Will just get things rolling (will also give WCW some changes, slightly ASB but Hogan's politics would kill the company otherwise, I have more faith in McMahon as an authority than Bischoff to keep them under control) for 96 and 97 (feel free to revisit it in subsequent posts though if anyone can add). I'd like to see this go into the 2000's, 2010's and maybe even early 2020's if we can. Also lets keep WWF alive in this also, even if the company goes in a different direction. ECW however, I have plans from them and the talent (especially the main ones when it comes to WCW at least).
May 1996: Ted Turner begins to help Paul Heyman and ECW financially, in exchange, Heyman would provide creative assistance unofficially and allow talent to go to the company.
June 1996: WCW would resign Brian Pillman from ECW, as well as signing Mick Foley (who would debut his new gimmick Mankind on the next Nitro). They would also reach an agreement with Kurt Angle for a contract beginning in 1998 (after a stint in the WCW Power Plant).
2 October 1996: The Time Warner-AOL merger is dead in the water. With major disagreements with regard to certain aspects of Time Warners business (such as wrestling and other entertainment).
14 October 1997: The entire Hart Family would leave the WWF after the Montreal Screwjob, with McMahon offering little to no resistance.
12 November 1997: Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Ric Flair, Scott Hall and several other members of the roster would be unhappy with the Hart family's roster. Turner, who had wanted to reduce the overall salary (as well as tensions in the locker room), decided to phone McMahon to make a deal to take these members on. McMahon, who had just lost the entire Hart family to WCW, was very keen to gain some star power.
14 November 1997: A deal would be reached, where Hogan, Nash, Hall, Flair, Savage, 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper, Jim Duggan and Lex Luger and their contracts being sent to the WWF in exchange for All the members from the Nation of Domination (Ron Simmons, D'Lo Brown, Rocky Miavia, Savio Vega, Mark Henry, Ahmed Johnson, Kama Mustafa), Flash Funk, Ken Shamrock, Dustin Rhodes and Steve Austin. WCW rationalised this as adding talent for the future whilst WWF rationalised this as adding talent for the present. the WWF however were unable to buy the rights to the NWO however.
16 November 1997: WCW would reach an agreement to release Lanny Poffo and Vincent (allowing them to join the WWF). The wrestling world was coming to terms with these releases, Eric Bischoff would resign after the releases made and join WWF as head of creative with Dusty Rhodes (with Paul heyman acting as unofficial booking advisor).
24 November 1997: Both sets of talent involved in the contract exchange. Hogan and Nash & Hall would jump the barrier and help Shawn Micheals and HHH win their tag team match in the main event, allying themselves with DX. On Nitro, The former Nation of Domination members, both members of the Harlem Heat and 2 Cold Scorpio would jump both Sting and Bret Hart. Ron Simmons and The Rock (as he was now known) would both cut promos, with Simmons saying 'This is the last present the old guard is leaving WCW'. As news had begun to leak out, WWF, for the first time in 18 months, would draw a larger rating than WCW (WWF would draw a 4.3, as opposed to WCW's 2.8).
Beggining of 1998: After a Crazy October and November (involving the Montreal Screwjob, a massive talent exchange and the ratings wars flipped on its head. December was relatively quiet in comparison (Starrcade aside). WCW having reduced costs were now behind in the ratings war (WCW sitting on a 3.1 average, with WWF averaging 3.9), but financially they had reduced their payroll drastically, increased locker room harmony and have several young potential stars. WWF, despite the much larger payroll, now had much more starpower and therefore, more money.
May 1996: Ted Turner begins to help Paul Heyman and ECW financially, in exchange, Heyman would provide creative assistance unofficially and allow talent to go to the company.
June 1996: WCW would resign Brian Pillman from ECW, as well as signing Mick Foley (who would debut his new gimmick Mankind on the next Nitro). They would also reach an agreement with Kurt Angle for a contract beginning in 1998 (after a stint in the WCW Power Plant).
2 October 1996: The Time Warner-AOL merger is dead in the water. With major disagreements with regard to certain aspects of Time Warners business (such as wrestling and other entertainment).
14 October 1997: The entire Hart Family would leave the WWF after the Montreal Screwjob, with McMahon offering little to no resistance.
12 November 1997: Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Ric Flair, Scott Hall and several other members of the roster would be unhappy with the Hart family's roster. Turner, who had wanted to reduce the overall salary (as well as tensions in the locker room), decided to phone McMahon to make a deal to take these members on. McMahon, who had just lost the entire Hart family to WCW, was very keen to gain some star power.
14 November 1997: A deal would be reached, where Hogan, Nash, Hall, Flair, Savage, 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper, Jim Duggan and Lex Luger and their contracts being sent to the WWF in exchange for All the members from the Nation of Domination (Ron Simmons, D'Lo Brown, Rocky Miavia, Savio Vega, Mark Henry, Ahmed Johnson, Kama Mustafa), Flash Funk, Ken Shamrock, Dustin Rhodes and Steve Austin. WCW rationalised this as adding talent for the future whilst WWF rationalised this as adding talent for the present. the WWF however were unable to buy the rights to the NWO however.
16 November 1997: WCW would reach an agreement to release Lanny Poffo and Vincent (allowing them to join the WWF). The wrestling world was coming to terms with these releases, Eric Bischoff would resign after the releases made and join WWF as head of creative with Dusty Rhodes (with Paul heyman acting as unofficial booking advisor).
24 November 1997: Both sets of talent involved in the contract exchange. Hogan and Nash & Hall would jump the barrier and help Shawn Micheals and HHH win their tag team match in the main event, allying themselves with DX. On Nitro, The former Nation of Domination members, both members of the Harlem Heat and 2 Cold Scorpio would jump both Sting and Bret Hart. Ron Simmons and The Rock (as he was now known) would both cut promos, with Simmons saying 'This is the last present the old guard is leaving WCW'. As news had begun to leak out, WWF, for the first time in 18 months, would draw a larger rating than WCW (WWF would draw a 4.3, as opposed to WCW's 2.8).
Beggining of 1998: After a Crazy October and November (involving the Montreal Screwjob, a massive talent exchange and the ratings wars flipped on its head. December was relatively quiet in comparison (Starrcade aside). WCW having reduced costs were now behind in the ratings war (WCW sitting on a 3.1 average, with WWF averaging 3.9), but financially they had reduced their payroll drastically, increased locker room harmony and have several young potential stars. WWF, despite the much larger payroll, now had much more starpower and therefore, more money.
