weeks;

5. Scott Steiner must be kept above 77 popularity in America over the next 2 years, 7 months, and 3 weeks;

6. I can’t hire or extend the contract of any wrestler who has less than 45 Resilience over the next 1 year, 1 month, and 3 weeks;

7. I can’t hire any wrestler who is classed as having an MMA Crossover style for the next 1 year, 1 month, and 3 weeks;

8. I can’t hire any wrestler who is classed as having a Hardcore style over the next 1 year, 11 months, and 3 weeks.

---I have never had 8 goals to complete before in any save of TEW...ever. The first will be the most challenging, of course, because that would require me to take over the WWF as the top company in the world. Not sure even two years is enough to do that.

May 4, 2001
From the dirt sheets

TEW insiders say that WCW has come to a tentative deal with former world champion Bret Hart. It is rumored that Hart will have a prominent backstage presence and could be a candidate to be an on-screen presence if Eric Bischoff decides to go that route. Sources also say that whatever bad blood that exists between the two has disappeared, with both Hart and Bischoff united in the common goal of returning WCW to prominence. Hart retired from in-ring competition just over a year ago due to lingering effects from a concussion caused by a Goldberg kick gone awry at Starrcade 1999.

As an aside, Goldberg will not be back in action until July because of his recovery and rehabilitation from shoulder surgery.

Wrestling news from around the 2001 universe
---In huge news from the WWF, Stone Cold Steve Austin is set to be dropped as the face of the company and replaced by The Rock. Company officials think he could be the missing piece of the puzzle that will boost business to a whole new level. Austin is rumored to be most unhappy with this decision.

---Also in the WWF, Spike Dudley has been kicked out of the Dudley Boyz stable, a change brought on for character reasons. In related and unintentionally humorous news, Chris Jericho is the newest member of the Dudley Boyz. It is thought this change was designed to give the group renewed momentum. Fozzy Dudley, perhaps?

---Hulk Hogan has joined the WWF on an 18-month contract worth around $315,000 per month. It is reported that Hogan will have creative control with a 50% merchandise cut. He will be the highest paid wrestler in the world, surpassing The Rock's $210,000 per month contract. His place in the waning days of the Attitude Era should be interesting.

---The Federation's Raw broadcast only netted a 2.34 rating while Smackdown garnered a 2.06 rating. I'm sure that will change once the TEW engine begins being more aggressive in signing free agents. The ratings should be much higher in the coming weeks and months when those deals are finalized.

---Aside from Hogan, the WWF has made many notable signings this week: Warrior, Road Warrior Animal, Nelson Knight, Marc Mero, and Vampire Warrior.

FAN PERCEPTIONS
Major Stars
Booker T
Buff Bagwell
Diamond Dallas Page
Dustin Rhodes
Goldberg
Jeff Jarrett
Kanyon
Kevin Nash
Ric Flair
Rick Steiner
Scott Steiner
Sean O’Haire
Shane Douglas
Sting
The Total Package

Stars
Chuck Palumbo
Dustin Rhodes
Konnan
Lance Storm
Mike Awesome
Rey Mysterio, Jr
Shane Douglas

Well Known
Bam Bam Bigelow
Billy Kidman
Chavo Guerrero, Jr
Ernest Miller
Hugh Morrus
Mark Jindrak
Mike Sanders
Norman Smiley
Shawn Stasiak
Vampiro

Recognizable
Alex Wright
Elix Skipper
Jamie Knoble
Kaz Hayashi
Norman Smiley
Shane Helms
Shannon Moore
Yang

Unimportant
Air Paris
AJ Styles
Big Vito
Chris Harris
Evan Karagias
James Storm
Jason Jett
Johnny Swinger
Johnny the Bull
Kid Romeo
Kwee Wee
Lash Leroux
Reno

WCW TITLES ROLL CALL

WCW World Heavyweight – 85 prestige
Champion: Booker T, 4X champion, held since March 26, 2001

WCW United States Heavyweight – 66 prestige
Champion: Vacant

WCW World Tag Team – 66 prestige
Champions: Chuck Palumbo and Sean O’Haire, 1X champion, held since January 14, 2001

WCW Cruiserweight – 40 prestige
Champion: Shane Helms, 1X champion, held since March 18, 2001

I check out a feature on TEW 2020 that compares prestiges of title belts, singles and tag, around the world. The WCW World Heavyweight title comes in as the 48th most prestigious title. I suppose another goal by Starrcade is to get the world title prestige up to 88-91. The tag team titles are sitting at #36. The US title sits at #114. The cruiserweight title is way down low at #136. Not good.

WCW CREATIVE

Franchise Players
Sting, Booker T, Goldberg, Scott Steiner, Ric Flair

Next Big Things
Reno, Billy Kidman, AJ Styles, Kaz Hayashi, Shannon Moore

Hot Prospects
Reno, AJ Styles, Jason Jett, Billy Kidman

Show Stoppers
Booker T, Rey Mysterio, Ric Flair, Sting, Scott Steiner

Ring Generals
Ric Flair, Rey Mysterio, Sting, Jeff Jarrett, Booker T

This list will surely go through big changes in the next few months. The Next Big Things and Hot Prospects will undergo a major overhaul when the Wildside signees are called up.

In the world of wrestling, a giant fell
A storied brand we all knew too well...until

WCW Big Bang
May 6, 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 5,362

---Eric Bischoff makes his way to the ring to start the show to a mixed chorus of cheers and boos. Bischoff welcomes the fans back to World Championship Wrestling. He explains that the goal of the company is to be a competitive alternative for wrestling fans. He also reminds the fans in attendance that there will be a battle royal for the United States title and a triple threat match for the WCW world title. Bischoff says that Monday nights will still be WCW nights and to tune in to ESPN2 tomorrow night for the return of Nitro. (78)

---Scott Steiner comes out and hypes his upcoming world title qualifying match versus Sting. (80) Steiner is then interrupted by Sting, Jeff Jarrett, Diamond Dallas Page as all of them argue. Steiner and Page argue up the aisle as DDP and Jarrett begin their match brawling around ringside. (90)

WCW World Title Qualifying Match #1
---Diamond Dallas Page def. Jeff Jarrett in 12:54 by pinfall with a Diamond Cutter. (78) DDP advances to the triple threat title match in the main event.

---Gene Okerlund is backstage with Kevin Nash. Nash wonders aloud why Bischoff is out running his mouth while he has to sit backstage and watch the entire pay-per-view. Nash says his body is wearing down but he has a couple of good years left in him to make a title run. He warns the WCW roster not to put him in the trash bin yet. (86)

WCW Cruiserweight Title Qualification, Triple Threat Match
---Chavo Guerrero Jr def. Elix Skipper and Jamie Knoble in 10:31 when Chavo pinned Knoble after low-blowing Skipper and holding the tights of Knoble. (60) Chavo advances to face Shane Helms in the Cruiserweight title match.

---Ric Flair comes to the ring to proclaim that WCW still survives and the United States title will be his after the battle royal later in the show. (86)

WCW World Title Qualifying Match #2
---Scott Steiner def. Sting in 15:58 by submission following the Steiner Recliner. (82) Steiner advances to the triple threat title match versus Booker T and DDP.

WCW World Tag Team Title Match
---Team Canada (Lance Storm and Mike Awesome) def. Sean O’Haire and Chuck Palumbo in 12:28 when Awesome pinned Palumbo following an Awesome Bomb. (77) Team Canada wins the WCW World Tag Team titles for the first time. After the match, O’Haire is very displeased with Palumbo as he screams at him as they return up the aisle. (64)

WCW United States Title Match, 15-Man Battle Royal
---Rey Misterio won the United States title battle royal in 19:55 by over the top rope elimination of Ric Flair. (82) Dustin Rhodes and The Total Package were among the final participants. Rick Steiner got the most eliminations over the course of the match. Misterio wins the US title for the first time.

WCW Cruiserweight Title Match
---Shane Helms def. Chavo Guerrero in 12:09 by pinfall following a Vertebreaker. (69) Helms makes his 1st defence of the Cruiserweight title. After the match, Chavo takes a mic and demands a rematch immediately as everyone else ignores him and leaves the ring. (61)

---Booker T is backstage with Mean Gene and hypes the triple threat match versus DDP and Scott Steiner. Booker says he waited his turn to get the title while the old guard pulled the strings. He ends by saying that he will do whatever it takes to keep the big gold belt. (90)

WCW World Heavyweight Title, Triple Threat Match
---Booker T def. Scott Steiner and Diamond Dallas Page in 20:58 following a Harlem Hangover on Page with Steiner outside the ring after a failed Top Rope Frankensteiner on Booker. (88) Booker makes his first defense of the WCW World title.

Show Rating: 86
PPV Rating: 0.51 (257,219 buys)

Thoughts
---According to TEW.com, WCW’s Big Bang was a critical success, especially compared to the last two plus years of WCW programming. Reviews have been generally positive but the ‘wrestling experts’ might be understandably cautious considering WCW’s recent history.

---A really great show to start the dynasty. It certainly exceeded my expectations. I will need better matches from the cruiserweights to get consistently solid shows but Helms and Chavo are probably the only ones that can hit the 60 mark right now and will be looked to carry the cruiserweight division for the next few months. I suppose I could use Kidman down the road. Jason Jett is also someone I need to take a look at down the road, perhaps the last part of ‘01 into ‘02.

---A solid main event with Booker T becoming the first champion of the ‘new’ WCW. A lot of ways I can go with the world title chase.

---O’Haire blames Palumbo for losing the tag team titles to Team Canada in a good match. Storm and Awesome could make a solid team while O’Haire may have higher aspirations.

---Rey Rey wins the US title for the first time in what turned out to be a highly graded battle royal...at least for 2001 WCW.

---I make a change in the PPV schedule with the Big Bang in play in 2001. Slamboree, usually in May, will be held in June with the Great American Bash going back to July. I always felt the GAB was a natural July event. I will likely replace Bash at the Beach with a new PPV. I know some historic things have taken place at BATB but it reminds me of Hogan too much so I’m changing it.

---According to the daily TEW newspage, The Rock is now the highest paid wrestler in the world. The game does allow workers to ask for, and sometimes receive, a pay raise. In this case, Rock is now making $385,000 per month. I’m assuming that was the case here. I checked the editor and he does not have wage matching or anything that would explain the enormous pay raise other than asking for it through the game engine.

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 2, May 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 1,283

---Booker T makes his way out to the ring to start the show with the big gold belt over his shoulders. He hypes his triple threat title defense at the Big Bang. (89) Scott Steiner emerges onto the ramp and says that Booker never pinned him. Steiner challenges Booker to a tag team match with a partner of each of their choice. Steiner says that his brother is his choice while Booker says he will have a partner ready. (85)

---Bam Bam Bigelow def. Johnny Swinger by pinfall in 7:53 with a Greetings from Asbury Park. (51)

---The Total Package w/Jeff Jarrett def. Alex Wright in 8:57 by submission following the Torture Rack. (59) After the match, Luger and Jarrett continue beating down Wright. (65)

---Lance Storm and Mike Awesome are backstage with Gene Okerlund and they hype their world tag team title win at the Big Bang. Storm says that they will show everyone why they are the best tag team in the world. (52)

---Chavo Guerrero Jr def. Kaz Hayashi in 12:31 by pinfall following a Gory Bomb. (62) After the match, Chavo takes a mic and tells the audience that Shane Helms stole his cruiserweight title at Big Bang. (61)

---Buff Bagwell and Sting run into each other backstage. Buff tells Sting that it is too bad he’s not the wrestler he used to be or else he would have the world title belt around his waist. Sting knocks Buff down with a punch and tells Buff to meet him in the ring later. (76)

---Jeff Jarrett w/The Total Package def. Konnan in 7:15 by pinfall with The Stroke. (70) After the match, Jarrett and Luger continue to beat Konnan down in the ring. (68)

---Kevin Nash is sitting in a locker room backstage in street clothes with his head in his hands. He then picks up his bags and exits the locker room with Lawler and Heenan speculating on Nash’s future in WCW. (70)

---Sting def. Buff Bagwell in 12:21 by pinfall following two Scorpion Death Drops. (74) For good measure, Sting pulled Buff up at the two count following the first Death Drop and gave him another one.

---Ric Flair comes down to the ring and takes a mic and starts talking to the crowd. He calls out the US champion, Rey Mysterio. Flair tells Rey that he shouldn’t have left the cruiserweight division and that everyone here knows the battle royal win was a fluke and it shouldn’t be any problem taking the title from him. Rey smiles and tells Flair he is not as enamored with him as most people are around here. (67)

---The Steiner Brothers def. Booker T and Diamond Dallas Page by pinfall in 16:08 after Scott Steiner pinned Booker following a chair shot with referee Nick Patrick occupied outside the ring with Rick and Page. (83)

Show Rating: 80
TV Rating: 0.11 (702,879 viewers)

peanut gallery observation about Big Bang: I'm surprised Steiner went over Sting clean in the qualifier

(not questioning it or anything, just noting it as the one thing that jumped out to me as a surprise)

I was thinking about how I would have seen it as a fan on a company's returning PPV, which I surely would have ordered. There were three scenarios I had in mind:

1. Steiner wins in a dirty finish via distraction or interference making him appear weaker, perhaps, going into the title match and it likely reminds me of the many times of the nWo type finishes that I got tired of;

2. Steiner wins clean and establishes himself as a legit threat in the title match with the downside of a fan favorite in Sting losing, maybe unexpectedly in the fans' eyes;

3. Matching up Sting vs Jarrett and DDP vs Scott was the other option with Sting, Scott, and Booker in the triple threat.

In the end, I opted for the surprising qualifying win over the fan favorite with the main event with Page graded at an 88. Sting is not done by any means, nor is Page. I have to keep their popularity up and can't afford them losing much anyway.

WCW/WWF Head to Head
WWF Raw Show Rating: 88
TV Rating: 2.84
Main Event: The Rock and Undertaker def. The Big Show and Hollywood Hogan (94)

---The attendance for the Nitro shows will be woefully low until I can get my popularity back up in the Southwest region.

---While the show ratings could go my way not far down the road, the important TV rating will not come close to the juggernaut, star-heavy WWF for the rest of this year unless I can get on a bigger network with better coverage throughout.

Backstage Incidents
---Dustin Rhodes almost got into a fight with Kevin Nash after he caused some damage to his rental car and refused to pay for it. I give Dustin a stern warning and he and Dusty are unhappy with the decision.

---Vampiro was brought before the Wrestlers Court, accused of not joining the rest of the locker room for a night out. Judge Flair found him guilty and sentenced him to buy drinks for everyone after the show.

---Chuck Palumbo was also brought before the Wrestlers Court, accused of being an hour late to pick up his assigned travel partner. Judge Flair found him guilty and sentenced him to pay for his travel partner’s meals for the next three shows.

**My backstage rating dips to 68%. Idiots...all of them.

News from around the 2001 universe

---WCW has put out a press release saying that they have a new signing that will make his debut next Monday on Nitro from Las Vegas.

