10 Things AEW Can Learn From WCW Nitro's Debut

8. Book Festivities Around The Actual Show

Pastamania Hulk Hogan
WWE

Pastamania was a load of b*llocks.

There, we said it, and we refuse to relent on the argument that Hulk Hogan pushing an Italian fast food chain was anything other than ridiculous. Watch the first Nitro and you'll see a fired-up Hulk saying the word "Pastamaniacs" at least 30 times during his two-minute promo. It was silly, but it was an attempt to drum up business.

Nobody can blame WCW for that. As silly as Pastamania was, Bischoff catching a quick word with Hogan (who was surrounded by a throng of happy-looking kids) gave the impression that World Championship Wrestling had taken over the Mall Of America. In other words, Nitro was more than pro wrestling. It was a marketing machine, brother.

We're not suggesting AEW open the first ever Kenny Omega noodle bar, but it wouldn't be a terrible idea to book festivities around the first taping that present All Elite in the best possible light. For example, how hard would it be to set up some sort of segment with the Jacksonville Jaguars?

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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.