In the August 3rd edition of The Ross Report from WWF.com, I read how the plan is to have separate WCW/ECW house shows from the WWF starting in October. What I also found interesting is how the plan eventually is to give WCW (I’m sure ECW will not be included due to the legal situation around it) their own program. As I have been watching the WWF in recent weeks, I have become accustomed to having Lance Storm, Rob Van Dam, Booker T, Kanyon and the rest on WWF TV weekly.
Can you seriously imagine all of those superstars including the ECW stars all of a sudden not being on WWF TV one day because they are wrestling for WCW on their separate program? That means, Booker T, Kanyon, Rob Van Dam, Lance Storm, Rhyno, Justin Credible, Raven, Tazz, and The Dudleys are all gone! Following the WCW purchase, but before the invasion started, I wanted to see WCW become its own separate promotion. But now, I am completely sure, that I would rather see the end of WCW once the invasion ends then see the Alliance stars off WWF TV.
I think the WWF is too smart to take all those stars off WWF TV for good. Once the invasion angle gets old (much like the nWo did), the Alliance superstars can easily jump ship to the WWF in a way that can be explained to the fans so it makes sense. That is how I personally would rather see it. The WWF didn’t even pay five million dollars to acquire all of WCW. To the WWF, five million dollars is pocket money, so if after Invasion, the WWF could never use WCW’s name again and it would not hurt them financially. But I do think that if superstars like RVD, Storm, Booker T, Dudleys, Rhyno, and etc. are taken off WWF TV, that will hurt them in the long run.
I admit, I would hate to see the WWF completely close WCW. They could use WCW for something. Why not have a minor league type of promotion? Sure people think that is what OVW and HWA is for, but WCW would actually be owned by the WWF which would be more of a benefit for them. WWF stars that are returning from an injury, need to lose weight, or simply need extra help/training may benefit from a minor league WCW. How about the other WCW stars that have not appeared on WWF TV yet. Mike Sanders and Elix Skipper are a few that may benefit from working in a minor league WCW.
Another problem with the Alliance is, many of their top superstars are nothing but midcard wrestlers in the WWF. Someone like Kanyon will probably be one of the Alliance’s biggest stars if WCW ever has its own separate program. But in the WWF, he is the US champion. The belt is important, but it still is a high mid card wrestler’s belt, and to the WWF fans, the belt probably means nothing. Rob Van Dam is the WWF Hardcore champion. If WCW gets its own separate TV show, he definitely will be one of their main stars. So the fans are suppose to buy that someone who was a Hardcore champion all of a sudden is world heavyweight championship material? Not that RVD isn’t, but he is an example of what will happen to other WCW stars.
Lance Storm is a high mid card wrestler in the WWF. In a separate WCW show, he also will be a main superstar in the main events. How about DDP, is he considered a maineventer in the WWF now? A lot of the wrestlers from the Alliance have set statuses while they are in the WWF. If they were to be on a separate WCW program, their status surely would change, as it would be higher up since they won’t have the big stars like Austin, Rock, Triple H, etc. Yes Austin is part of WCW now, but if WCW gets its own TV show with the Alliance superstars, I guarantee you that Austin will NOT be included. There is just no way that will happen.
I don’t care what they do with WCW, but please do not take these awesome superstars that are making names for themselves in the WWF off TV. Stone Cold Steve Austin is part of WCW now, is he going to be part of WCW and not part of the WWF once/if WCW gets their own show? I don’t think so. So why should Van Dam, Dudleys, Booker T, and the rest be taken off WWF TV when the fans are use to them and they have established themselves in the WWF. Move them down to WCW, then they will have to reestablish themselves all over again, they won’t have nearly as much of a fan base, and they probably won’t perform as well. So to Vince McMahon, you know what is right for business and what the fans want, now go do the right thing.
This is my first editorial at The Balrog’s Lair, I am excited about having the chance to write here. I will most likely write once a week, but try to write twice a week if I have a lot on my mind. Anyways, I love feedback, so if you have a question or opinion, whether its positive or negative, please drop me a line. I look forward to writing further editorials here at the site, and hopefully you will enjoy them. Thanks for reading, have a great week.
– Feedback in regards to the above article may be emailed to martinondemand@hotmail.com. With the amount of time each author puts into an article, your responses are appreciated.
