10 Most Important Weeks In The Monday Night War
9. April 10th 2000 - The Vince Russo/Eric Bischoff Nitro Reboot
The writing was on the wall within the first 30 seconds of what was billed and served as a worked shoot restart for WCW back in April 2000. Before that even.
Ahead of a browbeaten Tony Schiavone welcoming us to what he referred to as a "landmark event in Sports Entertainment" and "the night the world changed", the Russo-era Nitro credits roll and serve only as a reminder of just how energetic and punchy the old ones used to be. The spirit to compete - and indeed the very spirit of the show - has been all but sucked out of the show, save for this
There are fans in the front row holding old WWE action figures of Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage, some 10 minutes or so before Eric Bischoff and Vince Russo label them ancient fossils while promising to give opportunities to youngsters such as Brian Knobbs and Fit Finlay in the ring.
Russo is presented as "Vince McMahon's best kept secret", Bischoff as the architect of the only time the show was any good and jesus f*cking christ imagine spending the first part of your "landmark event" telling your audience that it isn't even worth watching anymore. Lots of talk about making new stars, while Raw booked Bull Buchanan against The Rock in the main event, Edge & Christian beating DX, Kurt Angle beating The Godfather, Eddie Guerrero taking on Chris Jericho and Triple H having a total banger with Taka Michinoku.
The restart was as doomed as the real life Russo/Bischoff relationship.