The Complete History Of The New World Order | Wrestling Timelines
June 16, 1996 - “No”
At the Great American Bash pay-per-view, in a bid to dissuade the WWF from filing suit, Bischoff explicitly asks Hall and Nash if they are operating on behalf of the World Wrestling Federation. The explicit answer is “no”.
However.
Hall hurriedly says that they aren’t going to live in the past before once again performing in his past gimmick.
Hall continues to reference WCW characters in the way the WWF did - he refers to Hulk Hogan as ‘the Huckster’ - and dusts off Razor Ramon’s “carve you up” catchphrase. He also continues to use “the Hispanic accent* given to [him] by Titan as part of the character portrayal”. This is cited by the WWF as grounds for complaint in the cease and desist letter.
*The irony, of the character itself being very heavily indebted to Al Pacino’s portrayal of Tony Montana, is evidently lost on Vince.
The WWF proceeds with the suit, which drags on and is eventually settled out of court.
The Bash angle is incredible. Hall demands to learn the identities of the three men who will challenge the Outsiders and their secret partner in the six-man Hostile Takeover match at Bash At The Beach. Ever-hungry for ratings, Eric says he’ll do it on Nitro. This displeases Hall and Nash - so much so that, in a shocker, Nash blasts Bischoff off the stage with his Jackknife powerbomb.
Executed during a time when the table spot had only been introduced to mainstream audiences in November 1995, this is amazing.
It was one thing, to see Diesel plummet through a table at WWF Survivor Series ‘95. Seeing a civilian taking the most violent spot in wrestling is inconceivable. The act that will become the nWo is breaking new ground on a weekly basis. It is must-see, futuristic, transgressive. As a direct result, WCW will very quickly take over as the #1 promotion in the U.S.
The “no” doesn’t matter. Hall and Nash are still playing ex-WWF guys; WCW is having and eating the cake. The thrust of the story, while less believable, is still there. Moreover, WCW has pioneered something equally as alluring as an invading force: the cool heel.