Timeline: The History of WCW – 1986 – As Told By The Rock 'n' Roll Express

The shoot-style series Timeline brought the inner workings of the WWE and ECW to the historians out there. And now the series has spun-off again as the spotlight is shone on WCW. From the Crockett days in the mid-80s up to its purchase in 2001, the WCW was the staunchest competitor, igniting the famed Monday Night Wars. But in this edition we take you back to times that weren’t so glorious. Four Horseman member Barry Windham travels back to 1991 with us as we look some odd booking decisions and the period in the business between the glorious 80s and the high octane 90s.

The venerable manager of the Four Horsemen and trusted WCW office member JJ Dillon is the next star to jump in the Kayfabe Commentaries time machine. The time the year is 1988 in WCW and Ted Turner is about to step in and buy the company from the Crockett family. They're beginning to feel the battle wounds as WWE and WCW begin running big events against each other. The war is in high gear. J.J. Dillon takes us inside the company and also inside the office, as he was working for the Crocketts there as well. Hear how torn he was as Arn and Tully, his benchmark Horsemen benchmark, jump to the WWE. A star is born as Sting main events against Flair. But did he ever really 'have it?'

There has never been another name in pro wrestling that has sparked so much debate. Savior? Provocateur? Whatever you think, he was behind the most talked about moments in a wrestling ring. And now he’s here to take you through a first-hand account of the most rocky time in WCW’s history. In what Vince has declared his last wrestling interview, he has nothing to lose in setting the record straight on many issues he’s never been able to be open and honest about…until now. Vince tackles the tough stuff head on, and lets you inside the meetings and arguments inside WCW, as the ratings war was winding down. As Russo came into WCW with great hopes, he also realized there was a target on his back from day one. Did he ever really have a shot? They didn’t realize it, but he heard their whipsers around ever corner. WCW 2000…from the only man that can tell it!

Was he evil incarnate? The twisted leader of the Dungeon of Doom stable was busy on both sides of the camera in 1996 as some very familiar faces to WWE fans began popping up on WCW TV and were preparing a takeover of the company. This formation of the nWo would launch WCW over the top, as it would soon overtake WWE in the ratings. Kevin Sullivan was booking the WCW, but it was getting really crowded in those decision making meetings. It seemed everyone had an opinion, and Hulk Hogan’s creative control clause would lead to some of the oddest decisions in pro wrestling, as many in power could only sit back and watch. Here comes Nash, Hall, Waltman and YOU! Join the Bookerman in 1996!

Two organizations, two Heavyweight titles, dipping business and a whole lot of confusion comes to the WCW in 1993. Now you can head back there as well with our tour guide Vader, who was holding the WCW title. Sure, there was to be an NWA champion during this time as well, but Vader’s title was the WCW title which carried more weight…didn’t it? In this year we will hear of Eric Bischoff’s ascension, prepping Hogan’s return, Dusty’s booking and Flair’s booking as the Nature Boy returned to WCW TV. In this year Vader changed the game as he became the first 400-pounder to hit a moonsault and set records in Japan while holding the WCW belt. IT’S TIME…IT’S TIME… For another trip back in the WCW with the one and only Vader!

Before taking on the identity of WCW, Jim Crockett Promotions would get great national exposure on WTBS after buying the slot from Vince McMahon for $1 million. Their stars were now stars all over the country, and our guest for this edition was becoming the biggest babyface in the company. Magnum TA had just arrived from Mid South and was taking the territory by storm, heading toward the US Title and becoming the #1 challenger for Flair. He’d feud with Tully, battle Flair, and help JCP begin its transition to what would become known as WCW. 1985 is the first year in our journey, so come along and join Magnum and hear about the red hot year that would propel the company into a decade and a half wild ride.

It's January 1989 and significant changes are coming for WCW. There would soon be a change in bookers with Dusty heading out. Jim Herd is taking the helm as executive vice president of the company and within a year a series of confounding decisions would result in damaged ratings, confusion in creative, a nearly empty Superdome, Ding-Dongs and a disappointing Bash tour. Jim Cornette returns to the timeline series and now takes you inside the WCW in 1989. He's brought along all his paperwork from the company for that year...TV formats, ratings, reports, journal entries...for a ride that's as entertaining as it is informative. It's classic Corny as he takes us back to a time in WCW that has to be heard to be believed.

There are watershed moments in the history of pro wrestling where the business is redefined, reinvented, or otherwise recast in a new mold. 1994 saw one of those moments when Hulk Hogan signed with the archenemy, WCW. It would reshape wrestling and create a new kind of competitive drama. And behind all of this was a mastermind who would go on to helm WCW and achieve the unthinkable. Join Eric Bischoff as he takes you back to the year when he began his ascension up the ranks of WCW and fired the opening salvo of what would become a “war.” Go inside the oft discussed talent meetings. Hear about the hirings and firings first-hand, right here! Everything you’ve wanted to know about Eric’s formulation of the plan to bring down Rome begins HERE, in 1994 with Okerlund, Heenan, Hogan, Savage, and so much more! Become an insider during WCW’s turbulent times, with the tensions between Dusty and Flair, Flair’s reluctant “retirement,” a budget that was unmanageable and ratings that were drowning.

With the nWo in full swing, there seemed no way that WCW could lose the momentum they’d built. Huge stars appeared on TV weekly as Nash, Hall, Syxx, Hogan, Savage, Flair, Bret and Sting were red hot and would drive ratings high. Starrcade would deliver WCW’s highest buyrate in 1997 as well. Now head inside that operation with one of the engineers of the nWo, Kevin Nash. Join Kev for this 3+ hour journey into WCW and hear about putting all the pieces together and playing the game of wrestling politics to perfection. Nash is open and honest as usual and holds no opinion close to the vest. It all goes on the table and if you ever wondered what was going on inside the company during the glory days of the nWo…wonder no more!!! From the contracts to the characters…it’s all here in this edition of Timeline: The History of WCW!

The white-hot Four Horsemen were storming through Jim Crockett Promotions as 1987 began. Fans came out by the tens of thousands to see them hopefully get their comeuppance. They were hated, and loved for being hated. But no one knew that an implosion to that original Horsemen line-up was coming. Heck, who thought Ole would ever be cheered?! But as good as business was, subtle shifts began to signal potential trouble. Crockett moves his entire operation to Dallas upon expanding there, incurring sizable expenses. Ron Garvin would win the Heavyweight title as houses began to suffer. What was to come? Join arguably the most hated member of wrestling’s most notorious faction ever, as Tully Blanchard sits down with you to draw back the curtain on everything happening in 1987.

It’s 1990 and things are about to change. One of wrestling’s most celebrated managers and bookers would see his successful tenure in WCW come to an abrupt end. There would be Black Scorpions, a Mysterious Pearl, and a fake Sting, among other things, to keep fans riveted. But perhaps it’s what we weren’t able to see that makes this year all the more interesting. Head back to the tumultuous year of 1990 with Jim Cornette as he draws back the curtain on the booking decisions, ratings, and the blowouts with WCW head honcho Jim Herd in this entertaining and informative edition of the Timeline series. We will show you the WCW/TBS documents as Jim narrates the story that would prove to be the end of his run with the company…in all the glorious detail you’d expect from Timeline and the spellbinding rancor you’d expect from Cornette!