Jim Ross spent years as WWE’s Head of Talent Relations and believes that some WCW stars brought into the company in 2001 were underutilized.
On a recent edition of the “Grilling JR” podcast, Ross recalled WCW stars being signed after Vince McMahon’s purchase of WCW in March 2001. He said,
“I thought that we [WWE] were underutilizing some talents, and it was going to be hard to get them jumpstarted again and move forward in a positive way.
“It seemed that some WCW weren’t even getting the benefit of the doubt as far as you can get over, and we need you to get over. But the way we’re using you makes it very damn challenging.”
Several WCW stars were signed only to be mismanaged, with fans still taking issue with former WCW World Champion DDP being introduced as a stalker.
One of the most notable hirings following the demise of WCW saw John Laurinaitis be brought in and replace Ross as Head of Talent Relations.
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In 2001, the wrestling world was shaken when Vince McMahon purchased his rival promotion, World Championship Wrestling (WCW). This acquisition brought in a number of WCW stars into the WWE (formerly known as WWF), but according to Jim Ross, the company’s Head of Talent Relations at the time, many of these talents were underutilized.
During a recent episode of the “Grilling JR” podcast, Ross shared his thoughts on the situation. He believed that some of the WCW stars brought into WWE were not given the opportunities they deserved and were not utilized effectively. Ross stated, “I thought that we [WWE] were underutilizing some talents, and it was going to be hard to get them jumpstarted again and move forward in a positive way.”
Ross also mentioned that it seemed like some WCW talents were not even given a fair chance to succeed. He said, “It seemed that some WCW weren’t even getting the benefit of the doubt as far as you can get over, and we need you to get over. But the way we’re using you makes it very damn challenging.”
One of the most notable examples of mismanagement was the treatment of Diamond Dallas Page (DDP), a former WCW World Champion. Instead of capitalizing on his popularity and in-ring skills, WWE introduced him as a stalker character, which did not resonate well with fans.
The acquisition of WCW also led to changes within WWE’s management. John Laurinaitis was brought in to replace Jim Ross as Head of Talent Relations. This transition marked a shift in the company’s approach to talent management and recruitment.
The WWE’s acquisition of WCW was a significant moment in wrestling history, but it also came with its fair share of challenges. While some WCW stars successfully transitioned to WWE and had successful careers, there were others who were not given the opportunities they deserved.
It is important to note that this article is based on Jim Ross’s perspective and opinions. The wrestling industry is complex, and there are often multiple factors at play when it comes to talent utilization and decision-making.
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