---A new tag team has been formed in the WWF, Crash and Burn. The team consists of Al Snow and Steve Blackman. They are expected to get a push in the next few months. The TEW engine did well with that one.

---New Japan has signed former WCW standout Juventud Guerrera to an exclusive written contract worth $82,200 per month. Juvy was fired by WCW last fall after an incident when the company was touring Australia. He’s good but the prior incidents and the price tag turned me away. They also signed Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger on an exclusive contract for $91,560 per month. Way too steep for me. He told me WCW was too small anyway.

---The WWF has signed the recently released Brian Adams and Bryan Clarke, known as Kronik, to exclusive contracts. They will now be known as Stone Cold Killers. The major eyebrow-raising signing, however, was Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts to an exclusive written contract.

---The WWF has a newly formed tag team consisting of Trish Stratus and Molly Holly under the name Whore Force. Devious and brilliant!!

---WWF Judgment Day saw Stone Cold Steve Austin retain the WWF Championship over The Rock and Kane in a 98 rated match. The show was rated a 92 overall.

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 3, May 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 1,357

---The show begins with Scott Steiner coming to the ring with a mic. Steiner calls Booker T out for a challenge. As Booker comes out, he is blindsided by Rick Steiner. Booker is taken to the ring, where he is beaten down by both Steiners. (86) Scott Steiner takes a mic and challenges a down and out Booker to face either him or his brother at Slamboree. (82)

---Buff Bagwell def. Billy Kidman in 9:29 by pinfall following the Blockbuster. (57)

---An angry Booker T is shown backstage with Gene Okerlund. Booker says it will take more than a sneak attack to intimidate him. He says that Scott already had his shot and that he will face the ‘dogfaced sucka’ Rick Steiner at Slamboree. (67) Booker also promises it will be the last time Rick actually gets to main event a pay-per-view. (81)

---Back at the announcers desk, Joey Styles, The King, and The Brain tell fans that a huge signee will be making his WCW debut tonight and wonder if he is in the building yet. (71) Styles also hypes Team Canada's world tag team title defense tonight. (68)

---Chavo Guerrero Jr def. Lash Leroux in 9:02 by pinfall following a Frog Splash. (58) After the match, Chavo taunts the fans at ringside as he heads back up the aisle. (62)

---Rey Mysterio makes his out to the ring with the United States title belt. Rey says he will bring honor back to the US title and will take on anyone, anytime including Ric Flair. (54)

---A camera is backstage when it catches DDP and Sting talking of just meeting the newest signee and Sting telling Page that the new signee will make a big splash in Vegas tonight. (84)

---Dustin Rhodes comes to the ring for an interview with Mean Gene. Rhodes hypes his bloodline and says that his sole goal is to win gold in WCW, whether it be singles or tag team. (50)

WCW World Tag Team Title Match
---Team Canada def. Jung Dragons in 9:35 by submission after Lance Storm applied the Canadian Mapleleaf to Yang. (74) Team Canada makes their first defence of the world tag team titles.

---Ric Flair, Jeff Jarrett, and Lex Luger are talking backstage when a familiar face emerges...Rob Van Dam. Van Dam looks to shake their hands and they begin making fun of him with Flair stating that the extreme philosophy won’t cut it in WCW while Jarrett and Luger laugh. (89) RVD challenges Flair but is rudely blown off saying he has more important things to do, like making DDP submit to the Figure Four in the main event. (79) The camera shows RVD nodding his head while the smile disappears from his face. (73)

---Gene Okerlund is backstage with Diamond Dallas Page. Page says he will not give up in his quest to once again become the world champion and says that Ric Flair will feel the Diamond Cutter tonight. (81)

---Sting def. Kanyon in 10:07 by pinfall following the Scorpion Deathdrop. (78) After the match, Sting takes a mic and says that no one, even Booker T, should be sleeping on him in the world title race. (73)

---Gene Okerlund is backstage with Chavo Guerrero Jr. Chavo laments that he was cheated out of the cruiserweight title at at Big Bang and that he is clearly the top cruiserweight in the world. Shane Helms enters the screen and stands nose to nose with Chavo to the point where they get into an all-out brawl with Mean Gene looking on. (50)

---Diamond Dallas Page def. Ric Flair in 16:54 by pinfall after Rob Van Dam interfered and landed a Five Star Splash on Flair as Nick Patrick was incapacitated. (79) Van Dam smirked at a stunned Flair on his way back up the aisle as the show ended. (74)

Show Rating: 79
TV Rating: 0.11 (702,388 viewers)

fwiw, I pretty much blame you for the fact that I bought TEW 2020 last night.
I'll start by running ROH in the 2011-based Pipebomb mod.

(technically it's both your fault AND my kid's fault ... but he's got enough stress to deal with, I'm gonna stick with blaming you ;) )

Gotcha...lol Just wait until you start Death of the Territories. You'll be blaming me alot.

Head to Head
WWF Raw Show Rating: 83
Raw TV Rating: 2.92
Main Event: Chris Benoit def. The Goodfather in an 85 rated match

---No Booker or Scotty in the main event or an end of show angle. RVD makes a huge splash by costing Flair the match after being snubbed earlier in the show.

Backstage Incidents
---Kevin Nash was being a jerk backstage, first provoking and then physically attacking Scott Steiner, leading to a fight that had to be broken up by other workers. I choose to fine Nash and nothing noteworthy has resulted from it.

---Dustin Rhodes was caught smoking a lung dart (thanks, @Super70sSports), breaking one of the locker room rules. I choose to give him a stern warning and nothing noteworthy has resulted from it.

---Jamie Knoble was brought before the Wrestlers Court, accused of being an hour late to pick up his assigned travel partner. Judge Flair found him guilty and sentenced him to pay for his travel partner’s meals for the next three shows.

I've been through it in an earlier iteration, which is why I went with a more modern start this time.

I was actually tempted, for a bit, to start with one of the current-day mods because I'm not sure I've ever done one.

Hello, all! This is the artist formerly known as tucking fypo. I've lost all ability to post and reply.. I have tried the proper activation procedures to no avail. To add to that, I lost my aging laptop in a crash. So I created another account on here. Maybe I should have started a new thread but I like the continuity this thread offers. I will have a very brief news update from the week and post the Nitro later on tonight.

Wrestling news from this week
---The WWF has announced two new signings in Chaz Warrington and Tommy Dreamer. On a side note, Warrington will be known as Beaver Cleavage. I really wanted Dreamer for a couple of ideas I had but he went to the highest bidder.

---WWF Smackdown saw a possible match of the year candidate as The Rock and Undertaker def. Hollywood Hogan and Steve Austin in a match graded at 99. The show itself drew high marks with a 96.

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 4, May 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 1,500

---Booker T comes out to start the show and hypes his upcoming Slamboree match versus Rick Steiner. He says that he decided to wrestle the marginally better of the Steiner brothers, Rick, while a camera is miraculously backstage showing Scott Steiner seething at the comment. (87)

---Jamie Knoble def. Mike Sanders in 10:30 by pinfall following a Trailer Park Leg Drop. (50)

---Joey Styles hypes the six-man tag match in the main event with Flair, The Total Package, and Scott Steiner facing DDP, Rey Mysterio, and Sting. (68)

---Ric Flair comes out to start the show and cuts an intense promo on Rob Van Dam and Rey Mysterio. Flair rages on Van Dam for costing him last week’s match against DDP. (75) Flair turns his attention to Rey, who comes out and tells Flair he should have shown respect and kept his mouth shut last week. Flair challenges Rey to a US title match at Slamboree while hyping their six-man tag match in the main event. (71)

---Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley def. Mark Jindrak and Shawn Stasiak in 10:49 by submission after Smiley’s Norman Conquest on Stasiak. (52)

---Mean Gene is backstage with Rob Van Dam. Gene asks about his actions last Monday night and RVD responds that he just wanted the dirtiest player in the game to know he was here to stay in WCW. (68) RVD then hypes his match versus Shane Douglas later in the show. (70)

---Kevin Nash comes down to the ring with a mic and starts talking to the crowd about his lack of work in the new WCW and is thinking maybe it is time to hang up his boots. The Total Package interrupts and comes down the aisle to join Nash in the ring. Luger tells Nash that no one is buying his schtick and feeling sorry for him. Luger ends by screaming at Nash to get out of the arena because everyone is sick of him anyway. (64)

WCW World Cruiserweight Title Match
---Shane Helms def. Kwee Wee in 8:02 by pinfall following a Vertebreaker. (58) After the match, Chavo Guerrero Jr hit the ring and beat down Helms. (51)

---Sean O’Haire is backstage with Mean Gene. O’Haire says that he and Chuck Palumbo are at odds right now and that everything will eventually work itself out. (70)

---Rey Mysterio, Sting, and DDP are backstage as they hype their six-man tag match in the main event. (70)

---Rob Van Dam def. Shane Douglas in 14:01 by pinfall following the Five Star Splash. (76) Toward the end of the match, Ric Flair tried to enter the ring but to no avail as Rey Mysterio knocked Flair off the ring apron with a brawl ensuing between the two. RVD and Douglas have great chemistry and it showed in their match.

---Backstage, Mean Gene interviews Scott Steiner in which Steiner hypes the upcoming six-man tag match and ends by saying that his brother will no doubt exit Slamboree as the new world champion if he has anything to do about it. (82)

---Ric Flair, The Total Package, and Scott Steiner drew with Sting, DDP, and Rey Mysterio in 17:21 following a double countout in which all six wrestlers brawled outside the ring and into the backstage area with the show fading to black. (83)

---Backstage, Booker T and Rick Steiner are seen brawling in the parking lot in their street clothes with neither budging as the camera fades to black. (78)

Show Rating: 80
TV Rating: 0.11 (684,565 viewers)

Head to Head
Show Rating: Raw 89, Nitro 80

TV Rating: Raw 2.96, Nitro 0.11

Main Event: Raw 92, Nitro 83

Main Event: Two Man Power Trip def. Stone Cold Killers to retain the WWF World Tag Team titles (92)


Backstage Incidents
---Kevin Nash has been spreading rumors about Arn Anderson which almost led to a fist fight between the two. I choose to give Nash a slap on the wrist. Arn thinks the punishment was too soft.

---Dustin Rhodes was being a jerk backstage and eventually threw a punch at Stevie Ray. It was a bad move though as he got beaten up as a result. I give Dustin a slap on the wrist. Nothing resulted from it.

Wrestling news for Week 4, May 2001
---The WWF launched a new tag team on Smackdown, as Prince Albert and Val Venis made their debut. They will be working under the name The Buccaneers. Pirate gimmicks, I suppose? Weird visual.

---Two major storylines look to dominate the WWF for the summer. Triple H and The Rock along with Steve Austin and The Undertaker will be battling with SummerSlam not far away. Kurt Angle will also be focusing on Kane while Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho will also draw attention. Some great shows coming up in the next few months for the Federation.

---Lance Russell, the voice of Memphis wrestling, has announced his retirement. Many a Saturday mornings were spent watching and listening to Lance and Dave Brown on WMC. Lance was a good follow on social media.

---Ralphus has announced that he is leaving the business and trying his hand at other ventures. WCW really should have taken Ralphus and Jericho further when they had the chance.

---Abyss has won the NWA North American Heavyweight title. He is making quite the impression in NWA Wildside. He is also appearing on one-night only deals in Zero-One and the CWF.

End of Month Review, May 2001

FINANCES
---Not a very profitable month, of course. WCW lost $1,955,418 in May with over $900,000 going to the releases from the first week. At best, staying at a loss between $750,000 and $800,000 is possible in May.

---The figures show $3,044,582 on hand. Another bad month would be feasible but not so sure about two or three more in a row.

---The worker expenses came in at a staggering $2,859,351. This will go down in June due to part of this figure being the released workers.

---PPV revenue was $327,330 from Big Bang. Our next big money show could well be the Great American Bash in July. If I'm not at Medium size by then, it would be a greatly missed opportunity for the company financially.

POPULARITY
---WCW's popularity increased to 57 (+2) in the important Southwest region. I must have a 59 here in order to go up to Medium size since it is my home region. I stand at 56 in the Southeast region and 46 in the other eight regions of America. My long-term goal is to run a few shows in the Southeast and hold a large PPV in the Georgia Dome, maybe when our pop there gets to at least 68-70.

---The WWF increased their popularity in America, moving from 85 to 86. The made just under $4.5 million and are sitting with $54,435,004 on hand, makng them the richest company in the world. Stone Cold is the WWF Champion while Triple H holds the Intercontinental belt. Together, Austin and Triple H also hold the WWF Tag Team titles.

CREATIVE
---Our Franchise Players are Sting, Scott Steiner, Goldberg, Booker T, and Ric Flair

---The Next Big Things are Reno, Billy Kidman, Kaz Hayashi, and Shannon Moore

---I will begin using some of the NWA Wildside prospects in dark matches before they make their 'official' debuts in a few months. That group will not show in the Next Big Thing list until they are officially on the WCW roster. This group could change the course of WCW within two years.

FAN PERCEPTIONS, END OF MAY 2001
Major Stars
Booker T
Buff Bagwell
Diamond Dallas Page
Goldberg
Jeff Jarrett
Kevin Nash
Ric Flair
Rick Steiner
Rob Van Dam
Scott Steiner
Sean O’Haire
Sting
The Total Package
MOVERS: Dustin Rhodes, Kanyon, Shane Douglas (out); Rob Van Dam (in)

Stars
Dustin Rhodes
Kanyon
Konnan
Lance Storm
Mike Awesome
Rey Mysterio Jr
Shane Douglas
MOVERS: Chuck Palumbo (out); Dustin Rhodes, Kanyon, Shane Douglas (in)

Well Known
Bam Bam Bigelow
Billy Kidman
Chavo Guerrero Jr
Chuck Palumbo
Ernest Miller
Hugh Morrus
Mark Jindrak
Mike Sanders
Shane Helms
Shawn Stasiak
Vampiro
MOVERS: Chuck Palumbo, Shane Helms (in)

Recognizable
Alex Wright
Elix Skipper
Jamie Knoble
Kaz Hayashi
Norman Smiley
Shannon Moore
The Sandman
Yang
MOVERS: Shane Helms (out); The Sandman (in)

Unimportant
Air Paris
Big Vito
Chris Harris
Evan Karagias
James Storm
Jason Jett
Johnny Swinger
Johnny the Bull
Kid Romeo
Kwee Wee
Lash Leroux
Reno

---Not much in the way of roster news this week except I allowed Terry Taylor’s contract to expire at the end of the month. As a road agent, he is a little below what I need at this point. Flair and Sting do have a positive relationship with him but it is still not enough to justify his $17,700 per month salary. I also officially release Scott Hudson. He was under a handshake deal so I owed him nothing. Unfortunately, Tony Schiavone and Mike Tenay could be next.

