Should the N.W.O storyline have ended at Starrcade 1997?

[Ubermensch]

Yes Malenko was around in Horseman. But II never agreed with Malenko coming on board.

I don't care how many hardcore ECW fans were out there, Malenko did not really have alot going for him. You're quiet guy gimmic can only get you over as someone with no microphone skills. He knew alot of submissions, and that would have been great back in 1982.

Mongo never had alot going for him, he was somewhat of a tweener, but a believable midcard guy and held the US title some. Benoit had loads of potential as everyone saw. Flair was Flair. Luger had been in limbo with storylines since he had beat Hogan the Nitro before Road Wild in 97. He lost to Buff Bagwell of all people at the following Starrcade and took a back seat to other guys the following year. He was never NWO material, neither black and white nor wolfpack. While never a face of the company kind of guy, Luger was still a main eventer. Luger should have went back to Horseman to give them the clout they needed to get back into the main event fray as a stable. This would have made a great war games with all three factions squaring off. The following year, Benoit exiting the Horsemen and feuding with Flair would have elevated him to main event talent. Flair didn't have a problem putting over younger guys unlike Hogan.

 

[AhSpicyDrop]

For me that would have been way too early of an ending.... The NWO storyline just hasn't held up to the test of time apparently, because very few seem to recall just how huge it was. If you end that storyline at 97 Starrcade then it would be like chopping down a tree that grows golden nuggets. You just don't do it.

I always wanted to see Bischoff's idea of unraveling the nWo into its own company, which I think would have played out a lot like the brand split WWE did. They could have used the screwy finish at Starrcade 97 to launch two separate champions; Sting holding the WCW's crown and Hogan holding the nWo's crown.

I think this could have played out for at least two years before a huge blowoff PPV featuring WCW's best versus NWO's best in a loser closes down the promotion match. Main Event would obviously be nWo's champion vs. WCW's champion in a unfication match.

I always enjoyed the Souled Out PPVs, especially in the way it was originally presented... I think an nWo weekly show would have been money had they done it right... But 97 would have been way too early to end it.

 

[Bobbywoodhogan]

I thought it should have until literally the last two days, remembering back to 1998 the nWo split was a great idea. The bad thing was they didn't do anything with it, some really bad booking went there, there were of course moments but mostly it was like they avoided each other. I also never would have had Sting join the Wolfpac, he was the WCW guy and so should have remained.

Firstly, Starrcade should have been booked right, Sting should have beaten Hogan not only clean but he should have dominated the match. I loved someone's idea of Bret Hart debuting on Nitro the day after with his own title belt saying he is the real world champion.

That same night the nWo gets into a war tension brews and they split, leaving us with a Bret vs Sting feud and a nWo vs nWo Wolfpac feud.

I know some aren't keen on a roster split but maybe you could use the Sting and Bret Hart both been champions angle to be the thing (along with backstage tension with the other wrestlers) that splits the brand into Nitro and Thunder. Leading us to an annual event at Starrcade or Superbrawl which ends up been the Super Bowl of WCW Nitro vs Thunder. Only problem there is you'd have to keep the nWo and nWo Wolfpac together to keep that feud going so maybe the tension angle wouldn't walk as I'm thinking.

Anyway no the nWo storyline shouldn't have ended at Starrcade 97. Maybe a year after that though.

 

[justtxyank]

Logically it could have ended at Bash at the Beach 1998 OR Fall Brawl 1998.

A War Games match pitting Team WCW vs Wolfpac vs nWo Hollywood with control of WCW being the ultimate prize would have been fine.

Sting/DDP/Warrior vs Nash/Luger/Savage vs Hollywood/Hart/Hall

Play out the same Warrior vs Hogan issue so when team WCW wins Hogan still has heel heat. WCW wins, both nWo factions are dead, cut some dead weight and move on.

They could then effectively reunite the nWo in 1999 if they wanted to as nWo Elite.

 

[Bobbywoodhogan]

Logically it could have ended at Bash at the Beach 1998 OR Fall Brawl 1998.

A War Games match pitting Team WCW vs Wolfpac vs nWo Hollywood with control of WCW being the ultimate prize would have been fine.

Sting/DDP/Warrior vs Nash/Luger/Savage vs Hollywood/Hart/Hall

Play out the same Warrior vs Hogan issue so when team WCW wins Hogan still has heel heat. WCW wins, both nWo factions are dead, cut some dead weight and move on.

They could then effectively reunite the nWo in 1999 if they wanted to as nWo Elite.

Yeah that's a good idea actually, can't think of anything more perfect than War a Games to end it

 

[relentless1]

Ill go one step further, I think the War Games should have been the culmination between the two nWo factions; keep Hall with Nash and Savage with Hogan. Wolfpac consists of Nash, Hall, Syxx (HUUUGE mistake firing him as he added momentum to the new DX in WWF), Konnan and Booker T, Hollywood has Hogan, Savage, Steiner, Giant, Bischoff, Disciple, Norton, Adams, Vincent, Stevie Ray and Curt Hennig. War Games is Hall, Nash, Konnan and Syxx vs Hogan, Giant, Steiner and Hennig. Loser disbands, Hollywood loses of course, setting up Steiner for a huge singles run and they guy who ends Goldbergs streak.

 

[elsayedhussin]

I agree with what Obamartins 100% except I think Jericho was the only wrestler that was really over in '98. It really was Booker T and Raven's turn to get their shot but the other issue is......the locker room was too top heavy with main event talent. If Savage couldn't even get a crack at the top spot during '98, what makes anyone think that ANYONE had a chance to main event other than the best politicians in the wrestling...Hogan and Nash.