10 Secret Conversations That Changed Wrestling History Forever

6. Ted Turner Gives Eric Bischoff Monday Nights

Monday Nitro
WWE Best Of Monday Nitro DVD

In mid-1995, Eric Bischoff strolled nervously into Ted Turner's office and braced himself for a verbal volley of vitriol. He planned to pitch that WCW programming strike up a deal with China's Star Network. The problem? That network was owned and operated by sworn Turner enemy Rupert Murdoch.

Bisch didn't even get that far into the pitch. After a few minutes of setting the scene, Ted interrupted him and boldly asked, 'What do we need to do to compete with Vince McMahon?'. Stunned by the question, Eric blurted out that he needed to go head-to-head with him.

That's when Turner told his executives to give WCW two prime time hours every Monday night.

Boom! Nitro was born, and it'd eventually debut that September. Bischoff didn't divulge details on this face-to-face with Ted until years later, but he recognises how pivotal it was in changing the wrestling landscape forever. The 'Monday Night Wars' had begun.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.