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THROUGHOUT THE 1990S MONDAY
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NIGHT SERVED AS A PRIMETIME
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BATTLEFIELD.
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A TRANSFORMED PROFESSIONAL
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WRESTLING INTO SPORTS
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ENTERTAINMENT.
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TED TURNER'S WCW TOOK ON VINCE
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MCMAHON'S WWE FOR RATING
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SUPREMACY AT THE RISK OF
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EXTINCTION AS INNOVATION AND
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EVOLUTION PAVED THE WAY FOR A
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KING TO BE PROUD.
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IT WAS A WAR 10 YEARS IN THE
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MAKING AS SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT'S
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REIGNING CHAMPION WAS CHALLENGED
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BY A SOUTHERN BILLIONAIRE.
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AND NOW WCW IS ABOUT TO
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DOMINATE THE GLOBAL PROFESSIONAL
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WRESTLING.
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LED BY THIS TWO HEAVYWEIGHTS,
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THE INDUSTRY EMBARKED ON A
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PRIMETIME JOURNEY.
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WELCOME EVERYONE TO MONDAY
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NIGHT RAW.
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AND AS AUDIENCES GREW,
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TRADITIONS WERE LAID TO WASTE
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AND LOYALTIES COMPROMISED.
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HULKAMANIA LIVES IN WORLD
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CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING.
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FOR YEARS, THESE TWO ICONS OF
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ENTERTAINMENT WOULD ENGAGE IN
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HEAD TO HEAD BATTLES.
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AND THIS IS THE STORY OF HOW IT
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ALL BEGAN.
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THIS IS THE MONDAY NIGHT WAR.
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[MUSIC]
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HULK HOGAN HAS BETRAYED WCW.
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WHAT IN THE--WHAT'S HE DOING
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HERE?
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WELCOME TO MONDAY NIGHT RAW.
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MONDAY NITRO.
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HE IS BROKEN HALF.
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AUSTIN 3:16 SAYS I JUST
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WHIPPED YOUR --.
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[INDISTINCT]
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THE NEW WORLD ORDER, BROTHER.
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GAMES CAN LOSE, SUCKER.
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WE ARE AT WAR.
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[CROWD CHEERING]
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SAVAGE LOOKING AROUND.
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NOW, HE'S GOING TO THE OUTSIDE.
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LISTEN TO THIS CROWD.
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FLYING ELBOW, HOOKS THE LEG.
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IT'S OVER.
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DURING THE 1980S WWE ROSE TO
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PROMINENCE AS SPORTS
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ENTERTAINMENT'S TOP
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ORGANIZATION.
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GROWING UP WATCHING AS A
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WRESTLING FAN, IT WAS THE END
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ALL, BE ALL PRO-WRESTLING NEVER
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HAVE BEEN BIGGER.
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A SURGE IN POPULARITY WAS
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SPURRED ON BY A CAST OF
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CHARISMATIC SUPERSTARS ALL OF
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WHOM PERSONIFIED WHAT SPORTS
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ENTERTAINMENT WAS ALL ABOUT.
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THEY WERE LED BY THE FACE OF THE
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FRANCHISE.
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HULK HOGAN.
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THE ROAR IS PROUD IS
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ABSOLUTELY DEAFENING.
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IT'S A CELEBRATION OF
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HULKAMANIA.
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HULK HOGAN REDEFINED THIS
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INDUSTRY.
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WWE BECAME GLOBAL IN THE MID 80S
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AND HE TOOK PROFESSIONAL
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WRESTLING AND HELPED MOLD IT
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INTO SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT.
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WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WHEN
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HULKAMANIAC RUNS WILD ON YOU?
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HULKAMANIA TRULY RAN WILD AND
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HE WAS RIGHT THERE WITH THE
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ADVENT OF CABLE TELEVISION AND
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THAT CABLE TELEVISION EXPOSURE
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GAVE THE COUNTRY AN OPPORTUNITY
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TO SEE SUPERSTARS ALL AT ONCE.
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THIS IS VINCE MCMAHON
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WELCOMING YOU TO ANOTHER EDITION
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OF ALL AMERICAN WRESTLING HERE
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ON THE USA CABLE NETWORK.
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BY WAY OF TELEVISION, WWE
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WOULD GROW FROM A SMALL REGIONAL
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TERRITORY INTO A NATIONALLY
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RECOGNIZED PROMOTION.
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THANKS TO THE SAVVY BUSINESS
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STRATEGIES OF ITS CHAIRMAN,
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VINCE MCMAHON.
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WELL, HE WAS A MAN ON A
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MISSION AND HAD A GOAL AND WAS
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MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO
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GROW AND HAVE THE COMPANY REALLY
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BECOME A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION.
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IT'S INDICATION AND DOVETAILED
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IN WITH CABLE AND THAT REALLY
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HELPED LAUNCHED THE REAL
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NATIONAL GROWTH OF WWE.
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WWE WOULD SYNDICATE THEIR
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SHOWS NATIONWIDE AND UTILIZED
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THE EARLY CABLE NETWORKS
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INCLUDING USA AND THE TURNER
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BROADCASTING SYSTEM TO REACH AN
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EVEN GREATER AUDIENCE.
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WE WERE ON USA NETWORK AS
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WELL AS OUR SYNDICATED PRODUCT
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AND IF I COULD ATTACK THE CABLE
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AUDIENCE IN BOTH ENDS FROM USA
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NETWORK STANDPOINT AND ALSO FROM
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A TURNER NETWORK STANDPOINT
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WELL, I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A
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GREAT ONE, TWO, PUNCH
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STRAIGHTAWAY INTO THE CABLE
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MARKET.
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WELL, THANKS.
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YOU KNOW, IT'S A PLEASURE AND A
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PRIVILEGE TO BE ON WTBS THE
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SUPERSTATION AT ATLANTA, GEORGIA
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AGAIN.
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TBS HAD BECOME THE COUNTRY'S
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ORIGINAL SUPERSTATION.
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AS MEDIA MOBILE TED TURNER'S
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CREATION WAS THE FIRST CHANNEL
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TO BROADCAST NATIONWIDE TO ALL
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CABLE PROVIDERS.
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THE BILLIONAIRE'S EMPIRE
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EXPANDED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS
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BUT TBS WOULD ALWAYS FEATURE ONE
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CONSTANT SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT.
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WELCOME TO ANOTHER HOUR OF
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GEORGIA CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING.
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FROM THE EARLY 70S WE HAD
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WRESTLING ON OUR STATION AND
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WRESTLING AND BASEBALL AND
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BASKETBALL GAVE US SOME FRESH
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BIG LEAD MARQUEE PROGRAMMING.
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TED TURNER STARTED UP
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SUPERSTATION AND IT WAS GOING
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ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ON CABLE.
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TED TURNER KNEW WHAT DREW
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EYEBALLS TO HIS SUPERSTATION AND
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BY FAR THE HIGHEST RATINGS WERE
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GARNERED BY GEORGIA CHAMPIONSHIP
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WRESTLING.
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TELEVISION HISTORY MADE HERE
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TODAY.
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SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT HELPED
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TBS GROW HEADING INTO THE 1980S
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BUT THE ONCE PROMISING
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PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN TED TURNER
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AND VINCE MCMAHON, WOULD SOON
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SOUR.
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FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WE
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DID AIR SOME OF HIS PROGRAMMING.
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UH-HMM.
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AND WE DECIDED NOT TO KEEP
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GOING IF HE WAS GOING TO ALSO
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AIR ON USA.
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HE STAYED ON USA AND WE DIDN'T
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CARRY HIS PROGRAMMING ANYMORE.
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I HAD A FALLING OUT WITH TED.
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I DON'T KNOW WHAT POLITICAL
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STRINGS WERE PULLED BUT IN A
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VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME TED
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WANTED OUT OF OUR CONTRACT.
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AND I SAID, "OKAY.
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LOOK, YOU, YOU KNOW, DON'T WANE
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DO BUSINESS WITH ME NOW SO I
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DON'T WANNA DO BUSINESS WITH YOU
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EITHER."
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YOU'RE TALKING TWO REALLY BIG
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EGOS IN THE ROOM, MY FATHER AND
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TED TURNER.
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SO THAT'S WHEN THE WAR STARTED.
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THAT WAS THE--THAT WAS THE VERY
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BEGINNING OF THE WAR.
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TBS WOULD CONTINUE TO
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BROADCAST WWE'S MAIN COMPETITOR.
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JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS OF THE
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NATIONAL WRESTLING ALLIANCE.
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VINCE MCMAHON AND WWE STAYED ON
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THE USA NETWORK AND THE COMPANY
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DIDN'T MISS A BEAT AS THEY
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CONTINUED TO TRANSFORM THE
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SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
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TAKING OFF IN 1985.
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WRESTLING WAS APPROACHING A
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FEVER PITCH OF THAT TIME, THAT
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LED US RIGHT INTO WRESTLEMANIA.
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THE WRESTLING EXTRAVAGANZA OF
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ALL TIME, WRESTLEMANIA.
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THERE'S A PERFECT SPRINGBOARD
203
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FOR WHAT WE NEEDED TO LAUNCH AT
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WWE INTO THE STRATOSPHERE, FOR
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THE NIGHT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN
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BETTER.
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COMBINING POP CULTURE
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PERSONALITIES WITH MAIN EVENT
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MATCHES, WRESTLEMANIA WOULD
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BECOME THE ANNUAL SHOWCASE OF
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SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT.
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WRESTLEMANIA, QUICK WRESTLING
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IN THE MAINSTREAM OF SOCIETY.
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IT CEMENTED THE FACT THAT VINCE
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MCMAHON WAS GOING TO TURN WWE
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INTO A GLOBAL EMPIRE.
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93,173 HERE IN THE
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SILVERDOME, HISTORY HAS INDEED
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BEEN MADE.
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BOASTED BY WRESTLEMANIA, WWE
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REACHED PREVIOUSLY UNIMAGINABLE
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LEVELS OF POPULARITY ALLOWING
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VINCE MCMAHON TO INCREASE THE
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COMPANY'S WEEKLY TELEVISION
225
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PRESENCE.
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[CROWD CHEERING]
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THIS CAPACITY CROWD ON THEIR
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FEET AND CHEERING IN
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ANTICIPATION OF THE ACTION THIS
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WEEK.
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WELCOME BACK LADIES AND
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GENTLEMAN TO THE NWA MAIN EVENT.
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MEANWHILE JIM CROCKETT
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PROMOTIONS WAS UNABLE TO STAY
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COMPETITIVE IN THE WAKE OF WWE'S
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SUCCESS.
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IN 1988, TED TURNER WOULD
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PURCHASE HIS TELEVISION STAPLE
239
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AND RE-CHRISTEN THE COMPANY
240
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WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING.
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I WANNA CONGRATULATE WORLD
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CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING FOR
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CONTINUING THE TRADITION OF
244
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BRINGING ACTION-PACKED WRESTLING
245
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EXCITEMENT AT TBS.
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THE REASON THAT I GOT
247
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INVOLVED FROM AN OWNERSHIP
248
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STANDPOINT IS THAT MR. CROCKETT
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WAS HAVING VERY DIFFICULT TIME
250
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COMPETING WITH MR. MCMAHON AND I
251
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HAD A VISION THAT EVENTUALLY
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WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL WITH.
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I REALLY WASN'T THAT
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CONCERNED WITH TED WHEN HE
255
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BOUGHT CROCKETT PROMOTIONS.
256
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TED CALLED ME UP, HE SAYS, "HEY,
257
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VINCE, I'LL LET YOU KNOW, I'M IN
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THE WRESTLING BUSINESS."
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AND I SAID, "OKAY.
260
00:08:54,710 --> 00:08:55,778
THAT MEANS WE'RE IN DIFFERENT
261
00:08:55,778 --> 00:08:57,180
BUSINESS."
262
00:08:57,180 --> 00:08:58,648
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?"
263
00:08:58,648 --> 00:08:59,916
WELL, HERE IN THE WRESTLING
264
00:08:59,916 --> 00:09:01,083
BUSINESS AS HE CALLED IT AND I'M
265
00:09:01,083 --> 00:09:02,418
IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS.
266
00:09:02,418 --> 00:09:03,586
AND THAT'S TWO COMPLETELY
267
00:09:03,586 --> 00:09:06,522
DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHIES.
268
00:09:06,522 --> 00:09:07,790
THE ASSOCIATION WITH TED
269
00:09:07,790 --> 00:09:09,525
TURNER AND THE CABLE NETWORK WAS
270
00:09:09,525 --> 00:09:10,626
HUGE.
271
00:09:10,626 --> 00:09:12,994
WHAT WAS BAD WAS HE JUST GAVE
272
00:09:12,994 --> 00:09:14,096
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COMPANY
273
00:09:14,096 --> 00:09:15,765
TO HIS FRIENDS, WHETHER THEY HAD
274
00:09:15,765 --> 00:09:17,900
EXPERIENCE OR NOT.
275
00:09:17,900 --> 00:09:19,402
OH, WHAT A STRENGTH BY
276
00:09:19,402 --> 00:09:20,470
ROBOCOP.
277
00:09:20,470 --> 00:09:21,504
WHOA.
278
00:09:21,504 --> 00:09:23,239
AND THEN HE WANT A PIECE OF
279
00:09:23,239 --> 00:09:24,106
[INDISTINCT]
280
00:09:24,106 --> 00:09:25,475
WE HAD A NUMBER OF CHANGES
281
00:09:25,475 --> 00:09:27,710
OVER THE YEARS, WE WERE NOT VERY
282
00:09:27,710 --> 00:09:29,312
SUCCESSFUL FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS
283
00:09:29,312 --> 00:09:32,582
AS A STANDALONE ENTITY.
284
00:09:32,582 --> 00:09:34,450
WE STRUGGLED TO SURVIVE
285
00:09:34,450 --> 00:09:39,755
COMPETING WITH MR. MCMAHON.
286
00:09:39,755 --> 00:09:41,190
TED TURNER WAS UNABLE TO TURN
287
00:09:41,190 --> 00:09:44,327
WCW AROUND BUT BY THE EARLY
288
00:09:44,327 --> 00:09:48,097
1990S, WWE WAS ALSO IN THE MIDST
289
00:09:48,097 --> 00:09:51,267
OF A DOWNTURN.
290
00:09:51,267 --> 00:09:53,336
I THINK THAT EGG IS READY TO
291
00:09:53,336 --> 00:09:55,838
BLOW.
292
00:09:55,838 --> 00:09:58,007
WHAT IN THE WORLD...
293
00:09:58,007 --> 00:10:00,243
WWE WAS STILL THE INDUSTRY
294
00:10:00,243 --> 00:10:02,044
LEADER BUT THE INDUSTRY ITSELF
295
00:10:02,044 --> 00:10:04,447
WAS STRUGGLING TO EXPAND BEYOND
296
00:10:04,447 --> 00:10:07,149
ITS ESTABLISHED AUDIENCE.
297
00:10:07,149 --> 00:10:08,951
THE RATINGS WERE DOWN, THE
298
00:10:08,951 --> 00:10:10,753
BUSINESS WERE BEING SLOW.
299
00:10:10,753 --> 00:10:12,188
THERE WAS A SINKING FEELING OF
300
00:10:12,188 --> 00:10:15,024
LIKE OKAY--THAT WE'VE PEAKED.
301
00:10:15,024 --> 00:10:16,125
THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT'S GONNA
302
00:10:16,125 --> 00:10:19,228
GET.
303
00:10:19,228 --> 00:10:20,229
THIS WEEK ON PRIMETIME
304
00:10:20,229 --> 00:10:22,398
WRESTLING, EL MATADOR TEAMS UP
305
00:10:22,398 --> 00:10:23,666
WITH VIRGIL.
306
00:10:23,666 --> 00:10:25,401
EVEN MONDAY NIGHT'S PRIMETIME
307
00:10:25,401 --> 00:10:27,270
PROGRAMMING ON THE USA NETWORK
308
00:10:27,270 --> 00:10:29,305
HAD BECOME FORMULATED WITH A
309
00:10:29,305 --> 00:10:31,007
TIRED SYNDICATED STANDARD OF
310
00:10:31,007 --> 00:10:33,242
PRE-TAKE MATCHES AND IN STUDIO
311
00:10:33,242 --> 00:10:36,112
COMMENTARY.
312
00:10:36,112 --> 00:10:37,847
FANS WANTED SOMETHING ELSE,
313
00:10:37,847 --> 00:10:39,115
THEY STILL LOVE PRO-WRESTLING
314
00:10:39,115 --> 00:10:41,617
BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT WHAT VINCE
315
00:10:41,617 --> 00:10:43,486
MCMAHON WAS REALLY GIVING THEM.
316
00:10:43,486 --> 00:10:44,987
[INDISTINCT]
317
00:10:44,987 --> 00:10:47,657
GRASPING ITS STROKES, WWE'S
318
00:10:47,657 --> 00:10:50,459
ATTEMPT TO ENTERTAIN FELL SHORT.
319
00:10:50,459 --> 00:10:51,694
TRY A QUAKE BURGER.
320
00:10:51,694 --> 00:10:52,428
THANK YOU.
321
00:10:52,428 --> 00:10:55,097
AND TRY ONE OF THOSE, LORD.
322
00:10:55,097 --> 00:10:57,133
AND NEEDED A SHOT IN THE ARM
323
00:10:57,133 --> 00:10:58,534
TO RECONNECT WITH ITS WANING FAN
324
00:10:58,534 --> 00:11:01,170
BASE.
325
00:11:01,170 --> 00:11:03,339
HEY [INDISTINCT]
326
00:11:03,339 --> 00:11:04,874
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE TABLE
327
00:11:04,874 --> 00:11:06,542
SHEETS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
328
00:11:06,542 --> 00:11:09,045
OKAY.
329
00:11:09,045 --> 00:11:11,047
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE AS A
330
00:11:11,047 --> 00:11:12,415
FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT EVOLVE.
331
00:11:12,415 --> 00:11:13,616
AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FROM
332
00:11:13,616 --> 00:11:15,818
GENERATION TO GENERATION.
333
00:11:15,818 --> 00:11:18,087
WE'VE SEEN A HISTORY MADE.
334
00:11:18,087 --> 00:11:19,255
I WANNA DO SOMETHING THAT WAS
335
00:11:19,255 --> 00:11:20,556
DIFFERENT IN THE BUSINESS.
336
00:11:20,556 --> 00:11:22,491
I WANNA DO A LIVE SHOW AND
337
00:11:22,491 --> 00:11:24,460
SOMETHING VERY VISCERAL, YOU
338
00:11:24,460 --> 00:11:26,329
KNOW, SOMETHING INDEED VERY RAW,
339
00:11:26,329 --> 00:11:29,031
HENCE THE NAME MONDAY NIGHT RAW.
340
00:11:29,031 --> 00:11:31,400
[CROWD CHEERING]
341
00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:33,035
WELCOME, EVERYONE TO MONDAY
342
00:11:33,035 --> 00:11:34,070
NIGHT RAW.
343
00:11:34,070 --> 00:11:37,406
WE ARE LIVE ON NEW YORK CITY.
344
00:11:37,406 --> 00:11:39,342
WWE LAUNCHED MONDAY NIGHT RAW
345
00:11:39,342 --> 00:11:44,680
ON JANUARY 11TH, 1993.
346
00:11:44,680 --> 00:11:46,082
DESPITE THE GREAT DEMAND FOR
347
00:11:46,082 --> 00:11:48,017
CHANGE, THERE WAS APPREHENSIONS
348
00:11:48,017 --> 00:11:49,085
SURROUNDING THIS LIVE
349
00:11:49,085 --> 00:11:50,820
INNOVATION.
350
00:11:50,820 --> 00:11:51,887
I GUESS, MAYBE I DID HAVE
351
00:11:51,887 --> 00:11:53,489
SOME CONCERN ABOUT BEING LIVE.
