On September 4, 1995, World Championship Wrestling produced the first episode of Monday Nitro live from the Mall of America in Minnesota. With a card featuring Brian Pillman vs. Jushin "Thunder" Liger, Sting vs. Ric Flair and WCW Champion Hulk Hogan vs. Big Bubba Rogers, the show forever changed professional wrestling. It featured matches involving marquee names and relegated enhancement matches, once a staple of televised wrestling, to the company's syndicated shows. More importantly, it forced Vince McMahon's then-World Wrestling Federation to adapt or perish. For months, the WWF and WCW would trade ratings victories. That all changed on May 27, 1996 when Scott Hall made a surprise appearance on Nitro. He indicated that there was an invasion underway and that the war with the company was looming. The debut of Kevin Nash and the shocking heel turn by Hulk Hogan ignited the Monday Night Wars between Raw and Nitro. On June 6, WCW defeated the WWF in the ratings. It would dominate McMahon's company for 84 consecutive weeks, nearly putting the once-mighty Federation out of business. How did they do it? The answer lies in a perfect storm of talent, story and a brash, young visionary named Eric Bischoff.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