WCW Titles Roll Call
WCW World Heavyweight
Booker T, 4X champion, held since March 26, 2001
85 prestige (no change), #42 in world singles prestige (+6 in May)

WCW United States
Rey Mysterio, 1X champion, held since May 6, 2001
66 prestige (no change), #112 in world singles (+2 in May)

WCW World Tag Team
Team Canada, 1X champion, held since May 6, 2001
67 prestige (no change), #30 in world tag prestige (+4 in May)

WCW Cruiserweight
Shane Helms, 1X champion, Won March 18, 2001
41 prestige, (+1 in May), #133 in world singles prestige (+3 in May)

**WCW sits at 45% prestige and 30% momentum.

**For the record, the economy is shown at 34 and rising while the wrestling industry is 40 and falling.

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 1, June 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 1,630

Pre-Show Dark Match
---Kanyon def. John Cena in 9:20 by pinfall with a Flatliner. (60)

Pre-Show Dark Match
---Bam Bam Bigelow def. Philip Brooks in 8:32 by pinfall following the Greetings from Asbury Park. (52)

---The Steiner Brothers come out to start the show. Rick hypes his world title challenge versus Booker T at Slamboree while Scott says maybe WCW management can find someone to challenge him at Slamboree. (78)

---Buff Bagwell def. Konnan in 7:51 by pinfall following the Buff Blockbuster. (66)

---Dustin Rhodes and Shane Douglas run into each other backstage with Douglas saying that the new WCW is no place to be riding his daddy’s coattails as he walks away, leaving Dustin angry. (65)

---Chavo Guerrero Jr def. Jamie Knoble in 7:54 by pinfall following the Chavo Splash. (65) After the match, Chavo grabs a mic but is quickly stopped by Shane Helms, who says everyone watching is tired of Chavo’s sense of entitlement. He goes on to challenge Chavo for the Cruiserweight title at Slamboree, which Chavo accepts. (59)

---Booker T is backstage with Mean Gene and his partner in the main event, Rey Mysterio, as they hype their tag match versus Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett. (80) Diamond Dallas Page and Sting enter the picture as they tell both Booker and Rey not to count them out of the world title or US title chase. (84)

---Rick Steiner w/Scott Steiner def. Dustin Rhodes in 14:30 by pinfall following a Top Rope Bulldog onto a steel chair placed there by Shane Douglas with Scott distracting Nick Patrick. (76) After the match, Shane Douglas is seen at the top of the ramp laughing at Rhodes. (72)

---Backstage, a camera happens to catch a vicious beatdown on Rey Mysterio by Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett. (63) Rob Van Dam and Booker T race in to chase Flair and Jarrett off. (66)

---The Total Package is backstage with Gene Okerlund. Luger says he hopes his motivational talk to Nash last week on Nitro helped make it easier for him to leave professional wrestling. (64)

---Diamond Dallas Page def. Vampiro in 12:01 by pinfall with a Diamond Cutter. (72) During the match, Scott Steiner came halfway down the aisle to distract Page. After the match, Steiner retrieves a mic and says that Page has no business sticking his nose in the world title chase. The two continue arguing until Page says that if Steiner has nothing going on in 13 days, he will see him in the ring at Slamboree. (80) Steiner says he has beaten Page twice on pay-per-view in the last three months and the next time won’t be any different. (83)

---Mike Awesome and Lance Storm come to the ring and hype their current reign as world tag team champions. Storm says it looks like no one wants to challenge Team Canada since they haven’t been busy the last couple of weeks on Nitro. (61)

---Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett drew with Booker T and Rey Mysterio in 17:19 when both teams were counted out. (75) After the match, Rick and Scott Steiner hit the ring with DDP and Sting closely following after. After a massive brawl, Booker T is able to apply the Steiner Recliner on Rick in the middle of the ring as the show ends. (78)

Show Rating: 76
TV Rating: 0.11 (701,229 viewers)

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Raw 80, Nitro 76

TV Rating: Raw 2.91, Nitro 0.11

Main Event: Raw 82, Nitro 75

Main Event: The Hardy Boyz def. Edge and Christian in an 82 rated match. No Austin, Rock, Taker, Angle, Benoit, or Jericho in the ring on this show.

The TV rating is the barometer which I'll measure WCW against the Federation. Of course, the show ratings help but in this case, winning any battle in what is currently a Monday Night Skirmish (and that being a stretch) will be an uphill climb. Reaching Medium status can't come soon enough. Even after we reach that size, overtaking the WWF seems like an impossible task.

The new (with the latest edition of the game) growth caps certainly make growing & catching a measure tougher than it was in past versions.

It may be more realistic than it used to be but it's definitely more challenging to stay engaged with infrequent signs of any real progress.

Wrestling News for Week 1, June 2001
---In this week's news of the weird, a new stable has formed in the WWF called Section 17. It will consist of Crash Holly, Hardcore Holly, Debra...and Stone Cold Steve Austin. It sounds like either a space-themed group or a gulag-themed stable.

---The WWF has called up highly regarded prospect, Randy Orton. WWF management feels that Orton could be a huge star in the making.

---Also in the ‘No kidding’ department, some industry veterans are also reported to be very high on Brock Lesnar. While he is hardly a household name at the moment, some of the biggest and most respected names in the industry have said he is one of their picks to be a breakout star in the next few years. We’ll have to keep an eye on him.

---Chris Candido is the new ECW World Television champion. He defeated Balls Mahoney, Tony Mamaluke, and Julio Dinero in a 57 rated match in Pennsauken, New Jersey. In this mod, ECW is still around but is hanging on for survival.

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 2, June 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 1,693

Pre-Show Dark Match
---Buff Bagwell def. Dave Batista in 10:06 by pinfall with a Buff Blockbuster. (54)

Pre-Show Dark Match
---Hugh Morrus def. Samoa Joe in 9:27 by pinfall with a No Laughing Matter. (54)

---The Steiner Brothers come to the ring to open the show. Rick hypes his world title challenge versus Booker T in six days at Slamboree and his ‘tune-up’ match versus Bam Bam Bigelow. Scott says he can’t wait to get DDP in the ring so he can beat him at another pay-per-view. (71) Booker T comes out with a mic and taunts both Steiners as lots of muscle and no brains and hypes his world title defense at Slamboree. (78)

---The announcing crew hypes a United States title defense by Rey Mysterio later in the show and Rey’s brief history versus Ric Flair. (68)

---Rick Steiner def. Bam Bam Bigelow in 11:33 by pinfall following the Steiner Driver. (70) After the match, Rick takes a mic and proclaims himself as the next world champion. (64)

---Team Canada comes down to the ring with Lance Storm taking a mic. Storm says that they will be defending the world tag team titles at Slamboree versus a most deserving team, Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley, but issues an open challenge for tonight’s Nitro. (64) DDP and Sting appear at the top of the ramp as the crowd erupts. Sting says since he and Page are not busy tonight, they will accept the open challenge for the tag team titles in the main event as Storm and Awesome appear annoyed. (72)

---The Total Package, Jeff Jarrett, and Shane Douglas are talking backstage as Rob Van Dam walks by, not intending to say anything. Luger tells RVD that The Nature Boy will eventually get payback after he beats Rey for the US title. RVD challenges Luger to a match at Slamboree, which Luger accepts. (67) Shane Douglas pipes in and says to pass along a message to Dustin Rhodes that his daddy is a tub of goo. (71) Douglas adds that since Dustin is too cowardly, Sting should face him Sunday night at Slamboree since he is not a main eventer anymore and can’t get title matches. (68)

---Shane Helms, Jamie Knoble, and Yang def. Chavo Guerrero Jr, Evan Karagias, and Shannon Moore in 10:04 after Helms pinned Chavo following a Vertebreaker. (60) After the match, Chavo blames the loss on Karagias and Moore as they leave the ring. (58)

---The Total Package comes down to the ring for an in-ring interview with Mean Gene. Luger tells the crowd now that Kevin Nash is gone, he will be putting people like Rob Van Dam in the torture rack. He guarantees a victory over RVD at Slamboree. (68)

WCW United States Title Match
---Rey Mysterio Jr def. Vampiro in 8:26 by pinfall following a Super Hurricarana. (79) During the match, Ric Flair came down and taunted Rey on an open mic throughout the match. After the match, Rey and Flair brawled in the ring with Rey driving Flair from the ring. (77) Rey makes his 1st defence of the United States title.

---Shane Douglas is backstage hyping up The Total Package on his promise to beat Rob Van Dam at Slamboree. (67) Luger reminds Douglas that Sting will likely accept his challenge for Sunday night, to which Douglas nods his head. (70)

---Diamond Dallas Page and Sting are seen backstage preparing for their world tag team title match versus Team Canada. Page tells Sting it looks like Shane Douglas is attaching himself to The Total Package and Jeff Jarrett so he can have some insurance. Sting says that Douglas will be a dead man at Slamboree. (90)

---Booker T comes down ringside to join the announce team for the tag team main event between Sting and DDP and Team Canada, explaining he knows Scott Steiner has a beef with Page and will probably bring his brother with him at some point. (71)

WCW World Tag Team Title Match
---Diamond Dallas Page and Sting def. Team Canada by DQ in 17:09 after Scott Steiner ran in and attacked DDP as he was setting up a Diamond Cutter on Lance Storm (79). The tag team titles did not change hands on the disqualification. After the match, Booker T entered the ring and helped Sting and DDP fight off Scott and Rick Steiner, who came down to join the fray. (78) Booker T and Rick fight up the aisle as the show goes to black. (80)

Show Rating: 79
TV Rating: 0.11 (653,620 viewers)

Head to Head
Show Rating: Raw 79, Nitro 79

TV Rating: Raw 2.67, Nitro 0.11

Main Event: Raw 81, Nitro 79

Main Event: Hollywood Hogan def. Test in an 81 rated match; seems odd that the major players are being left out of these last two Raw shows

--Nitro was on par with the actual show rating. The coveted TV rating is the primary factor for me. Raw, however, is up by over 2.5 in the TV rating. I'm looking forward to the broadcaster negotiations IF I can get to Medium size BEFORE the Great American Bash.

--When the franchise players return en masse to WWF television, the show ratings will be noticeable.


Backstage Incident
--Kevin Nash was caught smoking a lung dart, breaking the locker room rules. Remembering the Oz gimmick that WCW gave him a decade earlier, I sympathize and choose to give Nash a slap on the wrist. Nothing noteworthy came out of it.

--As a high school junior, I remember seeing that gosh-awful Oz gimmick in WCW and wondering what the heck was going on. I guess it never occurred to them that they could use his real name and make more money. Of course, the more I read on Jim Herd's time in WCW, the more the insanity made sense. Oz vs Spartacus Flair would have been...something.

WCW Slamboree Card
WCW World Heavyweight Title - Booker T (c) vs Rick Steiner

WCW United States Title – Rey Mysterio (c) vs Ric Flair

WCW World Tag Team Titles – Team Canada (c) vs Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley

WCW World Cruiserweight Title – Shane Helms (c) vs Chavo Guerrero Jr

Diamond Dallas Page vs Scott Steiner

Rob Van Dam vs The Total Package

Shane Douglas vs Sting

Surprise Challenge Match

WCW Slamboree
Sunday, Week 2, June 2001
Paradise, Nevada
Attendance: 9,168

--Joey Styles, Jerry Lawler, and Bobby Heenan welcome the fans to the PPV telecast and preview the Slamboree matches, including Rick Steiner challenging Booker T for the world title. (67)

--Booker T is backstage with Mean Gene. Booker hypes his upcoming world title match versus Rick Steiner and warns Scott Steiner to focus on DDP and keep his nose out of his business with his brother. (82)

WCW Cruiserweight Title Match
--Chavo Guerrero Jr def. Shane Helms in 12:30 by pinfall following a chair shot and subsequent Frog Splash. (71) Chavo wins the cruiserweight title for the 3rd time.

--Jeff Jarrett, The Total Package, and Shane Douglas are backstage with Mean Gene. Luger hypes his match against Rob Van Dam and says that he hopes Kevin Nash is watching so he can watch the beating he’ll be missing. (72) Jarrett ends by saying that he wishes Nash was in the building so he could face him in a match. The two pick on Gene’s hair as they walk away. (70) Douglas hypes his match versus Sting and says Sting’s glory days are long gone. (73)

--Sting def. Shane Douglas in 11:03 by submission with the Scorpion Deathlock. (76) During the match, Douglas was distracted by Dustin Rhodes, who the announcers speculate was there because of Douglas’ derogatory comments toward his father.

--Rob Van Dam def. The Total Package in 11:21 by pinfall following the Five Star Splash (75) During the match and with referee Billy Silverman down, Kevin Nash ran in and delivered a Jackknife Powerbomb on Luger. After the match, Nash takes a mic and accepts Jeff Jarrett’s challenge from earlier in the show. (68)

WCW United States Championship Match
--Rey Mysterio Jr def. Ric Flair in 14:01 by a schoolboy rollup and quick count after Flair began arguing and shoving referee Nick Patrick. (79) Rey makes his 2nd defence of the US title. After the match, an irate Flair grabbed a mic and claimed a conspiracy to keep him from winning any WCW titles. (75)

--Jeff Jarrett is seen backstage scampering around looking for a ride to leave the arena when he is intercepted by Kevin Nash, who takes Double J to the ring for the match. (72)

--Kevin Nash def. Jeff Jarrett in 7:26 by pinfall following the Jackknife Powerbomb. (81) Nash and Jarrett have great chemistry and it showed in their performance.

WCW World Tag Team Title Match
--Team Canada def. Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley in 12:11 when Mike Awesome pinned Miller following an Awesome Bomb. (81) Team Canada makes their 3rd defence of the world tag team titles.

--Scott Steiner cuts a backstage promo on DDP, saying that Page will be easily beaten in their upcoming match and that his brother will become the world champion tonight. (80)

--Diamond Dallas Page def. Scott Steiner in 15:39 by pinfall following the Diamond Cutter. (77) Page celebrates by exiting through the crowd. (81)

--A video montage is shown featuring the developing rivalry between Booker T and the Steiner Brothers leading up to the main event. (72)

WCW World Heavyweight Title Match
--Booker T def. Rick Steiner in 17:43 by pinfall after an accidental chair shot by Scott Steiner on his brother. (79) After the match, the Steiner Brothers argue over the ending of the match. (78) Booker makes his 2nd defence of the WCW championship.

Show Rating: 80
PPV Rating: 0.42 (212,981 buys)

All face wins (except Chavo?).... man what I'd have given for that when I was young... :)

Lol...that will certainly be the exception. The dirt sheets would have loved that. Thanks for the follow.

Thoughts
---The attendance took me by surprise with nearly 10,000 coming out for Slamboree. Those kind of attendance numbers will help me on down the road on the financial side.

---The show put our popularity in the Southwest (WCW’s home region) at 58, one short of the 59 threshold to be considered a ‘Medium’ sized company. Hopefully this can happen before the Great American Bash and I could possibly renegotiate some TV and PPV contracts.

