10 Things You Learn Binge Watching Every WCW Nitro

7. They Did Special Episodes Better Than Anyone

WCW Nitro Spring Break
WWE Network

When they weren't lingering on backstage promos for too long (and thus showing people talking about their take) or stuffing ring announcers/live mics so low in the audio mix that they were barely intelligible, WCW were trying different things. Their special, one-off episodes broke the monotony of weekly TV.

A class example would be the annual 'Spring Break' shows.

They mixed up the look of Nitro by playing before fired-up crowds in unique settings. In Panama City, for example, WCW placed the ring on a floating platform in a big swimming pool, and everyone watching knew somebody was taking a dip. Those spots added light relief to the product and, again, avoided routine tedium.

WWE has never done special episodes anywhere near as well. Their 'Old School' Raw are occasionally fun, but they're so formulaic by this point that they're barely a novelty. Thank God for AEW's Dynamite episodes on Chris Jericho's cruise earlier this year.

Advertisement
In this post: 
WCW Nitro
 
First Posted On: 
Contributor

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.