One MIND-BLOWING Secret From Every Year Of WCW History
1. 2001 | What Could Have Been
In the most LOLWCW moment perhaps ever - provided you like your comedy like your coffee - the promotion actually got good just as it was about to die. Those strange last few months of halfway sensible booking and legitimately futuristic action were encouraging, but in reality, it was the equivalent of a mistaken corpse pounding on the underside of a casket lid before dying regardless. And, per the January 22, 2001 Wrestling Observer Newsletter, things were about to get even better.
In a doomy scenario, Warner had implemented a hiring freeze on employees in late 2000. This was a terrible omen for the state of WCW. However, with Fusient Media all but certain to purchase the company in January, WCW went out looking for options, and as ever, ECW was the shopping centre. Those names were Tajiri, Super Crazy, Kid Kash and Joey Styles.
Tajiri was in demand; Meltzer had reported in the January 15 Observer that All Japan Pro Wrestling had explored the idea of bringing him in as the fulcrum of its Junior Heavyweight division. Tajiri was one the coolest wrestlers on the planet at the time; his kicks were incredible, his Tarantula submission was mind-blowing, and he had demonstrated his range with a stunning, bloody brawl against Steve Corino.
Super Crazy was his legendary touring opponent; had WCW signed the pair, the new-look company had a guaranteed midcard programme ready to go.
Kid Kash’s name isn’t as vaunted as the aforementioned rivals, but he had a quietly very good 2000 in ECW, and would have added more depth to a Cruiserweight division WCW was looking to take seriously again (As ‘Cash’, Kid Kash actually made it to WCW, but only for one match on Thunder).
Joey Styles is a very interesting one to ponder in this alternate timeline. While he was as divisive as commentators get - passionate and informed for some, a shrieking aural nightmare for others - the WCW booth was gasping for somebody with credibility to give a sh*t.
Targeting these particular names, in tandem with its last-minute form and direction, might suggest that WCW had, at long last, realised where it had failed and was intent on identifying the next trend. Perhaps the 2000s might have seen WCW use Ring Of Honor in the same way it did ECW. Perhaps Bryan Danielson Vs. Rey Mysterio, Jr. could have headlined Starrcade 2005. Or perhaps it would have died regardless, since the die had been cast.