352
00:11:53,489 --> 00:11:54,757
WE ARE LIVE.
353
00:11:54,757 --> 00:11:57,460
WHEN VINCE DECIDED TO GO LIVE
354
00:11:57,460 --> 00:11:58,494
WITH MONDAY NIGHT RAW, IT
355
00:11:58,494 --> 00:12:00,363
CHANGED THE FORMULA BECAUSE NO
356
00:12:00,363 --> 00:12:02,131
MATTER WHAT YOU EXPECT ON LIVE
357
00:12:02,131 --> 00:12:04,367
TV, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.
358
00:12:04,367 --> 00:12:05,935
VINCE MCMAHON HERE LIVE WITH
359
00:12:05,935 --> 00:12:07,336
THE "MACHO MAN" RANDY SAVAGE.
360
00:12:07,336 --> 00:12:08,270
OH, YEAH.
361
00:12:08,270 --> 00:12:09,305
OH, YEAH.
362
00:12:09,305 --> 00:12:10,506
THERE ARE CERTAIN RISK THAT
363
00:12:10,506 --> 00:12:12,541
YOU TAKE BY BEING INNOVATIVE.
364
00:12:12,541 --> 00:12:14,076
BUT I MUCH RATHER BE ON THAT
365
00:12:14,076 --> 00:12:15,478
SIDE OF THINGS THEN BE ON THE
366
00:12:15,478 --> 00:12:17,246
REACTIVE SIDE OF THINGS TRYING
367
00:12:17,246 --> 00:12:20,883
TO CATCH UP.
368
00:12:20,883 --> 00:12:22,852
THE SET WAS VERY BARE, IT HAD
369
00:12:22,852 --> 00:12:24,487
AN EDGE TO IT.
370
00:12:24,487 --> 00:12:25,755
AND IT WAS JUST A DIFFERENT KIND
371
00:12:25,755 --> 00:12:27,623
OF PROGRAMMING FOR WWE.
372
00:12:27,623 --> 00:12:29,158
AND SO THIS WAS RAW.
373
00:12:29,158 --> 00:12:30,026
LOOK AT THIS.
374
00:12:30,026 --> 00:12:30,893
BAM BAM.
375
00:12:30,893 --> 00:12:32,428
OH.
376
00:12:32,428 --> 00:12:33,796
ALL THE GUYS MYSELF INCLUDED
377
00:12:33,796 --> 00:12:36,032
AND EVERYBODY AT WWE WERE VERY
378
00:12:36,032 --> 00:12:37,466
EXCITED TO BE GOING LIVE ON
379
00:12:37,466 --> 00:12:39,235
MONDAY NIGHTS BUT WE HAVE NO
380
00:12:39,235 --> 00:12:41,270
IDEA HOW BIG IT WILL BECOME.
381
00:12:41,270 --> 00:12:42,638
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN THE
382
00:12:42,638 --> 00:12:43,639
WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT.
383
00:12:43,639 --> 00:12:44,907
TAKE A LOOK THIS.
384
00:12:44,907 --> 00:12:45,708
OH.
385
00:12:45,708 --> 00:12:46,409
WAIT A MINUTE.
386
00:12:46,409 --> 00:12:47,810
ONE, TWO, THREE.
387
00:12:47,810 --> 00:12:48,844
OH.
388
00:12:48,844 --> 00:12:49,979
[BELL RINGING]
389
00:12:49,979 --> 00:12:50,613
[CROWD CHEERING]
390
00:12:50,613 --> 00:12:51,280
WHAT IS THIS?
391
00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:52,782
HE GOT HIM.
392
00:12:52,782 --> 00:12:53,783
YOU CAN TELL IT WAS SOMETHING
393
00:12:53,783 --> 00:12:55,851
SPECIAL AND IT WAS VERY RAW.
394
00:12:55,851 --> 00:12:58,387
SO THAT NAME WAS VERY FITTING.
395
00:12:58,387 --> 00:12:59,488
HE'S GOT AN -- LIKE AN
396
00:12:59,488 --> 00:13:00,890
AMPHITHEATER.
397
00:13:00,890 --> 00:13:01,657
OH.
398
00:13:01,657 --> 00:13:02,425
THIS IS MONDAY NIGHT RAW,
399
00:13:02,425 --> 00:13:03,459
FOLKS.
400
00:13:03,459 --> 00:13:04,360
IT'S UNCUT.
401
00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:05,294
UNCUT.
402
00:13:05,294 --> 00:13:07,496
AND UNCENSORED.
403
00:13:07,496 --> 00:13:08,764
[MUSIC]
404
00:13:08,764 --> 00:13:09,565
[CROWD CHEERING]
405
00:13:09,565 --> 00:13:10,299
WELCOME TO THE MANHATTAN
406
00:13:10,299 --> 00:13:11,067
CENTER.
407
00:13:11,067 --> 00:13:12,835
OH, YEAH.
408
00:13:12,835 --> 00:13:13,969
THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE
409
00:13:13,969 --> 00:13:15,805
BOISTEROUS NEW YORK CITY CROWD
410
00:13:15,805 --> 00:13:17,740
ONLY AMPLIFIED THE LIVE VISCERAL
411
00:13:17,740 --> 00:13:19,742
NATURE OF WWE'S NEW FLAGSHIP
412
00:13:19,742 --> 00:13:21,944
SHOW AND PROVIDED INSTANT
413
00:13:21,944 --> 00:13:24,380
FEEDBACK FOR THE COMPANY'S NEW
414
00:13:24,380 --> 00:13:26,348
DIRECTION.
415
00:13:26,348 --> 00:13:27,416
THE SPECIAL THING ABOUT THE
416
00:13:27,416 --> 00:13:28,651
MANHATTAN CENTER WAS FROM A
417
00:13:28,651 --> 00:13:29,952
FAN'S PERSPECTIVE IT RINGS YOU
418
00:13:29,952 --> 00:13:31,253
CLOSER TO THE WRESTLER AND A LOT
419
00:13:31,253 --> 00:13:32,254
OF WAYS IT BRINGS THE WRESTLERS
420
00:13:32,254 --> 00:13:34,490
CLOSER TO THE FANS.
421
00:13:34,490 --> 00:13:35,725
WE DID HAVE THAT FEELING THAT
422
00:13:35,725 --> 00:13:36,792
IT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING BIG AND
423
00:13:36,792 --> 00:13:39,028
ONLY BECAUSE OUR AUDIENCE IS NOT
424
00:13:39,028 --> 00:13:39,962
VERY BASHFUL.
425
00:13:39,962 --> 00:13:41,297
AND OUR AUDIENCE WILL TELL YOU
426
00:13:41,297 --> 00:13:42,932
WHAT THEY THINK, THEY WILL BOO,
427
00:13:42,932 --> 00:13:44,567
THEY WILL CHEER, THE LIVE
428
00:13:44,567 --> 00:13:46,435
AUDIENCE TOLD US THAT WE ARE
429
00:13:46,435 --> 00:13:48,237
REALLY ON TO SOMETHING.
430
00:13:48,237 --> 00:13:49,371
WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
431
00:13:49,371 --> 00:13:50,940
WEREN'T WWE FANS AND THEN ALL OF
432
00:13:50,940 --> 00:13:52,808
A SUDDEN RAW STARTED COMING OUT
433
00:13:52,808 --> 00:13:54,310
AND NOW YOU HAD PEOPLE WANTING
434
00:13:54,310 --> 00:13:56,445
TO JUMP ON THIS BANDWAGON
435
00:13:56,445 --> 00:13:58,280
KNOWING THAT SOMETHING IS LIVE.
436
00:13:58,280 --> 00:13:59,749
THERE'S ALWAYS THIS ELEMENT OF
437
00:13:59,749 --> 00:14:01,083
YOU DON'T KNOW OF WHAT'S GOING
438
00:14:01,083 --> 00:14:03,017
TO HAPPEN.
439
00:14:02,952 --> 00:14:04,353
THAT'S WHAT MADE MONDAY NIGHT
440
00:14:04,353 --> 00:14:08,624
RAW THAT MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE.
441
00:14:08,624 --> 00:14:10,326
THE EVOLUTION OF WWE
442
00:14:10,326 --> 00:14:11,627
TELEVISION PROGRAMMING BROUGHT
443
00:14:11,627 --> 00:14:13,095
SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT INTO
444
00:14:13,095 --> 00:14:14,964
PRIMETIME PROMINENCE.
445
00:14:14,964 --> 00:14:16,665
WHAT'S UP?
446
00:14:16,665 --> 00:14:17,933
AND WITH THIS UPDATED
447
00:14:17,933 --> 00:14:19,769
PLATFORM A NEW CROP OF WWE
448
00:14:19,769 --> 00:14:22,638
SUPERSTARS EMERGED TO ESTABLISH
449
00:14:22,638 --> 00:14:24,006
THEMSELVES AS THE COMPANY'S
450
00:14:24,006 --> 00:14:25,474
FUTURE.
451
00:14:25,474 --> 00:14:26,909
MONDAY NIGHT RAW WAS AN
452
00:14:26,909 --> 00:14:28,911
ENTIRELY A NEW CLIMATE FOR NEW
453
00:14:28,911 --> 00:14:31,814
SUPERSTARS TO MAKE THEIR NAMES.
454
00:14:31,814 --> 00:14:33,149
YOU CAN PRESENT YOURSELF AN
455
00:14:33,149 --> 00:14:34,784
ENTIRELY DIFFERENT MANNER THAN
456
00:14:34,784 --> 00:14:36,619
HOW GUYS DID IN THE 80S.
457
00:14:36,619 --> 00:14:37,887
I'M THE WORLD WRESTLING
458
00:14:37,887 --> 00:14:39,655
ENTERTAINMENT INTERCONTINENTAL
459
00:14:39,655 --> 00:14:41,524
CHAMPION.
460
00:14:41,524 --> 00:14:43,292
[CROWD CHEERING]
461
00:14:43,292 --> 00:14:44,527
MONDAY NIGHT RAW WAS A GREAT
462
00:14:44,527 --> 00:14:46,395
PLATFORM FOR ALL THESE GUYS.
463
00:14:46,395 --> 00:14:47,596
BRET HART, RAZOR RAMON, LEX
464
00:14:47,596 --> 00:14:48,497
LUGER.
465
00:14:48,497 --> 00:14:49,431
A LOT OF THEM HAD CHIPS ON THEIR
466
00:14:49,431 --> 00:14:50,633
SHOULDERS AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO
467
00:14:50,633 --> 00:14:51,801
GO OUT THERE ON LIVE TV AND THEN
468
00:14:51,801 --> 00:14:53,702
SHOW THE WORLD WHAT YOU'RE CABLE
469
00:14:53,702 --> 00:14:54,870
OF DOING AND THAT'S WHAT THEY
470
00:14:54,870 --> 00:14:55,905
DID.
471
00:14:55,905 --> 00:14:57,239
MONDAY NIGHT RAW HAD GIVEN
472
00:14:57,239 --> 00:14:58,741
NEW STARS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
473
00:14:58,741 --> 00:15:01,210
SHINE IN AN EVOLVING WWE
474
00:15:01,210 --> 00:15:06,014
SPOTLIGHT.
475
00:15:06,014 --> 00:15:06,849
AS A RESULT, VINCE MCMAHON WOULD
476
00:15:06,849 --> 00:15:08,651
BECOME LESS RELIANT ON THE MAIN
477
00:15:08,651 --> 00:15:12,020
EVENT STARS OF THE 1980S TO
478
00:15:12,020 --> 00:15:12,788
DRIVE THE COMPANY'S PRIMETIME
479
00:15:12,788 --> 00:15:14,223
VESSEL.
480
00:15:14,223 --> 00:15:15,391
VINCE WAS MOVING IN A
481
00:15:15,391 --> 00:15:16,692
DIFFERENT DIRECTION AND VINCE
482
00:15:16,692 --> 00:15:18,694
WAS MOVING TO YOUNGER WRESTLERS
483
00:15:18,694 --> 00:15:21,029
AT THE TIME AND IT WAS LIKE A
484
00:15:21,029 --> 00:15:21,564
YOUTH MOVEMENT AND IT JUST
485
00:15:21,564 --> 00:15:22,998
SEEMED LIKE THE PERFECT TIME FOR
486
00:15:22,998 --> 00:15:27,035
US TO MUTUALLY PART WAYS.
487
00:15:27,035 --> 00:15:27,269
HOGAN HAD STATED HE WOULD
488
00:15:27,269 --> 00:15:28,704
NEVER COMPETE WITH ME.
489
00:15:28,704 --> 00:15:29,905
YOU KNOW, HE WANTED OUT OF HIS
490
00:15:29,905 --> 00:15:31,707
CONTRACT AND, OKAY, YOU'RE OUT
491
00:15:31,707 --> 00:15:33,742
OF YOUR CONTRACT AND I THINK
492
00:15:33,742 --> 00:15:35,411
PART OF THAT CERTAINLY WAS ON ME
493
00:15:35,411 --> 00:15:37,079
AND MY VIEW OF HIS CAREER AS
494
00:15:37,079 --> 00:15:38,180
WELL BECAUSE I FELT LIKE IT
495
00:15:38,180 --> 00:15:40,549
REACHED ZENITH.
496
00:15:40,549 --> 00:15:43,219
IN JUNE OF 1993 HULK HOGAN
497
00:15:43,219 --> 00:15:45,821
WOULD LEAVE WWE.
498
00:15:45,821 --> 00:15:48,224
A REPACKAGED LEX LUGER WAS
499
00:15:48,224 --> 00:15:49,959
CHOSEN AS HOGAN'S PATRIOTIC
500
00:15:49,959 --> 00:15:52,695
SUCCESSOR.
501
00:15:52,695 --> 00:15:56,031
YOU KNOW, EVERYDAY I STRIVE
502
00:15:56,031 --> 00:15:58,801
TO BE WORTHY OF YOUR SUPPORT AND
503
00:15:58,801 --> 00:16:00,336
I TRIED TO EARN YOUR RESPECT THE
504
00:16:00,336 --> 00:16:03,272
BEST THAT I COULD POSSIBLY CAN.
505
00:16:03,272 --> 00:16:04,273
THEY'RE TRYING TO HAVE LUGER
506
00:16:04,273 --> 00:16:06,508
FILL HOGAN'S SHOES, LUGER WAS
507
00:16:06,508 --> 00:16:08,210
GOING TO BE LIKE THE NEXT FACE
508
00:16:08,210 --> 00:16:09,578
OF THE COMPANY.
509
00:16:09,578 --> 00:16:11,247
NO ONE CAN REPLACE HOGAN.
510
00:16:11,247 --> 00:16:12,615
WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE A BIG STAR
511
00:16:12,615 --> 00:16:15,618
OUT OF LEX LUGER FOR THE TIME
512
00:16:15,618 --> 00:16:16,652
BEING.
513
00:16:16,652 --> 00:16:20,923
HE WAS GOOD, HE WAS NOT GREAT.
514
00:16:20,923 --> 00:16:23,158
LEX LUGER VICTORIOUS.
515
00:16:23,158 --> 00:16:24,627
LEX LUGER HAS ELECTRIFIED THIS
516
00:16:24,627 --> 00:16:27,363
CAPACITY CROWD AND FANS ALL OVER
517
00:16:27,363 --> 00:16:28,597
THE WORLD.
518
00:16:28,597 --> 00:16:29,632
I'VE GONE FROM BEING
519
00:16:29,632 --> 00:16:31,133
NARCISSIST DRESSED IN RED,
520
00:16:31,133 --> 00:16:32,268
WHITE, AND BLUE AND THOSE YANKEE
521
00:16:32,268 --> 00:16:33,168
DOODLE DANDY OUT [INDISTINCT]
522
00:16:33,168 --> 00:16:34,570
FOR THE SUMMER.
523
00:16:34,570 --> 00:16:36,138
AND THE CROWDS WERE CRAZY IT WAS
524
00:16:36,138 --> 00:16:38,073
A--IT WAS A REALLY EXCITING
525
00:16:38,073 --> 00:16:40,843
TIME.
526
00:16:40,843 --> 00:16:42,544
BEHIND LUGER AND ENSEMBLE OF
527
00:16:42,544 --> 00:16:45,047
STARS, RAW HAD EXPANDED BEYOND
528
00:16:45,047 --> 00:16:46,815
THE SMALL CONFINES OF THE
529
00:16:46,815 --> 00:16:48,851
MANHATTAN CENTER AND INTO BIGGER
530
00:16:48,851 --> 00:16:51,954
VENUES THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST.
531
00:16:51,954 --> 00:16:53,155
WE'RE JAM-PACKED AT THE
532
00:16:53,155 --> 00:16:55,190
RAFTERS READY FOR ACTION TONIGHT
533
00:16:55,190 --> 00:16:59,295
ON MONDAY NIGHT RAW.
534
00:16:59,295 --> 00:17:01,530
HOWEVER, RAW'S INCREASED
535
00:17:01,530 --> 00:17:03,565
POPULARITY WOULD COME AT A
536
00:17:03,565 --> 00:17:05,334
PRICE.
537
00:17:05,334 --> 00:17:06,635
I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH IN THE WAY
538
00:17:06,635 --> 00:17:08,304
OF RESOURCES IN THOSE DAYS.
539
00:17:08,304 --> 00:17:10,172
SO IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR US
540
00:17:10,172 --> 00:17:11,674
BECAUSE IT COST A LOT OF MONEY
541
00:17:11,674 --> 00:17:14,510
TO DO A LIVE TELEVISION AND WE
542
00:17:14,510 --> 00:17:16,078
DIDN'T GO LIVE EVERY WEEK.
543
00:17:16,078 --> 00:17:18,447
IT WAS LIKE EVERY OTHER WEEK.
544
00:17:18,447 --> 00:17:19,815
WHILE RAW WAS NO LONGER
545
00:17:19,815 --> 00:17:22,184
BROADCAST LIKE EVERY WEEK, THE
546
00:17:22,184 --> 00:17:23,953
SHOW'S MOMENTUM HELPED WWE
547
00:17:23,953 --> 00:17:26,655
MAINTAIN ITS PLACE AS THE SPORTS
548
00:17:26,655 --> 00:17:29,725
ENTERTAINMENT LEADER.
549
00:17:29,725 --> 00:17:32,861
[MUSIC]
550
00:17:32,861 --> 00:17:35,197
AT THE SAME TIME WCW'S
551
00:17:35,197 --> 00:17:36,765
FORTUNES WOULD ALSO BEGIN TO
552
00:17:36,765 --> 00:17:39,033
TURN AROUND.
553
00:17:39,033 --> 00:17:39,768
THANKS TO AN AMBITIOUS YOUNG
554
00:17:39,768 --> 00:17:43,037
ANNOUNCER.
555
00:17:43,037 --> 00:17:44,773
I CAME TO TURNER 1981 AND I
556
00:17:44,773 --> 00:17:46,608
WAS HIRED AS A SEA SQUAD
557
00:17:46,608 --> 00:17:47,376
ANNOUNCER.
558
00:17:47,376 --> 00:17:48,744
I'M ERIC BISCHOFF FOR THIS
559
00:17:48,744 --> 00:17:51,380
WEEK'S WCW MAGAZINE.
560
00:17:51,380 --> 00:17:53,115
WCW HAD BEEN A HORRIBLY
561
00:17:53,115 --> 00:17:55,451
MISMANAGED COMPANY FROM THE
562
00:17:55,451 --> 00:17:56,986
MOMENT TED TURNER BOUGHT THE
563
00:17:56,986 --> 00:17:58,887
COMPANY.