---Storm and Awesome pull out a nice match versus Smiley and Miller with minimal build up. Storm and Awesome could see their profile skyrocket in the next year. They are clearly the best tag team in WCW at the moment. Will anyone be able to challenge them?

---Having only a 90-minute show limits what I do with only one cruiserweight match per week. In an ideal WCW down the road, signing enough quality workers to have a brand split with the cruiserweights assigned to one show would be great. At the least, having a 2 1/2 hour show would be good for now if my broadcaster agreed to it.

---I want things to pick up now that the Great American Bash is up next month. It is imperative I reach Medium size before then.

---In addition to Slamboree last night, the WWF held Bad Blood in front of 27,000 fans in Regina, Saskatchewan. The main event saw Stone Cold Steve Austin defeating The Rock to retain the WWF Championship in a 100 rated match. The match is predicted to figure heavily in the end of the year awards.

---Other big matches saw Triple H pin Warrior in a cage match to retain the Intercontinental title and Hollywood Hogan and The Big Show downing Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero.

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 3, June 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 1,960

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Alex Wright and Billy Kidman def. Philip Brooks and Austin Aries in 10:04 by pinfall after Kidman’s Shooting Star Splash on Aries. (52)

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Kanyon def. AJ Styles in 11:25 by pinfall following an inverted piledriver. (58)

--Joey Styles, Jerry Lawler, and Bobby Heenan preview the card for Nitro, including a six-man tag main event. (68)

--The Steiner Brothers come down to the ring separately to start the show. Rick Steiner makes it clear to Scott that he cost him the world title to Booker T at Slamboree. Scott listens as his brother berates him and walks out of the ring strangely calm. (82)

--Lance Storm and Mike Awesome are backstage with Mean Gene as they hype their ‘glorious’ world tag team title run and Storm’s singles match in a few minutes. (57)

--Lance Storm w/Mike Awesome def. The Sandman in 9:41 by submission with the Canadian Maple Leaf. (71) After the match, Mike Awesome comes in and delivers an Awesome Bomb on Sandman and the two continue beating him down until Bam Bam Bigelow comes down and drives both from the ring. (61)

--Rob Van Dam comes to the ring for an interview with Mean Gene. Out of nowhere, The Total Package and Ric Flair attack RVD and Luger puts him in The Rack. Kevin Nash sprints from the backstage area to make the save and drive Luger from the ring. (66) Nash takes a mic and says he wants to thank The Total Package for giving him a psychological faceslap. He ends by saying that Luger and Jarrett are in his crosshairs and Slamboree was just the beginning. (80)

--Sean O’Haire def. Big Vito in 8:09 by pinfall following a Seanton Bomb. (60) O’Haire and Vito had great chemistry and it showed in their performance.

--A camera catches a frustrated and angry Scott Steiner destroying everything in sight in the backstage area and threatening backstage personnel. (79)

--Mean Gene is backstage with Chuck Palumbo as they talk about the possible breakup of their tag team. Sean O’Haire enters the picture and says there is no tag team to talk about, telling an irritated Palumbo the tag team was over when he couldn’t get his shoulders up at Big Bang. (63)

--Kevin Nash def. Vampiro in 11:30 by pinfall following the Jackknife Powerbomb. (72) After the match, Nash again takes a mic and challenges The Total Package or any of his buddies to a match at The Great American Bash in singles or tag teams. (84)

--An angry RVD is backstage with Mean Gene as he rages against Flair and The Total Package for their earlier attack. He ends by challenging them to a handicap match later on. (70)

--Rey Mysterio Jr comes to the ring with the US title belt and hypes his five week reign as champion. He says that Ric Flair, or anyone else, will never be able to intimidate him. (60)

--Ric Flair and The Total Package def. Rob Van Dam in 13:49 by pinfall when Jeff Jarrett came down ringside and laid a guitar shot on RVD with Flair and Luger keeping referee Mickey Jay occupied. (81) After the match, Flair takes a mic and says he hasn’t forgotten Van Dam costing him a match last month for the world title. (80)

--Mean Gene is backstage with Sting, Booker T, and Diamond Dallas Page as they hype their six-man tag main event versus The Steiner Brothers and Shane Douglas. (87)

--DDP, Sting, and Booker T drew with The Steiner Brothers and Shane Douglas in 15:57 when referee Nick Patrick ruled a double stoppage after all hell broke loose. (87) During the match, the strain was evident between the Steiners.

Show Rating: 84
TV Rating: 0.11 (670,395 viewers)

Head to Head
Show Rating: Raw 90, Nitro 84

TV Rating: Raw 2.92, Nitro 0.11

Main Event Rating: Raw 96, Nitro 87

Raw Main Event: Chris Jericho def. Chris Benoit and Warrior in a 96 rated match

Post-show
--I get a note saying that Rob Van Dam has changed his wrestling style from 'Brawler' to 'Regular Wrestler'. RVD thinks this will benefit his career.

--No complaints or incidents to report this week.

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 4, June 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 1,942

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Alex Wright and Kaz Hayashi def. Philip Brooks and Colt Cabana in 10:54 by pinfall after Wright’s German Suplex on Brooks. (51)

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Mark Jindrak def. Astro Boy in 10:24 by pinfall following the Mark of Excellence. (48)

--Scott Steiner comes to the ring and grabs a mic. He says he knows that he cost his brother the world title at Slamboree and says everything will be good between he and his brother. (84) Steiner hypes his main event match with Sting and then turns his attention to Booker T and intensely states that he will do anything to get the world title back around his waist, including destroying Sting tonight. (75) He ends the promo by challenging Booker T for the world title at the Great American Bash. (85)

--Kanyon def. Hugh Morrus in 8:21 by pinfall following the Kanyon Cutter. (76)

--Kevin Nash comes to the ring for a promo and hypes his upcoming match against Ric Flair when he is interrupted by Flair. The two brawl and are joined by Rob Van Dam and Jeff Jarrett as the chaos spills out all around ringside. (68) A number of backstage personnel have to come out and pull them apart.

--A backstage camera catches Dustin Rhodes and Shane Douglas brawling with The Total Package coming in and helping Douglas beat down Rhodes. (61)

--Chavo Guerrero makes his way to the ring with a mic and says he will be defending his cruiserweight title versus the most deserving Lash Leroux and says he is ready for his match now. (64)

WCW Cruiserweight Title Match
--Chavo Guerrero Jr def. Lash Leroux in 9:34 by pinfall following a Death Valley Driver. (60) After the pin, Chavo angrily rolls out of the ring and back in with a chair when he viciously attacks Leroux and gets a mic and says that will happen to everyone that challenges him for the cruiserweight title. (64) Chavo makes his 1st defence of the cruiserweight title.

--Kevin Nash def. Ric Flair in 10:53 by DQ when The Total Package ran in and attacked Kevin Nash, followed quickly by Jeff Jarrett. (76) The three continue to beat down Nash until Rob Van Dam and Rey Mysterio enter the ring to save Nash. (75)

--Booker T comes down to the ring for a promo with Mean Gene. Scott Steiner then comes out and distracts Booker enough for Rick Steiner to come out of the crowd and sneak attack Booker. (68) Scott ends up driving Booker through the ringside table with a powerbomb. (78) Steiner then takes a mic and reminds Booker and the audience that he will do whatever it takes to get the world title back. (75)

--Jeff Jarrett w/The Total Package def. Konnan in 8:58 by pinfall following a guitar shot and subsequent Stroke on Konnan. (74)

--Diamond Dallas Page comes to the ring for a quick promo with Mean Gene. Page says since Rick Steiner likes to sneak attack people, he challenges Steiner to a match next Monday night on Nitro. (84) He also mentions he will be in Sting’s corner in the main event.

--Scott Steiner w/Rick Steiner def. Sting w/DDP in 11:20 by countout following a Rick Steiner bulldog on Sting on the floor after taking out Page with a chair shot. (83) After the match, Scott places Sting in the Steiner Recliner with Rick beating down DDP as he tries to help Sting. (80) Booker T then hits the ring with a chair and attacks both Steiners. (83) Booker then takes a mic accepts Steiner’s challenge for the world title at the Great American Bash. (81)

Show Rating: 81
TV Rating: 0.11 (672,772 viewers)

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Raw 91, Nitro 81

TV Rating: Raw 2.91, Nitro 0.11

Main Event Grade: Raw 99, Nitro 83

Raw Main Event: Steve Austin def. The Undertaker by DQ to retain the WWF Championship in a 99 rated match in Montreal, Canada. Also, Hollywood Hogan and Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts def. Kane and Chris Benoit in a 92 rated tag team match

Backstage incidents
---Hugh Morrus was caught smoking, breaking the locker room rules. I choose to give him a stern warning since he’s Hugh Morrus.

---Ric Flair was also caught smoking, breaking the locker room rules. I choose to give him a slap on the wrist since he’s Ric Flair.

---Kevin Nash seems to be manipulating the locker room against Shane Douglas. Hugh Morrus now has simmering tension with Douglas.

News from Week 4, June 2001
---Brock Lesnar, who until recently has been working in the WWF’s development territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling, will be joining the main WWF roster shortly. It is expected he will begin work at the next show. Lesnar competed in collegiate wrestling at the University of Minnesota and won the NCAA Division I national championship in March of last year. He is said to have made a seamless transition to professional wrestling.

---It looks like Paul Bearer is set to remain with the WWF after lengthy contract negotiations. It is rumored the contract is worth close to $10,000 per month. I wasn’t interested unless Kane or Taker’s contract was about to expire since he has strong friendships with both. Their contracts aren’t up anytime soon.

Mid-year Review
TEW has listed their mid-year awards since we are in the month of July now. The winners so far…

Wrestler of the Year – The Rock, 91 average match rating, 100 rated match vs Steve Austin at Bad Blood

Company of the Year – World Wrestling Federation

Team of the Year – Two Man Power Trip (Austin and Triple H), 91 average rating with a high of 94 versus Eddie Guerrero and Raven on Raw from May

Match of the Year – Steve Austin def. The Rock at Bad Blood in June, 100 rated match

Card of the Year – WWF Judgment Day in May, 92 rated show

Young Wrestler of the Year – Perro Aguayo Jr with an 81 average rating and high of 86 teaming with Cibernetico and Heavy Metal versus Psicosis and Black Family IV in a ladder match

Veteran Wrestler of the Year – Hollywood Hogan, 90 average rating with a high of 99 teaming with Steve Austin versus Undertaker and The Rock on Smackdown from May

Female Wrestler of the Year – Manami Toyota, 67 average rating with a high of 80

Independent Wrestler of the Year – Brazo de Plata with a 68 average rating and high of 83 when teaming with Brazo de Oro and Cibernetico versus Atlantis, Blue Panther and Dr. Wagner Jr at Mala Obsession in May

--Really no surprises here with the WWF dominating in attendance, highest-graded workers, star quality, and highest-rated matches. Manami Toyota could be one to watch for down the road if/when I can get a women's division started, not an eye candy division.

--And just for reference, WCW's highest-rated match was the triple threat match at Big Bang for the world title between Booker, Scott, and Page (88) with our highest-rated show being Big Bang (86). My goal is to string some good shows together by late summer and early fall to get some momentum heading into Halloween Havoc through Starrcade.

End of Month Review, June 2001
--A better month financially as we ‘only’ lost $1,155,228 compared to the nearly $2 million loss in May. Again, getting to ‘Medium’ size would be a huge accomplishment, especially if it can be done over the next two shows before the Great American Bash. Getting to the next size would mean more money, obviously. WCW will likely not survive much longer if the current financial trends continue.

--WCW has $1,889,354 on hand. I have to see improvements. As our popularity increases, there should be steady increases in all facets of income, particularly ticket sales and broadcast revenue.

---I will be renegotiating our PPV deals after the Great American Bash. I have no doubt that show will put us over the top to ‘Medium’ size if we are not there already. I will also take a look at our TV deals after the Bash. The ESPN2 deal is one I’m happy with right now and doesn’t expire for another four months.

---Another important aspect of the TV deals at ‘Medium’ size is I could change Nitro to a two-hour show. It is currently 90 minutes in length because of WCW being small size. I could probably convince ESPN2 to go two hours when we go to the next size.

---The WWF remains at 86 popularity throughout America. They are on a massive roll with an almost $4 million haul in June. They have close to $58 million in the bank.

---WCW is sitting at 58 popularity in the Southeast and Southwest with 48’s in the rest of America. The backstage rating is 82 and slowly creeping up. Nash is still causing some trouble but hasn’t committed any major backstage incidents in a few weeks. If he goes on another spree of problems, it could be time to make a major decision. The downside is that he could sue us and that would likely put us in serious financial peril with his $114,000 per month contract if we were found to be in the wrong.

FAN PERCEPTIONS
Major Stars
Booker T
Buff Bagwell
Diamond Dallas Page
Goldberg
Jeff Jarrett
Kevin Nash
Rey Mysterio Jr
Ric Flair
Rick Steiner
Rob Van Dam
Scott Steiner
Sean O’Haire
Sting
The Total Package
MOVERS: Rey Mysterio Jr (in)

Stars
Dustin Rhodes
Kanyon
Konnan
Lance Storm
Mike Awesome
Shane Douglas
MOVERS: Rey Mysterio Jr (out)

Well Known
Bam Bam Bigelow
Billy Kidman
Chavo Guerrero Jr
Chuck Palumbo
Ernest Miller
Hugh Morrus
Shane Helms
Shawn Stasiak
Vampiro
MOVERS: Mark Jindrak, Mike Sanders (out)

Recognizable
Alex Wright
Elix Skipper
Jamie Knoble
Kaz Hayashi
Mark Jindrak
Mike Sanders
Norman Smiley
Shannon Moore
Yang
MOVERS: Mark Jindrak, Mike Sanders (in); The Sandman (out)

Unimportant
Air Paris
Big Vito
Chris Harris
Evan Karagias
James Storm
Jason Jett
Johnny Swinger
Johnny the Bull
Kid Romeo
Kwee Wee
Lash Leroux
Reno
The Sandman
MOVERS: The Sandman (in)

WCW Titles Roll Call

WCW World Heavyweight - Booker T, 4X champion, held since March 26, 2001
85 prestige (no change)
#41 in world singles title prestige (+1 in June)

WCW United States - Rey Mysterio, 1X champion, held since May 6, 2001
67 prestige (+1 in June)
#103 in world singles title prestige (+9 in June)

WCW World Tag Team - Team Canada, 1X champion, held since Week 2, June 2001
68 prestige (+1 in June)
#24 in world tag team title prestige (+6 in June)

WCW Cruiserweight - Chavo Guerrero, Jr, 3X champion, held since Week 2, June 2001
41 prestige (no change)
#135 in world singles title prestige (-2 in May)

Wait, whaaaaa?

Is that a typo maybe? Or does your game actually have 40 singles titles at 85+ prestige.

I know we're playing on different mods and stuff but that's a crazy amount of difference. I think 85 prestige is something like #6 or #7 in the Pipebomb mod universe I'm in.

