10 Wrestling Moments That Changed Everything

3. Vince McMahon Purchases WCW

Shane McMahon Vince McMahon Raw Nitro Simulcast
WWE.com

The WWF's decision to leap upon the carcass of WCW, pick clean the parts it wanted and then turn the promotion into a plot device for the McMahon family didn't sit well with those who had watched since the NWA days. If it wasn't clear beforehand, then it was now: WCW would never be the same under Vince McMahon's rule.

A fan-led fantasy that McMahon might run WCW as a separate entity was toyed with internally before quickly being scrapped as futile. After that, the WWF cast the remaining WCW crew (mostly comprised of low-level wrestlers imported in the sale) as second hand news behind Shane's power struggle with his father.

WCW was almost immediately dead in all but name.

Ted Turner's promotion had risen from mediocrity to provide fully-fledged competition for the WWF in the mid-to-late-90s. Now, it was owned by the man it had butted heads with for years, and there was no way its legacy would be given proper credence by the winners.

Advertisement
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.