November 2001 News Archive

The battle lines have been drawn and the conflict is reaching a fever pitch! World Championship Wrestling officially marches into the FleetCenter in Boston on November 25 for a night of high-stakes combat: WrestleWar.

The entire Foundation is expected to be out in full force, with WCW World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page, World Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman, and the World Tag Team Champions Kanyon & Mike Awesome all looking to defend their territory. But the WCW loyalists are not backing down. Booker T, Sean O’Haire, and BG James have made it clear they are coming for the gold, while the "Whole F'n Show" Rob Van Dam looks to bring his unique brand of chaos to the United States Championship scene.

With Joanie Laurer, General Rection, and a newly focused D'Lo Brown all seeking their place on the card, the FleetCenter will witness a collision like no other. Will the Foundation solidify their grip on the company, or will the WCW roster tear them down? One thing is certain: WCW is going to war! Don't miss WrestleWar, LIVE, November 25!

The war for dominance continues as WCW Nitro invades the historic Cricket Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina! Following the explosive fallout from Wisconsin, The Foundation remains at odds with the rest of the locker room, and Shane McMahon has promised a massive announcement that will shake the very foundations of the wrestling world. What does the "New Boss" have in store for his champions and their rivals?

The landscape of the roster is already shifting, as D’Lo Brown has officially severed ties with "The Real Stuff." After his shocking betrayal of Buff Bagwell, D’Lo returns to singles action this Wednesday to prove he can dominate on his own terms. Meanwhile, the Cruiserweight division is buzzing with questions following the bizarre interruption of Chavo Guerrero Jr. last week. Chavo is scheduled to appear and address the "mysterious mask" that flashed across the screen—a cryptic image that has left fans and locker room veterans alike wondering who, or what, is coming for the Guerrero legacy.

Plus, the Women’s Champion Joanie Laurer will be in live action, and the tension between Rob Van Dam and Lance Storm reaches a breaking point as the two rivals come face-to-face once again! With appearances by Booker T, Sean O’Haire, BG James, and the rest of your favorite WCW stars, the Queen City is in for a legendary night. Don’t miss a second of the action! Nitro, LIVE, November 7 on FX at 10pm EST!

WCW has come to terms on the release of David Flair as of today. WCW wishes him the best in all future endeavors.

The war for dominance rolls into The Oil Palace in Tyler, Texas, as WCW Nitro delivers a night of high-stakes championship action! After the shocking revelation of Shane McMahon as the final member of Team WCW, the pressure is mounting for The Foundation as they prepare for the impending War Games.

In a massive main event, Rob Van Dam defends his WCW United States Championship against Lance Storm in a highly anticipated rematch where Storm looks to finally reclaim the gold for Canada.

Meanwhile, the Cruiserweight division enters a state of chaos as six elite stars collide in a #1 Contenders Match to determine who will challenge for the title next week. Plus, Chavo Guerrero Jr. has issued a defiant open challenge to any luchador willing to step into the ring!

With Buff Bagwell looking to build momentum against Marc Mero and the volatile duo of Steve Corino and Jazz in the building, the Lone Star State is in for an unforgettable night of mayhem. Don't miss a second of the action! Nitro, LIVE, November 14 on FX at 10pm EST!

To settle the debate over the world's premier wrestler, Commissioner Arn Anderson has sanctioned a Best-of-5 Series between Rob Van Dam and Lance Storm with the United States Championship on the line throughout. After RVD’s victory at Halloween Havoc and Storm’s shocking title win this past Wednesday on Nitro, the score is deadlocked at one win apiece.

The pursuit of dominance reaches a fever pitch at WrestleWar on November 25th as two of the very best will meet for Match #3. In the quest for the United States Championship, only one can be the best!

The fuse is lit for WrestleWar! This Wednesday, WCW Nitro invades the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, for the final showdown before the return of War Games. In a massive six-man main event, World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page and Tag Champions Kanyon & Mike Awesome lead The Foundation against the powerhouse trio of Curt Hennig, Tommy Dreamer, and Shane Helms.

Gold is on the line as Billy Kidman defends the Cruiserweight Championship against Kaz Hayashi, while the arrogant Chavo Guerrero Jr. issues another open challenge to any luchador in the world. Plus, the rivalry between Rob Van Dam and Lance Storm reaches a fever pitch as they prepare for a high-stakes Best-of-5 series!

With Joanie Laurer in action and the explosive friction between Stacy Keibler and the Blonde Bombshell threatening to boil over, the road to the PPV ends in absolute mayhem. Don't miss a second! Nitro, LIVE, November 21 on FX at 10pm EST!

