Guide Note

World Championship Wrestling (WCW) was an American wrestling organization before it was purchased by World Wrestling Entertainment and disbanded in 2001.

Fast Facts

1. Established: 1988
2. Folded: 2001
3. Style: Professional wrestling, sports entertainment
4. Location: Atlanta, Georgia
5. Founder: Ted Turner
6. Owners: Jim Crockett (1979-1986, Ted Turner 1988-2001, Vince McMahon (2001-present)
7. Began as National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)
8. Formally owned by Ted Turner
9. Reached its height of popularity from 1996 to 1998
10. Acquired by WWE in 2001

WCW was originally part of the National Wrestling Alliance until it was purchased by Ted Turner in 1988. While the World Wrestling Federation was the major player in the wrestling business, WCW began to rise to prominence in 1995 when they hired both Eric Bischoff and wrestling icon Hulk Hogan. Bischoff would continue to lure big names to the company, many of which had already been stars on the WWF. WCW soon became a major threat to WWF. However, Bischoff allowed wrestlers to have too much creative control and things started to go downhill. Bischoff was replaced with former WWF writer Vince Russo in 1999, but could not turn things around and was later removed.

In 2001, WCW was acquired by WWE owner Vince McMahon. McMahon acquired most of WCW's assets, including trademarks and video libraries. Many wrestlers employed by WCW at the time were offered WWE contracts and made the jump over to McMahon's company. Former WCW president Eric Bischoff would also be hired by WWE, acting as General Manager of Raw for most of his tenure.

• WCW World Heavyweight Champion: Booker T
• WCW United States Champion: Booker T
• WCW World Tag Team Champion: Natural Born Thrillers (Chuck Palumbo and Sean O'Haire)
• WCW Cruiserweight Champion: Shane Helms
• WCW World Television Champion: Hacksaw Jim Duggan
• WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Champion: The Filthy Animals (Billy Kidman and Rey Mysterio
• WCW Hardcore Champion: Meng