10 Things You Didn't Know About WCW's Nitro Grill Restaurant

9. WCW Didn't Get All The Profits

WCW Nitro Grill
WWE

WCW didn't get all of the profits from their new venture though.

Technically, Nitro Grill was owned and operated by the Sitka Restaurant Group. Their head, Karl Rogers, employed general manager Lance Graulich to oversee the business. The bulk of WCW's revenues from the place came from the in-house gift shop that sold all manner of t-shirts, keychains, cups, glasses and more.

The Grill was more about pushing the WCW/nWo brand than anything else. By having such a high-profile operation on site in a location littered with tourists from around the world, World Championship Wrestling would get some casual recognition from fans and non-fans alike. It was a win-win situation.

Sitka would glean most of the actual operating cash and WCW would get to look like billy big b*llocks for being present at Excalibur. It's amazing to think they helped plonk millions into the place but didn't actually get much back in return.

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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.