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WCW 2001: A Twist Of Fate

djmasterscooterPosted on 07/18/06 at 08:03:11

March 26, 2001

It was a day that would go down in Wrestling history.  Vince McMahon appeared on both TNT, and Spike TV simultaneously announcing that he had purchased World Championship Wrestling, out from under the nose of Turner Broadcasting.

This was WCW's last episode of Monday Nitro.

The previous week WCW had put on what was going to be their last PPV, entitled Greed, which saw Scott Steiner defeat Diamond Dallas Page and retain the WCW World Title.  On this same show, Booker T won the WCW United States Championship.

This was going to be a night of Champions for WCW.  They had the last amount of booking power, and they were going to use it.  Booker T defeated Scott Steiner early in the broadcast to win the WCW World Championship, making him the first man to hold both the US and World Titles simultaneously.  Shane Helms retained his Cruiserweight Title, and Chuck Palumbo & Sean O'Haire retained the tag titles as well.

Throughout the night, Vince McMahon would poke fun at WCW, and the superstars that would make speeches regarding WCW's imminent collapse.  One man that made a heartfelt speech was Ric Flair, who challenged Sting (who was injured at the time) so that WCW would go out on a high note.

Sting and Flair fought, with Sting earning his last WCW victory.  Vince, with WrestleMania X-7 right around the corner, was going to use this chance to promote the event as well as gloat.  This was going to be the main event of the last Monday Nitro.  The result would read WWF defeats WCW in 6 years, the longest match ever recorded in wrestling history.  

Vince wasn't at the WCW broadcast from Panama City, so he gave us his speech from Raw's arena, ragging on WCW's superstars.  Vince then dug the knife further saying he would wait to purchase WCW, and sign the contract at WrestleMania X-7.  

This speech was interrupted by Shane McMahon, who was at the Raw arena, to confront his father.  Shane said that at WrestleMania, he would beat his father and then sign the contract himself.  This lead to a heated argument, but then someone interrupted the McMahons on the Titantron.

"HELLO VINCE."

The voice was piercing, and everyone recognized it instantly.  It was ERIC BISCHOFF, but he was in Panama City, Florida, and fittingly so.  Bischoff had brought WCW to its peak, and unfortunately had also brought it to its downfall.

Bischoff had a look of business on his face.  He addressed the crowd first, welcoming them and thanking them for sticking with WCW, and apologized for WCW going under.

Vince was quick to reply.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"I'll admit it Vince.  You won.  The Monday Night Wars were the greatest battle ever fought in wrestling, and you won.  Now, you'll get WCW, and you'll tear it down right?  Maybe release all the wrestlers under contract?  Maybe you'll humiliate the talent on your programs?  Why?  Because that's typical Vince McMahon.  Because you couldn't leave well enough alone.  Yes, I at one point resorted to similar tactics, like spoiling your shows, but this is 2001."

"What the hell is your point?"

"My point Vince, is that you're going to wait to purchase WCW.  At WrestleMania, you will stand triumphant.  That is classic Vince McMahon."

"Would you shut the hell up Bischoff?  Cut his feed god damn it!"

"However, Eric Bischoff is not acting like Eric Bischoff.  No.  He now has an idea of business.  An idea he learned from watching you Vince.  I had a company, Fusient, and we were going to buy WCW.  However, my attitude and business sense caused the deal to fell through, and you were there to scavenge.  How much did you pay Vince?  I heard around the 3 million dollar mark.  That's a pretty penny.  Was that from the IPO's?  Or was it trust fund money for Shane?  It doesn't matter, to quote one of your superstars."

"Bischoff, you are all talk.  Either explain yourself or get the hell off my show."

"Vince, I am out here to tell you that the Monday Night Wars aren't ending.  They are far from over.  Last night, about 3 AM, I, along with some "different" investors made a cash offer to Turner Broadcasting, and it was accepted.  Vince, WE PURCHASED WCW OUT FROM UNDER YOUR NOSE."

The crowds in both arenas go wild at this news, and Vince?  Well, Vince is throwing a fit.  Shane?  Shane smiles and leaves the ring gracefully.

"GOD DAMN IT.  THIS CAN'T HAPPEN.  I'M VINCE McMAHON.  I HAD THE PROMISSORY NOTE."

"Vince, the promissory note was legal, except for the fact that a cash offer suspends any rights to promised property.  I own World Championship Wrestling, and WCW will not die!"

Vince McMahon had just been humiliated on two shows at the same time.  This wasn't kayfabe either.  This was real.  As real as the Montreal Screwjob.  Vince has screwed over, and someone was going to pay.  At that point, Eric Bischoff had something more to say to Vince.

"Cut his feed.  Vince, I'll see you in hell, where you have no chance."

An angry Vince just snarled in horror as his feed went to static.  The crowd in Panama City cheered for Bischoff as he had his first ever confrontation with the owner of his competition and came out the victor.  This "last" episode of Nitro went off the air on Spike TV (it was only the first hour of Raw) with Bischoff's last words.

The following was an address to the crowd to end Nitro.

"Now that World Championship Wrestling has some stability, I have announcements to make.  Next week, Monday Nitro will take place from WCW's home, Atlanta, Georgia, and will feature Booker T defending both the World and United States titles.  On that episode, I will reveal the identity of one of my investors, and let's just say that the foundation of wrestling will shake forever when I reveal his identity.  Thank you and good night.

Who was this investor?  Who was going to be part of this new WCW?  What does Eric Bischoff have in store?

The answer: watch Monday Nitro on April 2, 2001.
djmasterscooterPosted on 07/27/06 at 08:37:10

Bump.  First card is coming soon.