Here is a small sampling of the voluminous number of titles around the world in 2001. I certainly don't think the ECWA Super 8 was ever more prestigious than the WWF Championship. This does include some tag team titles. Perhaps the title prestige has more to do with the performance of the title within the company than its actual comparison against other titles around the world.

Most Popular Active Workers in America, End of June 2001
1. The Rock
2. Steve Austin
3. Hollywood Hogan
4. The Undertaker
5. Triple H
6. Booker T
7. Scott Steiner
8. Shawn Michaels
9. Chris Jericho
10. Mick Foley
...
13. Kevin Nash
14. Goldberg
15. Sting
19. Diamond Dallas Page
20. Ric Flair

Most Popular Active Workers in the World, End of June 2001
1. Hollywood Hogan
2. The Rock
3. Steve Austin
4. The Undertaker
5. Kevin Nash
6. Mick Foley
7. Shawn Michaels
8. The Big Show
9. Chris Jericho
10. Triple H
…
14. Diamond Dallas Page
16. Scott Steiner
17. Goldberg
19. Ric Flair

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 1, July 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 1,978

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Vampiro def. AJ Styles in 9:52 by pinfall with a Nail in the Coffin. (57)

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Konnan def. Samoa Joe in 10:27 by pinfall with a 187. (55)

--Joey Styles opens the show by saying their will be an important announcement regarding the naming of WCW’s new permanent commissioner. (73) Jerry Lawler and Bobby Heenan speculate on who it could be and both say they hope it is not Eric Bischoff. (82)

--Eric Bischoff comes down to the ringside to a mixed reaction and announces the permanent WCW Commissioner. Bret Hart comes down to the ring as Bischoff exits. Hart says he is glad to be back in the WCW and calls Booker T to the ring. (68) Bret tells Booker that he will defend his world title tonight versus Ric Flair in the main event and the winner will defend the title in a three-way match at The Great American Bash versus Scott Steiner and Sting as Booker nods. (70) A backstage camera catches Scott fuming at the mention of Sting as Hart says that since Rick Steiner cost Sting an important match on Nitro last week to determine a true #1 contender, he will be also be getting a shot at the world title. (76)

--Sting is seen backstage pounding on Rick Steiner when Scott Steiner comes in and attacks Sting. (83) Diamond Dallas Page and Booker T are then seen chasing Scott and a woozy Rick Steiner away. (85)

--Bam Bam Bigelow and The Sandman def. Shawn Stasiak and James Storm in 9:49 by pinfall following Bigelow’s Greetings from Asbury Park on Storm. (53) After the match, Lance Storm and Mike Awesome step out with Lance Storm proclaiming the winners are just another wannabe tag team (61).

--Dustin Rhodes runs into Bret Hart backstage and pleads for a match against Shane Douglas at the Great American Bash. Hart says he will think it over. (63)

--Sean O’Haire def. Johnny Swinger in 9:56 by pinfall with a Seanton Bomb. (57) After the match, as O’Haire is going up the aisle, Buff Bagwell comes down and poses for O’Haire, who is not impressed as he continues to the locker rooms. (63)

--Buff Bagwell goes to the ring for a promo with Mean Gene, who tells Buff that O’Haire was clearly not impressed. Buff replies that O’Haire only knows how to grunt and make loud noises and is not a real wrestler. (68)

--Kevin Nash is minding his own business backstage when he is approached by Bret Hart. Hart says he thought it would be a good idea if Nash faced The Total Package at The Great American Bash. Nash tells Bret to make it happen. (70)

--Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley def. Mark Jindrak and Chris Harris in 8:09 by submission following a Norman Conquest on Harris. (55) After the match, Lance Storm and Mike Awesome make their way back out and taunt the tag team division in WCW including Miller and Smiley, saying that they would never hold tag team gold in Team Canada’s tag team division. (64)

--Ric Flair, Jeff Jarrett, and The Total Package are backstage as Flair and Jarrett hype their upcoming matches, including Flair’s world title match versus Booker T. (84) The Total Package says he already dislikes the new WCW commissioner. (74)

--Rob Van Dam drew with Jeff Jarrett in 13:12 following a double DQ when Rey Mysterio and Ric Flair both interfered in the match. (80)

--Booker T cuts a backstage promo with Mean Gene before his world title defense versus Ric Flair. Booker says the only way Flair will win is if his pissants, The Total Package and Jeff Jarrett, get involved but warns he has insurance if he needs it. (83) On the other side of the arena and seemingly safe, Scott Steiner promises to Rick that he will end two careers in one night at the Great American Bash. (85)

WCW World Heavyweight Title Match
--Booker T w/Rob Van Dam def. Ric Flair w/Jeff Jarrett in 17:28 by pinfall following an RVD chairshot on Flair with referee Nick Patrick distracted with Jeff Jarrett and Rey Mysterio, who had come ringside toward the end of the match, on the opposite side of the ring. (84) Booker makes his 4th defence of the world title.

Show Rating: 81
TV Rating: 0.11 (675,095 viewers)

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Raw 89, Nitro 81

TV Rating: Raw 2.73, Nitro 0.11

Main Event Rating: Raw 95, Nitro 84

Raw Main Event: Triple H def. Eddie Guerrero to retain the Intercontinental title in a 95 rated match. The other main event saw The Big Show and Hollywood Hogan def. Chris Benoit and Kane, also rated a 95.

--As you read in the Nitro open, I've signed Bret Hart, who has a positive backstage influence and can play multiple roles. He will be the on-screen WCW commissioner. He can also be a great road agent and is available to play a colour commentator. The price comes at $15,000 per month. A hefty price but Bret will be a much-needed boost to morale and is instantly credible with fans.

--More importantly, this show put us over the top as we hit the more coveted Medium size. This will give us one more Nitro before The Great American Bash. I look to renegotiate some of the TV contracts.

July 3, 2001
From Eric Bischoff, WCW Owner
WCW is pleased to announce new television deals to show Nitro in Mexico on Azteca 7, in the British Isles on E4, on the Sportsnet family of networks throughout Canada, and RTL in Europe beginning August 1. WCW has extended the television contract with J Sports 1 in Japan and pay-per-view coverage on iN DEMAND and Samurai! TV. These new deals with improved time slots will help us continue being a legitimate competitive alternative to ‘sports entertainment’ and shows the wrestling world that WCW is back and here to stay. In addition, after talks with all of WCW’s broadcasters, Nitro will be broadcasting for two hours beginning the Monday night after the Great American Bash.


From the dirt sheets
Pro wrestling insiders said WCW’s broadcasters are pleased with the new focus and direction of World Championship Wrestling and Nitro, which will remain on Monday nights for the near future.

--With the move to Medium, WCW is now at 62 prestige and 51 momentum with The Great American Bash only 12 days away. This represents a 16 point gain since the end of June.

--As far as company size, the next goal to attain and truly be able to compete with the WWF is ‘Big’. The requirements are arduous. WCW would have to achieve 77 popularity in at least five mainland American regions, which must include the Southwest and Northwest regions. This is most difficult. I’m estimating at least early 2003. At least.

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 2, July 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 2,066

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Kaz Hayashi def. Kevin Steen in 8:49 by pinfall following a Hayashi Drop. (49)

--Booker T comes out to start the show and hypes the upcoming triple threat match at the Great American Bash versus Sting and Scott Steiner. (80) Sting then comes to the ring and tells Booker he respects his abilities and championship reign but Sting will win what he first won at the Great American Bash in 1990. (89) Scott Steiner comes out with a mic and says not only will he win the world title in Los Angeles this weekend but he will dominate the six-man tag match in the main event with his brother and Ric Flair versus Booker, Sting, and Page. (87)

--Shane Helms and AJ Styles def. Chavo Guerrero and Elix Skipper in 10:10 by pinfall following a Helms Vertebreaker on Skipper. (47) After the match, Chavo takes a mic and says that Helms will never win the cruiserweight title, this Sunday or ever. He then berates Skipper for getting pinned as he leaves the ring. (62)

--Bam Bam Bigelow is backstage with The Sandman when Lance Storm and Mike Awesome approach them. Storm says something Bigelow doesn’t like and they start arguing. (55) Awesome challenges Bigelow to a match later in the show. Bam Bam says if he wins then he and Sandman get a tag team title shot at The Great American Bash. (58)

--Diamond Dallas Page is backstage with Mean Gene as he hypes his match versus Rick Steiner this Sunday and as part of the six-man tag match in the main event. (85)

--Bam Bam Bigelow def. Mike Awesome in 11:13 by pinfall following botched interference by Lance Storm with a superkick on Awesome. (73) After the match, The Sandman enters the fray and sets up a table outside the ring. Bigelow then performed a Greetings from Asbury Park on Awesome through the table from the ringside apron. (71) Bigelow and The Sandman will challenge Storm and Awesome for the world tag team titles at The Great American Bash.

--Buff Bagwell runs into Sean O’Haire backstage. He tells O’Haire that he is a good looking specimen but can’t match what Buff does in the ring. As Buff puts his finger in O’Haire’s chest, O’Haire pushes it away and tells Buff to be in Los Angeles on Sunday and they will settle it in the ring. (60)

--WCW Commissioner Bret Hart comes to the ring. He says he doesn’t like the amount of interference and run-ins involving The Total Package and tells Luger that if anyone helps him from the outside on Sunday night, he will be fined and suspended without pay. (70) Hart then hypes the triple threat world title match and the world tag team title match this Sunday night. (66)

--Buff Bagwell def. Hugh Morrus in 8:31 by pinfall following a Buff Blockbuster. (67) After the match, Buff continues to beat down Morrus until Sean O’Haire comes down to run Buff out of the ring. (70)

--Kevin Nash is backstage with Mean Gene as he hypes his match versus Jeff Jarrett later in the show and he also praises Commissioner Bret Hart on putting in the no interference stipulation for his match against The Total Package on Sunday night. (86)

--Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett come to the ring for a promo. Flair hypes his part in the upcoming main event six-man tag match with the Steiner Brothers. (86) Flair then swears vengeance on Rob Van Dam and Rey Mysterio for last Monday night’s world title match interference and says he has been around since The Bash began, and with God as his witness, will break Mysterio’s legs in the Figure Four at The Bash. (92)

--Kevin Nash def. Jeff Jarrett in 10:56 by DQ when The Total Package ran in and attacked Nash. (80) After the match, Luger racks Nash with Jeff Jarrett running around the ring with a mic taunting Nash. (79) After the racking, Luger takes a mic and says he will be discussing some things with Commissioner Bret Hart on next Monday’s Nitro. (73)

--Booker T, Diamond Dallas Page, and Sting are seen backstage preparing for their upcoming six-man tag main event. (86)

--Booker T, Diamond Dallas Page, and Sting fought to a double stoppage in 16:34 against Scott Steiner, Rick Steiner, and Ric Flair when referee Billy Silverman lost control of the match. (79) As Rick Steiner and Flair flee the ringside area with Page chasing them with a chair, Booker T, Sting, and Scott Steiner have an all-out brawl as the show ends. (82)

Show Rating: 80
TV Rating: 0.23 (763,699 viewers)

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Raw 86, Nitro 80

TV Rating: Raw 2.72, Nitro 0.23

Main Event Rating: Raw 90, Nitro 79

Raw Main Event: Hollywood Hogan def. Raven in a 90 rated match. In his debut on the WWF roster, Randy Orton lost to Chris Jericho in a 78 rated match.

--There were no backstage shenanigans for the second consecutive show. I'm sure Nash will break that modest streak.

Card for The Great American Bash

WCW World Heavyweight Title, Triple Threat Match
Booker T (c) vs Scott Steiner vs Sting

WCW World Tag Team Titles
Team Canada (c) vs Bam Bam Bigelow and The Sandman

WCW World Cruiserweight Title
Chavo Guerrero Jr (c) vs Shane Helms

Diamond Dallas Page vs Rick Steiner

Rey Mysterio and Rob Van Dam vs Jeff Jarrett and Ric Flair

Kevin Nash vs The Total Package

Buff Bagwell vs Sean O’Haire

Dustin Rhodes vs Shane Douglas

WCW The Great American Bash
Sunday, Week 2, July 2001
Los Angeles, California
Attendance: 11,125

--Joey Styles welcomes the PPV audience to The Great American Bash and runs down the card, highlighting the Triple Threat Match for the world title and Ric Flair's obsession with destroying RVD and Rey Mysterio. (71)

--A video montage is shown of Booker T’s title defences since the Big Bang, including his wins over both Steiner brothers. (88)

WCW World Cruiserweight Title Match
--Chavo Guerrero Jr def. Shane Helms in 13:21 by pinfall after hitting Helms with the title belt. (67) After the match, Chavo goes over the top in celebrating his title win. (62) Chavo makes his 2nd defence of the cruiserweight title.

--A video montage is shown of Scott Steiner’s anger and frustration over the last month since his defeat at Slamboree by DDP. (86)

--Sean O’Haire def. Buff Bagwell in 10:13 by pinfall following a Peak of Perfection. (66)

--Diamond Dallas Page is with Mean Gene backstage. Page hypes his winning streak including his Slamboree win over Scott Steiner and promises a victory over Rick Steiner tonight. (88)

WCW World Tag Team Title Match
--Team Canada def. Bam Bam Bigelow and The Sandman in 10:40 by pinfall following an Awesome Bomb on The Sandman. (77) After the match, Awesome takes Bigelow and powerbombs him through a table that was conveniently located under the ring for retrieval. (73) Team Canada makes their 4th defence of the world tag team titles.

--A set of video clips from Sting’s career, including his first world title at The Great American Bash in 1990 in Baltimore, is shown. (92)

--Shane Douglas def. Dustin Rhodes in 13:22 by pinfall after Douglas nailed Dustin with a cowbell with referee Mickey Jay down. (71)

--A video package of Kevin Nash’s challenges with The Total Package and Jeff Jarrett over the last month is shown with the final words of WCW Commissioner Bret Hart threatening to suspend Luger if there is any outside interference at The Bash. (83)

--Diamond Dallas Page def. Rick Steiner in 15:53 by pinfall with the Diamond Cutter. (80) Page flashes the Diamond Cutter sign as he exits through the LA crowd after the match. (83)

--The Total Package is backstage with Mean Gene. Luger promises that he doesn’t need help beating Kevin Nash tonight and will rack him just like he did on Nitro. (65)

--Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett def. Rey Mysterio Jr and Rob Van Dam in 15:50 by pinfall after Flair’s Figure Four made Rey pass out for the three count. (78) After the match, Flair and Jarrett continue to punish RVD and Mysterio with Flair focusing chair shots on Rey’s knees. (70)

--Kevin Nash def. The Total Package in 10:47 by pinfall following the Jackknife Powerbomb. (67) During the match, Luger was clearly giving a signal for help in the ring but no one came out.

