9 Things That Should Have Happened On WCW’s Final Nitro

Verbally tearing right through men like Ted Turner, Buff Bagwell and Jeff Jarrett, Vince McMahon appeared to be having an absolute blast on the March 26, 2001 edition of Raw Is War. Complete with a wholly smug grin, the WWF's head honcho opened up a simulcast between Raw and WCW's Monday Nitro, declaring that he was appearing on the rival show because he had, in fact, purchased World Championship Wrestling.

Whilst news didn't travel quite as fast back then in 2001 as it does now, many in the wrestling community were already aware that McMahon had purchased 24 talent contracts, the WCW tape library and numerous WCW trademarks for around $2.5 million by the time Nitro and Raw hit the air. Still, it was quite the shock to see Vince callously declare that the fate of WCW was now in his hands.

Later, WCW would sadly become a mere pawn in the ongoing rivalry between Vince and his son Shane. 

Things could have been very different. The eventual WCW 'Invasion' of the WWF would turn into a complete disaster, badly handled and botched from the beginning. Problems could be traced right back to that final edition of Nitro, a show during which the McMahon family should have been looking at the monster business a real WWF vs. WCW could do.

They could have done something like this...

If nothing else, World Championship Wrestling had a whirlwind history. 

Tracing lineage back to the National Wrestling Alliance, the company had genuinely been able to provide wrestling fans with something truly different to Vince McMahon and the WWF. For years, WCW was considered more wrestling-centric than the 'Sports Entertainment' that viewers could witness in McMahon land. 

Of course, that idea had softened as the years progressed. By 2001, WCW was closer to being a low-rent alternative to the WWF, even though the promotion still housed major stars who were instantly recognisable. Knowing he now owned the company, Vince should have been looking to preserve what aura WCW had left, talking up the history of the organisation and making it appeal to the loyalty of those who had watched it longest.

There was a short (very short) video package on the final Nitro, but it wasn't enough. WCW deserved much more than that, and McMahon should have ensured there was much more of an emphasis on exploring WCW's history. Then, the WWF could have capitalised on that tradition for use in the 'Invasion'.