The year 2000 would be a disastrous one financially for WCW. Losing a rumoured $60-$70 million (depending on the source) during just one calendar year can never be good for any company, even one with money to burn like those folks in Atlanta had, but many people forget that 1999 wasn't anywhere near as bad. In fact, it was quite the opposite. In 1999, World Championship Wrestling still had a lot going for it. As aforementioned, TV ratings were still pretty high, and the company was struggling to keep merchandise in inventory, such was the demand for t-shirts, teddy bears, key rings, VHS tapes, video games and posters. In addition, WCW's top stars still had a lot of sway with the buying public, something evidenced by the awesome numbers the company were pulling in on Pay-Per-View. Yes, in 1999, wrestling fans - casual and hardcore - were willing to pay to watch the likes of Sting, Hulk Hogan, Bill Goldberg and Kevin Nash, something which would change just one short year later. The latter part of the year started the downward slide, but as 1999 began, WCW was as hot as it had been for years.
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.
