10 Times Wrestling Promotions Came Back From The Dead

Sometimes dead is better. Others...

Sabu CM Punk
WWE

Decline is usually inexorable; that's what a decline is.

WCW declined inexorably because literally everything was wrong with it. This is a company that paid astronomical sums of money for Hulk Hogan to suck himself off onscreen, and this was likely literally the case for Lanny Poffo off it, who was paid a six-figure salary to do absolutely nothing. Literally nothing - and he was still of more value to the promotion that many of the top stars used to pay for their swimming pools.

By 2000, WCW was a grotesque, inexplicable WWF lite that had the good grace, at least, to take sh*ts and immediately flush them as they swerved around the bowl. A constant two-hour head-f*ck, Jamie Kellner, CEO of Turner Broadcasting, smashed it against the wall and through a novelty basketball hoop like the limp, dead hamster that it was.

WCCW, notwithstanding its Weekend at Bernies revamp alongside the AWA and CWA - all roles were played by Terry Kiser - died because all of the old territories were fated to die. Moreover, the company had destroyed its bond with the fiercely loyal fanbase by fictionalising the tragedy that had struck it throughout the mid 1980s.

Sometimes they come back - but sometimes, dead is better...

10. World Of Sport - 2016

Sabu CM Punk
ITV.com

It's dead.

This was a malicious, premeditated murder, but WWE wasn't the perp; ITV scheduling chief Greg Dyke screwed over the audience by bumping up the time slot and essentially gentrifying the channel's audience. The incoming Sky Sports monolith meant its demise was likely inevitable, anyway; much like in the U.S., the smoky, gruff vibe, with its emphasis on quality technical wrestling, would have felt decidedly less glamorous than the vibrant IRL cartoon glamour of the unassailable World Wrestling Federation.

It's alive!

Sort of!

The problem with the 2016 World Of Sport reboot was that, by broadening its appeal, that appeal was diluted. It wasn't a terrible strategy, long-term. Presenting throwback "the wrestling" characters like the gargantuan Crater under the old light entertainment patina as a comforting entry point, before, one would presume, attuning the audience to Will Ospreay's wavelength, WoS booked for all and for the long-term.

The problem is that it wasn't long-term.

WWE, panicking at the notion of another promotion (and BritWres itself) gaining a foothold in the UK market, killed it.

This was a malicious, premeditated murder. WWE was the perp.

 
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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!