The countdown to the most explosive night in the history of the new WCW has reached its final hours as WrestleWar prepares to descend upon the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts, this Sunday, November 25. In a night defined by high-stakes consequences, the legendary War Games match returns to serve as the ultimate battleground for the soul of this company. Team WCW, comprised of owner Shane McMahon, Booker T, BG James, and Sean O’Haire, will step inside the double-cage to face the dominant and arrogant Foundation: Diamond Dallas Page, Billy Kidman, Kanyon, and Mike Awesome. The implications of this match are staggering; Shane McMahon has officially declared that a victory for The Foundation will result in DDP being named the new WCW President, handing the keys of the kingdom to the very men who wish to tear it down. However, should Team WCW prevail, a new President will be appointed with the absolute authority to dictate the fate of every Foundation member and their championships at Starrcade this December.

Beyond the chaos of the cage, the technical rivalry of the decade continues as Rob Van Dam and Lance Storm meet for the third match in their high-stakes Best-of-5 Series for the WCW United States Championship. With the series currently deadlocked at one win apiece, this pivotal encounter will determine who gains the crucial momentum heading into the final stretch of their quest to be named the best wrestler in the world. The gold will also be contested in the women's division as the "9th Wonder" Joanie Laurer defends her honor and the WCW Women’s Championship against the relentless Jazz, who arrives in Boston with the "King of Old School" Steve Corino by her side.

Personal grudges will also be settled as the former "Real Stuff" tag team explodes when D’Lo Brown and Buff Bagwell square off to prove who was the true workhorse of the duo. Furthermore, the weeks of vitriol between Stacy Keibler and the Blonde Bombshell will finally result in physical retribution as the Portraits of Poise (Shawn Stasiak & Stacy Keibler) take on the Misfits in Action (General Rection & Blonde Bombshell) in a mixed-tag team grudge match. From the return of the Match Beyond to the resolution of bitter blood feuds, the road to Starrcade runs directly through the carnage in Boston. Don't miss a single second of the action! WCW WrestleWar - LIVE on Pay-Per-View, November 25th at 8pm EST!

The balance of power has officially shifted in World Championship Wrestling following a historic and blood-soaked night at WrestleWar, live from the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts. The legendary double-cage of War Games lived up to its violent legacy as Team WCW (Shane McMahon, Booker T, BG James, and Sean O’Haire) walked out victorious over The Foundation (Diamond Dallas Page, Billy Kidman, Kanyon, and Mike Awesome) in a chaotic war of will. The landscape altering win ensures that DDP will not become the WCW President. Instead, a brand-new WCW President will be officially appointed this Wednesday night on Nitro, and that individual will hold the absolute authority to hand-pick the opponents and stipulations for every member of The Foundation and their respective championships at Starrcade this December. The match itself will be remembered for decades, highlighted by Billy Kidman executing a death-defying Shooting Star Press off the very top of the cage, and WCW Owner Shane McMahon putting his life on the line with a jaw-dropping Leap of Faith Elbow Drop from 20 feet in the air, crashing through Mike Awesome and the announcers' table. The end came when Booker T neutralized Kanyon inside the cage with a Book End to secure the three-count. While The Foundation fell short in the main event, the group still holds golden leverage heading into the winter.

In a technical masterclass, Lance Storm defeated Rob Van Dam to retain the WCW United States Championship, taking a crucial 2-1 lead in their ongoing Best-of-5 Series. The tactical brilliance of Storm, combined with a well-timed distraction from Dawn Marie, forced the "Whole Dam Show" to tap out to the Canadian Maple Leaf. Shockwaves were also sent through the women's division as Jazz defeated the "9th Wonder" Joanie Laurer to become the new WCW Women’s Champion. The powerhouse champion seemed to have the match won until "The King of Old School" Steve Corino slid the title belt into the ring, allowing Jazz to blast Joanie across the forehead and score the gold.

The rest of the evening delivered drama and the resolution of bitter grudges. Rey Mysterio made a spectacular, masked return to action, silencing Chavo Guerrero Jr. in a spectacular showcase of Lucha Libre. Meanwhile, the former "Real Stuff" tag team explodes as D’Lo Brown pinned Buff Bagwell following a textbook Lo Down. Finally, the weeks of vitriol between Stacy Keibler and the Blonde Bombshell reached a humiliating conclusion in mixed-tag action. After Bombshell physically ripped the ring gear off Stacy, sending the "Beacon of Beauty" sprinting to the back, General Rection capitalized on a distracted Shawn Stasiak, planting him with a Rectionbomb to secure the victory for the Misfits in Action.

