Ubermensch
Pre-Show Stalwart
Alright, so the previous thread on how to save WCW got me thinking. WCW in 1998 was extremely top heavy. By that I mean from the upper mid-card guys to the main event wrestlers you had so many competitors on that level that I think part of WCW's problem was an inability to manage these established stars and their egos.
One of the main problems was too many established, older, bigger stars.
My main point is this. Where most in the IWC recognize that the WWE needed a roster split in 2001 after acquiring ECW and WCW. I believe WCW 1998 warranted a roster split even more than 2001 WWE.
WCW Thunder was not intended to be a big "B" show. Like Smackdown, it sort of ended up that way later on once everything started going under.
If you look at late 1998, WCW had the following wrestlers on payroll.
Hulk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior, Roddy Piper, Bret Hart, DDP, Rick Flair, Macho Man, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Bill Goldberg, The Giant, Lex Luger, Sting, and arguably; Henning and Scott Steiner.
If you contrast that with the WCW/ECW Alliance, it's apparent that the WWE did not get the best talent from the WCW. The only real main event wrestler they acquired was Booker T.
With a roster split, you actually give more opportunity to the rising mid card talent that the WCW missed out on. Especially Jericho, Mysterio, Guerrero, and Benoit. In addition, WCW still had Japanese and Luchadore wrestlers that were on the lower mid card. This ended up being a very bloated roster.
I would have had one Heavyweight title defended on both shows. The US title on Nitro. TV title (may need to be renamed), on Thunder, and the tag titles defended on both. I would have gotten rid of the Cruiserweight title, there were too many wrestlers that circulated between the TV and Cruiserweight belt.
I think with a roster split WCW may have been more sustainable in the long run. As it was, the same big names dominated TV time on both shows.
One of the main problems was too many established, older, bigger stars.
My main point is this. Where most in the IWC recognize that the WWE needed a roster split in 2001 after acquiring ECW and WCW. I believe WCW 1998 warranted a roster split even more than 2001 WWE.
WCW Thunder was not intended to be a big "B" show. Like Smackdown, it sort of ended up that way later on once everything started going under.
If you look at late 1998, WCW had the following wrestlers on payroll.
Hulk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior, Roddy Piper, Bret Hart, DDP, Rick Flair, Macho Man, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Bill Goldberg, The Giant, Lex Luger, Sting, and arguably; Henning and Scott Steiner.
If you contrast that with the WCW/ECW Alliance, it's apparent that the WWE did not get the best talent from the WCW. The only real main event wrestler they acquired was Booker T.
With a roster split, you actually give more opportunity to the rising mid card talent that the WCW missed out on. Especially Jericho, Mysterio, Guerrero, and Benoit. In addition, WCW still had Japanese and Luchadore wrestlers that were on the lower mid card. This ended up being a very bloated roster.
I would have had one Heavyweight title defended on both shows. The US title on Nitro. TV title (may need to be renamed), on Thunder, and the tag titles defended on both. I would have gotten rid of the Cruiserweight title, there were too many wrestlers that circulated between the TV and Cruiserweight belt.
I think with a roster split WCW may have been more sustainable in the long run. As it was, the same big names dominated TV time on both shows.