10 Cringeworthy Pre-Russo WCW Moments
What stength by RoboCop!
Terrible angles, poorly executed pay-per-view build and absolutely awful characters. Those are all things many have pointed fingers at Vince Russo for producing during his time in charge of World Championship Wrestling.
Whilst Russo's tenure with the company in 1999-2000 proved dismal, he cannot be blamed for anything that happened before his arrival.
No, someone else has to take the blame for that. There's a general misconception that WCW was all sweetness and light before Vince Russo - let off a leash away from Vince McMahon's watch - came along and ruined everything.
This is remarkably unfair, as Russo didn't fritter away millions on needless 'mini movies', concoct characters like The Black Scorpion and The Yeti, or book matches between monster trucks on pay-per-view. Previous head writers, on the other hand, did all of these things in an attempt to stir interest in WCW's product.
Before Russo arrived on the scene, WCW hurled a whole lot of rubbish at the nearest wall to see what might stick. Let's look at some of the most cringeworthy, even downright embarrassing moments before Russo's own disastrous reign put the final nail in the WCW coffin...
10. The Steiners Set Their Dogs On Sting
1999 was not a banner year for World Championship Wrestling. Ideas were running dry, and the previously red-hot brand was now looking weary. Only adding to the problem, the finish of Rick Steiner vs. Sting at The Great American Bash in June was abysmal, cheesy and terribly produced.
Months before Vince Russo made his way to the company, Sting and Steiner brawled to the backstage area on the pay-per-view. An appearing from an attacking Tank Abbott was bad enough, but at least he was a regular WCW were interesting in pushing as a wrestler.
Abbott didn't cause Sting to lose. Scott Steiner's pack of rabid dogs did.
Showing up to aid his brother, Scott quite literally released the hounds on the Stinger. What then transpired really has to be witnessed to be believed, a series of cutaway camera shots appeared to show the dogs mauling Sting. The whole thing looked horrendously corny.
Worse, there was no pin to end the match, the Steiners simply came to the ring with the ref and forced him to announce Rick as the winner.