10 Monumental Decisions That Changed The Course Of Wrestling History

4. The WWF Buys WCW

In March, 2001, news started to break that Vince McMahon had swooped in and bought World Championship Wrestling for a paltry $2.5 million. The internet age was upon wrestling by this point, and news travelled faster than ever, but there were still those doubting the legitimacy of the story. As it turned out, it was true, and WCW now belonged to the same man it had nearly put out of business just a few short years before. In 1997, McMahon was on the ropes, and WCW was moving in for the kill. Now, in 2001, it was completely under his control, and few people - least of all those employed by the Atlanta organisation - could believe it. Acquiring all major trademarks of the promotion, McMahon also took on 24 contracts for talent and staff, along with the entire video library documenting the history of the company. It was an incredible time, one which must have been unnerving for those who had badmouthed Vince over the years. During all the talk of just who would buy WCW, nobody expected that the WWF were even in the running. Imagine McMahon had chosen not to buy WCW, and other rumoured potential owners like Eric Bischoff had been able to acquire it?