After the unbelievable shock ending to 1996's Bash at the Beach, which resulted in the birth of the New World Order, wrestling fans knew things would never be the same again. Hulk Hogan did what ever wrestling fan at the time wanted him to do; become a bad guy, as the cultural shift in our own society had deemed good guys to be passe. We wanted villains to be beat by anti-heroes, and by turning Hogan heel, you created the ultimate wrestling villain. The NWO created a sense of paranoia on television every week, to the point where even the fans couldn't trust the wrestlers in fear that they might join up with Hogan's brigade. This was done perfectly on television, as well, with the commentary team portraying a realistic distress for their own safety. It enabled a credibility to wrestling again, something that had been lost years ago thanks to McMahon's disturbing reliance on cartoon characters. Most fans can agree that the NWO storyline needed a solid end, however, and became far too diluted in its later years. But even so, the NWO was a brilliant concept that revitalized pro wrestling for an entire generation and was a key component in the Monday Night War. But now it's time for your turn, readers. Take to the comment section and let us know what you think. Do you disagree with this list? Did you prefer WCW or WWF back in the 90's? Hit the comments and sound off!
