10 Things You Didn't Know About WWE In 1995

4. WCW Won A Battle Before The War Started

The Monday Night Wars officially began on September 4.

The memorable, brilliant first Nitro emanated from the Mall of America in Melrose, Minnesota. Bookended by a fantastic, unique opener in Brian Pillman, Jr. Vs. Jushin 'Thunder' Liger and the shocking jump made by Lex Luger to close the show on a cliffhanger, the unopposed show was so impressive that it created the momentum with which WCW went 50/50, more or less, in those early battles before winning outright - and how - by mid-1996.

WCW actually scored something of a win, in the optics battle anyway, in June.

The WWF was supposed to run a WrestleMania XI highlight video as an NBC special on June 4 - a huge boost, potentially, since the WWF's popularity was so far down the toilet that TL Hopper himself could not find it - but to the company's embarrassment, it was cancelled, suddenly and mysteriously. The WWF cited the NBA schedule.

Meanwhile, Hulk Hogan and Jimmy Hart, through a friendship with Shaquille O'Neal, were sat ringside at the LA Lakers Vs, Indiana Pacers. They were shown on camera in front of a massive household audience, and WCW, by proxy, looked like the big players in the wrestling market.

In another premonition, Vince, very gotten-to of course, foreshadowed his pissy behaviour during the Billionaire Ted days by showing clips of Hogan taking a leg drop from Yokozuna to build a match between the latter and - karma came calling! - Lex Luger.