--Backstage, a camera catches Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett with Flair telling anyone who would listen that he said Rey was going to get hurt tonight. (75)

WCW World Heavyweight Title, Triple Threat Match
--Scott Steiner def. Booker T and Sting in 22:45 by pinfall following multiple belly to back suplexes on Booker T with Sting lying outside the ring. (87) Steiner wins the WCW World title for the 2nd time. After the match, with Steiner the only one standing in the ring and taunting Booker and Sting, the lights go out. When they return and as Steiner tries to gather his bearings in the ring, he is speared by a waiting Goldberg. (84)

Show Rating: 86
PPV Rating: 0.43 (219,901 buys)

Thoughts
--Scott Steiner goes over and wins the world title over two of his rivals but Goldberg has returned and awaits him. Steiner’s individual ring performances have consistently been between 85 and 92, easily the best on the roster. A quick check shows an 88 average individual ring performance.

--Lance Storm and Mike Awesome are clearly the best regular tag team in WCW. They have a 77 average rating over five matches in the last two months. Who can compete with them?

--Flair keeps most of his promise and injures Rey at The Bash. Flair’s rivalry with Rey and RVD is far from over. Jeff Jarrett looks to be the security blanket with one more in the background looking to regain some momentum.

--The next WCW PPV will be Phoenix Rising in August from, well, Phoenix, Arizona. The Phoenix also symbolizing WCW’s rise from the ashes. It was a rare moment of creativity from me.

The WWF held Vengeance in Boston, Massachusetts, last night with 37,500 in attendance at Fenway Park. The main event saw Stone Cold Steve Austin def. The Undertaker to retain the WWF championship in a 99 rated match. The show itself came in with a 93 with the only other notable match being Chris Jericho submitting Chris Benoit in a 91 rated match.

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 3, July 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 2,500

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Shawn Stasiak def. Astro Boy in 9:50 by pinfall with a Perfect Point. (48)

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Billy Kidman def. Austin Aries in 10:15 by pinfall with the Shooting Star Press. (54)

--The announcers start the show by reviewing the events from the end of the Great American Bash with still photos as they hype the return of Goldberg. (72)

--Goldberg comes through the pyro to the ring and hypes his return to WCW. He says he is back for one reason only: to win the Big Gold Belt. He finishes by saying that Scott Steiner is next. (84) Steiner comes out and hypes his world title win in Los Angeles and tells Goldberg he will never sniff the world title as long as it is around his waist. (77) To this, WCW Commissioner Bret Hart comes out and says that Goldberg will not get a title shot tonight but Steiner will defend his world title tonight versus Rob Van Dam in the main event. (83)

--Chavo Guerrero Jr comes out and says he will always be a fighting champion and tells the audience that he will be defending his cruiserweight title against Air Paris and that Shane Helms is probably sitting at home nursing his wounded pride from last night. (67)

WCW Cruiseweight Title Match
--Chavo Guerrero Jr. def. Air Paris in 9:52 by pinfall with a Gory Bomb. (61) After the match, Chavo takes a mic and taunts the entire cruiserweight division saying that no one can beat him after he destroyed Shane Helms at The Bash. (64) Chavo makes his 3rd defence of the cruiserweight title.

--Konnan def. Chris Harris in 9:42 by pinfall with a 187. (53)

--Mark Jindrak def. Jason Jett in 7:51 by pinfall with a Mark of Excellence. (46)

--Kevin Nash is seen backstage stopping random heel undercarders and asking if they’ve seen Jeff Jarrett to which all of them reply they haven’t. (90)

--Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley def. Vampiro and Kanyon in 11:11 by pinfall after Miller’s Feliner on Vampiro. (70) After the match, Smiley goes over the top in celebrating the win as Miller urges him to tamper the enthusiasm. (62)

--The Total Package comes down to the ring with a mic and calls out WCW Commissioner Bret Hart. Luger tells Hart he feels like he is being unfairly singled out. Hart responds that Luger has brought everything on himself with the interference and run-ins. (75) Luger tells Hart that he could easily put him out but he will respect old people before he leaves the ring. (71)

--Sean O’Haire def. Johnny Swinger in 8:42 by pinfall with a Peak of Perfection. (54)

--Ric Flair cuts a backstage promo with Mean Gene. Flair says that it is not about winning the United States title for him but making people like Rey Mysterio and Rob Van Dam respect him. He promises to end the careers of both men. (70) He then hypes his upcoming match versus Dustin Rhodes. (76)

--Ric Flair def. Dustin Rhodes in 11:17 by pinfall following a flash pinfall and interference from Shane Douglas. (81) After the match, Flair and Douglas are seen laughing as they retreat backstage. (79)

--Sting comes to the ring for a promo with Mean Gene. He says that as far as he is concerned, he wasn’t pinned last night so Steiner will eventually have to face the Stinger one-on-one. (85)

WCW World Heavyweight Title Match
--Scott Steiner def. Rob Van Dam in 17:47 by pinfall following a Top Rope Frankensteiner. (88) The match featured fantastic heat and great wrestling. After the match, Goldberg is seen at the top of the ramp mock clapping Steiner for his win. (86) Steiner makes his 1st defence of the WCW World Heavyweight title.

Show Rating: 85
TV Rating: 0.23 (799,274 viewers)

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Nitro 85, Raw 84

TV Rating: Raw 2.72, Nitro 0.23

Main Event Rating: Nitro 88, Raw 81

Raw Main Event: Triple H def. The Big Show, Raven, and Warrior to retain the Intercontinental title in an 81. The highest rated Raw match saw Chris Jericho submit Steve Blackmon in a match graded at 90

--Again, there are no incidents to speak of backstage. The biggest surprise this week, however, was the total lack of major star power on Raw. Our main event blew away Triple H's Intercontinental title defence. Of course, the all-important TV rating won't see a major shift for several months but shows like this help the company in the short and long run.

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 4, July 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 2,809

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Jamie Knoble def. Philip Brooks in 11:28 by pinfall following a Trailer Park Slam. (51)

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Mike Sanders def. John Cena in 9:42 by pinfall with a 3.0. (39)

--Joey Styles welcomes everyone to Nitro and hypes the main event with Booker T, Diamond Dallas Page, and Sting taking on The Steiner Brothers and Buff Bagwell. (72)

--Scott Steiner comes out to start the show and hypes his prediction of a long world title reign. (83) Goldberg then comes out and interrupts Steiner, saying that Steiner’s world title reign will be short-lived if he has a say. (76) Rick Steiner comes out and says if Goldberg is looking for a fight, he will give him one with Goldberg telling both Steiners he will fight them any time. (79)

--Before their world tag team title defense, Lance Storm and Mike Awesome come out and hype their world tag team title reign, reminding the audience that not even Diamond Dallas Page and Sting could take the title away from them last month and a more deserving team, The Jung Dragons, will challenge them tonight. (67)

WCW World Tag Team Title Match
--Team Canada def. Jung Dragons in 10:01 by submission with Storm’s Canadian Mapleleaf on Yang. (81) Team Canada makes their 5th defence of the world tag team titles.

--Kanyon def. The Sandman in 10:13 by pinfall following a Fireman’s Carry Neckbreaker. (76) After the match, Kanyon grabs a mic and says that he is the most underutilized wrestler in WCW and demands respect. (70)

--Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett make their way out to the ring. Flair says that little Rey Rey hurt his leg last weekend and can’t defend his title. Rey Mysterio interrupts the promo with a noticeable limp and challenges Flair and Jarrett to a tag team match with a partner of his choice. Rey adds that if his team loses, he will give the winner a US title shot tonight. (77) Flair and Jarrett are elated and accept the challenge until Rey tells them his partner will be Kevin Nash. (80)

--Shane Douglas comes to the ring for a promo in which he taunts Dustin Rhodes, saying that Dustin belongs in the trash bin with his daddy. (68)

--Kevin Nash and Rey Mysterio def. Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett in 13:03 by DQ when The Total Package ran in and attacked Nash after a Jackknife Powerbomb on Flair. (80) After the match, the 3 on 2 beatdown continued until Rob Van Dam came in with a chair and cleared the ring of Flair, Jarrett, and Luger. (73) WCW Commissioner Bret Hart angrily comes to the ring furious at Luger’s interference. Bret takes a mic and tells Luger that he will be wrestling tonight and it will be against Goldberg as Luger fumes. (72)

--Shane Douglas def. Hugh Morrus in 10:19 by pinfall with a Franchiser. (77) Douglas came to the ring in yellow polka-dotted wrestling attire as Jerry Lawler is howling at the ringside table.

--Diamond Dallas Page and Sting make their way to the ring with Booker T. Page and Sting say they still want the world title but are tired of the Johnny Come Latelies like Lance Storm and Mike Awesome who do not respect anyone. They warn the team that they were lucky last month when they met but might be coming for their tag team titles in the future. (86) Booker takes the mic and hypes the upcoming six-man tag team match in the main event. (85)

--Goldberg def. The Total Package in 7:59 by countout when Luger had enough and simply walked out of the ring and up the aisle. (81)

--Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett are seen backstage running as Kevin Nash and a gimpy Rey Mysterio are giving chase to them. Flair and Jarrett then get into a car and quickly leave the arena. (84)

--Booker T, Diamond Dallas Page, and Sting def. Buff Bagwell and The Steiner Brothers in 16:48 by pinfall following a Goldberg distraction on both Steiners and Booker T and Sting pinning, respectively, Scott and Rick with quick rollups. (82)

Show Rating: 83
TV Rating: 0.23 (788,244 viewers)

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Raw 91, Nitro 83

TV Rating: Raw 2.87, Nitro 0.23

Main Event: Steve Austin def. Kurt Angle in a WWF title match graded at 99 while Jacqueline def. Chyna and Ivory for the WWF Women’s title in a 67 rated match

Weekly Notes
--Not a bad show. Goldberg vs TTP was not the usual dominant match you might see on a big return but it does help advance the ongoing conflict between Luger and Bret. I wasn’t sure about placing it in the main event because I really didn’t know what to expect from Goldberg coupled with Luger’s 64 Psychology rating.

--In the WWF, Kurt Angle turned babyface at Raw last night from Madison, Wisconsin. The switch of allegiance was designed to both refresh Angle and the top of the card with a whole host of potential new matches and feuds.

--Also, Hollywood Hogan has admitted his new catchphrase that he debuted last night was ‘entirely improvised’ and that he’s surprised that it appears to have gone down so well. Don’t know what it could have been. Maybe “I AM THE ORANGE GOBLIN!!” or “That doesn’t work for me, brother.”

--NWA Wildside saw a major injury to CM Punk as he suffered a fractured larynx in a six-man tag match on Thursday night. Early estimates are that it will sideline Punk for around two months.

--If rumours are to be believed, the next big WWF storyline will center around Hollywood Hogan going head-to-head with The Rock. The feud is said to be the focal point of the promotion for somewhere between six and nine months.

--All Japan has seen a title change with Keiji Mutoh winning the prestigious AJPW Triple Crown championship from Genichiro Tenryu at the Summer Action Series in Osaka, Japan.

--The next Nitro will begin our new broadcasting deals with a few networks. The ratings and viewership should increase with these new deals.

End of Month Review, July 2001

--On the financial side, we lost $416,131 and our cash at end is now $1,473,223. All five areas (PPV, Ticket Sales, Broadcast Revenue, Sponsors, and Merchandise Sales) all saw nice increases but not enough to pull a profit for the month.

--August could be the month we finally turn a profit if current trends continue its upward climb. At worst, perhaps a small loss is possible. With the new multiple broadcasting deals in place and attendance numbers increasing, August could be the most pivotal month in the return of WCW to respectability.

--WCW continues the slow climb back into relevance. We are 61 popularity in the Southwest and 60 in the Southeast with 50 in the remaining American regions except Puerto Rico and Hawaii (both at 49). If I can improve by two points each month, I could reach 70 by Starrcade at the end of the year and have huge momentum going into 2002. At that rate, with the race to ‘Big’ size and the requisite 77 in five American regions, it will at least be the last few months of 2002 or early 2003 before I get there. It will only be then that I can truly begin strongly competing with the WWF.

--The backstage rating is 72 and familiar names pop up in a negative way. Kevin Nash has been strangely absent from major backstage incidents.

--I am not a point where I can expand and have another show at the moment. I have to get through 2001 first. I do know the new show will not be called Thunder. On down the road, I will add a permanent women’s division to WCW. Of course, more workers equals more money to be spent with exclusive written contracts. The bank will need to be substantial.

--Speaking of contracts, the next three to seven months will be interesting as some contracts wind down in the WWF. Whether I will be able to afford them will be something for me to keep my eye on. In addition, the Federation is the bigger company and WCW may be seen as too small in the eyes of potential free agents. Vince can surely offer more money so my success rate will not be great when the time comes. I am only the head booker so contract offers can be capped, or outright rejected, by WCW owner Eric Bischoff.

ROSTER PERCEPTIONS
Major Stars
Booker T
Buff Bagwell
Diamond Dallas Page
Goldberg
Jeff Jarrett
Kevin Nash
Ric Flair
Rick Steiner
Rob Van Dam
Scott Steiner
Sean O’Haire
Sting
The Total Package
MOVERS: Rey Mysterio (out)

Stars
Dustin Rhodes
Kanyon
Lance Storm
Mike Awesome
Rey Mysterio Jr
Shane Douglas
MOVERS: Rey Mysterio (in); Konnan (out)

Well Known
Bam Bam Bigelow
Billy Kidman
Chavo Guerrero Jr
Chuck Palumbo
Ernest Miller
Hugh Morrus
Konnan
Shane Helms
Vampiro
MOVERS: Konnan (in); Shawn Stasiak (out)

Recognizable
Alex Wright
Jamie Knoble
Kaz Hayashi
Mark Jindrak
Mike Sanders
Norman Smiley
Shannon Moore
Shawn Stasiak
Yang
MOVERS: Shawn Stasiak (in); Elix Skipper (out)

Unimportant
Air Paris
Big Vito
Chris Harris
Elix Skipper
Evan Karagias
James Storm
Jason Jett
Johnny Swinger
Johnny the Bull
Kid Romeo
Kwee Wee
Lash Leroux
Reno
The Sandman
MOVERS: Elix Skipper (in)

WCW Titles Roll Call
WCW World Heavyweight – Scott Steiner, 2X champion, held since Week 2, July 2001
85 prestige (no change)
#40 in world singles prestige (+1 in July)

WCW United States – Rey Mysterio, 1X champion, held since May 6, 2001
67 prestige (no change)
#98 in world singles (+6 in July)

WCW World Tag Team – Team Canada (Lance Storm and Mike Awesome), 1X champion, held since May 6, 2001
68 prestige (no change)
#24 in world tag prestige (no change)

WCW Cruiserweight – Chavo Guerrero Jr, 3X champion, held since Week 2, June 2001
42 prestige (+1 in July)
#135 in world singles prestige (no change)

Most Popular Workers in America, End of July 2001
1. The Rock
2. Steve Austin
3. Hulk Hogan
4. The Undertaker
5. Booker T
6. Scott Steiner
7. Triple H
8. Shawn Michaels
9. Chris Jericho
10. Mick Foley
…
11. Kevin Nash
12. Sting
13. Goldberg
18. Diamond Dallas Page
20. Ric Flair