564
00:17:58,887 --> 00:18:00,622
IN '93, THE RUMOR STARTED
565
00:18:00,622 --> 00:18:03,024
FLOATING AROUND IN TURNER
566
00:18:03,024 --> 00:18:03,292
BROADCASTING THAT THEY WERE
567
00:18:03,292 --> 00:18:04,493
GOING TO LOOK FOR AN EXECUTIVE
568
00:18:04,493 --> 00:18:05,961
PRODUCER TO COME IN AND LOOK AT
569
00:18:05,961 --> 00:18:07,796
WCW MORE AS A TELEVISION
570
00:18:07,796 --> 00:18:09,965
PROPERTY AND LESS AS A LIVE
571
00:18:09,965 --> 00:18:12,301
EVENT PROPERTY.
572
00:18:12,301 --> 00:18:13,168
I SAID, "WHAT THE HELL, I'LL
573
00:18:13,168 --> 00:18:15,137
THROW MY NAME IN THE HAT."
574
00:18:15,137 --> 00:18:16,105
EVENTUALLY I ENDED UP GETTING
575
00:18:16,105 --> 00:18:18,741
THE JOB AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER.
576
00:18:18,741 --> 00:18:21,410
[MUSIC]
577
00:18:21,410 --> 00:18:22,578
AS BOTH ANNOUNCER AND
578
00:18:22,578 --> 00:18:24,480
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, ERIC
579
00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:27,015
BISCHOFF WOULD TAKE THE FIRST
580
00:18:27,015 --> 00:18:28,350
STEPS IN RAISING THE STANDARDS
581
00:18:28,350 --> 00:18:30,719
OF WCW PROGRAMMING.
582
00:18:30,719 --> 00:18:32,054
WCW NEVER MATCHED THE
583
00:18:32,054 --> 00:18:33,922
PRODUCTION QUALITIES OF WWE.
584
00:18:33,922 --> 00:18:35,324
IT NEVER MATCHED IT.
585
00:18:35,324 --> 00:18:36,592
EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A TV COMPANY,
586
00:18:36,592 --> 00:18:37,826
THEY NEVER COULD QUITE MATCH THE
587
00:18:37,826 --> 00:18:39,962
PRODUCTION QUALITIES.
588
00:18:39,962 --> 00:18:41,296
ERIC BISCHOFF HAD A VISION TO
589
00:18:41,296 --> 00:18:42,931
CREATE WRESTLING AND MAKE IT A
590
00:18:42,931 --> 00:18:44,933
BUSINESS AS BIG AS IT COULD
591
00:18:44,933 --> 00:18:46,135
POSSIBLY GET.
592
00:18:46,135 --> 00:18:48,036
OH.
593
00:18:48,036 --> 00:18:49,171
[CROWD CHEERING]
594
00:18:49,171 --> 00:18:50,506
HE WANTED IT TO BE, YOU KNOW,
595
00:18:50,506 --> 00:18:52,408
SHOW BUSINESS LIKE HOLLYWOOD.
596
00:18:52,408 --> 00:18:54,443
ERIC WAS SAVVY.
597
00:18:54,443 --> 00:18:57,212
GOOD PROMOTIONAL MIND AND GOOD
598
00:18:57,212 --> 00:18:59,214
AT BRANDING.
599
00:18:59,214 --> 00:19:00,282
AND HE CERTAINLY WROTE THAT
600
00:19:00,282 --> 00:19:03,152
THE WWE PRODUCT AT THAT TIME AND
601
00:19:03,152 --> 00:19:04,586
HE SAID IF WE CAN REPLICATE THAT
602
00:19:04,586 --> 00:19:08,090
WE'RE GONNA BE IN THE BALL GAME.
603
00:19:08,090 --> 00:19:09,491
HI EVERYONE.
604
00:19:09,491 --> 00:19:12,026
WELCOME TO MONDAY NIGHT RAW.
605
00:19:12,026 --> 00:19:12,227
VINCE MCMAHON ALONG WITH BOBBY
606
00:19:12,227 --> 00:19:13,562
"THE BRAIN" HEENAN.
607
00:19:13,562 --> 00:19:14,396
[MUSIC]
608
00:19:14,396 --> 00:19:16,498
WWE WAS PERCEIVED TO BE THE
609
00:19:16,498 --> 00:19:18,400
BIG NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL
610
00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:19,868
ORGANIZATION.
611
00:19:19,868 --> 00:19:22,805
WCW AT THE TIME WAS PERCEIVED TO
612
00:19:22,805 --> 00:19:25,674
BE AND WAS QUITE FRANKLY A
613
00:19:25,674 --> 00:19:27,309
SOUTHERN, REGIONAL TERRITORY.
614
00:19:27,309 --> 00:19:29,078
THE RUBBER MATCH BETWEEN THE
615
00:19:29,078 --> 00:19:30,279
SOUTHERN BOYS AND THE FABULOUS
616
00:19:30,279 --> 00:19:31,847
FREEBIRDS.
617
00:19:31,847 --> 00:19:33,215
THE ANNOUNCING TEAMS WERE ONE
618
00:19:33,215 --> 00:19:34,950
OF THE THINGS THAT I FELT RIGHT
619
00:19:34,950 --> 00:19:36,118
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING NEEDED
620
00:19:36,118 --> 00:19:37,052
TO BE FIXED.
621
00:19:37,052 --> 00:19:38,187
GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY AND
622
00:19:38,187 --> 00:19:39,555
WELCOME TO THE POWER HOUR.
623
00:19:39,555 --> 00:19:40,756
I DIDN'T WANT IT TO SOUND
624
00:19:40,756 --> 00:19:42,091
LIKE A SOUTHERN PROMOTION.
625
00:19:42,091 --> 00:19:43,425
THEREFORE THE ANNOUNCERS WITH
626
00:19:43,425 --> 00:19:46,428
SOUTHERN ACCENTS HAD TO GO.
627
00:19:46,428 --> 00:19:47,296
HI EVERYONE.
628
00:19:47,296 --> 00:19:48,497
I'M "MEAN" GENE OKERLUND.
629
00:19:48,497 --> 00:19:50,632
WELCOME TO THE CLASH OF
630
00:19:50,632 --> 00:19:53,202
CHAMPIONS, LIVE HERE ON TBS.
631
00:19:53,202 --> 00:19:54,436
I WORKED A REAL NICE DEAL OUT
632
00:19:54,436 --> 00:19:58,039
AS DID THE LOT OF PEOPLE WITH
633
00:19:58,039 --> 00:19:58,407
WCW.
634
00:19:58,407 --> 00:20:00,209
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I CAN'T
635
00:20:00,209 --> 00:20:01,643
BELIEVE IT.
636
00:20:01,643 --> 00:20:04,847
BOBBY "THE BRAIN" HEENAN.
637
00:20:04,847 --> 00:20:07,049
[CROWD CHEERING]
638
00:20:07,049 --> 00:20:07,983
THE FIRST THING THEY NEEDED
639
00:20:07,983 --> 00:20:09,151
TO DO IS GET AN ANNOUNCING TEAM.
640
00:20:09,151 --> 00:20:10,452
THE KEY COMPONENTS OUT THERE.
641
00:20:10,452 --> 00:20:12,221
IF YOU WANNA GO TO WAR THEM,
642
00:20:12,221 --> 00:20:13,922
BOBBY HEENAN AND GENE OKERLUND.
643
00:20:13,922 --> 00:20:15,491
HEENAN, WON'T YOU LEAVE ME
644
00:20:15,491 --> 00:20:17,025
ALONE, YOU FOLLOW ME EVERYWHERE.
645
00:20:17,025 --> 00:20:18,327
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
646
00:20:18,327 --> 00:20:19,394
I WORK HERE.
647
00:20:19,394 --> 00:20:20,696
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
648
00:20:20,696 --> 00:20:22,197
WELL, WHO SAYS YOU WORK HERE?
649
00:20:22,197 --> 00:20:23,799
WHO SAYS I WORK HERE?
650
00:20:23,799 --> 00:20:26,702
TRY TED AND JANE, THE TURNERS.
651
00:20:26,702 --> 00:20:28,504
I'M ON BOARD NOW, PAL.
652
00:20:28,504 --> 00:20:30,372
[MUSIC]
653
00:20:30,372 --> 00:20:32,141
BRINGING IN GENE OKERLUND WHO
654
00:20:32,141 --> 00:20:33,408
WAS A NATIONALLY KNOWN
655
00:20:33,408 --> 00:20:34,610
ANNOUNCER, BRINGING IN BOBBY
656
00:20:34,610 --> 00:20:35,511
HEENAN.
657
00:20:35,511 --> 00:20:36,879
ALONG WITH "MEAN" GENE
658
00:20:36,879 --> 00:20:38,113
OKERLUND AND BOBBY "THE BRAIN"
659
00:20:38,113 --> 00:20:39,281
HEENAN, I'M TONY SCHIAVONE.
660
00:20:39,281 --> 00:20:40,849
IT WAS SHOWING THE WORLD, WCW
661
00:20:40,849 --> 00:20:42,951
WAS TRYING TO BE A BIG COMPANY.
662
00:20:42,951 --> 00:20:45,654
ABOUT THAT SAME TIME, ONE OF
663
00:20:45,654 --> 00:20:47,256
THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO DO
664
00:20:47,256 --> 00:20:49,291
FOR WCW WAS TAKE IT OUT OF THE
665
00:20:49,291 --> 00:20:52,561
SMALL GRUNGY, DIMLY LIT ARENAS
666
00:20:52,561 --> 00:20:53,795
THAT WE HAD TYPICALLY BEEN
667
00:20:53,795 --> 00:20:54,063
PRODUCING OUR SHOW ON FRONT OF
668
00:20:54,063 --> 00:20:57,032
AND MOVE INTO THE DISNEY MGM
669
00:20:57,032 --> 00:20:58,367
STUDIO.
670
00:20:58,367 --> 00:20:59,535
I CAN COMPREHEND DISNEY MGM
671
00:20:59,535 --> 00:21:01,470
STUDIOS WITH WCW AND HAVE A
672
00:21:01,470 --> 00:21:03,605
GREAT PLACE TO PRODUCE
673
00:21:03,605 --> 00:21:04,473
TELEVISION.
674
00:21:04,473 --> 00:21:05,674
WE CAN PUT FOUR, 500 PEOPLE ON A
675
00:21:05,674 --> 00:21:07,276
SOUND STAGE, THEY'RE ENCLOSED TO
676
00:21:07,276 --> 00:21:08,844
THE RING, SO IT WORKED VERY
677
00:21:08,844 --> 00:21:10,345
EFFECTIVELY.
678
00:21:10,345 --> 00:21:11,713
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
679
00:21:11,713 --> 00:21:13,782
WRESTLING'S SUCCESS WOULD DRIVE
680
00:21:13,782 --> 00:21:15,117
THE COMPANY'S BILLIONAIRE
681
00:21:15,117 --> 00:21:16,652
BENEFACTOR TO ADD THE NECESSARY
682
00:21:16,652 --> 00:21:20,122
RESOURCES TO TAKE WCW TO EVEN
683
00:21:20,122 --> 00:21:22,925
GREATER HEIGHTS.
684
00:21:22,925 --> 00:21:24,693
[MUSIC]
685
00:21:24,693 --> 00:21:25,661
WRESTLING WITHIN THE
686
00:21:25,661 --> 00:21:27,329
ORGANIZATION WAS GROWING.
687
00:21:27,329 --> 00:21:28,964
THE SPECIFIC INTERESTS STARTED
688
00:21:28,964 --> 00:21:29,965
WITH TED TURNER.
689
00:21:29,965 --> 00:21:31,400
I MEAN HE LOVED IT AND THERE IS
690
00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:32,434
ANOTHER PART TO IT.
691
00:21:32,434 --> 00:21:33,569
I THINK THE COMPETITIVE NATURE
692
00:21:33,569 --> 00:21:36,505
THAT VINCE MCMAHON PUT IN FRONT
693
00:21:36,505 --> 00:21:37,873
OF IT STARTED THE CONTEST
694
00:21:37,873 --> 00:21:39,841
BETWEEN THE PARTIES TO SEE WHO
695
00:21:39,841 --> 00:21:41,677
WOULD SUCCEED.
696
00:21:41,677 --> 00:21:42,911
NASHVILLE IS ROCKING WITH
697
00:21:42,911 --> 00:21:45,214
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING.
698
00:21:45,214 --> 00:21:46,748
HE ALWAYS HAD THIS DREAM OF
699
00:21:46,748 --> 00:21:48,150
BEING THE BIGGEST AND THE BEST,
700
00:21:48,150 --> 00:21:49,384
OBVIOUSLY HE MADE HIS CABLE
701
00:21:49,384 --> 00:21:50,652
SYSTEM THAT AND HE WANTED HIS
702
00:21:50,652 --> 00:21:52,254
COMPANY TO BE LIKE THAT AND HE
703
00:21:52,254 --> 00:21:53,722
WAS A FAN AT HEART.
704
00:21:53,722 --> 00:21:55,023
THERE'S JANE FONDA AND HER
705
00:21:55,023 --> 00:21:57,426
HUSBAND, TED TURNER.
706
00:21:57,426 --> 00:21:59,428
ERIC IS TED'S OWN EGO AND HIS
707
00:21:59,428 --> 00:22:03,332
OWN COMPETITIVENESS BECAUSE TED
708
00:22:03,332 --> 00:22:04,700
DIDN'T LIKE VINCE AND VINCE
709
00:22:04,700 --> 00:22:06,535
DIDN'T LIKE TED AND IF YOU WON
710
00:22:06,535 --> 00:22:07,869
OVER AND TAKE MCMAHON AND KICK
711
00:22:07,869 --> 00:22:09,671
HIS -- WELL THEN I NEED
712
00:22:09,671 --> 00:22:11,073
SUPPLIERS.
713
00:22:11,073 --> 00:22:12,674
HOGAN HAD DECIDED HE WAS DONE
714
00:22:12,674 --> 00:22:14,276
WITH WRESTLING AND WAS GOING TO
715
00:22:14,276 --> 00:22:16,411
TRANSITION TO BEING A FILM STAR
716
00:22:16,411 --> 00:22:17,746
AND A TELEVISION STAR.
717
00:22:17,746 --> 00:22:19,348
HOGAN HAD STARTED FILMING A
718
00:22:19,348 --> 00:22:21,783
TELEVISION SERIES CALLED THUNDER
719
00:22:21,783 --> 00:22:23,385
IN PARADISE, DONE AT THE DISNEY
720
00:22:23,385 --> 00:22:25,821
MGM STUDIOS IN ORLANDO.
721
00:22:25,821 --> 00:22:27,556
ON THE SOUND STAGE NEXT TO ME
722
00:22:27,556 --> 00:22:28,857
WHERE I WAS FILMING WAS TED
723
00:22:28,857 --> 00:22:31,693
TURNER'S WCW.
724
00:22:31,693 --> 00:22:32,995
NEXT THING I KNOW, THIS GUY
725
00:22:32,995 --> 00:22:34,730
NAMED ERIC BISCHOFF STARTED
726
00:22:34,730 --> 00:22:35,931
COMING OVER AND HE STARTED
727
00:22:35,931 --> 00:22:37,199
BRINGING RIC FLAIR WITH HIM
728
00:22:37,199 --> 00:22:38,500
GOING, "HEY, HULK, I WANT YOU TO
729
00:22:38,500 --> 00:22:39,568
COME BACK AND BE PART OF US."
730
00:22:39,568 --> 00:22:40,802
I SAID, "NO WAY."
731
00:22:40,802 --> 00:22:41,737
THIS WENT ON FOR A GOOD FIVE OR
732
00:22:41,737 --> 00:22:43,872
SIX MONTHS.
733
00:22:43,872 --> 00:22:45,207
ERIC BISCHOFF WAS ON THE SET
734
00:22:45,207 --> 00:22:46,808
WITH US AND I LOOK OVER AND I
735
00:22:46,808 --> 00:22:49,111
SEE ERIC AND HULK OVER THERE
736
00:22:49,111 --> 00:22:50,746
WHISPERING AND TALKING AND HULK
737
00:22:50,746 --> 00:22:52,214
CALLED ME OVER AND GOES, "HOW
738
00:22:52,214 --> 00:22:53,215
WOULD YOU FEEL ABOUT US JOINING
739
00:22:53,215 --> 00:22:54,683
WCW?"
740
00:22:54,683 --> 00:22:57,019
I MISS WRESTLING SO MUCH,
741
00:22:57,019 --> 00:23:01,123
FINALLY I CAVED AND BASICALLY
742
00:23:01,123 --> 00:23:03,692
WENT TO WORK FOR TED TURNER.
743
00:23:03,692 --> 00:23:04,793
ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND
744
00:23:04,793 --> 00:23:06,261
GENTLEMEN WE ARE LIVE AT DISNEY
745
00:23:06,261 --> 00:23:08,063
MGM AT ORLANDO, FLORIDA AND
746
00:23:08,063 --> 00:23:10,899
THOUSANDS OF FANS ARE HERE TO
747
00:23:10,899 --> 00:23:15,470
SEE ONE MAN, WELCOME HULK HOGAN.
748
00:23:15,470 --> 00:23:18,206
[MUSIC]
749
00:23:18,206 --> 00:23:19,775
TURNER BROADCASTING WANTED TO
750
00:23:19,775 --> 00:23:22,678
COMPETE ON THE NATIONAL STAGE
751
00:23:22,678 --> 00:23:25,847
AND WHAT BIGGER OR BETTER NAME
752
00:23:25,847 --> 00:23:27,149
THAN HULK HOGAN.
753
00:23:27,149 --> 00:23:29,484
HERE WAS THE FACE OF WRESTLING.
754
00:23:29,484 --> 00:23:32,020
THAT TO ME WAS THE BIGGEST COUP
755
00:23:32,020 --> 00:23:35,524
AND IT STARTED IT ALL.
756
00:23:35,524 --> 00:23:37,225
HOGAN I THOUGHT WAS VERY,
757
00:23:37,225 --> 00:23:40,462
VERY GOOD BUSINESS MOVE FOR WCW.
758
00:23:40,462 --> 00:23:42,331
HERE WE GO.
759
00:23:42,331 --> 00:23:43,965
GET READY FOR THE RIDE OF YOUR
760
00:23:43,965 --> 00:23:45,000
LIFE.
761
00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:45,867
[CROWD CHEERING]
762
00:23:45,867 --> 00:23:47,202
HOGAN WOULD BE IN ALL WAYS
763
00:23:47,202 --> 00:23:49,304
HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST STAR IN THE
764
00:23:49,304 --> 00:23:50,539
CENTURY.
765
00:23:50,539 --> 00:23:51,740
WHEN SOMEONE SAYS WRESTLING IF
766
00:23:51,740 --> 00:23:52,874
THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
767
00:23:52,874 --> 00:23:54,042
WRESTLING THEY'RE ALL
768
00:23:54,042 --> 00:23:54,976
THAT--THAT'S THE THING THAT HULK
769
00:23:54,976 --> 00:23:56,812
HOGAN DOES.
770
00:23:56,812 --> 00:23:57,046
WELL, YOU KNOW SOMETHING MEAN
771
00:23:57,046 --> 00:23:59,881
GENE, I TOLD YOU, HULKAMANIA WAS
772
00:23:59,881 --> 00:24:02,117
GONNA RUN WILD IN THE WCW,
773
00:24:02,117 --> 00:24:02,884
BROTHER.
774
00:24:02,884 --> 00:24:04,453
LOOK AT ALL THE HULKAMANIACS.
775
00:24:04,453 --> 00:24:06,221
CAN YOU HEAR THEM, MEAN GENE?
776
00:24:06,221 --> 00:24:08,490
[CROWD CHEERING]
777
00:24:08,490 --> 00:24:10,692
AS A WWE FAN, HOGAN GOING TO
778
00:24:10,692 --> 00:24:14,363
WCW THAT WAS A SLAP IN THE FACE
779
00:24:14,363 --> 00:24:15,964
TO ME.
780
00:24:15,964 --> 00:24:17,999
THEY TOOK HULK, I MEAN HE WAS
781
00:24:17,999 --> 00:24:19,901
THE BRAND HERE FOR SO MANY
782
00:24:19,901 --> 00:24:21,670
YEARS.
