I know, you thought that Vince Russo was going to be the next topic on this journey to WCW's demise didn't you? Don't worry, we'll get there, but first we have to talk about the things that happened in between the Fingerpoke of Doom and Russo coming in. Believe it or not, a lot of stuff happened that had very negative impacts on WCW during those months and we're going to cover them now.
Despite what a lot of people think, the FPOD was not immediately looked upon as negative for the WCW. Sure, it led to a lot of negative things for WCW and it definitely started the company off on a very bad trend, but it's immediate impact was not negative at all. Look at it like this, if the FPOD was shit, it was at the top of the WCW hill and it started rolling down. Slowly at first, but it started to pick up steam in the weeks and months that followed. The first thing that really hurt WCW after the FPOD was Goldberg's lessened role.
Nash will say it until he's blue in the face; the FPOD was supposed to create a long list of top heels for Goldberg to run through until he eventually got to the top of the list and took out Hogan. On paper, that's not a bad idea at all and it's not complicated. It should've given WCW months and months worth of major storylines and it would have, if WCW officials weren't stupid and if they had paid more attention. Goldberg was a huge star in 98 and he was, honestly, the reason that WCW was still able to compete with WWF. After Starrcade 98 and the FPOD, he main evented Souled Out 99 against Scott Hall in a ladder match and then quickly after that, he got lost in the shuffle. Sure he got injured and he left to film that Universal Soldier movie, but his absence wasn't really felt because by March of 99, he was almost just an after though. A large part of Goldberg's appeal was his undefeated streak and it was just handled in a piss poor manor. It took Goldberg from arguably the biggest name in the business in 98 to, realistically, a has been by the middle of 99. WCW completely missed out on what Goldberg could've became.
Another thing that happened after the FPOD was the WCW losing talent. Namely, the Giant (Big Show) and Chris Jericho. Not a lot of people know this or remember this but the Giant was a huge name for WCW. He was once the WCW Champion and he was over with the audience as well. He was a main event talent and name and WCW just let him go like he was nothing. So after he was booted from the NWO in early 99, he simply let his contract expire for WCW and then he made an immediate impact in WWF by debuting at St. Valentine's Day Massacre and getting involved in the McMahon/Austin saga. What WCW had done to WWF by taking established stars; the WWF was taking some what established stars and making them even bigger names in their organization. Which brings me to Chris Jericho. In WCW Jericho was labeled a cruiserweight from the beginning. So the top names in WCW would not participate in real storylines or matches with him. Even though he was one of the most entertaining and charismatic guys on the entire roster. I mean, by himself in WCW he created a great conspiracy storyline and a program with Goldberg that was actually successful. Even though the two of them barely had any interaction on screen and never had a match. Jericho, with just words, made people want to see him face Goldberg, but Goldberg, already feeling his heat, wouldn't play ball. Jericho was a little guy and Goldberg was too big for him. Both figuratively and literally. So, Jericho also goes to the WWF and makes an immediate impact by debuting against the Rock in one of the greatest Raw segments of all time. He could've really been something for WCW.
There are several other things that happened between the FPOD and Russo's arrival. Things like DDP becoming a heel champion (I'll never understand that one) and Eric Bischoff losing control of WCW (which actually could've been a good thing if they had gotten someone else to replace him). The ones I mentioned above are the ones that I think had the biggest impact, though. What do you guys think? Are there some things that I'm missing? Let me know your opinions.
Despite what a lot of people think, the FPOD was not immediately looked upon as negative for the WCW. Sure, it led to a lot of negative things for WCW and it definitely started the company off on a very bad trend, but it's immediate impact was not negative at all. Look at it like this, if the FPOD was shit, it was at the top of the WCW hill and it started rolling down. Slowly at first, but it started to pick up steam in the weeks and months that followed. The first thing that really hurt WCW after the FPOD was Goldberg's lessened role.
Nash will say it until he's blue in the face; the FPOD was supposed to create a long list of top heels for Goldberg to run through until he eventually got to the top of the list and took out Hogan. On paper, that's not a bad idea at all and it's not complicated. It should've given WCW months and months worth of major storylines and it would have, if WCW officials weren't stupid and if they had paid more attention. Goldberg was a huge star in 98 and he was, honestly, the reason that WCW was still able to compete with WWF. After Starrcade 98 and the FPOD, he main evented Souled Out 99 against Scott Hall in a ladder match and then quickly after that, he got lost in the shuffle. Sure he got injured and he left to film that Universal Soldier movie, but his absence wasn't really felt because by March of 99, he was almost just an after though. A large part of Goldberg's appeal was his undefeated streak and it was just handled in a piss poor manor. It took Goldberg from arguably the biggest name in the business in 98 to, realistically, a has been by the middle of 99. WCW completely missed out on what Goldberg could've became.
Another thing that happened after the FPOD was the WCW losing talent. Namely, the Giant (Big Show) and Chris Jericho. Not a lot of people know this or remember this but the Giant was a huge name for WCW. He was once the WCW Champion and he was over with the audience as well. He was a main event talent and name and WCW just let him go like he was nothing. So after he was booted from the NWO in early 99, he simply let his contract expire for WCW and then he made an immediate impact in WWF by debuting at St. Valentine's Day Massacre and getting involved in the McMahon/Austin saga. What WCW had done to WWF by taking established stars; the WWF was taking some what established stars and making them even bigger names in their organization. Which brings me to Chris Jericho. In WCW Jericho was labeled a cruiserweight from the beginning. So the top names in WCW would not participate in real storylines or matches with him. Even though he was one of the most entertaining and charismatic guys on the entire roster. I mean, by himself in WCW he created a great conspiracy storyline and a program with Goldberg that was actually successful. Even though the two of them barely had any interaction on screen and never had a match. Jericho, with just words, made people want to see him face Goldberg, but Goldberg, already feeling his heat, wouldn't play ball. Jericho was a little guy and Goldberg was too big for him. Both figuratively and literally. So, Jericho also goes to the WWF and makes an immediate impact by debuting against the Rock in one of the greatest Raw segments of all time. He could've really been something for WCW.
There are several other things that happened between the FPOD and Russo's arrival. Things like DDP becoming a heel champion (I'll never understand that one) and Eric Bischoff losing control of WCW (which actually could've been a good thing if they had gotten someone else to replace him). The ones I mentioned above are the ones that I think had the biggest impact, though. What do you guys think? Are there some things that I'm missing? Let me know your opinions.
