The birth of the New World Order brought a sense of reality to Nitro that the World Wrestling Federation's Monday Night Raw simply did not have. Vince McMahon's show featured ludicrous gimmicks such as The Goon and TL Hopper while Eric Bischoff made sure the characters on his show were based in reality. The New World Order came across as a legitimate gang. Lex Luger really was the Total Package from an athletic standpoint. The competitors WCW spotlighted on its Monday night program were easy to relate to and the show benefited from it. One of the most memorable examples of the reality factor came shortly after the formation of the New World Order and while Nitro was filming at MGM Studios. The faction assaulted Arn Anderson with a baseball bat, leaving the Enforcer of the Four Horsemen lying in a heap. Kevin Nash tossed Rey Mysterio head-first into a production truck. The luchador looked like a dart as he struck the truck and crashed to the ground below. It was a scary scene that was reminiscent of gang warfare. So chaotic was the scene that, as revealed in the 2012 WWE Home Video release "NWO: The Revolution," the police were called by concerned citizens. The NWO's takeover of Nitro, the assaults of WCW stars and the pre-taped black and white promos featuring Nash, Scott Hall and Hulk Hogan all helped protect the realness of the shows. Those elements endeared the show to fans disenfranchised by the product being produced by the World Wrestling Federation at the time.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