783
00:24:21,670 --> 00:24:23,004
SO WHEN HOGAN TURNED AROUND
784
00:24:23,004 --> 00:24:24,740
AND LEFT, IT WAS THE BEGINNING
785
00:24:24,740 --> 00:24:27,142
OF THE WCW REVOLUTION.
786
00:24:27,142 --> 00:24:28,143
[CROWD CHEERING]
787
00:24:28,143 --> 00:24:30,846
HULK HOGAN.
788
00:24:30,846 --> 00:24:33,048
I WAS DISHEARTENED WHEN HOGAN
789
00:24:33,048 --> 00:24:36,618
SIGNED WITH WCW.
790
00:24:36,618 --> 00:24:39,121
AT ONE TIME I REALLY LOOKED AT
791
00:24:39,121 --> 00:24:41,356
IT AS A REGIONAL PROMOTION.
792
00:24:41,356 --> 00:24:43,859
HOGAN LEGITIMIZED WCW.
793
00:24:43,859 --> 00:24:45,427
THE FACT THAT HULK HOGAN IS
794
00:24:45,427 --> 00:24:47,763
HERE IN THE WCW THIS IS THE
795
00:24:47,763 --> 00:24:49,131
BIGGEST DAY IN MY LIFE.
796
00:24:49,131 --> 00:24:51,166
THE BIGGEST DAY IN MY CAREER AND
797
00:24:51,166 --> 00:24:52,868
NOW THAT TED TURNER HAS PUT HIS
798
00:24:52,868 --> 00:24:54,669
SEAL OF APPROVAL, NOW THAT HIS
799
00:24:54,669 --> 00:24:57,105
WORDS ARE INSTANT STONE, THIS IS
800
00:24:57,105 --> 00:24:59,808
THE NUMBER ONE WRESTLING
801
00:24:59,808 --> 00:25:01,243
ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD
802
00:25:01,243 --> 00:25:02,644
BROTHER, AND ALL THE MANIACS
803
00:25:02,644 --> 00:25:04,079
KNOW THAT DUDE.
804
00:25:04,079 --> 00:25:06,013
AMEN.
805
00:25:06,013 --> 00:25:06,181
IT WAS A FAIRLY LARGE
806
00:25:06,181 --> 00:25:08,483
CONTRACT BUT THE HULKSTER REALLY
807
00:25:08,483 --> 00:25:11,286
HELPED TURNED THINGS AROUND.
808
00:25:11,286 --> 00:25:12,120
AND I UNDERSTAND WHY HE
809
00:25:12,120 --> 00:25:13,989
SIGNED BUT, YOU KNOW, FROM A
810
00:25:13,989 --> 00:25:15,857
PERSONAL STANDPOINT, IT BUGGED
811
00:25:15,857 --> 00:25:17,793
ME FOR A BUSINESS STANDPOINT.
812
00:25:17,793 --> 00:25:20,462
IT WAS LIKE, UH-OH, HERE THEY
813
00:25:20,462 --> 00:25:21,263
GO.
814
00:25:21,263 --> 00:25:22,063
THIS IS GONNA BE REAL
815
00:25:22,063 --> 00:25:22,864
COMPETITION.
816
00:25:22,864 --> 00:25:23,999
AS WE FIRST PUT WRESTLING ON
817
00:25:23,999 --> 00:25:26,568
TURNER NETWORK MANY YEARS AGO
818
00:25:26,568 --> 00:25:28,003
IT'S BEEN EXCITING ENTERTAINMENT
819
00:25:28,003 --> 00:25:29,938
PROGRAMMING FOR ALL OUR VIEWERS.
820
00:25:29,938 --> 00:25:31,339
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING HAS
821
00:25:31,339 --> 00:25:33,208
ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF OUR MOST
822
00:25:33,208 --> 00:25:34,509
POPULAR PROGRAMS.
823
00:25:34,509 --> 00:25:35,744
THE BRAVES ARE BECOMING A
824
00:25:35,744 --> 00:25:37,245
WINNING TEAM IN BASEBALL, CNN IS
825
00:25:37,245 --> 00:25:38,947
THE LEADER IN WORLD NEWS AND
826
00:25:38,947 --> 00:25:41,917
INFORMATION, AND NOW WCW IS
827
00:25:41,917 --> 00:25:43,318
ABOUT TO DOMINATE THE GLOBE IN
828
00:25:43,318 --> 00:25:44,853
PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING.
829
00:25:44,853 --> 00:25:45,720
[MUSIC]
830
00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:46,688
I STILL BELIEVE IN
831
00:25:46,688 --> 00:25:48,056
HULKAMANIA, WHERE AT THAT TIME A
832
00:25:48,056 --> 00:25:48,957
LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT I WAS OUT
833
00:25:48,957 --> 00:25:49,925
OF GAS.
834
00:25:49,925 --> 00:25:51,793
AND I JUST KNEW THAT IT WASN'T
835
00:25:51,793 --> 00:25:53,061
OVER YET.
836
00:25:53,061 --> 00:25:55,096
ON THEIR FEET, THE
837
00:25:55,096 --> 00:25:58,800
HULKAMANIACS AND HULKAMANIA.
838
00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:00,435
THEY OPENED THE DOORS TO ME.
839
00:26:00,435 --> 00:26:02,103
HULKAMANIA RAN WILD, WE DRAW
840
00:26:02,103 --> 00:26:04,038
NUMBERS, WE GET REAL
841
00:26:04,038 --> 00:26:04,339
COMPETITIVE.
842
00:26:04,339 --> 00:26:07,909
HIS FIRST MATCH IN WCW AND HE
843
00:26:07,909 --> 00:26:09,678
SETS AN ALL TIME IN ATTENDANCE
844
00:26:09,678 --> 00:26:11,680
RECORD, AN ALL TIME PAY-PER-VIEW
845
00:26:11,680 --> 00:26:13,915
RECORD FOR WCW.
846
00:26:13,915 --> 00:26:15,784
THE HOGAN ACQUISITION RAISED
847
00:26:15,784 --> 00:26:18,753
WCW'S NATIONAL PROFILE AND WOULD
848
00:26:18,753 --> 00:26:20,522
SERVE AS THE COMPANY'S BLUEPRINT
849
00:26:20,522 --> 00:26:21,957
FOR THE FUTURE.
850
00:26:21,957 --> 00:26:22,891
[CROWD CHEERING]
851
00:26:22,891 --> 00:26:24,493
TURNER WITH HOGAN AND THE
852
00:26:24,493 --> 00:26:26,228
SUCCESS THAT HE HAD WITH HIM
853
00:26:26,228 --> 00:26:30,699
JUST KEPT ADDING TO THE PAYROLL.
854
00:26:30,699 --> 00:26:31,833
WHEN TED CAME IN AND SAID
855
00:26:31,833 --> 00:26:33,068
HERE'S THE CHECKBOOK AND, YOU
856
00:26:33,068 --> 00:26:34,169
KNOW, WHAT I MEAN AND I'VE
857
00:26:34,169 --> 00:26:35,470
SIGNED IT AND YOU PUT WHAT YOU
858
00:26:35,470 --> 00:26:36,671
NEED IN IT.
859
00:26:36,671 --> 00:26:37,939
FUELED BY TED TURNER'S BLANK
860
00:26:37,939 --> 00:26:42,410
CHECKS, WCW WOULD ATTRACT THE
861
00:26:42,410 --> 00:26:46,147
ATTENTION OF ANOTHER WWE STAR.
862
00:26:46,147 --> 00:26:47,682
FROM THE TOP LADIES AND
863
00:26:47,682 --> 00:26:50,452
GENTLEMEN AND YES.
864
00:26:50,452 --> 00:26:52,287
"MACHO MAN" RANDY SAVAGE HAD
865
00:26:52,287 --> 00:26:53,788
REACHED INCREDIBLE HEIGHTS
866
00:26:53,788 --> 00:26:55,757
DURING THE 1980S.
867
00:26:55,757 --> 00:26:57,592
BUT IN THE EARLY '90S HE HAD
868
00:26:57,592 --> 00:26:59,261
TRANSITIONED FROM BEING THE MEGA
869
00:26:59,261 --> 00:27:02,898
POWER TO A COLOR COMMENTATOR.
870
00:27:02,898 --> 00:27:06,701
RANDY WAS LOYAL TO THE WWE.
871
00:27:06,701 --> 00:27:09,003
BUT THEN HE STARTED GETTING
872
00:27:09,003 --> 00:27:09,905
BORED ON THE MICROPHONE.
873
00:27:09,905 --> 00:27:10,672
I WANNA TELL YOU SOMETHING,
874
00:27:10,672 --> 00:27:11,373
MAN.
875
00:27:11,373 --> 00:27:12,140
I DON'T THINK I DON'T WANNA TELL
876
00:27:12,140 --> 00:27:13,608
YOU, JUST READ MY EYES RIGHT
877
00:27:13,608 --> 00:27:14,809
NOW.
878
00:27:14,809 --> 00:27:16,177
IT'S HARD TO SIT IN THIS
879
00:27:16,177 --> 00:27:17,712
CHAIR...
880
00:27:17,712 --> 00:27:19,214
THE WORLD WAS, WE'RE HAVING A
881
00:27:19,214 --> 00:27:20,549
YOUTH MOVEMENT.
882
00:27:20,549 --> 00:27:22,651
THEY HURT HIS FEELINGS.
883
00:27:22,651 --> 00:27:23,818
IF YOU NEEDED SOMEBODY TO
884
00:27:23,818 --> 00:27:25,620
DRAW MONEY WITH, IT WAS THE
885
00:27:25,620 --> 00:27:26,755
MACHO MAN.
886
00:27:26,755 --> 00:27:27,822
WELL, I GUESS WE'LL BE RIGHT
887
00:27:27,822 --> 00:27:28,957
BACK WITH MADE IN THE USA, LEX
888
00:27:28,957 --> 00:27:30,325
LUGER...
889
00:27:30,325 --> 00:27:31,426
VINCE MCMAHON DECIDED HE
890
00:27:31,426 --> 00:27:32,327
DIDN'T WANT HIM TO WRESTLE
891
00:27:32,327 --> 00:27:33,428
ANYMORE, HE WANTED HIM TO BE A
892
00:27:33,428 --> 00:27:34,496
COLOR COMMENTATOR.
893
00:27:34,496 --> 00:27:35,864
THE MACHO MAN CALLED ME AND HE
894
00:27:35,864 --> 00:27:37,165
WANTED TO GO TO WORK FOR THE
895
00:27:37,165 --> 00:27:38,400
WCW.
896
00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:39,801
EVIDENTLY, HOGAN HAD BEEN
897
00:27:39,801 --> 00:27:41,169
TALKING TO SAVAGE.
898
00:27:41,169 --> 00:27:42,804
RANDY ENDED UP GIVING ME A CALL.
899
00:27:42,804 --> 00:27:44,105
I TALKED TO RANDY A COUPLE OF
900
00:27:44,105 --> 00:27:45,240
TIMES AND WITHIN A MATTER OF
901
00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:46,775
PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR WEEKS WE
902
00:27:46,775 --> 00:27:47,809
MADE A DEAL.
903
00:27:47,809 --> 00:27:48,610
ALL RIGHT.
904
00:27:48,610 --> 00:27:49,444
WE'RE BACK LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
905
00:27:49,444 --> 00:27:50,312
WE'LL HAVE MORE ACTION FOR YOU
906
00:27:50,312 --> 00:27:51,079
MOMENTARILY.
907
00:27:51,079 --> 00:27:51,947
AT THIS TIME, OBVIOUSLY
908
00:27:51,947 --> 00:27:52,981
CONSPICUOUS BY HIS ABSENCE IS
909
00:27:52,981 --> 00:27:54,549
THE "MACHO MAN" RANDY SAVAGE.
910
00:27:54,549 --> 00:27:56,051
AND I'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCE
911
00:27:56,051 --> 00:27:58,486
UNFORTUNATELY THAT RANDY SAVAGE
912
00:27:58,486 --> 00:27:59,888
HAS BEEN UNABLE TO SIGN A
913
00:27:59,888 --> 00:28:00,855
CONTRACT WITH THE WORLD
914
00:28:00,855 --> 00:28:02,424
WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT NOT
915
00:28:02,424 --> 00:28:03,792
UNABLE TO RATHER COME TO TERMS
916
00:28:03,792 --> 00:28:04,893
WITH THE WORLD WRESTLING
917
00:28:04,893 --> 00:28:05,827
ENTERTAINMENT FOR A NEW
918
00:28:05,827 --> 00:28:06,661
CONTRACT.
919
00:28:06,661 --> 00:28:07,896
BUT RANDY I KNOW YOU'RE OUT
920
00:28:07,896 --> 00:28:08,830
THERE LISTENING AND ON BEHALF OF
921
00:28:08,830 --> 00:28:10,998
ALL OF US HERE IN THE WORLD
922
00:28:10,998 --> 00:28:11,232
WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, ALL OF
923
00:28:11,232 --> 00:28:13,101
YOUR FANS AND CERTAINLY ME, THE
924
00:28:13,101 --> 00:28:15,236
NUMBER ONE FAN, I'D LIKE TO SAY
925
00:28:15,236 --> 00:28:16,738
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR
926
00:28:16,738 --> 00:28:18,673
POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE
927
00:28:18,673 --> 00:28:20,275
WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT.
928
00:28:20,275 --> 00:28:21,977
THANK YOU RANDY SAVAGE FOR ALL
929
00:28:21,977 --> 00:28:23,678
OF THE WONDERFUL MEMORIES FOR SO
930
00:28:23,678 --> 00:28:24,946
MANY YEARS HERE IN THE WORLD
931
00:28:24,946 --> 00:28:26,081
WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT.
932
00:28:26,081 --> 00:28:27,549
WE WISH YOU NOTHING BUT THE
933
00:28:27,549 --> 00:28:28,450
BEST.
934
00:28:28,450 --> 00:28:31,152
GODSPEED AND GOOD LUCK.
935
00:28:31,152 --> 00:28:34,422
[MUSIC]
936
00:28:34,422 --> 00:28:37,959
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE
937
00:28:37,959 --> 00:28:42,497
WELCOME "THE MACHO MAN" RANDY
938
00:28:42,497 --> 00:28:46,101
SAVAGE.
939
00:28:46,101 --> 00:28:48,003
WHEN RANDY JUMPED WE DIDN'T
940
00:28:48,003 --> 00:28:49,504
SEE THAT ONE COMING.
941
00:28:49,504 --> 00:28:50,605
I THINK THAT WAS KIND OF A
942
00:28:50,605 --> 00:28:52,907
SHOCKER TO ALL OF US.
943
00:28:52,907 --> 00:28:54,843
RANDY "MACHO MAN" SAVAGE
944
00:28:54,843 --> 00:28:56,111
GOING TOO?
945
00:28:56,111 --> 00:28:58,146
LIKE WHAT IS GOING ON?
946
00:28:58,146 --> 00:28:59,514
I WANT EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW TO
947
00:28:59,514 --> 00:29:01,683
FREAK OUT--FREAK OUT.
948
00:29:01,683 --> 00:29:04,285
THE MACHO MAN IS RIGHT HERE AND
949
00:29:04,285 --> 00:29:06,688
I'M HERE FOR ONLY ONE REASON AND
950
00:29:06,688 --> 00:29:08,456
THAT'S TO TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT,
951
00:29:08,456 --> 00:29:09,357
YEAH.
952
00:29:09,357 --> 00:29:10,358
[MUSIC]
953
00:29:10,358 --> 00:29:12,460
BISCHOFF TOOK OVER AND THE
954
00:29:12,460 --> 00:29:14,896
CHECKBOOK WAS JUST LEFT OPEN TO
955
00:29:14,896 --> 00:29:16,064
WRITE.
956
00:29:16,064 --> 00:29:18,099
AND THEN THAT'S WHEN IT REALLY
957
00:29:18,099 --> 00:29:21,903
ACTUALLY BECAME A WAR.
958
00:29:21,903 --> 00:29:22,837
THE BIG NAMES OF THAT TIME
959
00:29:22,837 --> 00:29:24,205
WERE ABSOLUTELY HOGAN AND
960
00:29:24,205 --> 00:29:25,106
SAVAGE.
961
00:29:25,106 --> 00:29:28,109
AND FOR HIM TO SIGN THOSE GUYS
962
00:29:28,109 --> 00:29:30,612
WITH ALL THAT LINEAGE, IT TOOK
963
00:29:30,612 --> 00:29:32,947
OUR PRODUCT TO ANOTHER LEVEL.
964
00:29:32,947 --> 00:29:34,149
YOU'RE WATCHING LIVE, WORLD
965
00:29:34,149 --> 00:29:35,917
CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING CLAIMS
966
00:29:35,917 --> 00:29:37,619
THAT WE ARE THE TOPS IN THE
967
00:29:37,619 --> 00:29:38,887
WORLD BECAUSE HULK HOGAN IS
968
00:29:38,887 --> 00:29:41,021
HERE, BECAUSE "THE MACHO MAN"
969
00:29:41,021 --> 00:29:41,256
RANDY SAVAGE IS HERE.
970
00:29:41,256 --> 00:29:44,024
THIS IS NOT A MONOPOLY DEAL.
971
00:29:44,024 --> 00:29:45,393
YOU GOT COMPETITION OUT THERE
972
00:29:45,393 --> 00:29:47,095
FOR THE PLAYERS, FOR THE ARENAS
973
00:29:47,095 --> 00:29:49,297
AND EVERYTHING ELSE, THAT'S WHAT
974
00:29:49,297 --> 00:29:50,565
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.
975
00:29:50,565 --> 00:29:52,200
MR. MCMAHON WASN'T ENTITLED TO A
976
00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:53,568
MONOPOLY POSITION IN THIS
977
00:29:53,568 --> 00:29:55,403
WRESTLING GAME.
978
00:29:55,403 --> 00:29:56,604
[MUSIC]
979
00:29:56,604 --> 00:29:57,972
WHAT TED TURNER DID WAS
980
00:29:57,972 --> 00:29:59,941
OFFERED NONE-CUT CONTRACTS TO
981
00:29:59,941 --> 00:30:00,909
EVERYBODY.
982
00:30:00,909 --> 00:30:02,343
SO BOOM, HOGAN LEFT, BOOM, MACHO
983
00:30:02,343 --> 00:30:05,747
MAN LEFT, BEEFCAKE LEFT, NASTY
984
00:30:05,747 --> 00:30:08,416
BOYS LEFT, I LEFT.
985
00:30:08,416 --> 00:30:09,551
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
986
00:30:09,551 --> 00:30:11,019
WRESTLING'S HIGH PROFILE
987
00:30:11,019 --> 00:30:12,887
ADDITIONS BROUGHT THE COMPANY TO
988
00:30:12,887 --> 00:30:15,423
NEW LEVELS OF POPULARITY.
989
00:30:15,423 --> 00:30:17,859
AND ERIC BISCHOFF WOULD CONTINUE
990
00:30:17,859 --> 00:30:20,729
TO BUILD ON HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
991
00:30:20,729 --> 00:30:22,297
WCW HAD NEVER TURNED A PROFIT
992
00:30:22,297 --> 00:30:24,065
DURING THE TIME WHEN TED OWNED
993
00:30:24,065 --> 00:30:24,833
IT.
994
00:30:24,833 --> 00:30:26,701
WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT,
995
00:30:26,701 --> 00:30:28,436
THIS IS THE WHERE THE BIG BOYS
996
00:30:28,436 --> 00:30:29,537
PLAY.
