10 Biggest WWF vs WCW Firing Shots During Monday Night Wars

10. Lex Luger Appears On Nitro

On September 4, 1995, WCW Monday Nitro debuted live on TNT from the Mall of America in Minnesota. It was the first broadcast of a show that would be a thorn in Vince McMahon's side for nearly six years. Eric Bischoff had been surprisingly granted the time slot after a meeting with Ted Turner took an unexpected turn (pun intended). Turner asked Bischoff what WCW had to do to compete with Vince McMahon. When Bischoff replied he needed to be on prime-time television, Turner responded by giving WCW an hour on the TNT network opposite of WWF's Raw. Bischoff knew he had to hit a home run with this opportunity and responded with a big surprise the first episode. Lex Luger had been with the WWF for the past few years. He was one of the company's top stars and actually had just competed at a WWF house show the night before Nitro debuted. Luger's contract had lapsed and he had informed WWF management that he was going to resign with McMahon. Unfortunately for Vince, Luger pulled a fast one and quickly signed with WCW. Only Bischoff, Luger, and Luger's best friend Sting knew that Lex had signed with the company. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDmbJUCaE2c When Lex made his appearance on Nitro, the wrestling world was shocked. How could a top star like Luger be in the WWF on Sunday night and then be in WCW the night after? It set the tone for what the Monday Night Wars would become and made fans pay attention to Nitro.