Most Popular Workers in the World, End of July 2001
1. Hulk Hogan
2. The Rock
3. Steve Austin
4. The Undertaker
5. Kevin Nash
6. Mick Foley
7. Shawn Michaels
8. Chris Jericho
9. Triple H
10. The Big Show
…
14. Diamond Dallas Page
16. Scott Steiner
17. Goldberg
19. Ric Flair

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 1, August 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 3,000

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Bam Bam Bigelow and The Sandman def. Colt Cabana and Samoa Joe in 9:32 by pinfall following Bigelow’s Greetings from Asbury Park on Cabana. (53)

--Scott Steiner comes to the ring to start the show. Steiner says he will not defend the world title tonight but says to make WCW commissioner Bret Hart happy, he will team with his brother against Booker T and Goldberg. (77) Hart comes out and says that Steiner will also be defending the world title in 13 days at Phoenix Rising. (73)

--Konnan def. James Storm in 8:14 by pinfall with a 187. (54)

--Sting and Diamond Dallas Page are walking backstage when Lance Storm and Mike Awesome enter the picture. Storm proclaims they are the best tag team in the world and he would make Sting or Page tap out in seconds. (81) Sting then challenges Storm to settle it in the ring later as Page and Awesome stare down each other. (84)

--WCW Commissioner Bret Hart comes back out and says that the WCW World Television title will be returning and the winner will be determined by a 15-man battle royal next Monday night and that all eliminations must occur via pinfall or submission. He adds that anyone, including cruiserweights, can participate and challenge for the title. (71) Bret adds that the United States title will also be defended tonight with Jeff Jarrett challenging Rey Mysterio and if is there any interference in the title match on behalf of Double J or Rey, they cannot challenge for any WCW title for the next three months. (78)

--Kevin Nash is seen walking backstage when he is ambushed by Ric Flair, Jeff Jarrett, and The Total Package. The ambush leaves Nash down and out. (72)

--Billy Kidman def. Elix Skipper in 9:10 by pinfall following the Shooting Star Press. (57)

--Dustin Rhodes is walking backstage when he stumbles upon what looks like Jeff Jarrett’s guitar at the scene of the Nash ambush. Rhodes smiles and takes the guitar. (64)

--Jeff Jarrett comes down to the ring and hypes his upcoming US title match versus Rey Mysterio. (72) He promises Commissioner Hart that there will be no interference in the title match on his part and that he will win in the middle of the ring. (70) Rey comes out and tells Double J he can't wait to humble him in the ring. (62) From behind, Ric Flair blindsides Rey and works over his knee while Double J laughs in the ring. (75)

--A backstage camera catches the last few seconds of an attack as Dustin Rhodes nails Shane Douglas over the head with Jeff Jarrett’s guitar. Rhodes is then seen taking Douglas to the ring as the match starts. (74)

--Rob Van Dam def. Shane Douglas in 2:02 by pinfall following the Five Star Splash. (82) After the match, Dustin Rhodes comes out and sets up Douglas in the corner and executes The Kick. (71)

--Mean Gene finds a hobbling and groggy Rey Mysterio Jr backstage, who is not able to put much weight on his leg. He asks Rey if will be able to defend his US title tonight versus Jeff Jarrett. Rey says there is no way he is backing out of his title defence. (68)

--In another part of the arena, a camera catches Rick and Scott Steiner preparing for their main event tag team match versus Booker T and Goldberg. They catch a glimpse of the camera and Scott Steiner screams at the cameraman, telling him to leave or get reclined. (83)

--Sting def. Lance Storm in 12:23 by pinfall with a Scorpion Deathdrop. (82) Near the end of the match, Mike Awesome attempted to interfere and was neutralized by DDP.

WCW United States Title Match
--Jeff Jarrett def. Rey Mysterio Jr by submission following a Single Leg Boston Crab. (84) As Jarrett is going back up the aisle, he is congratulated by Flair and The Total Package. (80) Jarrett wins the United States title for the 4th time.

--Mean Gene is backstage with Booker T and Goldberg. Booker says he proved last week he will be a world champion again by pinning Scott Steiner as Goldberg is seen in the background intensely staring into the camera. (87)

--Booker T and Goldberg drew with The Steiner Brothers in 16:46 when referee Charles Robinson lost control and stopped the match. (79)

Show Rating: 81
TV Rating: 0.38 (892,907 viewers)

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Raw 92, Nitro 81

TV Rating: Raw 2.86, Nitro 0.38

Main Event: Raw 100, Nitro 79

Raw Main Event: Steve Austin def. Kane to retain the WWF Championship in a 100 rated match, a definite match of the year candidate


Backstage incidents
--Buff Bagwell has gotten a lot of heat with the rest of the locker room after pulling a tasteless rib on everyone backstage. I choose to give him a stern warning and nothing came out of it. This is the first major incident I've had in quite awhile. Buff and Nash are prominent nuisances.

--I pull the plug on Rey’s reign as US champion in favor of Jeff Jarrett in what turned out to be a really good match. Rey continues his battles versus Flair and Jarrett.

--The TV title is returning to WCW with the goal of building up the midcard or to give those who may be lacking momentum a much-needed shot in the arm. Who knows? Maybe down the road some young bucks may see it as a way of climbing up the card

Newsworthy wrestling news this week
--Jose Gonzalez has announced his retirement and that he is looking forward to enjoying the business from a different perspective. It is thought he will be staying in the industry in some capacity, perhaps showing fellow workers how to murder someone in a shower in Puerto Rico and get off scot-free.

--I try to sign Taka Michinoku and Steve Corino but both want short-term deals. I’m not willing to throw exclusive money on them for three months right now. Both would certainly be nice additions.

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 2, August 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 3,360

Pre-Show Dark Match
---Big Vito def. Astro Boy in 10:09 by pinfall with a running powerslam. (46)

---Booker T comes down to the ring and starts talking to the crowd when he is interrupted by WCW World champion Scott Steiner. Steiner tells Booker and the crowd that Bret Hart has signed Booker’s death warrant by putting him in the main event for the world title this Sunday at Phoenix Rising. (89) Booker and Steiner continue arguing with Scott saying he will show everyone why he will walk out still the world champion when he stretches Booker in the Steiner Recliner. (87)

---Jamie Knoble def. Evan Karagias in 12:10 by submission with the Trailer Hitch. (55) After the match, Knoble takes a mic and calls Chavo Guerrero Jr out and challenges him to a cruiserweight title match at Phoenix Rising in six days. (39) Chavo comes out and accepts the challenge as he taunts Knoble. (64)

WCW World Television Title Battle Royal
---Kanyon won the battle royal in 19:49 by pinfall with a Flatliner on Konnan. (67) Other finalists included Bam Bam Bigelow and Vampiro. Bigelow got the most eliminations over the course of the match. Kanyon wins the WCW World TV title.

---Sting and Diamond Dallas Page come down to the ring. Sting taunts Lance Storm over last week’s win on Nitro. (85) Page hypes his match versus Mike Awesome in the main event. (87) Page and Sting then challenge Team Canada to a world tag team title match at the PPV. (87) Storm responds by saying they are giving it to a more deserving team in Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley but says that if Page can beat Awesome tonight AND they win a tag team match against a team of their choice at Phoenix Rising, they will give them a world tag team title shot on next Monday’s Nitro because Miller and Smiley won't be a problem. (70)

---Rob Van Dam def. Chris Harris in 9:17 by pinfall following the Five Star Splash. (70) After the match, Kevin Nash comes to the ring with a mic and offers RVD to join him in a six-man tag match at Phoenix Rising with one other wrestler against The Total Package’s choice of partners. RVD accepts. (77)

---Goldberg is backstage with Mean Gene. He hypes his match on Sunday night’s PPV versus Rick Steiner by saying that it is one match closer to regaining the Big Gold Belt. (76)

---Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett def. The Jung Dragons in 11:48 by pinfall following The Stroke by Jarrett on Yang. (76) After the match, Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett stay in the ring for a promo when they are interrupted by Page and Sting. (74) They challenge Flair and Jarrett at Phoenix Rising by saying they want to earn the right to humble Team Canada. (80) Lance Storm comes out and says the deal is on that if Sting and Page beat Flair and Jarrett at Phoenix Rising, they will get a well-earned tag team title shot at next Monday's Nitro. (67)

---Rick Steiner comes to the ring with Mean Gene and says that Goldberg has had his day in the sun and he peaked in 1998. He says that Sunday night shouldn’t be a problem for him. (67)

---Booker T def. The Total Package in 11:00 by DQ when The Steiner Brothers ran in and attacked Booker. (79) Kevin Nash hit the ring with the Steiners retreating and lays out Luger with the Jackknife Powerbomb. (71)

---Diamond Dallas Page def. Mike Awesome in 11:53 by pinfall following the Diamond Cutter. (81) As Page is getting his hand raised, the cameras switch to the backstage area as Booker T is applying the Booker Recliner to an almost out Scott Steiner as the show ends. (79)

Show Rating: 81
TV Rating: 0.38 (893,870 viewers)

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Nitro 81, Raw 80

TV Rating: Raw 2.73, Nitro 0.38

Main Event: Nitro 81, Raw 78

Raw Main Event: Triple H def. Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts and Animal to retain the WWF Intercontinental title in a 78(?!) rated match. Indeed a precipitous drop from last week's Austin and Kane's 100 match.

--Next up is the Phoenix Rising PPV from Phoenix, Arizona.

WCW Phoenix Rising Card

WCW World Heavyweight Title – Scott Steiner (c) vs Booker T

WCW World Tag Team Titles – Team Canada (c) vs Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley

WCW Cruiserweight Title – Chavo Guerrero Jr (c) vs Jamie Knoble

WCW World Television Title – Kanyon (c) vs Chuck Palumbo

Goldberg vs Rick Steiner

Diamond Dallas Page and Sting vs Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett
If Page and Sting win, they get a world tag team title shot on the next Nitro

Kevin Nash, Rob Van Dam, and ??? vs The Total Package, Buff Bagwell, and Shane Douglas

WCW Phoenix Rising
Sunday, Week 2, August 2001
Phoenix, Arizona
Attendance: 16,210

---Joey Styles and Jerry Lawler preview the card for the PPV and a split screen is shown of Scott Steiner and Booker T entering America West Arena in advance of their world title match in the main event. (92)

WCW World TV Title Match
---Kanyon def. Chuck Palumbo in 10:13 by pinfall with a Fireman’s Carry Neckbreaker. (70) Kanyon makes his 1st defence of the World TV title.

---Kevin Nash, Rob Van Dam are backstage with Mean Gene as they hype their six-man tag match versus The Total Package, Buff Bagwell, and Shane Douglas. (83) Nash hypes the other partner in the six-man match as Sean O’Haire steps into the picture. (81)

---In another part of the arena, Norman Smiley and Ernest Miller are prepping for their tag team title match against Team Canada with Miller doing some stretching and Smiley practicing the Big Wiggle as Miller shakes his head. (54)

---Kevin Nash, Sean O’Haire, and Rob Van Dam def. The Total Package, Buff Bagwell, and Shane Douglas in 14:26 by pinfall following a Peak of Perfection by O’Haire on Bagwell. (78)

---Goldberg is backstage with Mean Gene and warns Rick Steiner that he is just another bump in the road on the way to reclaiming the world title. (92)

WCW Cruiserweight Title Match
---Chavo Guerrero Jr def. Jamie Knoble in 10:19 by pinfall following the Gory Bomb. (71) Chavo makes his 4th defence of the cruiserweight title. After the match, Chavo proclaims his greatness will see him carry the cruiserweight title into 2002. (63)

---Sting and Diamond Dallas Page are backstage and hype their tag match versus Jeff Jarrett and Ric Flair with the possibility of challenging for the world tag team titles on Monday Nitro. (94)

---Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett def. Diamond Dallas Page and Sting in 17:22 by pinfall following Lance Storm’s interference via a superkick on Page and subsequent pin by Flair. (78) After the match, Page and Sting are beside themselves as Flair and Jarrett celebrate up the ramp and Storm retreats quickly to the backstage. (86)

---Backstage, a camera is running toward The Total Package as he is seen assaulting Kevin Nash. (68)

---Goldberg def. Rick Steiner in 12:57 by pinfall following the Spear and Jackhammer. (76) After the match, Scott Steiner makes his way halfway down to the ring while he and Goldberg argue from a distance with Goldberg inviting him to the ring. (88)

---Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett are backstage with Mean Gene as they taunt Page and Sting on their tag team loss. Flair says he can’t help it if Lance Storm hates Page, along with everyone else. (82) Flair and Jarrett scatter when they see Page and Sting coming down the hallway. (89)

WCW World Tag Team Title Match
---Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley def. Team Canada in 13:57 by pinfall following Sting’s distraction of referee Charles Robinson and DDP’s interference with the Diamond Cutter on Mike Awesome and pin by Smiley as Storm could not make the save in time. (82) Miller and Smiley win the WCW World Tag Team titles for the first time. After the match, Storm and Awesome plead their case to Joey Styles and Jerry Lawler as Miller and Smiley celebrate with the titles. (68)

--A short video montage shows the last several months rivalry between Scott Steiner and Booker T, with the emphasis on Booker’s win at Big Bang and Steiner winning the title at the Great American Bash. (86)

WCW World Heavyweight Title Match
---Scott Steiner def. Booker T in 22:26 by submission following the Steiner Recliner. (87) Steiner makes his 2nd defence of the WCW championship.

Show Rating: 87
PPV Rating: 0.42 (214,774 buys)

Backstage incidents
--Lex Luger was identified as a hard drug user in a drug test after the show. I chose to give him a stern warning and Buff and Sting are very happy with that decision.


Thoughts
--The highest rated event or show since WCW came back from the ashes in May, led by a stellar main event and a solid tag team title match.

--Steiner wins clean over Booker T and gives himself some major momentum heading through the dog days of summer 2001. Smiley and Miller win the tag team titles, with a little help from Page and Sting, to become the world tag team champions.

--My fond memories of Memphis Wrestling led me to book the fluke tag team championship win when the jobber team of Robert Reed and Ken Raper defeated The Assassins for the CWA World Tag Team titles in October 1983 on Saturday morning wrestling, with a bit of assistance from the Fabulous Ones, Stan Lane and Steve Keirn. Sure, they only held the titles for two days but a then 9-year-old wrestling fan remembers it vividly.

--My backstage rating has increased to 83% in spite of Kevin Nash’s best efforts to upend everything.

--The next major event I have titled the T2 Cup, a one-night tag team tournament to serve as a tweener for the six weeks between Phoenix Rising and Fall Brawl, which is the last week of September. The Cup tournament will be held the first Wednesday in September, which would correspond with September 5, 2001. I think of it as what the Clash of the Champions was many years ago, only in tag team form.

