News Archive: June 2001

WCW is proud to announce the inaugural Patriot Cup! This eight-man tournament kicks off June 6 on WCW Nitro, with matches leading all the way to the Great American Bash where the finals will take place. The winner will not only take home the first-ever WCW Patriot Cup Trophy but will also be crowned the new WCW United States Champion!

The United States Championship carries a legacy dating back to 1975, when Harley Race became the inaugural champion in the Mid-Atlantic territory. Since then, the title has been the ultimate proving ground for the greatest names in history. Former champions like Booker T, Ric Flair, Roddy Piper, and even "Stunning" Steve Austin have held this prestigious gold on their way to legendary status. Now, one wrestler will add their name to that list and walk away from the Great American Bash with both the Patriot Cup and the United States Championship!

Participants have already been selected with Crowbar, Curt Hennig, Johnny B. Badd, Mark Jindrak, Mike Awesome, Rob Van Dam, Shawn Stasiak, and Tommy Dreamer all battling for the gold.

Tune in live to WCW Nitro on FX on June 6 to see the first two opening-round matches: Rob Van Dam takes on Crowbar, and Tommy Dreamer faces off against Shawn Stasiak, who will have the lovely Stacy Keibler by his side.

WCW Nitro returns to FX this Wednesday at 10 PM EST, live from the Stuart C. Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia!

Come see the stars of WCW including WCW World Heavyweight Champion Booker T, Shane McMahon, Lance Storm, Buff Bagwell, Rob Van Dam, and more!

The highlight of the evening will be a special night of dedication for one of the greatest icons in the history of this business: Diamond Dallas Page. Following their emotional conversation last week, WCW Owner Shane McMahon has promised to throw DDP a proper retirement bash as the three-time World Champion looks to move away from the squared circle.

Don't miss the opening matches of the Patriot Cup as the tournament to crown a new United States Champion finally kicks off in Richmond.

WCW Nitro heads to the Lone Star State this Wednesday at 10 PM EST, live from the San Angelo Coliseum!

The wrestling world is reeling, why did Diamond Dallas Page brutally attack Shane McMahon during his own retirement ceremony? While Shane continues to recover from that shocking Diamond Cutter, the show must go on. A brand-new WCW Commissioner has been officially appointed and will be in San Angelo to take control of Nitro!

The quest for gold continues as the Patriot Cup rolls on with two massive first-round match-ups: "Simply Perfect" Curt Hennig vs. Mark Jindrak and Johnny B. Badd vs. Mike Awesome with the winners moving on!

Word is that WCW has officially signed Texas-based high-flyer Paul London to a contract following his recent look in the ring. While London came up short in a recent match against the much larger Chuck Palumbo, he reportedly turned a lot of heads in the back. WCW officials are reportedly very high on London's potential in the Cruiserweight division.

The Patriot Cup is quickly approaching its finale. With The Great American Bash coming up this Sunday, June 24th, the semi-final matches are set! It’s "The Mecca of Manhood" Shawn Stasiak taking on "The Whole Dam Show" Rob Van Dam, while "Simply Perfect" Curt Hennig goes one-on-one with "The Career Killer" Mike Awesome!

And last week, former tag team partners Sean O'Haire and Chuck Palumbo came to blows, only for Johnny Stamboli to appear and help Palumbo gain the upper hand. This week, Stamboli must step into the ring with "The Psycho Killer" Sean O'Haire!

WCW is pleased to announce the signing of "The King of Old School" Steve Corino. Corino is a former NWA and ECW World Heavyweight Champion, bringing a ruthless, technical edge and a championship pedigree to the new WCW roster. Stay tuned to WCW.com for updates on his imminent debut!

Following his loss to Kanyon on Nitro, Pete Gas has been signed to an active wrestler’s contract by Commissioner Arn Anderson. Anderson stated that while Gas has "guts," he lacks the refinement needed for the big leagues.

World Championship Wrestling has officially approved the managerial license for Dawn Marie, shortly before her high-profile arrival during the Great American Bash where she aided Lance Storm.

Former ECW standout CW Anderson has officially joined WCW. Introduced by his uncle Arn Anderson, CW is set to assist in the training of Pete Gas and bolster the roster with his technical proficiency.

WCW is thrilled to announce the signing of technical wrestling veteran Guido Maritato. Following his arrival in Portland, Guido has aligned himself with Chuck Palumbo and Johnny Stamboli, instantly making the Full Blooded Italians a force to be reckoned with.

Chris Chetti has officially joined World Championship Wrestling. After making a splash in the tag team division on the June 27 edition of Nitro, the high-flying veteran has secured a full-time contract to compete in WCW's competitive Cruiserweight division.