8. Nash Takes Over WCW
The Kliq had very quickly solidified power in the WWF. They had input in booking and creative, Shawn was on top and they had a grip of a major wrestling company. What's better than having the grip on a major wrestling promotion? Having the grip on two major wrestling promotions. The WWF was having financial problems, and Scott Hall had his head turned by a substantial financial offer from WCW. The reckless Razor Ramon decided he would jump ship, a decision that McMahon and The Kliq understood. Buoyed by attaining Hall, WCW president Eric Bischoff then looked toward Kevin Nash. Eric came forward with a three year contract worth $1.2 million a year Nash was stunned. The Kliq and McMahon were troubled. Michaels didn't want to lose his best friend, and McMahon didn't want to lose a main event act who had recently been WWF champion. But at the end of the day money talks, and Nash reluctantly decided to go to WCW. Controversially, The Kliq decided to symbolize the end of their road travels by having a "curtain call" in the WWF ring at Madison Square Garden. Without any permission from management, Nash, Hall, Michaels and Hunter broke character in the ring. As opposing faces and heels they were meant to hate each other, but they suddenly started hugging at the match conclusion. In an age when kayfabe was still king, Vince McMahon was furious. The Kliq's stock was hurt somewhat when Triple H spent the next year doing jobs as punishment for the Madison Square Garden incident. Hunter in the doghouse, Hall and Nash in WCW, but were the Kliq over? Not at all here's where the conspiracy theory kicks in did the Kliq now in fact extend itself over the entire industry? You had Michaels (with Hunter eventually) involved in WWF booking, and Kevin Nash negotiated creative control and booking power with WCW. You now had half the Kliq involved with the running of WWF and the other half running WCW. The Kliq had arguably become even more powerful despite no longer being on the road together. Nash quickly started to bury talent and reign in money for himself at WCW. The big man pushed himself on to the booking committee, and would book himself to be the man to end Bill Goldberg's undefeated streak. In a business sense and creative sense, the Kliq were as hot as ever.