On a recent edition of his “Everybody’s Got A Pod” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase spoke about the Monday Night Wars between WWE and WCW, Eric Bischoff gaining control of WCW, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On the wrestling business getting hot during the Monday Night Wars: “The biggest angle in all of wrestling was not any angle the WCW or the WWF was doing. The biggest angle on wrestling was the war between the two companies. And that’s what kept all the fans watching. They’re watching, they’re watching all of it. They’re going from one to the other every week to see what’s going to happen next. Going down that way because — and I’ll be honest, here’s all these stars that were made by Vince McMahon. Then one after another, including yours truly, leaves and goes to the other ship.”
On WCW giving away RAW’s results live on the air: “All is fair in love and war, right? When you’re trying to win, you pull out all stops. So I would. Vince probably would have done the same thing. I can’t be certain.”
On Eric Bischoff’s WCW leadership: “I get along with Eric great. Now I mean, I have no problem with Eric, but at the time Eric Bischoff didn’t really know that much about wrestling. I don’t know who in the Turner scheme of things hired him and made him the guy over all their wrestling programming. But he’s a guy who virtually had no background in wrestling. Just to further the point made by the WWF Million Dollar Man, everybody’s got a stinkin’ price. And Ted Turner was handing out the big bucks to grab all this talent. I had a three-year no-cut contract. They had to pay me whether I was there or not. I think this is the beginning of guaranteed contracts.”
You can keep up with all your wrestling news right here on eWrestlingNews.com. Or, you can follow us over on our Twitter and Facebook pages.
The Monday Night Wars: A Battle for Wrestling Supremacy
In the world of professional wrestling, the Monday Night Wars between WWE (then known as WWF) and WCW were a pivotal moment that forever changed the landscape of the industry. Lasting from 1995 to 2001, this fierce competition for ratings and viewership captivated fans and pushed both companies to their limits.
During this era, WWE and WCW went head-to-head every Monday night with their respective flagship shows, Monday Night Raw and WCW Monday Nitro. The rivalry between the two promotions was intense, with each vying for the top spot in the wrestling world.
One of the key factors that made the Monday Night Wars so compelling was the talent exodus from WWE to WCW. Superstars like Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and even WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase himself jumped ship to WCW, adding fuel to the fire. This constant back-and-forth of talent created an atmosphere of unpredictability and excitement for fans.
One controversial tactic employed by WCW was giving away the results of WWE’s Monday Night Raw live on the air. This move was seen as a direct shot at their competition and a way to entice viewers to switch channels. While some may view this as unfair, it was a testament to the cutthroat nature of the Monday Night Wars, where every advantage was fair game.
At the helm of WCW during this time was Eric Bischoff. While some questioned his wrestling knowledge and background, there is no denying his impact on the company. Bischoff’s ability to secure big-name talent and his willingness to take risks played a significant role in WCW’s success. Additionally, WCW’s introduction of guaranteed contracts, such as Ted DiBiase’s three-year no-cut contract, was a groundbreaking move that forever changed the way wrestlers were compensated.
The Monday Night Wars were not just a battle between two wrestling promotions; they were a battle for the hearts and minds of wrestling fans worldwide. The competition pushed both WWE and WCW to push the boundaries of storytelling, character development, and in-ring action. This era marked a turning point in the industry, leading to the birth of the Attitude Era and the rise of wrestling as mainstream entertainment.
While the Monday Night Wars eventually came to an end with WWE emerging as the victor, the impact of this era can still be felt in the wrestling world today. The rivalry between WWE and WCW pushed both companies to innovate and evolve, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to shape the industry.
In conclusion, the Monday Night Wars were a monumental period in professional wrestling history. The fierce competition between WWE and WCW captivated audiences and forever changed the industry. From talent exodus to controversial tactics and innovative leadership, this era will always be remembered as a battle for wrestling supremacy.