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 3, August 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 4,000

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Johnny Swinger def. Astro Boy in 10:20 by pinfall following a Swing Slam. (45)

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Hugh Morrus def. AJ Styles in 8:46 by pinfall following the No Laughing Matter. (59)

--WCW Commissioner Bret Hart makes his way to the ring as the show begins. He says that on Wednesday, September 5, the WCW will have a one-night tag team tournament here in Las Vegas called the T2 Cup. Hart explains there will be no tag team titles on the line but the winning tag team can challenge for the tag team titles at any time or each winning member can challenge for any singles title in the WCW and the offer is good for six months. (83)

--Goldberg is seen walking backstage preparing to come to the ring. When he arrives, he hypes his win over Rick Steiner at Phoenix Rising when he is interrupted by Scott Steiner. They have a big argument with Goldberg saying that Steiner’s time is coming and that he’ll just punish anyone close to Steiner until Steiner has no choice but to face him. (88)

--Billy Kidman def. Elix Skipper in 8:22 by pinfall following the Shooting Star Press. (62)

--Backstage, Kevin Nash and Sean O’Haire are seen talking about their upcoming tag team match with Nash telling O’Haire he will be the equalizer to keep The Total Package out of his business. (83)

WCW World Television Title Match
--Kanyon def. Yang in 8:16 by pinfall following the Kanyon Cutter. (63) Kanyon makes his 2nd defence of the TV title.

--Diamond Dallas is making his way out to the ring when he is blindsided by Ric Flair. Flair is joined by Jeff Jarrett as a massive brawl breaks out when Sting, Lance Storm, Dustin Rhodes, Mike Awesome, and Shane Douglas join the melee, which eventually spills into the crowd. (91)

--Kevin Nash and Sean O’Haire def. Shannon Moore and Evan Karagias in 9:47 by pinfall following O’Haire’s Peak of Perfection on Karagias. (72)

--Joey Styles announces that after the brawl a few minutes ago, a match will take place between Ric Flair and Diamond Dallas Page in the main event. (68)

--Rey Mysterio Jr. def. Mike Sanders in 10:06 by pinfall following a Super Hurricarana. (76)

--A camera is backstage with Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley shining the tag team belts. Smiley mentions that the British royals can’t be having a better life than he is right now. Miller mentions that their next goal should be to let these other tag teams kill each other and they will be holding the tag team titles for a long time. (58)

--Rob Van Dam cuts a backstage promo with Mean Gene in which he says Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett have been a constant thorn in a lot of people’s sides and that he likes the look of Double J’s United States title belt. (71)

--Chavo Guerrero unexpectedly comes down to the ring and takes a mic. He says there is really nothing else he can prove since he owns the cruiserweight division and that he could beat ANY wrestler on the WCW roster right now. (72) The sound of a crow fills the arena as Sting comes out ready to wrestle with Chavo saying he was just kidding as the match starts. (81)

--Sting def. Chavo Guerrero Jr in 5:44 by submission with the Scorpion Deathlock. (74) Chavo spent much of the match trying to escape from Sting and delay the match. After the match, Sting calmly walks out of the ring and up the aisle. (78)

--Shane Douglas is seen backstage talking with The Total Package. Douglas says that he has to find a way to get some momentum back in his career. The Total Package says stay with him and he’ll get it back. (62)

--Rob Van Dam def. Vampiro in 13:14 by pinfall with a Five Star Splash. (89) RVD takes a mic after the match and hypes his part in the six-man tag team victory at Phoenix Rising, saying that Luger, Flair, and all of their friends have a target on their back. (74)

--Scott Steiner is seen backstage relaxing in his dressing room with the world title belt and a video of his win over Booker T showing on a television. (81) Rick Steiner enters the room and Scott immediately talks down to Rick, telling him that it looks like he can't take down Goldberg on his own. (83)

--Diamond Dallas Page def. Ric Flair in 15:37 by pinfall following a Diamond Cutter. (83) During the match, a backstage camera briefly shows a scuffle between Sting and Jeff Jarrett with Lance Storm and Mike Awesome joining in and beating down Sting. (86)

Show Rating: 85
TV Rating: 0.38 (916,957 viewers)

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Raw 87, Nitro 85

TV Rating: Raw 2.64, Nitro 0.38

Main Event: Raw 91, Nitro 83

Raw Main Event: Hollywood Hogan def. Raven in a 91 rated match

--Amazingly, no backstage incidents before the show continues a good trend for me.

--A great match between RVD and Vampiro nets the highest rated match of the dynasty with an 89. I really wasn’t expecting much from it. More of a ‘RVD needs a match’ booking. Perhaps I’ve been overlooking Vampiro a little bit and this gets RVD on the path where I need him to be.

--In the WWF, The Big Show won the Intercontinental Title from Triple H in San Juan, Puerto Rico with 6,400 in attendance. With the win, The Big Show has now held the WWF Championship, co-holder of the WWF Tag Team titles, the Hardcore championship, and now the Intercontinental title. The match rated a 77. The Rock def. Trevor Murdoch in the best match of the night, listed at an 87. I can't explain the Raw rating other than poor placement of the matches and, at least for 2001 WWF, some stinker matches and average graded angles.

WCW Nitro
Monday, Week 4, August 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 4,245

Pre-Show Dark Match
--Bam Bam Bigelow and The Sandman def. AJ Styles and Colt Cabana in 10:58 by pinfall after the Greetings from Asbury Park on Cabana. (55)

--Bret Hart comes to the ring to start the show and hypes the T2 Cup and runs down the rules to the crowd as they are shown on screen for the TV audience:
1. The WCW Competition Committee has named eight tag teams to participate in the T2 Cup;

2. Those teams are:
--WCW World Tag Team Champions Norman Smiley and Ernest Miller
--Team Canada (Lance Storm and Mike Awesome)
--Bam Bam Bigelow and The Sandman
--Jeff Jarrett and Ric Flair
--Kevin Nash and Sean O’Haire
--Rey Mysterio Jr and Rob Van Dam
--Shane Douglas and The Total Package;
--Diamond Dallas Page and Sting

3. All matches will take place next Wednesday night from Las Vegas and will be single elimination;

4. If any match is declared a double disqualification or double countout, both teams will be eliminated;

5. Most importantly, Hart says that the winning tag team will be allowed to challenge for any titles in WCW, either as a tag team or individually in singles, at any time within six months but if a tag team challenge is made, they will forfeit both members’ singles challenges and vice versa;

6. Finally, Hart says the brackets will be released on Thursday morning on WCW.com. (78)

--Booker T cuts a backstage promo with Mean Gene, who presses him about his two most recent losses to Scott Steiner, including the world title match at the Great American Bash. Booker says he has faced adversity and setbacks before and will overcome them like he has throughout his entire career. (88)

--Rey Mysterio Jr def. Shawn Stasiak in 11:31 by pinfall following a Super Hurricarana. (80)

--Scott Steiner comes out for an in-ring promo with Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler. Lawler praises Steiner for his physique and his world title reign. Steiner taunts Goldberg and Booker T as wannabe champions and Diamond Dallas Page and Sting as old men who want to go back to four years ago to relive their glory days. (92) Steiner then says Dustin Rhodes has no business challenging for the world title tonight as he promises to recline him into submission. (89)

WCW World Television Title Match
--Kanyon def. Jason Jett in 8:02 by pinfall following a Flatliner. (74) Kanyon makes his 3rd defence of the World TV title.

--Konnan comes to the ring for a promo with Jerry Lawler as Kanyon exits the ring. Kanyon points to his TV title belt and mouths something to Konnan, who argues with Kanyon, and in turn challenges Kanyon to the TV title next week on Nitro. Konnan tells Lawler that Kanyon will be humbled. (74)

--Kevin Nash and Sean O’Haire are backstage with Mean Gene as they hype their upcoming participation in the T2 Cup. (83) Nash zeroes in on The Total Package and tells him that Shane Douglas has made a fatal mistake in looking to him for help. (81)

--Team Canada def. Alex Wright and Chuck Palumbo in 10:32 by pinfall following an Awesome Bomb on Alex Wright. (75) After the match, Norman Smiley comes out with a mic with Miller trying to pull him back, saying that Storm and Awesome have to take a backseat to The Cat and The Wiggle, and the tag belts will be staying around their waists. (67)

--Dustin Rhodes is seen backstage warming up for his world title match versus Scott Steiner in the main event. (61)

--Goldberg def. Vampiro in 12:36 by pinfall following the Spear and Jackhammer. (83) After the match, Scott Steiner comes out and taunts Goldberg, telling to go back to the NFL, where he can sit on the bench and get hurt again. (90)

--Backstage, The Total Package and Shane Douglas are seen talking about the T2 Cup and the plans they have for a specific tag team in the tournament. (68)

--In another part of the arena, Lance Storm and Mike Awesome are tearing up everything in sight as they swear vengeance on Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley. (60)

--Rob Van Dam def. Buff Bagwell in 12:28 by pinfall with a Five Star Splash. (74) After the match, Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett come out to attack RVD but Rey Mysterio comes out to even the odds and they drive Flair and Double J from the ring. (71)

WCW World Heavyweight Title Match
--Scott Steiner def. Dustin Rhodes in 17:33 by pinfall following a Top Rope Frankensteiner. (84) Steiner makes his 3rd defence of the world title. After the match, Steiner takes a mic and proclaims his dominance over WCW. (88)

Show Rating: 85
TV Rating: 0.39 (925,275 viewers)

**I neglected to mention that the WWF championship changed hands last night at SummerSlam in Phoenix, Arizona, as Chris Benoit defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin for the WWF Championship in what some wrestling observers are calling a possible Match of the Year candidate. It is the first WWF Championship reign for Benoit. Also, The Rock defeated Chris Jericho in a Ladder Match, rated a 95. The show itself came in at a 93.

WCW vs WWF
Show Rating: Raw 87, Nitro 85

TV Rating: Raw 2.65, Nitro 0.39

Main Event: Raw 95, Nitro 84

Raw Main Event: The Big Show and William Regal def. Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit in a 95 rated match. For the third show in a row, Chris Jericho def. Randy Orton.

Post-Show Incidents
--Booker T approached me after the show and said that Shawn Stasiak needs to learn how to sell and is not worth pushing until that is addressed.

--Kevin Nash approached me after the show and told me that Alex Wright doesn’t connect with the fans and is a waste of time.

News from Week 4, August 2001
--Well, hell! I get a message from owner Eric Bischoff. It says that WCW will be undergoing a product change, changing to the Classic Sports Entertainment approach. Among other things, the change is due to complete over the next nine months. My popularity growth will also be limited for the duration of the change. The big change will be that TV shows under Classic Sports Entertainment will be 65% matches and 35% angles. It is currently 75/25, which is nice. Attendance levels are very strongly affected by the state of the wrestling industry but the company will be very attractive to sponsors. I was not expecting anything like that at all. That throws everything off now.

--The recently retired Randy Savage was inducted in the TEW Hall of Immortals this week. Savage is a 4-time holder of the WCW World Heavyweight Title, a 2-time holder of the WWF World Heavyweight Title, a former WWF Intercontinental champion, and a WWF King of the Ring winner in 1987.

August 30, 2001
From WCW.com
WCW Commissioner Bret Hart has released the tournament bracket for next Wednesday’s night T2 Cup:

Quarterfinals
Match 1: Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley vs Team Canada
Match 2: Bam Bam Bigelow and The Sandman vs Rey Mysterio Jr and Rob Van Dam
Match 3: Diamond Dallas Page and Sting vs Jeff Jarrett and Ric Flair
Match 4: Kevin Nash and Sean O’Haire vs Shane Douglas and The Total Package


Semifinals
Match 5: Winner of Match 1 vs Winner of Match 2
Match 6: Winner of Match 3 vs Winner of Match 4

Finals
Match 7: Winner of Match 1/Match 2 vs Winner of Match 3/Match 4

T2 Cup winners can challenge for the tag team titles or any singles title in WCW at any time.

End of Month Review, August 2001

--WCW had a great month on the financial side with an uptick in ticket sales, no doubt the move to 'Medium' size helping with that.

--The backstage rating is currently 83%. Kevin Nash remains the sole extremely negative influence. There are, however, a good number of positive influences that are negating Old Sexy.

Finances
--Our cash on hand shows $1,511,239 with the company finally showing no monthly loss with an increase of $38,016 in August. A small number but the first positive financial signs are beginning to emerge. September could be significant financially with two events, the T2 Cup and Fall Brawl, on the schedule. It will still take a while to get back to my starting point of $5,000,000 that we started with at Big Bang in May. We will finish the year with Halloween Havoc, Mayhem (or a newly named PPV), and Starrcade.

--I am not at a point where I can get a Power Plant type of training facility off the ground due to our financial situation. We are, however, in a better spot in not bleeding money like we were in May, June, and July. It will be at least into 2002 before I seriously entertain the thought

Roster Perceptions
Major Stars
Booker T
Buff Bagwell
Diamond Dallas Page
Goldberg
Jeff Jarrett
Kevin Nash
Ric Flair
Rick Steiner
Rob Van Dam
Scott Steiner
Sean O'Haire
Sting
Movers: The Total Package (out)

Stars
Ernest Miller
Kanyon
Lance Storm
Mike Awesome
Rey Mysterio Jr
Shane Douglas
The Total Package
Movers: Ernest Miller, The Total Package (in); Dustin Rhodes (out)

Well Known
Bam Bam Bigelow
Billy Kidman
Chavo Guerrero Jr
Dustin Rhodes
Hugh Morrus
Konnan
Norman Smiley
Shane Helms
Movers: Dustin Rhodes (in); Chuck Palumbo, Ernest Miller, Vampiro (out)

Recognizable
Alex Wright
Chuck Palumbo
Jamie Knoble
Kaz Hayashi
Mark Jindrak
Mike Sanders
Shannon Moore
Shawn Stasiak
Vampiro
Movers: Chuck Palumbo, Vampiro (in)

Unimportant
Air Paris
Big Vito
Chris Harris
Elix Skipper
Evan Karagias
James Storm
Jason Jett
Johnny Swinger
Johnny the Bull
Kid Romeo
Kwee Wee
Lash Leroux
Reno
The Sandman
Yang
Movers: Yang (in)

WCW Titles Roll Call
WCW World Heavyweight - Scott Steiner, 2X champion, held since Week 2, July 2001
85 prestige (no change)
#35 in world singles prestige (+5 in August)

WCW World Tag Team - Ernest Miller and Norman Smiley, 1X champion, held since Week 2, August 2001
69 prestige (+1 in August)
#15 in world tag prestige (+9 in August)

WCW United States - Jeff Jarrett, 4X champion, held since Week 1, August 2001
67 prestige (no change)
#97 in world singles prestige (+1 in August)

WCW Cruiserweight - Chavo Guerrero Jr, 3X champion, held since Week 2, June 2001
43 prestige (+1 in August)
#134 in world singles prestige (+1 in August)

WCW World Television - Kanyon, 1X champion, held since Week 2, August 2001
27 prestige (+1 in August)
#162 in world singles prestige