997
00:30:29,537 --> 00:30:31,005
WITHIN 18 MONTHS I TURNED IT
998
00:30:31,005 --> 00:30:32,874
INTO A PROFITABLE COMPANY THAT
999
00:30:32,874 --> 00:30:34,409
WAS A BIG ACHIEVEMENT BECAUSE
1000
00:30:34,409 --> 00:30:35,677
NOBODY EVER THOUGHT THAT IT
1001
00:30:35,677 --> 00:30:36,644
COULD BE DONE.
1002
00:30:36,644 --> 00:30:38,513
WHILE WCW WAS ENJOYING ITS
1003
00:30:38,513 --> 00:30:43,551
GREATEST LEVEL OF SUCCESS, WWE
1004
00:30:43,551 --> 00:30:45,620
STAYED THE COURSE AND VINCE
1005
00:30:45,620 --> 00:30:47,722
MCMAHON CONTINUED TO PUSH
1006
00:30:47,722 --> 00:30:49,357
FORWARD WITH HIS NEW GENERATION
1007
00:30:49,357 --> 00:30:50,492
OF SUPERSTARS.
1008
00:30:50,492 --> 00:30:56,998
[MUSIC]
1009
00:30:56,998 --> 00:30:58,466
CHAMPIONS OF THE FUTURE.
1010
00:30:58,466 --> 00:31:00,702
EXPERIENCED THE NEW WWE
1011
00:31:00,702 --> 00:31:03,605
GENERATION.
1012
00:31:03,605 --> 00:31:07,040
WCW AT THE TIME THEY HAD A
1013
00:31:07,040 --> 00:31:07,675
LOT OF BIG, BIG NAMES BUT I
1014
00:31:07,675 --> 00:31:09,744
THOUGHT MATCH FOR MATCH, POUND
1015
00:31:09,744 --> 00:31:10,979
FOR POUND, WE HAD WAY BETTER
1016
00:31:10,979 --> 00:31:12,313
TALENT.
1017
00:31:12,313 --> 00:31:14,816
MY GOD, HIGH RISK MANEUVER.
1018
00:31:14,816 --> 00:31:16,117
LOOKS LIKE THAT WE HAD
1019
00:31:16,117 --> 00:31:17,418
YOUNGER, BETTER ATHLETES AND WE
1020
00:31:17,418 --> 00:31:19,087
WERE GONNA BE THE GUYS THAT WENT
1021
00:31:19,087 --> 00:31:21,556
OUT THERE AND GAVE MORE QUALITY
1022
00:31:21,556 --> 00:31:22,757
PERFORMANCES.
1023
00:31:22,757 --> 00:31:25,360
WHAT UNBELIEVABLE FINESSE.
1024
00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:26,761
WHAT ATHLETICISM, WHAT HIGH
1025
00:31:26,761 --> 00:31:28,530
IMPACT MANEUVERS THAT YOU CAN
1026
00:31:28,530 --> 00:31:29,931
ONLY FIND HERE IN THE WORLD
1027
00:31:29,931 --> 00:31:32,600
WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT.
1028
00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:34,669
WWE FOCUSED ON CULTIVATING
1029
00:31:34,669 --> 00:31:36,237
ITS OWN TALENT.
1030
00:31:36,237 --> 00:31:37,505
WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THE RISING
1031
00:31:37,505 --> 00:31:39,841
MOMENTUM OF ITS COMPETITOR.
1032
00:31:39,841 --> 00:31:41,509
BUT IT WOULD VERY QUICKLY BECOME
1033
00:31:41,509 --> 00:31:44,445
APPARENT THAT WCW WOULD NOT
1034
00:31:44,445 --> 00:31:48,050
SETTLE FOR BEING IGNORED.
1035
00:31:48,050 --> 00:31:50,218
WE'VE BEEN ON THE MAP FOR SO
1036
00:31:50,218 --> 00:31:51,352
LONG.
1037
00:31:51,352 --> 00:31:53,788
WE HAD BEEN HAMMERED A LOT,
1038
00:31:53,788 --> 00:31:55,990
SUCKER PUNCHED, BEAT UP, JUMPED
1039
00:31:55,990 --> 00:31:58,660
ON, STOMPED AT, CHAIRS BROKEN
1040
00:31:58,660 --> 00:32:00,295
OVER OUR HEADS, ALL THE
1041
00:32:00,295 --> 00:32:01,696
WRESTLERS STOPPED BY VINCE FOR
1042
00:32:01,696 --> 00:32:02,931
SO LONG.
1043
00:32:02,931 --> 00:32:03,698
[MUSIC]
1044
00:32:03,698 --> 00:32:04,899
BUT WHEN I DECIDED TO DO
1045
00:32:04,899 --> 00:32:07,001
SOMETHING I STICK WITH IT.
1046
00:32:07,001 --> 00:32:11,239
TED SAID, "ERIC, WHAT DO WE
1047
00:32:11,239 --> 00:32:16,578
GOT TO DO TO COMPETE WITH WWE?"
1048
00:32:16,578 --> 00:32:18,379
I WASN'T PREPARED FOR THAT.
1049
00:32:18,379 --> 00:32:23,184
AND I STARTED ANSWERING, "GIVE
1050
00:32:23,184 --> 00:32:24,652
ME PRIMETIME."
1051
00:32:24,652 --> 00:32:25,920
AND I'M THINKING, HE'LL NEVER DO
1052
00:32:25,920 --> 00:32:26,921
THAT.
1053
00:32:26,921 --> 00:32:28,323
HE'LL NEVER PUT WCW ON
1054
00:32:28,323 --> 00:32:29,057
PRIMETIME.
1055
00:32:29,057 --> 00:32:30,792
IT WAS A SAFE THING TO SAY.
1056
00:32:30,792 --> 00:32:31,726
I MEAN AFTER ALL WWE WAS ON
1057
00:32:31,726 --> 00:32:34,395
PRIMETIME, A USA NETWORK AT THE
1058
00:32:34,395 --> 00:32:36,030
TIME.
1059
00:32:36,030 --> 00:32:38,199
LO AND BEHOLD, TED LOOKED RIGHT
1060
00:32:38,199 --> 00:32:41,269
AT ME AND SAID, "TWO HOURS EVERY
1061
00:32:41,269 --> 00:32:43,738
MONDAY NIGHT ON TNT."
1062
00:32:43,738 --> 00:32:48,176
[MUSIC]
1063
00:32:48,176 --> 00:32:49,410
TNT AT THE TIME WAS LIKE
1064
00:32:49,410 --> 00:32:50,678
FLAGSHIP NETWORK IN TURNER
1065
00:32:50,678 --> 00:32:51,512
BROADCASTING.
1066
00:32:51,512 --> 00:32:53,114
NO ONE EVER BELIEVED TED WILL
1067
00:32:53,114 --> 00:32:54,716
PUT WRESTLING ON TNT, ESPECIALLY
1068
00:32:54,716 --> 00:32:56,584
IN PRIMETIME, MYSELF INCLUDED.
1069
00:32:56,584 --> 00:32:58,053
I WANTED TO GO ON MONDAY
1070
00:32:58,053 --> 00:33:00,388
NIGHT BECAUSE I WANTED TO GO
1071
00:33:00,388 --> 00:33:01,789
HEAD TO HEAD WITH VINCE.
1072
00:33:01,789 --> 00:33:03,124
I WANTED TO COMPETE AND SEE HOW
1073
00:33:03,124 --> 00:33:05,293
WE DID.
1074
00:33:05,293 --> 00:33:06,694
YOU CAN'T BEAT ANYBODY UNLESS
1075
00:33:06,694 --> 00:33:08,997
YOU GET INTO THE RING WITH.
1076
00:33:08,997 --> 00:33:11,199
ERIC BISCHOFF HAD HIS
1077
00:33:11,199 --> 00:33:14,135
PRIMETIME SHOW.
1078
00:33:14,135 --> 00:33:15,870
AND WEEKS LATER WOULD OFFICIALLY
1079
00:33:15,870 --> 00:33:20,040
DECLARE WAR ON WWE AS HE
1080
00:33:20,040 --> 00:33:21,142
ANNOUNCED THE IMPENDING LAUNCH
1081
00:33:21,142 --> 00:33:26,180
OF WCW MONDAY NITRO.
1082
00:33:26,180 --> 00:33:27,982
WCW IN THE PAST FOUR MONTHS
1083
00:33:27,982 --> 00:33:29,384
THAT I STAND SINCE THE VISION OF
1084
00:33:29,384 --> 00:33:31,252
HULK HOGAN AND RANDY SAVAGE IS
1085
00:33:31,252 --> 00:33:32,520
REALLY CLOSING A GAP, WE'RE
1086
00:33:32,520 --> 00:33:33,721
COMING OUT STRONG, WE'VE GOT A
1087
00:33:33,721 --> 00:33:34,756
LOT OF MOMENTUM.
1088
00:33:34,756 --> 00:33:36,557
AND WE WANNA GIVE VIEWERS A
1089
00:33:36,557 --> 00:33:38,459
CHOICE.
1090
00:33:38,459 --> 00:33:40,328
WELL, I THINK THE MOMENT THAT
1091
00:33:40,328 --> 00:33:42,163
WCW ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTION TO
1092
00:33:42,163 --> 00:33:43,998
RUN ON MONDAY NIGHTS, I WAS
1093
00:33:43,998 --> 00:33:46,200
EXTREMELY WORRIED THAT IT WOULD
1094
00:33:46,200 --> 00:33:50,171
BE THE DOWNFALL OF WRESTLING.
1095
00:33:50,171 --> 00:33:51,172
NOBODY THOUGHT THAT IT WAS
1096
00:33:51,172 --> 00:33:52,473
GONNA WORK.
1097
00:33:52,473 --> 00:33:53,708
ANYBODY CAN SAY WHAT THEY WANT
1098
00:33:53,708 --> 00:33:56,344
ABOUT ERIC BISCHOFF AND IT WAS A
1099
00:33:56,344 --> 00:33:58,746
VERY, VERY COURAGEOUS MOVE TO
1100
00:33:58,746 --> 00:34:01,249
MAKE.
1101
00:34:01,249 --> 00:34:02,183
I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY
1102
00:34:02,183 --> 00:34:03,584
STUPID WHEN HE FIRST CAME HEAD
1103
00:34:03,584 --> 00:34:04,652
TO HEAD WITH US.
1104
00:34:04,652 --> 00:34:05,787
WE HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR A
1105
00:34:05,787 --> 00:34:07,188
LONG TIME AND TURNER COULD MOVE
1106
00:34:07,188 --> 00:34:08,589
PROGRAMMING ANYWHERE HE WANTED
1107
00:34:08,589 --> 00:34:09,324
TO.
1108
00:34:09,324 --> 00:34:10,391
HE OWNED THE NETWORK.
1109
00:34:10,391 --> 00:34:11,659
GOING HEAD TO HEAD LIKE THAT,
1110
00:34:11,659 --> 00:34:13,227
YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO QUESTION
1111
00:34:13,227 --> 00:34:15,096
HE'S ATTEMPT TO DO THAT WAS TO
1112
00:34:15,096 --> 00:34:18,366
SIMPLY HURT US AND OUTLAST US.
1113
00:34:18,366 --> 00:34:19,867
VINCE WAS IN TRENCHED IN THE
1114
00:34:19,867 --> 00:34:20,935
TIME-SLOT.
1115
00:34:20,935 --> 00:34:22,904
BUT I FELT LIKE WE WERE READY.
1116
00:34:22,904 --> 00:34:24,439
AND IT WOULD BE EASY FOR VINCE
1117
00:34:24,439 --> 00:34:26,107
TO MOVE TO ANOTHER NIGHT TOO.
1118
00:34:26,107 --> 00:34:28,041
[CROWD CHEERING]
1119
00:34:27,942 --> 00:34:29,344
[CROWD CHEERING]
1120
00:34:29,344 --> 00:34:30,945
THE CREATION OF NITRO WAS A
1121
00:34:30,945 --> 00:34:33,047
RISK FOR BOTH COMPANIES.
1122
00:34:33,047 --> 00:34:34,282
AS MANY WITHIN THE INDUSTRY FELT
1123
00:34:34,282 --> 00:34:36,784
TWO SIMULTANEOUS SHOWS WOULD
1124
00:34:36,784 --> 00:34:39,053
FLOOD THE MARKET AND DEGRADE
1125
00:34:39,053 --> 00:34:41,255
BOTH PRODUCTS.
1126
00:34:41,255 --> 00:34:42,357
WE WERE A BIT WORRIED.
1127
00:34:42,357 --> 00:34:43,524
IT WOULD BE LIKE PUTTING TWO
1128
00:34:43,524 --> 00:34:44,959
FOOTBALL GAMES AGAINST EACH
1129
00:34:44,959 --> 00:34:47,295
OTHER ON TV ON A MONDAY NIGHT.
1130
00:34:47,295 --> 00:34:48,696
WE FIGURED OUT IF YOU SPLIT THE
1131
00:34:48,696 --> 00:34:50,331
AUDIENCE AND IT WILL--IT WILL
1132
00:34:50,331 --> 00:34:52,133
HURT BOTH SHOWS.
1133
00:34:52,133 --> 00:34:53,501
I WAS LIKE, WHY DON'T WE TAKE
1134
00:34:53,501 --> 00:34:55,003
ANOTHER NIGHT.
1135
00:34:55,003 --> 00:34:57,705
THERE IS ONLY 2.9 OR 3.0 PEOPLE
1136
00:34:57,705 --> 00:34:59,374
WATCHING WRESTLING.
1137
00:34:59,374 --> 00:35:01,342
WHAT ARE WE HOPING TO GET?
1138
00:35:01,342 --> 00:35:02,910
I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT IT WAS WCW
1139
00:35:02,910 --> 00:35:08,583
FANS AND WWE FANS.
1140
00:35:08,583 --> 00:35:09,584
WE'RE THROWING A WRESTLING
1141
00:35:09,584 --> 00:35:10,685
SHOW ON PRIMETIME ON MONDAY
1142
00:35:10,685 --> 00:35:11,452
NIGHT.
1143
00:35:11,452 --> 00:35:12,553
HEAD TO HEAD AGAINST A COMPANY
1144
00:35:12,553 --> 00:35:13,521
THAT'S BEEN IN THE BUSINESS FOR
1145
00:35:13,521 --> 00:35:14,322
20 YEARS.
1146
00:35:14,322 --> 00:35:15,590
ONLY A LUNATIC WOULD THINK THAT
1147
00:35:15,590 --> 00:35:16,924
WE COULD COMPETE, THAT TOOK A
1148
00:35:16,924 --> 00:35:18,993
LOT OF GUTS, TOOK A LOT OF BALLS
1149
00:35:18,993 --> 00:35:21,062
ON THE PART OF TED TURNER.
1150
00:35:21,062 --> 00:35:22,296
AND YOU SEE, TONY IS
1151
00:35:22,296 --> 00:35:23,264
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT MAN.
1152
00:35:23,264 --> 00:35:24,132
THERE ARE GONNA BE A LOT OF
1153
00:35:24,132 --> 00:35:25,666
SURPRISES ON MONDAY NITRO.
1154
00:35:25,666 --> 00:35:26,734
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT,
1155
00:35:26,734 --> 00:35:27,802
THERE'S NOBODY SURPRISED RIGHT
1156
00:35:27,802 --> 00:35:28,636
HERE...
1157
00:35:28,636 --> 00:35:30,204
SO IT WAS A MATTER OF--OKAY.
1158
00:35:30,204 --> 00:35:31,439
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR
1159
00:35:31,439 --> 00:35:32,974
BECAUSE NOW YOU GOT IT AND YOU
1160
00:35:32,974 --> 00:35:33,808
GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE IT
1161
00:35:33,808 --> 00:35:35,209
WORK.
1162
00:35:35,209 --> 00:35:37,478
SO I LITERALLY HAD SIX WEEKS TO
1163
00:35:37,478 --> 00:35:39,514
FIGURE OUT A WAY TO LAUNCH A NEW
1164
00:35:39,514 --> 00:35:41,849
SHOW THAT WAS GONNA COMPETITIVE
1165
00:35:41,849 --> 00:35:45,987
WITH THE WWE ON PRIMETIME.
1166
00:35:45,987 --> 00:35:47,522
FACING AN UPHILL BATTLE
1167
00:35:47,522 --> 00:35:50,091
AGAINST WWE, ERIC BISCHOFF WOULD
1168
00:35:50,091 --> 00:35:52,226
DISCOVER HIS SECRET WEAPON FOR
1169
00:35:52,226 --> 00:35:55,096
MONDAY NITRO'S DEBUT EPISODE.
1170
00:35:55,096 --> 00:35:56,764
HERE COMES LEX LUGER.
1171
00:35:56,764 --> 00:35:58,366
[CROWD CHEERING]
1172
00:35:58,366 --> 00:36:00,735
MY CONTRACT BASICALLY HAD
1173
00:36:00,735 --> 00:36:02,070
EXPIRED.
1174
00:36:02,070 --> 00:36:03,304
BUT I'M FULLY ANTICIPATING I HAD
1175
00:36:03,304 --> 00:36:05,106
WORKED OUT AN AGREEMENT TO STAY
1176
00:36:05,106 --> 00:36:07,375
ON BOARD WITH THE WWE FAMILY.
1177
00:36:07,375 --> 00:36:08,543
LEX LUGER'S CONTRACT WAS
1178
00:36:08,543 --> 00:36:09,510
COMING UP AT WWE.
1179
00:36:09,510 --> 00:36:11,779
NOW, I HAVE NEVER BEEN A FAN OF
1180
00:36:11,779 --> 00:36:13,247
LEX LUGER ON A PERSONAL LEVEL OR
1181
00:36:13,247 --> 00:36:15,316
ON A PROFESSIONAL LEVEL.
1182
00:36:15,316 --> 00:36:18,018
AND STING WAS A CLOSE FRIEND OF
1183
00:36:18,018 --> 00:36:18,553
LUGER AND STING CAME TO ME AND
1184
00:36:18,553 --> 00:36:21,021
SAID "LOOK, GIVE THE GUY ANOTHER
1185
00:36:21,021 --> 00:36:21,389
CHANCE."
1186
00:36:21,389 --> 00:36:22,690
WE ALWAYS TRAVEL TOGETHER.
1187
00:36:22,690 --> 00:36:23,791
WE'RE VERY CLOSE PERSONAL
1188
00:36:23,791 --> 00:36:25,093
FRIENDS AND STILL ARE.
1189
00:36:25,093 --> 00:36:26,594
HE WAS A PRIMARY FACILITATOR AND
1190
00:36:26,594 --> 00:36:28,162
THAT GOT ME TOGETHER WITH ERIC
1191
00:36:28,162 --> 00:36:30,331
BISCHOFF.
1192
00:36:30,331 --> 00:36:33,033
I CALLED LEX AND I SAID,
1193
00:36:33,033 --> 00:36:33,367
"LOOK, YOU MIGHT WANT TO KEEP
1194
00:36:33,367 --> 00:36:35,002
THIS MEETING QUIET BECAUSE IF IT
1195
00:36:35,002 --> 00:36:36,838
WORD GETS BACK TO WWE THAT
1196
00:36:36,838 --> 00:36:38,139
YOU'RE TALKING TO ME, YOU MIGHT
1197
00:36:38,139 --> 00:36:39,540
PUT YOUR OPPORTUNITY THERE AT
1198
00:36:39,540 --> 00:36:40,808
RISK."
1199
00:36:40,808 --> 00:36:42,510
SO WE AGREED THAT NEITHER ONE OF
1200
00:36:42,510 --> 00:36:44,045
US WOULD TALK ABOUT IT.
1201
00:36:44,045 --> 00:36:45,847
SO I OFFERED HIM A HUNDRED GRAND
1202
00:36:45,847 --> 00:36:47,315
THINKING, "WHAT THE HELL HE'S
1203
00:36:47,315 --> 00:36:48,382
GONNA TURN ME DOWN ANYWAY AND I
1204
00:36:48,382 --> 00:36:50,318
CAN LEAST TELL STING I TRIED."
