Back to the Future: The Monday Night Wars Part 2

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Then:


Wrestling fans will never forget the period of 1995-2001, when WCW and the WWF strongly competed head to head for ratings, and success. This period is widely referred to as the Monday Night Wars. Early on, from 1996-1998, WCW was winning the war, with the NWO being a large reason why. The WWF was in dire straits. Knowing the company needed to change, WWF became more edgy, dark, which started the Attitude Era. WWF became adult oriented while WCW remained family friendly. WCW became desperate, giving away PPV matches (Goldberg defeating Hulk Hogan for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship) on free television, just for ratings. Though WCW saw an increase in ratings, this cost the company a lot of money.

Steve Austin, The Rock, Mick Foley,Triple H, The Undertaker and Kane all rose to fame in the Attitude Era, helping the WWE thrive, while WCW floundered, still trying to make fans care about the NWO. WCW was starting to fail, and the company knew it. WCW tried to replicate WWE's Attitude Era, to no avail.

WWF would buy WCW to end the war. The Monday Night Wars ended on March 26, 2001. WCW had its final edition of Monday Nitro, and (in storyline) Shane McMahon bought WCW and feuded with his father Vince in the Invasion angle, pitting WCW and ECW against WWE. After this feud, most WCW stars faded into obscurity.

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Now:


With the fall of WCW, WWE has become the most successful wrestling company in the world. Of course, there are other companies; Ring of Honor, Impact Wrestling, to name a few. Impact Wrestling tried to go to war with WWE, moving its flagship show Impact to Mondays for a period of time in 2010 but WWE won again. WWE did not buy TNA, though, and many still see TNA as WWE's largest competition.

Stars such as John Cena, CM Punk, and Randy Orton (among others) now carry the WWE. Some members of the Attiude Era (The Rock, The Undertaker, Triple H, Mark Henry and Kane, especially) are still a large part of WWE. However, WWE is attempting to move on from its most successful period (the Attitude Era) by returning to a family oriented product. Many fans bitterly refer to modern-WWE as the 'PG era.' Many of these same fans miss the Attitude Era, and what the WWE used to be.

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Breaking News

Today, the wrestling world has been revolutionized. Impact Wrestling, the second biggest wrestling promotion in the United States, has purchased Ring of Honor, arguably the third biggest promotion. Also, WWE lost the rights to WCW, and TNA purchased these rights.

TNA president Dixie Carter had the following to say.

"We, Impact Wrestling, are tired of being second best. We have purchased Ring of Honor and all of its wrestlers, and also the rights of WCW. We are throwing everything we have into becoming the best wrestling company in the world. If we succeed, we will flourish. If we fail, Impact Wrestling will collapse."

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WWE knows it is at war. The company has returned to its Raw is War logo, shut down Smackdown to save money, and is throwing everything it has into Monday Night Raw. Now, Raw and Smackdown are one show.

Champions:

WWE (Winged Eagle) Champion: John Cena

WWE (Classic) Intercontinetal Champion: Daniel Bryan

World Tag Team Champions: Ziggler and Swagger

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Recap of Past Raws

Episode 1:
The Tag Team Champions Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger were challenged by Primo and Epico. The two teams went back and forth, and Epico looked poised to win. Swagger gained momentum, and tagged in Ziggler. Ziggler got in the ring, but shockingly DDT'ed his partner Swagger. Dolph then dragged Epico onto Swagger for the win. It was then announced that Jack Swagger could choose his new partner and co-Tag Team Champion next week.

Kane attacked the Rock before their one on one match, but the Rock still emerged victorious. After the match, the Rock's rival WWE Champion John Cena walked to the ramp and applauded the Rock.

WWE Champion John Cena defeated Triple H. The two shook hands, and then, in an act of revenge, the Rock walked to ringside and stared at the champion Cena.

Episode 2

Jack Swagger chose Antonio Cesaro as his new partner and co-Tag Team Champion. Swagger then faced his former partner Ziggler. Ziggler was in position to win until Cesaro distracted Ziggler, allowing Swagger to hit the Gutwrench Powerbomb to win.

Damien Sandow defeated Kofi Kingston in a number one contender match for Daniel Bryan's Intercontinental Championship.

CM Punk was found unconscious backstage before he was scheduled to face Kane. Bray Wyatt made his debut, going one on one with Kane. Wyatt was gaining momentum until he signaled his two henchmen, Luke Harper and Erik Rowan, to ringside. The Wyatt Family beat down Kane with a chair.

Champion vs. Champion: WWE Champion John Cena vs. Intercontinental Champion Daniel Bryan

These two were putting on a classic, with the Rock, Cena's #1 contender, watching from the commentary table. In the middle of the match, Brock Lesnar (who was sitting at ringside) exchanged words with Cena. Lesnar knock out punched Cena and walked away. Daniel Bryan looked to be seconds away from victory until the Rock ran into the ring and speared Cena, ending the match. Cena offered a handshake to Bryan, who declined and walked away angrily.

Episode 3:

Jack Swagger faced the debuting Ryback, who Swagger's Extreme Rules opponent Dolph Ziggler chose Swagger to face. The two went back and forth until Swagger hit the Gutwrench powerbomb to win. Cesaro ran to ringside, and the Tag Team Champions were about to attack a downed Ryback. Ziggler ran to ringside, kicking off his match with Cesaro.

Dolph Ziggler defeated Antonio Cesaro

Zigger took a lot of damage and punishment from Cesaro, but Ziggler won with the Zig Zag.

Luke Harper was found unconscious in the backstage area. Kane then attacked Erik Rowan. What will happen when Kane and Bray Wyatt collide at Extreme Rules?

Juan Guerra (CAW) debuted, attacking Rey Mysterio backstage.

John Cena and Daniel Bryan vs. The Rock and Brock Lesnar

In a block buster main event, the WWE Champion John Cena teamed with Intercontinental Champion Daniel Bryan to take on Cena's number one contender, the Rock, and Brock Lesnar. Bryan's #1 contender Damien Sandow was at commentary to scout his Extreme Rules opponent.

The two teams went back and forth in a great match. Cena took a lot of damage and needed a tag. Cena went to tag Bryan, who walked away, leaving Cena to fend for himself. Cena managed to take the fight to Rock, who then needed a tag. Brock Lesnar got tagged in, but knockout punched his partner the Rock, then left the match. In a preview of Extreme Rules, Cena and The Rock briefly went one on one. Cena managed to hit the Attitude Adjustment to win.

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WCW Nitro Recaps:

Episode 1:

El Generico defeated Kevin Steen to become the WCW United States Champion. After the match, Dean Malenko attacked Generico.

Colt Cabana defeated Kenta in a great match.

Goldberg defeated Hulk Hogan to become the WCW World Heavyweight Champion. Afterwards, Scott Steiner attacked both men.

Episode 2: Kevin Steen and Dean Malenko attacked El Generico. Then, Steen and Malenko said they are going to "fix" the wrestling business.

Colt Cabana is on a quest to prove he is the best in the world. Cabana posed an open challenge, and Chris Hero accepted. The two put on a five star match, ending with Hero submitting to the Octopus Legs.

Hulk Hogan came to ringside, seeking answers from Scott Steiner. Instead, Sting came down from the rafters and scared the daylights out of Hogan.

Goldberg and Steiner brawled as the show cut to black.