Hindsight Edition: The Russo/Bischoff Era

 

The most recent episode of Dark Side Of The Ring highlighted the infamous incident at Bash At The Beach 2000 between Hulk Hogan and Vince Russo, with Jeff Jarrett being an bystander by all accounts. At some point during the episode it was mentioned by either Russo or Bischoff, how terrible WCW was as a product during that time.

Now, I have to dispute that statement. When the two were bought back together in April 2000 to work as a unit and turn WCW around, they actually started out on the right foot. Wrestlers who had been overlooked where being given an chance. New wrestlers were debuting with an impact, and things just seemed fresh and everyone rejuvenated.

Then, some baffling decisions were made.

Was making David Arquette the world champion a dumb idea? Yes! Was Mike Awesome wasted as That 70's guy or the Fat Chick Thriller? It was a CRIME how wasted he was. Having Goldberg returning to join The New Blood a wise decision? Absolutely not! Did The New Blood get too big and confusing like the nWo? Of course, they couldn't resist but to try that route again.

Bischoff's and Russo's difference in philosophies and ego's got in the way of them being successful. But before Bash At The Beach when the company really went off the rails, some good ideas came from the braintrust.

There was the rookies from the power plant (with the exception of Shawn Stasiak), who became known as The Natural Born Thrillers.

Stasiak had a pedigree in the business, Reno had an unique look, while Mike Sanders was the mouthpiece (Think of The Miz before there was The Miz). Others like Johnny The Bull, Chuck Palumbo, and Mark Jindrak had raw talent in the ring. Then there was Sean O'Haire who I still believe was destined to be a star, if he was presented right.

As a group they hid one another's flaws and could have been something special in WCW, if things were a bit more organized.

Picking up from Russo's first run in WCW, the Filthy Animals were reunited, sans Eddie Guerrero of course.

They were a milder version of D-X, but the Filthy Animals were a fun group to watch during this time in WCW. They were mischievous, and "cool" for what early 2000's cool was. Of course with Rey Mysterio, Juventud Guerrera, and Kidman doing most of the ring work they didn't have a bad match. Konnan and Disqo (you know to stay hip since Sisqo was a big deal during this time), were effective hype men.

They had a unique entrance with the silhouette curtain. His time as a filthy animal probably was the only time Rey Mysterio has been a heel in his entire career

When Lance Storm arrived in WCW, he instantly made an Impact. One of the smoothest in-ring talents ever if we're talking pure wrestling. Storm quickly rose up the ranks.

Winning the WCW United States Championship, Cruiserweight Championship, and Hardcore championships. He eventually started his own Team Canada stable with Elix Skipper, Mike Awesome, Tylene Buck, and a reluctant Jim Duggan.

I can't remember 100% but I think Lance Storm even had a WCW World championship shot, but of course lost.

The Ric Flair/David Flair angle was intriguing in the building. With David blaming his father for never being around and mistreating him.

The segment where David showed the audience Ric's home was top notch TV. We even saw a young Charlotte Flair during this segment. Sadly the feud went off the rails as well with things like a "funeral" for Flair's career. Or David attacking his younger brother Reid (who was about 11 or 12 at the time) and putting him in the figure four.

The new regime tried to do Booker T.dirty reverting him to his previous gimmick G.I. Bro. They quickly learned the error their ways and he went back to being Booker T. leading up to Bash At The Beach.

He was rewarded for his hard work that really became noticed two years prior when he was the TV champion. He held the company down as champion during his multiple runs before their closure.

At least from April to June the Bischoff/Russo regime were headed in the right direction. The product wasnt all roses, but it wasn't all shit either. If you go back and watch a few episodes of Nitro and Thunder during that time period you will be entertained and see some good in ring action.