1205
00:36:50,318 --> 00:36:51,719
AND SURPRISINGLY ENOUGH HE TOOK
1206
00:36:51,719 --> 00:36:53,821
THE DEAL.
1207
00:36:53,821 --> 00:36:55,590
IT WAS A NEW SHOW WITH GUYS I
1208
00:36:55,590 --> 00:36:56,924
NEVER WORKED WITH BEFORE LIKE
1209
00:36:56,924 --> 00:36:59,060
HOGAN AND "MACHO MAN" RANDY
1210
00:36:59,060 --> 00:37:02,028
SAVAGE, THAT DEFINITELY SWAYED
1211
00:37:02,028 --> 00:37:02,163
ME AT THE TIME.
1212
00:37:02,163 --> 00:37:03,965
I DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE
1213
00:37:03,965 --> 00:37:05,700
THE MOVE TO WCW AT THAT TIME
1214
00:37:05,700 --> 00:37:06,801
AFTER TALKING WITH ERIC
1215
00:37:06,801 --> 00:37:07,568
BISCHOFF.
1216
00:37:07,568 --> 00:37:08,669
AS WE'RE GETTING CLOSER AND
1217
00:37:08,669 --> 00:37:10,371
CLOSER TO THE DEBUT OF NITRO,
1218
00:37:10,371 --> 00:37:11,672
LEX CAME TO ME AND HE SAID,
1219
00:37:11,672 --> 00:37:12,540
"LOOK, MY CONTRACT IS UP
1220
00:37:12,540 --> 00:37:14,242
SUNDAY."
1221
00:37:14,242 --> 00:37:15,776
AND A LIGHT BULB WENT OFF FROM
1222
00:37:15,776 --> 00:37:17,078
MY HEAD AND I SAID, "WOW.
1223
00:37:17,078 --> 00:37:19,113
IF WE CAN KEEP THIS QUIET, AND
1224
00:37:19,113 --> 00:37:20,815
LITERALLY HAVE YOU WALK OUT ON
1225
00:37:20,815 --> 00:37:23,117
TO NITRO WITHOUT ANYBODY KNOWING
1226
00:37:23,117 --> 00:37:25,553
IT, THAT MOVE RIGHT THERE WILL
1227
00:37:25,553 --> 00:37:29,223
SET THE TONE FOR NITRO."
1228
00:37:29,223 --> 00:37:30,458
A LIVE SHOW THAT WAS CHALKED
1229
00:37:30,458 --> 00:37:31,826
FULL OF SURPRISES.
1230
00:37:31,826 --> 00:37:33,127
WHERE YOU FELT YOU HAD TO TUNE
1231
00:37:33,127 --> 00:37:34,495
IN TO SEE WHAT THE HELL WE WERE
1232
00:37:34,495 --> 00:37:39,767
GONNA DO NEXT.
1233
00:37:39,767 --> 00:37:49,944
[MUSIC]
1234
00:38:00,454 --> 00:38:02,590
FROM THE LAND OF 10,000
1235
00:38:02,590 --> 00:38:06,594
LAKES, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.
1236
00:38:06,594 --> 00:38:08,863
THE MALL OF AMERICA, THE ONLY
1237
00:38:08,863 --> 00:38:12,032
BUILDING BIG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE
1238
00:38:12,032 --> 00:38:15,703
DEBUT EDITION OF WCW MONDAY
1239
00:38:15,703 --> 00:38:18,004
NITRO.
1240
00:38:18,004 --> 00:38:18,439
WE ARE COMING TO YOU LIVE.
1241
00:38:18,439 --> 00:38:19,907
ERIC BISCHOFF HAD HIS BATTLE
1242
00:38:19,907 --> 00:38:21,642
PLAN IN PLACE.
1243
00:38:21,642 --> 00:38:23,911
AND WCW MONDAY NITRO WOULD
1244
00:38:23,911 --> 00:38:28,249
PREMIERE ON SEPTEMBER 4TH, 1995.
1245
00:38:28,249 --> 00:38:29,617
WHEN I SAW THEIR FIRST SHOW,
1246
00:38:29,617 --> 00:38:32,086
I WAS LIKE, "OOF.
1247
00:38:32,086 --> 00:38:34,855
BOY, THIS IS REAL COMPETITION."
1248
00:38:34,855 --> 00:38:36,090
THEY TRIED TO EMULATE US IN
1249
00:38:36,090 --> 00:38:37,592
EVERY CONCEIVABLE WAY IN TERMS
1250
00:38:37,592 --> 00:38:39,460
OF PRODUCTION VALUE.
1251
00:38:39,460 --> 00:38:40,161
ALL RIGHT.
1252
00:38:40,161 --> 00:38:41,162
AND AWAY WE GO.
1253
00:38:41,162 --> 00:38:42,630
WE ARE KICKING THINGS OF
1254
00:38:42,630 --> 00:38:44,131
RIGHT--SO MUCH GOING ON HERE IN
1255
00:38:44,131 --> 00:38:45,833
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING.
1256
00:38:45,833 --> 00:38:49,437
WCW WHERE THE BIG BOYS PLAY.
1257
00:38:49,437 --> 00:38:50,571
WELL, YOU COULDN'T IGNORE TED
1258
00:38:50,571 --> 00:38:51,472
TURNER.
1259
00:38:51,472 --> 00:38:53,374
YOU COULDN'T IGNORE THE WCW.
1260
00:38:53,374 --> 00:38:55,109
THEY HAD JUST AS BIGGEST STAGE
1261
00:38:55,109 --> 00:38:56,644
AS YOU DID.
1262
00:38:56,644 --> 00:38:58,713
IT WAS REALLY THE WCW SAYING,
1263
00:38:58,713 --> 00:38:59,513
"OKAY.
1264
00:38:59,513 --> 00:39:01,115
GUYS, WE'RE COMING TO GET YOU."
1265
00:39:01,115 --> 00:39:03,984
WE WATCHED THE SHOW BEING IN
1266
00:39:03,984 --> 00:39:06,354
A MALL WAS A LITTLE CHEESY IF
1267
00:39:06,354 --> 00:39:07,188
YOU ASK ME.
1268
00:39:07,188 --> 00:39:09,357
THE TALENT WAS NOT CHEESY.
1269
00:39:09,357 --> 00:39:11,092
WHEN YOU'RE GOING LIVE, THE
1270
00:39:11,092 --> 00:39:12,727
ADRENALINE RUSH WAS UP.
1271
00:39:12,727 --> 00:39:15,296
EVERYBODY WAS VERY EXCITED.
1272
00:39:15,296 --> 00:39:16,330
IT WAS ELECTRIC.
1273
00:39:16,330 --> 00:39:17,798
THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN
1274
00:39:17,798 --> 00:39:19,500
SOME MORE MOMENTUM.
1275
00:39:19,500 --> 00:39:20,935
WE WERE HOPING AND PRAYING THAT
1276
00:39:20,935 --> 00:39:21,969
EVERYBODY WAS LOOKING IN OUR
1277
00:39:21,969 --> 00:39:23,170
DIRECTION WHEN WE WENT UP AT
1278
00:39:23,170 --> 00:39:25,172
9:00.
1279
00:39:25,172 --> 00:39:26,507
WHO IS THE GREATEST WRESTLER IN
1280
00:39:26,507 --> 00:39:27,441
THE WORLD?
1281
00:39:27,441 --> 00:39:29,977
[CROWD CHEERING]
1282
00:39:29,977 --> 00:39:32,413
WCW TRULY SHREWDLY AIRED
1283
00:39:32,413 --> 00:39:34,382
NITRO UNOPPOSED.
1284
00:39:34,382 --> 00:39:35,983
AS ON THE SAME EVENING, MONDAY
1285
00:39:35,983 --> 00:39:38,419
NIGHT RAW WAS PREEMPTED.
1286
00:39:38,419 --> 00:39:39,654
AFTER PREEMPTION, WE WILL
1287
00:39:39,654 --> 00:39:40,855
JOIN YOU, MONDAY NIGHT,
1288
00:39:40,855 --> 00:39:43,524
SEPTEMBER 11.
1289
00:39:43,524 --> 00:39:45,493
WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEBUT
1290
00:39:45,493 --> 00:39:47,361
A WRESTLING SHOW --
1291
00:39:47,361 --> 00:39:49,597
ON MONDAY NIGHT AT THE SAME TIME
1292
00:39:49,597 --> 00:39:50,765
THAT RAW WAS ESTABLISHED.
1293
00:39:50,765 --> 00:39:51,932
EXCEPT THAT WHEN PEOPLE TUNED IN
1294
00:39:51,932 --> 00:39:52,500
TO SEE RAW...
1295
00:39:52,500 --> 00:39:53,534
THEY MAY GO CHANNEL SURFING AND
1296
00:39:53,534 --> 00:39:55,102
FIND NITRO.
1297
00:39:55,102 --> 00:39:57,004
THAT WAS THE KEY TO THAT DEAL.
1298
00:39:57,004 --> 00:39:58,205
AND I REMEMBER JUST FLIPPING
1299
00:39:58,205 --> 00:39:59,440
THROUGH THE CHANNELS THAT WAS
1300
00:39:59,440 --> 00:40:00,408
ON.
1301
00:40:00,408 --> 00:40:01,475
THAT'S WHEN I BECAME FAMILIAR
1302
00:40:01,475 --> 00:40:02,643
WITH WCW.
1303
00:40:02,643 --> 00:40:04,445
BEING A FAN OF WWE, IT
1304
00:40:04,445 --> 00:40:06,047
INTRODUCED ME TO THIS WHOLE
1305
00:40:06,047 --> 00:40:07,348
OTHER PRODUCT THAT WAS OUT THERE
1306
00:40:07,348 --> 00:40:08,449
AT THE TIME THAT I DIDN'T KNOW
1307
00:40:08,449 --> 00:40:10,718
ABOUT IN WCW.
1308
00:40:10,718 --> 00:40:12,053
WITH THE EYES OF THE SPORTS
1309
00:40:12,053 --> 00:40:14,322
ENTERTAINMENT WORLD ON NITRO,
1310
00:40:14,322 --> 00:40:15,756
LEX LUGER WOULD DELIVER THE
1311
00:40:15,756 --> 00:40:17,792
FIRST SHOCK IN THE MONDAY NIGHT
1312
00:40:17,792 --> 00:40:21,696
WAR.
1313
00:40:21,696 --> 00:40:22,763
I TOLD LEX, "DON'T GO TO THE
1314
00:40:22,763 --> 00:40:23,864
HOTEL WHERE EVERYBODY ELSE ARE
1315
00:40:23,864 --> 00:40:25,700
STAYING.
1316
00:40:25,700 --> 00:40:28,069
AND DON'T SHOW UP UNTIL HALF AN
1317
00:40:28,069 --> 00:40:29,570
A HOUR BEFORE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO
1318
00:40:29,570 --> 00:40:30,738
GO ON THE AIR."
1319
00:40:30,738 --> 00:40:34,141
AND THIS CROWD IS LIVE.
1320
00:40:34,141 --> 00:40:35,609
THEY ARE WIRED.
1321
00:40:35,609 --> 00:40:37,011
THEY WAITED TO LIKE 30
1322
00:40:37,011 --> 00:40:38,179
MINUTES FOR THE SHOW TO START
1323
00:40:38,179 --> 00:40:39,347
AND BROUGHT ME IN WITH LIKE
1324
00:40:39,347 --> 00:40:40,314
TOWELS AROUND MY HEAD TO A BACK
1325
00:40:40,314 --> 00:40:41,182
DOOR.
1326
00:40:41,182 --> 00:40:42,183
THEY EVEN PUT ME IN A POSITION
1327
00:40:42,183 --> 00:40:43,918
TO GO OUT I'M TELLING YOU UNTIL
1328
00:40:43,918 --> 00:40:48,989
THE MOMENT I WALKED OUT.
1329
00:40:48,989 --> 00:40:51,292
LATER ON IS THIS LIVE DEBUT
1330
00:40:51,292 --> 00:40:52,060
BROADCAST.
1331
00:40:52,060 --> 00:40:55,262
OH, WHAT IN THE HELL IS HE DOING
1332
00:40:55,262 --> 00:40:56,931
HERE?
1333
00:40:56,931 --> 00:40:57,798
GET THE KID OFF OF HERE.
1334
00:40:57,798 --> 00:40:58,899
[BELL RINGING]
1335
00:40:58,899 --> 00:41:01,402
WELL, LOOK--GET HIM OUT
1336
00:41:01,402 --> 00:41:02,670
OF--GET THE KID OUT OF HERE.
1337
00:41:02,670 --> 00:41:03,637
WHAT IS THIS?
1338
00:41:03,637 --> 00:41:04,438
WELL, WAIT A MINUTE.
1339
00:41:04,438 --> 00:41:05,206
HE'S GOT A RIGHT TO BE HERE, IT
1340
00:41:05,206 --> 00:41:07,040
IS A PUBLIC MALL.
1341
00:41:07,040 --> 00:41:08,075
GET HIM OUT OF HERE.
1342
00:41:08,075 --> 00:41:09,210
SOMEBODY CALL THE SECURITY
1343
00:41:09,210 --> 00:41:10,077
GUARDS.
1344
00:41:10,077 --> 00:41:15,015
[CROWD CHEERING]
1345
00:41:15,015 --> 00:41:16,350
WHAT?
1346
00:41:16,350 --> 00:41:17,918
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
1347
00:41:17,918 --> 00:41:23,391
LUGER IS THERE NOW, TOO?
1348
00:41:23,391 --> 00:41:24,525
AND EVERYBODY WAS LOOKING AT
1349
00:41:24,525 --> 00:41:25,760
ME LIKE, "IS THAT LEX LUGER?"
1350
00:41:25,760 --> 00:41:27,061
LIKE IT'S--I WAS STILL ON TV AND
1351
00:41:27,061 --> 00:41:29,330
THEN, OUT SHOW--THE NIGHT BEFORE
1352
00:41:29,330 --> 00:41:31,165
AT WWE, SO EVERYBODY WAS
1353
00:41:31,165 --> 00:41:33,167
DEFINITELY--IT WAS A BIG SHOCK
1354
00:41:33,167 --> 00:41:34,869
TO EVERYBODY.
1355
00:41:34,869 --> 00:41:36,237
HE'S CLEANING HOUSE.
1356
00:41:36,237 --> 00:41:37,405
WAIT, LUGER'S IN THERE.
1357
00:41:37,405 --> 00:41:38,472
LEX LUGER IN THE RING.
1358
00:41:38,472 --> 00:41:39,573
LEX LUGER.
1359
00:41:39,573 --> 00:41:42,543
HE'S HELPING HOGAN.
1360
00:41:42,543 --> 00:41:43,477
HE'S HELPING HOGAN.
1361
00:41:43,477 --> 00:41:46,847
LUGER--WHOA, WAIT A MINUTE.
1362
00:41:46,847 --> 00:41:48,449
WHAT IS THIS?
1363
00:41:48,449 --> 00:41:49,750
WORLD WAR III.
1364
00:41:49,750 --> 00:41:51,352
LEX LUGER LITERALLY WALKED
1365
00:41:51,352 --> 00:41:52,686
OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A LIVE
1366
00:41:52,686 --> 00:41:54,221
BROADCAST AT NITRO AND HALF THE
1367
00:41:54,221 --> 00:41:55,790
PEOPLE THAT WORKED IN WWE
1368
00:41:55,790 --> 00:41:57,925
THOUGHT THAT HE WAS STILL
1369
00:41:57,925 --> 00:41:59,960
WORKING FOR THEM.
1370
00:41:59,960 --> 00:42:00,828
NO ONE KNEW.
1371
00:42:00,828 --> 00:42:02,430
I WAS SHOCKED AND I WENT, "MY
1372
00:42:02,430 --> 00:42:05,466
GOD, I DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING."
1373
00:42:05,466 --> 00:42:06,934
IT WAS LIKE THE WRESTLING
1374
00:42:06,934 --> 00:42:08,669
VERSION OF THE SHOT HEARD AROUND
1375
00:42:08,669 --> 00:42:10,604
THE WORLD.
1376
00:42:10,604 --> 00:42:12,673
I WAS JUST ON THE ROAD
1377
00:42:12,673 --> 00:42:14,375
TRAVELING WITH LEX LIKE, TWO
1378
00:42:14,375 --> 00:42:16,210
DAYS PRIOR TO THAT.
1379
00:42:16,210 --> 00:42:17,611
AND HE DIDN'T MENTION ANYTHING
1380
00:42:17,611 --> 00:42:20,281
ABOUT IT.
1381
00:42:20,281 --> 00:42:22,750
ALL IS FAIR IN WAR I GUESS.
1382
00:42:22,750 --> 00:42:24,585
WCW WANTED A SURPRISE FACTOR AND
1383
00:42:24,585 --> 00:42:27,054
I WAS RAISED AND BROUGHT UP IN
1384
00:42:27,054 --> 00:42:29,056
WRESTLING THAT NO MATTER WHAT,
1385
00:42:29,056 --> 00:42:30,391
YOU ALWAYS LEFT THE RIGHT WAY
1386
00:42:30,391 --> 00:42:32,893
AND WOULD GIVE A TWO-WEEK
1387
00:42:32,893 --> 00:42:34,028
NOTICE.
1388
00:42:34,028 --> 00:42:35,563
ONE OF THE STIPULATIONS FOR ERIC
1389
00:42:35,563 --> 00:42:36,730
AS WELL, YEAH, BUT IF YOU DO
1390
00:42:36,730 --> 00:42:37,832
THAT, THERE IS NO SURPRISE WITH
1391
00:42:37,832 --> 00:42:39,066
YOU COMING IN.
1392
00:42:39,066 --> 00:42:40,868
SO I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO FOREGO
1393
00:42:40,868 --> 00:42:42,470
THAT TWO-WEEK NOTICE AND AT THE
1394
00:42:42,470 --> 00:42:44,038
TIME, I WAS VERY UPSET ABOUT
1395
00:42:44,038 --> 00:42:45,306
THAT BECAUSE WWE BEEN VERY GOOD
1396
00:42:45,306 --> 00:42:46,207
TO ME.
1397
00:42:46,207 --> 00:42:47,408
I HAVE A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP
1398
00:42:47,408 --> 00:42:48,843
WITH VINCE BUT I FELT AT THE
1399
00:42:48,843 --> 00:42:51,212
TIME, I WASN'T GIVEN A CHOICE.
1400
00:42:51,212 --> 00:42:52,847
I'VE BEEN DOWN THE SAME ROAD AS
1401
00:42:52,847 --> 00:42:53,547
YOU.
1402
00:42:53,547 --> 00:42:55,449
I'VE BEEN WHERE YOU'VE BEEN.
1403
00:42:55,449 --> 00:42:57,284
I'VE BEATEN THE SAME PEOPLE
1404
00:42:57,284 --> 00:42:58,319
YOU'VE BEATEN.
1405
00:42:58,319 --> 00:43:01,388
I AM SICK AND TIRED OF PLAYING
1406
00:43:01,388 --> 00:43:03,357
AROUND WITH KIDS.
1407
00:43:03,357 --> 00:43:04,992
I'M HERE TO GET IT ON WITH THE
1408
00:43:04,992 --> 00:43:09,597
BIG BOYS AND THAT MEANS YOU.
1409
00:43:09,597 --> 00:43:10,664
LEX LUGER SUDDEN AND
1410
00:43:10,664 --> 00:43:12,666
UNEXPECTED DEFECTION, PUT WWE ON
1411
00:43:12,666 --> 00:43:15,069
THEIR HEELS IN THE WAKE OF
1412
00:43:15,069 --> 00:43:18,105
NITRO'S OPENING SALVO.
