The Shrine

<div style='font: bold 11pt Modern; text-align: left; '><b>Link:</b> <a href="http://www.wwf.com/news/headlines/">WWF buys WCW</a>

World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. Acquires WCW from Turner Broadcasting.</div>

<div style='font: 12pt Modern; text-align: left; '>They acquired all sorts of ECW wrestlers, now the entire WCW. Think of the possibilities =)</div>

<div style='font: italic bold 14pt "Comic Sans MS", Modern; text-align: justify; padding: 0% 15% 0% 15%; '>Wow...All this time the WWF has been acting like they weren't interested, then BAM; they drop this bombshell. Opens some interesting possibilities...</div>

<div style='font: bold 11pt Modern; text-align: left; '>how's Jerry Lawler going to find a job now?</div>

<div style='font: 12pt Modern; text-align: left; '>Poor bastard =)</div>

<div style='font: italic bold 14pt "Comic Sans MS", Modern; text-align: justify; padding: 0% 15% 0% 15%; '>hehehee...I bet Vince McMahon bought WCW just to screw with him....LOL!</div>

<div style='font: 10pt Papyrus, Modern; text-align: left; padding: 0% 15% 0% 15%; '>Lance Storm, Sean O'Haire, Mike Awesome, Chuck Palumbo, Miss Hancock, Shane Helms, Shannon Moore, Mike Sanders, Hugh Morrus, Billy Kidman, Elix Skipper, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Shawn Stasiak, Kaz Hayashi, Yang, and Mark Jindrak.

-From 411wrestling.com



Mike Awesom! Kidman! Elix Skipper! Lance Storm!! Ms Hancock!!!
This announcement, and the recent aquisition of ECW wrestlers like Rhino, Tajiri, Jerry Lynn, Spike Dudley, Justin Credible, and Tommy Dreamer, is actually making me WANT to watch the WWF now. So many possibilites.... *foams at the mouth*</div>

<div style='font: 12pt Modern; text-align: left; '>- While no one making seven figures in WCW will be retained under their present deals, the WWF is in contact with select high-paid stars about accepting restructured incentive-based contracts. For instance, both Sting and Goldberg have been contacted about this, and both have responded positively.

- The cheaper talent will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, but the thinking at present time is that most of the younger guys will be kept on, while mid-priced veterans who have a (negative) history with the WWF may be in trouble.

- Ric Flair's been in contact with Vince McMahon and will be a big part of this deal. As the "CEO" of WCW, the mere nature of his character is every bit as important to telling a compelling story as his remarkable in-ring and verbal skills.

- Kevin Nash has not been in direct touch with Vince, but has been told by those lower on the totem pole that he would be expected to work full time (and, as described above, accept a restructured contract) if he wanted to return to action in the new WCW. Scott Hall returning is not even under consideration at this point.

- Creatively speaking, there's a bunch of interesting things happening. Terry Taylor and Johnny Ace have been running WCW for the past few months, and both have had tentative early talks with the new management. The Fed is also considering farming out Paul Heyman (and perhaps some other established staffers) to shore up creative for the new WCW, while it is NOT out of the question that Ed Ferrera and Vince Russo could be brought back into the equation, also.

- As far as announcers go: the WWF realizes this is an area that needs to be addressed. Bobby Heenan is under consideration to return to the new WCW, while the Fed is also looking to shore up this capacity by exploring the possibility of making peace with Jerry Lawler. Tony Schiavone's job isn't in immediate jeopardy, but that's more because he's just the best option right now, not because he's viewed as the best long-term solution.

- On the TV timeslot front: one possibility being discussed at this point would result in the WWF having five hours of weekly TV on cable to WCW's four. This is NOT etched in stone, but it looks like the WWF will keep RAW and SmackDown! where they are, and also keep one of the weekend morning TNN slots. WCW would receive a new two-hour TNN slot, and would take over the other of the WWF's TNN weekend hours, as well as an MTV hour (one source said the new WCW would actually take the Heat slot, but there are big time conflicting rumors about that, and speaking purely logically, the WWF should not -- in my opinion -- give up a show that serves both as PPV warm-up and as a launching pad for mid-card talent to hone their shtick for RAW). Both Feds would continue to produce a syndicated hour, as well.

