Significant Members: Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Eric Bischoff, Randy Savage, The Giant, Scott Steiner, Sean Waltman. The nWo was one of THE 2 most successful angles in wrestling history. It single-handedly took a company that had always been #2 and skyrocketed them past the WWE directly to #1. In 1996 Eric Bischoff took an idea from Japan, signed two of WWE's biggest stars, convinced Hulk Hogan to turn heel for the first time in 15 years, and the rest is history. The nWo was successful in drawing in non-wrestling fans and turning WCW Monday Nitro into appointment viewing. The group rarely got their comeuppance from the babyfaces and was booked dominant for a very long time. When Sting emerged as their greatest adversary, WCW's boom period was in full effect. The problem came when too many members were inducted and began to water down the group. The nWo was also a lot like the TV series Lost, in that the writers had a fantastic story with no clear idea on how to end it, and thus ran it much further past its expiration date. The group would splinter, feud, reunite and repeat too many times to mention. While the Four Horsemen had more longevity and classic matches to their credit, the nWo revitalized the entire business and helped save (and ironically enough, somewhat destroy) WCW. Hogan's heel turn is a seminal moment that can never be forgotten and the first year of the nWo is one of the most memorable times for any fan lucky enough to witness it as it played out. Memorable Moments: Hall & Nash's first appearances, Hogan's heel turn, turning DDP into a star, the feud with Sting, powerbombing Bischoff. Why They Were Powerful: Took WCW from a second-rate promotion to the top of the mountain, were the centerpiece of the promotion during its hottest years, kept a stranglehold on the championships and drew incredible ratings. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfQ3IH-TWVI So there you have it. Do you agree with my list? Sound off in the comments and let me know who your picks for the most powerful stables of all-time are.
Brad Hamilton is a writer, musician and marketer/social media manager from Atlanta, Georgia. He's an undefeated freestyle rap battle champion, spends too little time being productive and defines himself as the literary version of Brock Lesnar.