1413
00:43:18,105 --> 00:43:22,041
IT WAS EMBARRASSINGLY BAD AND
1414
00:43:22,041 --> 00:43:23,978
A HORRIFIC FAILURE BECAUSE HOW
1415
00:43:23,978 --> 00:43:26,013
DO YOU LET A MAJOR SUPERSTAR
1416
00:43:26,013 --> 00:43:27,715
SLIP THROUGH YOUR FINGERS.
1417
00:43:27,715 --> 00:43:30,050
HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT HIS
1418
00:43:30,050 --> 00:43:31,418
CONTRACT IS NOT VALID?
1419
00:43:31,418 --> 00:43:32,786
HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW HE'S GONNA
1420
00:43:32,786 --> 00:43:35,489
STICK IT YOUR [INDISTINCT]
1421
00:43:35,489 --> 00:43:36,590
LEX LUGER'S PLACE IN
1422
00:43:36,590 --> 00:43:38,526
HISTORY--YOU MIGHT BE
1423
00:43:38,526 --> 00:43:39,927
UNDERESTIMATED.
1424
00:43:39,927 --> 00:43:41,996
BUT THAT ONE NIGHT IT WAS HUGE
1425
00:43:41,996 --> 00:43:44,098
BECAUSE HE WAS A STAR FOR WWE.
1426
00:43:44,098 --> 00:43:45,199
ALL OF A SUDDEN HE'S NOT THERE
1427
00:43:45,199 --> 00:43:46,200
ANYMORE AND HE'S WRESTLING FOR
1428
00:43:46,200 --> 00:43:48,235
WCW ON NITRO.
1429
00:43:48,235 --> 00:43:49,537
THANKS FOR JOINING ON THIS
1430
00:43:49,537 --> 00:43:51,305
DEBUT EDITION OF WCW MONDAY
1431
00:43:51,305 --> 00:43:53,707
NITRO ON TNT.
1432
00:43:53,707 --> 00:43:56,410
AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
1433
00:43:56,410 --> 00:43:58,145
WCW'S MONDAY NIGHT GAMBLE
1434
00:43:58,145 --> 00:43:59,880
PAID OFF.
1435
00:43:59,880 --> 00:44:01,215
OVER TWO AND A HALF MILLION
1436
00:44:01,215 --> 00:44:03,150
VIEWERS TUNED IN TO NITRO'S
1437
00:44:03,150 --> 00:44:05,786
DEBUT EPISODE.
1438
00:44:05,786 --> 00:44:07,621
INITIAL BROADCAST OF NITRO
1439
00:44:07,621 --> 00:44:09,290
FROM JUST THE RATING'S POINT OF
1440
00:44:09,290 --> 00:44:10,824
VIEW WAS CONSIDERED ACROSS THE
1441
00:44:10,824 --> 00:44:13,260
BOARDS IS A PRETTY GOOD SUCCESS.
1442
00:44:13,260 --> 00:44:14,395
WE PUT OUT A PRETTY GOOD
1443
00:44:14,395 --> 00:44:15,162
PRODUCT.
1444
00:44:15,162 --> 00:44:15,930
I KNEW THAT WE PULLED A COUPLE
1445
00:44:15,930 --> 00:44:17,197
OF BIG SURPRISES I'D EVER HAD.
1446
00:44:17,197 --> 00:44:18,799
IT LOOKED DIFFERENT, IT FELT
1447
00:44:18,799 --> 00:44:19,967
LIVE.
1448
00:44:19,967 --> 00:44:21,235
WE MADE A LOT OF NEWS.
1449
00:44:21,235 --> 00:44:22,336
THERE WAS A BIG BUZZ ON THE
1450
00:44:22,336 --> 00:44:23,470
SHOW.
1451
00:44:23,470 --> 00:44:24,939
I STRONGLY SUSPECTED THAT WE
1452
00:44:24,939 --> 00:44:26,006
WERE GONNA BE ABLE TO BUILD ON
1453
00:44:26,006 --> 00:44:30,711
THAT SUCCESS.
1454
00:44:30,711 --> 00:44:31,745
THE PRESS AND I THINK WAS SET
1455
00:44:31,745 --> 00:44:35,149
FROM THAT FIRST SHOW FOR WWE AND
1456
00:44:35,149 --> 00:44:36,984
WCW, WE SHOULD HAVE TO BRING OUR
1457
00:44:36,984 --> 00:44:38,118
A-GAME.
1458
00:44:38,118 --> 00:44:39,453
IT WAS A START OF SOMETHING
1459
00:44:39,453 --> 00:44:40,921
REALLY BIG.
1460
00:44:40,921 --> 00:44:42,756
THE FOLLOWING WEEK, NITRO
1461
00:44:42,756 --> 00:44:44,258
WOULD GO HEAD TO HEAD WITH RAW
1462
00:44:44,258 --> 00:44:48,062
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
1463
00:44:48,062 --> 00:44:49,463
AND IN AN ATTEMPT TO STAY
1464
00:44:49,463 --> 00:44:51,966
COMPETITIVE, ERIC BISCHOFF WOULD
1465
00:44:51,966 --> 00:44:53,634
THROW THE RULEBOOK OUT THE
1466
00:44:53,634 --> 00:44:54,868
WINDOW.
1467
00:44:54,868 --> 00:44:55,936
I WORK FOR THE PEOPLE THAT
1468
00:44:55,936 --> 00:44:56,770
PAY ME.
1469
00:44:56,770 --> 00:44:57,938
AND WHEN THE GUY THAT PAYS ME
1470
00:44:57,938 --> 00:44:58,839
SAYS, "I WANT YOU TO MAKE THIS
1471
00:44:58,839 --> 00:45:00,341
COMPANY NUMBER ONE."
1472
00:45:00,341 --> 00:45:01,642
I WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO
1473
00:45:01,642 --> 00:45:04,211
MAKE THAT COMPANY NUMBER ONE.
1474
00:45:04,211 --> 00:45:06,847
IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER
1475
00:45:06,847 --> 00:45:09,049
THAN LIVE.
1476
00:45:09,049 --> 00:45:10,517
IT MEAN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
1477
00:45:10,517 --> 00:45:11,652
THE FACT THAT I WAS A LIVE
1478
00:45:11,652 --> 00:45:14,020
BROADCASTER AND WWE WAS TAPED
1479
00:45:14,020 --> 00:45:15,322
WHICH GAVE ME A GREAT IDEA.
1480
00:45:15,322 --> 00:45:16,657
ONE DAY I THOUGHT, "OKAY.
1481
00:45:16,657 --> 00:45:19,025
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA
1482
00:45:19,025 --> 00:45:19,927
HAPPEN ON MY SHOW BUT WE CAN
1483
00:45:19,927 --> 00:45:21,128
TELL THEM WHAT'S GONNA ON THE
1484
00:45:21,128 --> 00:45:22,529
COMPETITION."
1485
00:45:22,529 --> 00:45:24,531
YOU KNOW, WHAT BETTER WAY TO GET
1486
00:45:24,531 --> 00:45:26,400
THE AUDIENCE TO STOP CHANNEL
1487
00:45:26,400 --> 00:45:27,901
SURFING THAN TO TELL THEM
1488
00:45:27,901 --> 00:45:28,902
EVERYTHING THEY'RE GONNA SEE ON
1489
00:45:28,902 --> 00:45:31,005
THE OTHER SHOW.
1490
00:45:31,005 --> 00:45:32,406
HEY, BY THE WAY, IN CASE
1491
00:45:32,406 --> 00:45:33,907
YOU'RE TEMPTED TO GRAB THE
1492
00:45:33,907 --> 00:45:35,175
REMOTE CONTROL, CHECK OUT THE
1493
00:45:35,175 --> 00:45:36,844
COMPETITION, DON'T BOTHER IT'S
1494
00:45:36,844 --> 00:45:38,946
TWO OR THREE WEEKS OLD.
1495
00:45:38,946 --> 00:45:40,514
SHAWN MICHAELS BEAT THE BIG GUY
1496
00:45:40,514 --> 00:45:41,815
WITH A SUPER KICK.
1497
00:45:41,815 --> 00:45:42,783
HE COULD EARN A GREEN BELT WITH
1498
00:45:42,783 --> 00:45:44,652
IN A LOCAL YMCA.
1499
00:45:44,652 --> 00:45:45,719
STAY RIGHT HERE, IT'S LIVE.
1500
00:45:45,719 --> 00:45:49,256
IT'S WHERE THE ACTION IS.
1501
00:45:49,256 --> 00:45:51,058
IT WAS DIRTY POOL.
1502
00:45:51,058 --> 00:45:52,126
ONCE IT BEGAN TO GIVE OUR
1503
00:45:52,126 --> 00:45:54,361
RESULTS AWAY, IT WAS PAINFUL.
1504
00:45:54,361 --> 00:45:55,329
IT WAS LIKE, "WAIT A MINUTE.
1505
00:45:55,329 --> 00:45:56,263
THAT'S A ROTTEN THING TO DO.
1506
00:45:56,263 --> 00:45:58,365
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT ONE."
1507
00:45:58,365 --> 00:45:59,900
HE WAS TRYING TO HURT US.
1508
00:45:59,900 --> 00:46:02,269
AND MY BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY IS,
1509
00:46:02,269 --> 00:46:03,937
"TRY AND HELP YOURSELF."
1510
00:46:03,937 --> 00:46:04,838
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSE TO HURT THE
1511
00:46:04,838 --> 00:46:06,907
COMPETITION.
1512
00:46:06,907 --> 00:46:09,810
SO WCW, IN THE FIRST FIVE
1513
00:46:09,810 --> 00:46:11,245
MINUTES, WOULD TRY TO GIVE AWAY
1514
00:46:11,245 --> 00:46:14,915
ALL THE RESULTS OF THE WWE.
1515
00:46:14,915 --> 00:46:17,918
THAT'S DIRTY BUSINESS.
1516
00:46:17,918 --> 00:46:19,453
BISCHOFF WAS THROWN A BILLION
1517
00:46:19,453 --> 00:46:20,721
DOLLAR COMPANY AND IF YOU ASK
1518
00:46:20,721 --> 00:46:21,855
ABOUT IT, HE'LL TELL YOU, HE WAS
1519
00:46:21,855 --> 00:46:23,390
-- THEN.
1520
00:46:23,390 --> 00:46:24,692
I LOVE DOING IT BECAUSE IT
1521
00:46:24,692 --> 00:46:26,994
JUST PISSED SO MANY PEOPLE OFF.
1522
00:46:26,994 --> 00:46:28,896
YOU KNOW, THAT WRESTLING FANS,
1523
00:46:28,896 --> 00:46:31,030
THEY WERE OUTRAGED.
1524
00:46:30,664 --> 00:46:32,633
ERIC BISCHOFF, WHAT AN --.
1525
00:46:32,633 --> 00:46:34,201
HOW COULD HE POSSIBLY DO THAT?
1526
00:46:34,201 --> 00:46:34,935
THAT'S HORRIBLE.
1527
00:46:34,935 --> 00:46:36,103
THAT DE-DE-DE-DAH."
1528
00:46:36,103 --> 00:46:37,371
AND THE MORE THEY COMPLAIN, THE
1529
00:46:37,371 --> 00:46:38,706
MORE--THE MORE I DID IT.
1530
00:46:38,706 --> 00:46:39,573
LIKE, "OKAY.
1531
00:46:39,573 --> 00:46:40,708
THAT'S WORKING."
1532
00:46:40,708 --> 00:46:41,909
AND RIGHT OFF THE BAT, I
1533
00:46:41,909 --> 00:46:44,344
WANNA LET ALL YOU FANS KNOW WITH
1534
00:46:44,344 --> 00:46:46,113
REMOTE CONTROLS IN YOUR HANDS,
1535
00:46:46,113 --> 00:46:48,816
OVER AT THE WORLD WHINING
1536
00:46:48,816 --> 00:46:51,285
ENTERTAINMENT, HERE'S HOW IT
1537
00:46:51,285 --> 00:46:53,287
GOES DOWN.
1538
00:46:53,287 --> 00:46:55,022
BIG YOKOZUNA IN A HANDICAPPED
1539
00:46:55,022 --> 00:46:56,156
MATCH.
1540
00:46:56,156 --> 00:46:57,891
JAKE "THE SNAKE" ROBERTS, WHO'S
1541
00:46:57,891 --> 00:46:58,959
TALKING ABOUT IT?
1542
00:46:58,959 --> 00:47:02,028
LEAVING UP SOME BONES HERE.
1543
00:47:02,028 --> 00:47:02,629
PULVERIZING YANKEM AND DIESEL
1544
00:47:02,629 --> 00:47:04,932
OVER BOB HOLLY--HE'S STILL
1545
00:47:04,932 --> 00:47:05,766
AROUND, OKAY.
1546
00:47:05,766 --> 00:47:07,234
WE GOT THAT OUT OF THE WAY.
1547
00:47:07,234 --> 00:47:09,436
NOW YOU ARE WHERE THE ACTION IS.
1548
00:47:09,436 --> 00:47:12,372
AND THE ACTION IS LIVE.
1549
00:47:12,372 --> 00:47:13,640
WAS IT A BAD BUSINESS MOVE?
1550
00:47:13,640 --> 00:47:15,109
NO.
1551
00:47:15,109 --> 00:47:16,944
BUT COULD YOU FEEL GOOD AS ERIC
1552
00:47:16,944 --> 00:47:18,912
BISCHOFF OR ANY OF THE, YOU
1553
00:47:18,912 --> 00:47:20,347
KNOW, HIGHER UPS IN WCW SITTING
1554
00:47:20,347 --> 00:47:21,782
AROUND GOING, "WE'RE GONNA DO
1555
00:47:21,782 --> 00:47:22,716
THAT."
1556
00:47:22,716 --> 00:47:23,383
HMM.
1557
00:47:23,383 --> 00:47:24,251
YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE A
1558
00:47:24,251 --> 00:47:25,319
CROOKED MOVE.
1559
00:47:25,319 --> 00:47:26,487
I [INDISTINCT]
1560
00:47:26,487 --> 00:47:27,321
THAT I HAD A PROBLEM WITH DOING
1561
00:47:27,321 --> 00:47:28,155
THAT?
1562
00:47:28,155 --> 00:47:29,123
OF COURSE, NOT.
1563
00:47:29,123 --> 00:47:30,224
IT'S BUSINESS.
1564
00:47:30,224 --> 00:47:31,258
THE OLD EXPRESSION OF "HEY,
1565
00:47:31,258 --> 00:47:32,259
DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY.
1566
00:47:32,259 --> 00:47:33,360
IT'S JUST BUSINESS."
1567
00:47:33,360 --> 00:47:36,630
YOU KNOW, MY BUSINESS IS
1568
00:47:36,630 --> 00:47:38,065
PERSONAL TO ME.
1569
00:47:38,065 --> 00:47:39,266
JUST TO MAKE THAT WORK REALLY
1570
00:47:39,266 --> 00:47:41,368
EFFECTIVELY, I CALL THE NETWORK
1571
00:47:41,368 --> 00:47:42,369
AND SAID, "I WANNA GO UP AT
1572
00:47:42,369 --> 00:47:44,238
8:57.
1573
00:47:44,238 --> 00:47:46,173
I WANNA GIVE AWAY THE RESULTS OF
1574
00:47:46,173 --> 00:47:49,041
THEIR SHOW THREE MINUTES BEFORE
1575
00:47:49,041 --> 00:47:49,710
THEY EVEN GO ON THE AIR."
1576
00:47:49,710 --> 00:47:50,978
SO I USED THAT TIME TO BASICALLY
1577
00:47:50,978 --> 00:47:52,346
PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDERNEATH
1578
00:47:52,346 --> 00:47:54,248
THE WWE AND RAW AND IT WORKED
1579
00:47:54,248 --> 00:47:57,484
REALLY WELL.
1580
00:47:57,484 --> 00:47:59,019
IN THE WEEKS THAT FOLLOWED,
1581
00:47:59,019 --> 00:48:01,588
WCW MONDAY NITRO CONTINUED TO
1582
00:48:01,588 --> 00:48:04,691
SCORE RATING VICTORIES OVERALL.
1583
00:48:04,691 --> 00:48:05,926
THEY HAVE MONEY AND THEY'RE
1584
00:48:05,926 --> 00:48:07,628
ABLE TO MAKE THEMSELVES HAVE THE
1585
00:48:07,628 --> 00:48:10,197
APPEARANCE OF THE WWE BECAUSE
1586
00:48:10,197 --> 00:48:11,098
THEY'VE TAKEN SO MANY OF THEIR
1587
00:48:11,098 --> 00:48:13,367
GUYS.
1588
00:48:13,367 --> 00:48:14,835
THIS IS A REAL WAR BETWEEN
1589
00:48:14,835 --> 00:48:17,036
TWO COMPANIES WHO HATE EACH
1590
00:48:17,036 --> 00:48:17,805
OTHER AND IT MADE IT REALLY
1591
00:48:17,805 --> 00:48:18,906
INTERESTING.
1592
00:48:18,906 --> 00:48:19,907
AND HE IS BACK WITH A
1593
00:48:19,907 --> 00:48:20,707
VENGEANCE.
1594
00:48:20,707 --> 00:48:21,508
BACK IN THE RING RIGHT NOW
1595
00:48:21,508 --> 00:48:22,409
AND--OH.
1596
00:48:22,409 --> 00:48:24,678
ONE, TWO, AND THREE.
1597
00:48:24,678 --> 00:48:26,547
OH, THAT WAS CLOSE.
1598
00:48:26,547 --> 00:48:27,981
YOU CAN SEE A MATCH BETWEEN
1599
00:48:27,981 --> 00:48:30,250
TWO WWE SUPERSTARS BUT YOU KNEW
1600
00:48:30,250 --> 00:48:32,753
ALSO IN THE BACKGROUND THERE WAS
1601
00:48:32,753 --> 00:48:34,488
A REAL FIGHT GOING ON BETWEEN
1602
00:48:34,488 --> 00:48:35,989
VINCE MCMAHON AND TED TURNER.
1603
00:48:35,989 --> 00:48:37,391
AND THE PEOPLE WANTED TO TUNE IN
1604
00:48:37,391 --> 00:48:38,492
EVERY WEEK AND SEE WHAT WAS
1605
00:48:38,492 --> 00:48:39,459
GONNA BE THE LATEST INSTALLMENT
1606
00:48:39,459 --> 00:48:43,697
IN THAT FIGHT.
1607
00:48:43,697 --> 00:48:45,933
IN DECEMBER OF 1995, THE
1608
00:48:45,933 --> 00:48:47,968
BATTLE WAS STILL EVEN.
1609
00:48:47,968 --> 00:48:49,903
BUT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING
1610
00:48:49,903 --> 00:48:52,439
WOULD SOON STRIKE AGAIN.
1611
00:48:52,439 --> 00:48:54,441
MADUSA, FORMERLY KNOWN IN THE
1612
00:48:54,441 --> 00:48:57,644
WWE AS ALUNDRA BLAYZE DEFECTED
1613
00:48:57,644 --> 00:49:00,047
TO WCW PRESENTING ERIC BISCHOFF
1614
00:49:00,047 --> 00:49:02,716
WITH A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.
1615
00:49:02,716 --> 00:49:10,390
WCW MONDAY NITRO LIVE ON TNT.
1616
00:49:10,390 --> 00:49:11,458
WHEN MADUSA CAME OVER, SHE
1617
00:49:11,458 --> 00:49:13,527
HAD THE WWE WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1618
00:49:13,527 --> 00:49:14,561
AND, YOU KNOW, SHE CALLED ME AND
1619
00:49:14,561 --> 00:49:15,462
SAYS, "YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT THIS
1620
00:49:15,462 --> 00:49:16,296
BELT.
1621
00:49:16,296 --> 00:49:17,331
SHOULD I SEND IT BACK TO THEM?
1622
00:49:17,331 --> 00:49:18,165
WHAT SHOULD I DO?"
1623
00:49:18,165 --> 00:49:19,266
AND I SAID, "NO.