- WCW's scehduled Big Bang PPV could be dead as far as May 6 goes. June is more likely for a PPV relaunch of WCW; the new WCW will only hit PPV after the cable timeslots are established and they've had time to build up to a big PPV debut for the new WCW.

- There are also conflicts between sources as to exactly how big the WCW tape library included in this purchase will be... a few sources say that only footage taped since Turner took over WCW in 1989 is included in the deal (since a lot of old Georgia Championship Wrestling footage was never officially turned over to Turner upon sale of the company). One source insists that the WWF is getting rights to footage dating back to the 70's, including Mid South, UWF, World Class, and Florida tapes, however. This would have a huge impact on just how factual the rumors about the WWF looking to start a 24 hour "wrestling classics" network turn out to be.

- Don't discount the ECW name, either... the same source that insisted the tape library purchased by the WWF includes tons of old WCW/NWA footage also says that the WWF is considering a deal to acquire broadcast rights to the ECW tape library. Also, the WWF continues to drop the ECW name on their programming (especially in regards to Rhyno, as on SmackDown! this week), meaning that there could even be life after death -- beyond inclusion on a wrestling classic network -- for ECW.

- And finally... the WWF themselves (in their official press release) hinted that "cross-brand storylines" could start as soon as Monday night. However, there are also indications that things won't move full-bore towards a genuine cross-promotional feud until the situation is just right. If something big happens Monday, it may be more a tease than a start of a sustainable storyline. Depending on creative discussions, it could be months of keeping the WWF and WCW as genuinely separate entities before we see the seeds of a joint-venture PPV planted.</div>

<div style='font: 10pt "Arial bold", Modern; text-align: left; '>Why would they want Stasiak back after what he did?</div>

<div style='font: 10pt "Arial bold", Modern; text-align: left; '>Shit. I was hoping we wouldn't have a monopoly. What's gonna keep the WWF from getting too stale now?</div>

<div style='font: 10pt "Arial bold", Modern; text-align: left; '>They were one of the original buyers, then Turner said "no, not if they're on TBS". Then Turner dropped it from TBS and it was sold like a week later</div>

<div style='font: 10pt Papyrus, Modern; text-align: left; padding: 0% 15% 0% 15%; '>I don't what "he did", but he's a shitty wrestler anyway.</div>

<div style='font: 12pt Modern; text-align: left; '>Ratings, it's not like people have to watch it</div>

<div style='font: 12pt Modern; text-align: left; '>I wonder if Mr. T will be at the Gimik Battle Royal</div>

<div style='font: italic 11pt "times new roman", Modern; text-align: left; padding: 0% 1% 0% 1%; '>From what i have heard Shano Mac is going to be running WCW so hopefully the whole monopoly issue won't scew the fans over.</div>

<div style='font: 12pt Arial, Modern; text-align: left; '>They're gonna have one hell of a roster now, man. I was shocked enough to see some coolass ECW aquisitions before... and now Storm!</div>

<div style='font: 12pt Helvetica, Modern; text-align: left; '>The WCW was already stale.</div>

<div style='font: 10pt Papyrus, Modern; text-align: left; padding: 0% 15% 0% 15%; '>There's a LOT of good grabs from WCW, not just Lance Storm.</div>

<div style='font: 12pt Arial, Modern; text-align: left; '>Oh, totally. But he's one of the biggest names that WWF couldn't previously claim as their own, and a kickass wrestler anyhow.</div>

<div style='font: 10pt Papyrus, Modern; text-align: left; padding: 0% 15% 0% 15%; '>Darn tootin'.</div>

<div style='font: italic bold 14pt "Comic Sans MS", Modern; text-align: justify; padding: 0% 15% 0% 15%; '>I missed that. What did Stasiack do?</div>

<div style='font: 10pt "Arial bold", Modern; text-align: left; '>That's why I wanted owners who were not the WWF</div>

<div style='font: 10pt "Arial bold", Modern; text-align: left; '>It'll be more of a partnership than a competition. Still bad</div>

<div style='font: 10pt "Arial bold", Modern; text-align: left; '>He secretly tape recorded conversations with wrestlers and other executives</div>

<div style='font: italic 11pt "times new roman", Modern; text-align: left; padding: 0% 1% 0% 1%; '>Thanks sherlock</div>