Early 2002 saw a World Wrestling Entertainment in flux. Attitude Era favorites The Rock and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin were winding down as full-time performers and the company was looking for a shot of adrenaline into what was becoming a stale product. Their answer? Introduce anarchy in the form of the New World Order. Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash were held largely responsible for the demise of World Championship Wrestling and Vince McMahon, portraying a deranged and psychotic owner, set the trio on his company in hopes of destroying it. ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWY0y2JEc5A The NWO returned to WWE at the February 2002 No Way Out pay-per-view, receiving a hero's welcome. Hogan, in particular, was greeted favorably by the fans in Milwaukee. The group disingenuously addressed the audience, claiming to have changed and wanting only one last chance. Later in the night, they showed their true colors by attacking Austin and costing him the Undisputed Championship. The reunion would be short-lived. At WrestleMania X8 in March, Hogan would be much more popular with the Toronto crowd than his opponent, The Rock, and nostalgia for Hulkamania would run wild. He would split from Nash and Hall and win the Undisputed title a month later.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