1624
00:49:19,266 --> 00:49:20,701
DON'T SEND IT BACK TO THEM.
1625
00:49:20,701 --> 00:49:22,269
AT LEAST NOT YET.
1626
00:49:22,269 --> 00:49:25,172
BRING IT TO TV WITH YOU."
1627
00:49:25,172 --> 00:49:26,974
THIS IS THE WWE WOMEN'S
1628
00:49:26,974 --> 00:49:28,375
CHAMPIONSHIP BELT.
1629
00:49:28,375 --> 00:49:29,309
WHOA.
1630
00:49:29,309 --> 00:49:32,011
WHOA.
1631
00:49:32,011 --> 00:49:32,713
I WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE HER,
1632
00:49:32,713 --> 00:49:34,715
AGAINST HER WILL, THAT IT WAS A
1633
00:49:34,715 --> 00:49:36,116
GREAT IDEA TO JUST TAKE THAT WWE
1634
00:49:36,116 --> 00:49:37,918
WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP, DROP IT
1635
00:49:37,918 --> 00:49:39,119
RIGHT IN THE GARBAGE CAN IN
1636
00:49:39,119 --> 00:49:40,621
NATIONAL TELEVISION.
1637
00:49:40,621 --> 00:49:41,855
THAT INDEED IT IS.
1638
00:49:41,855 --> 00:49:43,190
NOT IN THE TRASH CAN.
1639
00:49:43,190 --> 00:49:44,658
AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK OF
1640
00:49:44,658 --> 00:49:46,126
THE WWE WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1641
00:49:46,126 --> 00:49:47,761
BELT.
1642
00:49:47,761 --> 00:49:50,597
MADUSA, TAKING OUR WOMEN'S
1643
00:49:50,597 --> 00:49:51,965
TITLE AND THROWING IT IN THE
1644
00:49:51,965 --> 00:49:55,034
TRASH CAN RIGHT THERE ON THE
1645
00:49:54,935 --> 00:49:57,471
NOW THAT WAS WHAT GOT
1646
00:49:57,471 --> 00:49:58,672
EVERYBODY'S EYE UP.
1647
00:49:58,672 --> 00:49:59,606
THAT IS JUST SOMETHING YOU DON'T
1648
00:49:59,606 --> 00:50:00,307
DO.
1649
00:50:00,307 --> 00:50:01,141
I MEAN, IT'S LIKE YOU DON'T DROP
1650
00:50:01,141 --> 00:50:02,276
THE FLAG ON THE GROUND.
1651
00:50:02,276 --> 00:50:03,944
YOU RESPECT A TITLE, A
1652
00:50:03,944 --> 00:50:05,345
CHAMPIONSHIP BELT.
1653
00:50:05,345 --> 00:50:06,880
AND IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF MANY
1654
00:50:06,880 --> 00:50:08,782
TRADITIONS BEING BROKEN.
1655
00:50:08,782 --> 00:50:10,550
WHEN ALUNDRA BLAYZE DROPPED
1656
00:50:10,550 --> 00:50:12,019
THE BELT IN THE TRASH, IT JUST
1657
00:50:12,019 --> 00:50:13,287
LET YOU KNOW THAT THE WAR WAS
1658
00:50:13,287 --> 00:50:14,755
REALLY ON.
1659
00:50:14,755 --> 00:50:17,891
I AM NOW IN THE WCW AND THEY
1660
00:50:17,891 --> 00:50:20,127
USED TO CALL ME ALUNDRA BLAYZE
1661
00:50:20,127 --> 00:50:21,295
BUT NOT ANYMORE.
1662
00:50:21,295 --> 00:50:22,229
IT WAS LIKE A [INDISTINCT]
1663
00:50:22,229 --> 00:50:24,064
THING TO DO AND IT WAS SURE OF
1664
00:50:24,064 --> 00:50:26,066
A SHOCK ACROSS THE BOUGH AND A
1665
00:50:26,066 --> 00:50:28,001
PRETTY MUCH A KICK IN THE GROIN
1666
00:50:28,001 --> 00:50:30,270
I THINK AS IT WAS MEANT TO BE.
1667
00:50:30,270 --> 00:50:31,438
THIS IS WHERE THE BIG BOYS
1668
00:50:31,438 --> 00:50:33,440
PLAY AND NOW, THIS IS WHERE THE
1669
00:50:33,440 --> 00:50:35,742
BIG GIRLS PLAY.
1670
00:50:35,742 --> 00:50:38,278
HOLY SMOKES.
1671
00:50:38,278 --> 00:50:39,546
WE ARE LIVE FROM STOCKTON,
1672
00:50:39,546 --> 00:50:40,580
CALIFORNIA, LADIES AND
1673
00:50:40,580 --> 00:50:41,882
GENTLEMEN.
1674
00:50:41,882 --> 00:50:43,750
AND RIGHT NOW, WE PRESENT--FOR
1675
00:50:43,750 --> 00:50:45,452
COMEDIC PURPOSES, BILLIONAIRE
1676
00:50:45,452 --> 00:50:49,089
TED "WRASSLIN' WAR-ROOM.
1677
00:50:49,089 --> 00:50:53,093
MEN, I BUILT THIS COMPANY TO
1678
00:50:53,093 --> 00:50:54,494
WHAT IT IS TODAY BY DOING ONE
1679
00:50:54,494 --> 00:50:57,631
THING WELL, THAT'S BUYING ALL
1680
00:50:57,631 --> 00:51:01,168
ASSETS AND REPACKAGING THEM.
1681
00:51:01,168 --> 00:51:03,303
BUY--LIKE BUYING OLD MOVIES.
1682
00:51:03,303 --> 00:51:05,472
YOU KNOW, BUYING OLD CARTOONS.
1683
00:51:05,472 --> 00:51:06,373
WELL, HECK, I EVEN BOUGHT OLD
1684
00:51:06,373 --> 00:51:09,743
WRESTLERS.
1685
00:51:09,743 --> 00:51:11,945
AFTER MONTHS OF SILENCE,
1686
00:51:11,945 --> 00:51:13,480
VINCE MCMAHON FINALLY FIRED
1687
00:51:13,480 --> 00:51:14,681
BACK.
1688
00:51:14,681 --> 00:51:16,283
AIRING PARODIES OF WORLD
1689
00:51:16,283 --> 00:51:18,418
CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING.
1690
00:51:18,418 --> 00:51:19,419
WWE MOCKED THE AGE OF THEIR
1691
00:51:19,419 --> 00:51:21,822
OPPOSITION'S TOP TALENTS LIKE
1692
00:51:21,822 --> 00:51:24,691
HULK HOGAN AND RANDY SAVAGE.
1693
00:51:24,691 --> 00:51:25,993
AS WELL AS THE BUSINESS
1694
00:51:25,993 --> 00:51:28,929
PRACTICES OF WCW OWNER TED
1695
00:51:28,929 --> 00:51:30,263
TURNER.
1696
00:51:30,263 --> 00:51:34,067
I AM NOT A HILLBILLY AND I
1697
00:51:34,067 --> 00:51:36,236
DON'T WEAR CHEAP SUITS.
1698
00:51:36,236 --> 00:51:38,505
NOW, QUESTION, PLEASE.
1699
00:51:38,505 --> 00:51:40,741
YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER THE
1700
00:51:40,741 --> 00:51:42,142
BILLIONAIRE TED VIGNETTE AND TO
1701
00:51:42,142 --> 00:51:43,310
BE HONEST WITH YOU, I THOUGHT
1702
00:51:43,310 --> 00:51:44,277
THEY WERE FUNNY.
1703
00:51:44,277 --> 00:51:45,445
SURPRISINGLY ENOUGH TED THOUGHT
1704
00:51:45,445 --> 00:51:47,180
THEY WERE FUNNY.
1705
00:51:47,180 --> 00:51:48,448
I WAS NOT THAT OFFENDED BY
1706
00:51:48,448 --> 00:51:49,416
THEM.
1707
00:51:49,416 --> 00:51:51,385
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I SAID, "BOY,
1708
00:51:51,385 --> 00:51:52,552
THIS MUST BE HURTING TO BE
1709
00:51:52,552 --> 00:51:53,553
RESORTING IN TO THIS KIND OF
1710
00:51:53,553 --> 00:51:54,688
STUFF."
1711
00:51:54,688 --> 00:51:57,090
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME WWE
1712
00:51:57,090 --> 00:51:58,558
REFERRED TO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
1713
00:51:58,558 --> 00:52:00,160
WRESTLING ON TELEVISION AS A
1714
00:52:00,160 --> 00:52:01,728
COMPETITOR.
1715
00:52:01,728 --> 00:52:04,898
THAT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, IF WCW
1716
00:52:04,898 --> 00:52:08,635
ADDED CREDIBILITY.
1717
00:52:08,635 --> 00:52:10,737
WE KIND OF LIKE MADE FANS,
1718
00:52:10,737 --> 00:52:12,072
THEY RETUNED TO WCW TO SEE IF
1719
00:52:12,072 --> 00:52:14,040
HULK HOGAN IS REALLY PUSHING THE
1720
00:52:14,040 --> 00:52:14,207
WALKER.
1721
00:52:14,207 --> 00:52:15,642
YOU KNOW, THEY KIND OF LIKE MAY
1722
00:52:15,642 --> 00:52:17,611
PEOPLE LOOK YOU KNOW, TO SEE IF
1723
00:52:17,611 --> 00:52:19,579
I WAS REALLY THAT WASHED UP.
1724
00:52:19,579 --> 00:52:21,481
IF YOU'RE NUMBER ONE, YOU
1725
00:52:21,481 --> 00:52:22,949
SHOULDN'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE
1726
00:52:22,949 --> 00:52:23,784
NUMBER TWO.
1727
00:52:23,784 --> 00:52:25,285
THEY'RE NOT THERE, THEY DON'T
1728
00:52:25,285 --> 00:52:26,219
EXIST.
1729
00:52:26,219 --> 00:52:28,622
BUT ONCE THE TIDE BEGAN TO TURN
1730
00:52:28,622 --> 00:52:31,124
A LITTLE BIT, YOU NEED TO GO
1731
00:52:31,124 --> 00:52:32,059
AFTER THEM.
1732
00:52:32,059 --> 00:52:34,294
THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THAT.
1733
00:52:34,294 --> 00:52:35,629
ALL WE'VE GOT ARE THE
1734
00:52:35,629 --> 00:52:37,998
DISLOYAL, GREEDY, HAS-BEENS FROM
1735
00:52:37,998 --> 00:52:38,799
THE '80S.
1736
00:52:38,799 --> 00:52:39,666
WHO YOU CALLING A HAS-BEEN,
1737
00:52:39,666 --> 00:52:40,534
BROTHER?
1738
00:52:40,534 --> 00:52:41,301
YOU CAN'T BLAME A GUY FOR
1739
00:52:41,301 --> 00:52:43,336
TRYING TO KIND OF MAKE A BUCK.
1740
00:52:43,336 --> 00:52:44,671
WHO YOU CALLING DISLOYAL?
1741
00:52:44,671 --> 00:52:46,073
BESIDES, I STARTED IN THE '70S
1742
00:52:46,073 --> 00:52:48,208
NOT THE '80S.
1743
00:52:48,208 --> 00:52:49,209
WHY ARE YOU MAKING FUN OF
1744
00:52:49,209 --> 00:52:49,976
THEM?
1745
00:52:49,976 --> 00:52:50,777
IF YOU HAD A BETTER PRODUCT, YOU
1746
00:52:50,777 --> 00:52:51,812
DON'T CARE.
1747
00:52:51,812 --> 00:52:52,746
WHEN YOU START MAKING FUN OF THE
1748
00:52:52,746 --> 00:52:54,214
OTHER PRODUCT, THEN IT'S LIKE,
1749
00:52:54,214 --> 00:52:57,051
UH-OH, LIKE WE HAVE PROBLEM
1750
00:52:57,051 --> 00:52:59,653
HERE.
1751
00:52:59,653 --> 00:53:02,021
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING
1752
00:53:02,021 --> 00:53:03,090
HAD BECOME A LEGITIMATE THREAT
1753
00:53:03,090 --> 00:53:05,092
TO WWE.
1754
00:53:05,092 --> 00:53:06,760
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, VINCE
1755
00:53:06,760 --> 00:53:08,862
MCMAHON'S REIGN ATOP THE SPORTS
1756
00:53:08,862 --> 00:53:10,831
ENTERTAINMENT WORLD WAS
1757
00:53:10,831 --> 00:53:12,432
JEOPARDIZED.
1758
00:53:12,432 --> 00:53:13,433
WE JUST WANT TO BE A
1759
00:53:13,433 --> 00:53:15,068
SUCCESSFUL AS VINCE IS.
1760
00:53:15,068 --> 00:53:16,937
AND THEN, WE'D LIKE TO, YOU
1761
00:53:16,937 --> 00:53:18,672
KNOW, KICK HIS BUTT.
1762
00:53:18,672 --> 00:53:20,941
THERE HAD NEVER BEEN A LIGHT
1763
00:53:20,941 --> 00:53:22,375
OF A SHOW LIKE THIS THAT WOULD
1764
00:53:22,375 --> 00:53:23,810
COMPETE AGAINST THE LIGHT OF
1765
00:53:23,810 --> 00:53:24,711
THAT SHOW.
1766
00:53:24,711 --> 00:53:25,879
NEVER BEFORE IN THE HISTORY OF
1767
00:53:25,879 --> 00:53:27,080
TELEVISION HAS THAT EVER
1768
00:53:27,080 --> 00:53:28,181
HAPPENED.
1769
00:53:28,181 --> 00:53:29,616
SO, YOU HAVE TO GRAB YOUR BEST
1770
00:53:29,616 --> 00:53:31,084
HOLD AS WE SAY IN OUR BUSINESS.
1771
00:53:31,084 --> 00:53:33,420
MONDAY NIGHTS WERE BECOMING
1772
00:53:33,420 --> 00:53:35,355
MUST-SEE TV.
1773
00:53:35,355 --> 00:53:36,656
HE TOOK THE WORLD TITLE HERE
1774
00:53:36,656 --> 00:53:37,891
ON NITRO.
1775
00:53:37,891 --> 00:53:39,092
THIS IS MY BELT.
1776
00:53:39,092 --> 00:53:40,026
AS THE COMPETITION
1777
00:53:40,026 --> 00:53:41,461
INTENSIFIED, LOYALTIES WOULD BE
1778
00:53:41,461 --> 00:53:42,696
TESTED.
1779
00:53:42,696 --> 00:53:45,065
AND NEW SUPERSTARS WOULD EMERGE.
1780
00:53:45,065 --> 00:53:45,932
MANKIND...
1781
00:53:45,932 --> 00:53:46,867
CHRIS JERICHO.
1782
00:53:46,867 --> 00:53:48,702
HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY.
1783
00:53:48,702 --> 00:53:49,803
DEL RIO.
1784
00:53:49,803 --> 00:53:50,670
OH.
1785
00:53:50,670 --> 00:53:53,607
AUSTIN 3:16 SAYS, "I JUST
1786
00:53:53,607 --> 00:53:57,110
WHIPPED YOUR --."
1787
00:53:57,110 --> 00:53:58,845
AND LEGIONS OF NEW FANS WOULD
1788
00:53:58,845 --> 00:54:00,347
WITNESS THE GREATEST BATTLE IN
1789
00:54:00,347 --> 00:54:03,350
SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY.
1790
00:54:03,350 --> 00:54:05,252
COMPETITION CREATES
1791
00:54:05,252 --> 00:54:08,054
INTERESTS, AND THAT'S REALLY
1792
00:54:08,054 --> 00:54:09,289
WHAT SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT NEEDED
1793
00:54:09,289 --> 00:54:10,657
AT THE TIME.
1794
00:54:10,657 --> 00:54:11,892
COMPETITION ALWAYS BRINGS OUT
1795
00:54:11,892 --> 00:54:13,059
THE BEST IN ANYBODY.
1796
00:54:13,059 --> 00:54:14,427
YOU NEED TO FIGHT THE BEST TO BE
1797
00:54:14,427 --> 00:54:15,462
THE BEST.
1798
00:54:15,462 --> 00:54:16,930
I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH HOW FUN IT
1799
00:54:16,930 --> 00:54:19,599
WAS JUST TO BE A WRESTLING FAN.
1800
00:54:19,599 --> 00:54:23,670
I HAD TWO TVS STACKED SO, I
1801
00:54:23,670 --> 00:54:24,905
CAN WATCH THEM AT THE SAME TIME
1802
00:54:24,905 --> 00:54:26,473
AND TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON.
1803
00:54:26,473 --> 00:54:27,807
AND IT JUST CREATED A BUZZ
1804
00:54:27,807 --> 00:54:29,843
AND IT CREATED A NEW FAN BASE.
1805
00:54:29,843 --> 00:54:31,311
THERE WAS A WCW FAN, THERE
1806
00:54:31,311 --> 00:54:33,480
WAS A WWE FAN, AND THEN THERE
1807
00:54:33,480 --> 00:54:35,248
WAS THAT FAN IN THE MIDDLE WHO
1808
00:54:35,248 --> 00:54:36,550
WENT BACK AND FORTH AND THAT'S
1809
00:54:36,550 --> 00:54:40,053
WHAT MONDAY NIGHT CREATED.
1810
00:54:40,053 --> 00:54:41,454
THIS WHERE CARPAL TUNNEL
1811
00:54:41,454 --> 00:54:42,689
SYNDROME CAME--CONFIRM BUT, YOU
1812
00:54:42,689 --> 00:54:43,957
KNOW, EVERYBODY WITH THE--WITH
1813
00:54:43,957 --> 00:54:45,225
THE REMOTES TRY TO FLICK BACK
1814
00:54:45,225 --> 00:54:46,927
AND FORTH AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.
1815
00:54:46,927 --> 00:54:48,962
THE WRESTLING FANS LOVED IT.
1816
00:54:48,962 --> 00:54:50,230
THERE'S JUST TWO GUYS WHO
1817
00:54:50,230 --> 00:54:53,500
DIDN'T, MCMAHON AND TURNER.
1818
00:54:53,500 --> 00:54:55,402
THAT'S WHERE THE FIGHT WAS.
1819
00:54:55,402 --> 00:54:57,504
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?
1820
00:54:57,504 --> 00:54:58,738
WE WERE IN A MASSIVE WAR.
1821
00:54:58,738 --> 00:54:59,806
WHEN I SAY WAR, IT WASN'T LIKE
1822
00:54:59,806 --> 00:55:01,174
YOU KNOW, "WELL, IF IT DOESN'T
1823
00:55:01,174 --> 00:55:02,509
WORK OUT, WE MOVE ON OR
1824
00:55:02,509 --> 00:55:03,376
SOMETHING."
1825
00:55:03,376 --> 00:55:04,177
IF IT DIDN'T WORK OUT, WE WERE
1826
00:55:04,177 --> 00:55:05,645
PROBABLY GOING OUT OF BUSINESS.
1827
00:55:05,645 --> 00:55:08,281
IT WAS THAT DRASTIC.
1828
00:55:08,281 --> 00:55:09,616
IT WAS AN ERA UNLIKE ANY
1829
00:55:09,616 --> 00:55:10,917
OTHER.
1830
00:55:10,917 --> 00:55:12,786
AN ERA THAT REDEFINED PRIMETIME
1831
00:55:12,786 --> 00:55:14,487
TELEVISION.
1832
00:55:14,487 --> 00:55:15,789
AN ERA IN WHICH TWO INDUSTRY
1833
00:55:15,789 --> 00:55:18,158
TITANS WOULD GO BLOW FOR BLOW IN
1834
00:55:18,158 --> 00:55:20,594
FRONT OF A GLOBAL AUDIENCE.
1835
00:55:20,594 --> 00:55:26,299
IT WAS THE MONDAY NIGHT WAR.
110867
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