With the wreckage of Boston cleared, all eyes now turn to WCW Nitro LIVE this Wednesday, November 28, at 10pm EST on FX. Who will be named the new WCW President? What path of destruction does the new authority figure have in store for The Foundation at Starrcade? Set your VCRs and don't miss a single second as the rebirth of WCW continues for two huge hours this Wednesday night!

The fallout of WCW WrestleWar has left the locker room fractured as WCW Nitro invades the Bank of America Centre in Boise, Idaho. With Shane McMahon sidelined by injury, a brand new WCW President, hand picked by Shane, will open the show to lay down the law for The Foundation. Holding every title in the company, DDP, Billy Kidman, Kanyon, and Mike Awesome believe they are bigger than WCW itself, but the new President is here tonight to officially reveal their mandatory title defenses for Starrcade.

The action inside the ring will be fast and furious. The Cruiserweight division is on high alert as the iconic Rey Mysterio makes his highly anticipated return to Nitro. Meanwhile, the duo formerly known as Fish Bones is dead, transforming tonight into the Shark Squad as Shark Boy and the re-christened La Sharka, with Shark Girl, face the powerhouse FBI tandem of Chuck Palumbo and Johnny Stamboli.

Fresh off a massive win over RVD, Lance Storm will be joined by Dawn Marie in her in-ring WCW debut, to face the Misfits In Action, General Rection and Blonde Bombshell, in a mixed tag team collision. Plus, after losing the WCW Women’s Championship, a furious Joanie Laurer is out for blood, leaving the entire locker room wondering who has more to fear, the new champion Jazz, or Steve Corino?

With appearances from Booker T, BG James, Sean O’Haire, Rob Van Dam, and more, the Pacific Northwest is in for a historic night. Nitro, LIVE tonight on FX at 10pm EST/7pm PST!

The landscape of World Championship Wrestling has been completely altered as the "Nature Boy" Ric Flair made his explosive debut on WCW Nitro last night, officially taking over as the brand-new WCW President! After Team WCW won the high-stakes "put up or shut up" WarGames match at WrestleWar, denying Diamond Dallas Page the executive power he craved, Ric Flair emerged on Nitro, revealing himself as Shane McMahon's first choice as WCW President.

Flair's return to WCW as President has been a work in progress for months, as Shane McMahon has been looking for an individual with the experience and skill sets to keep order backstage and in the ring of World Championship Wrestling.

Dressed in a flawless, custom-tailored suit and letting loose with arena-shaking "Wooo!" echoes that proved he hasn't lost a single step, the 16-time World Heavyweight Champion immediately laid down the law for Starrcade XIX. Flair's return to the executive seat is a poetic homecoming; no man embodies the blood, sweat, and legacy of this company more than the man who carried it on his back through its golden eras. By instantly flexing his new presidential authority to orchestrate a massive shake-up of the Starrcade card, Flair made it crystal clear that the era of political games is over. The power now rests with the ultimate icon of WCW, and if anyone in the locker room wants to make it to the top of the mountain, they now have to go through the President.

The road to Starrcade XIX turns up the heat as WCW Nitro rolls into the Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for a night of pure wrestling mayhem! With "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair officially back as the new WCW President and ultimate authority, the entire landscape of World Championship Wrestling has been turned completely upside down.

In a monumental main event, the Best of 5-series for the WCW United States Championship reaches a boiling point! Lance Storm enters the arena holding a commanding 2-to-1 lead, making this an absolute must-win, do-or-die situation for the challenger, Rob Van Dam. Can RVD keep his championship dreams alive, or will Storm close the book on the "Whole Dam Show" tonight?

The stakes get even higher as the official contract signing takes place for the main event of Starrcade. WCW World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page and Booker T will stand face-to-face to sign on the dotted line, and President Ric Flair has already vowed to preside over the signing and insert himself as the special ringside enforcer for their ultimate clash in Greensboro! Plus, newly crowned WCW Women's Champion Jazz has issued a defiant open challenge to any woman bold enough to step into the ring and challenge for her gold.

With the rest of The Foundation on high alert and their Starrcade challengers lurking around every corner, the Sweet Home of Alabama is in for an unforgettable night of high-stakes action. Nitro, LIVE, December 5 on FX at 10pm EST!

The wreckage has been cleared from Boston's FleetCenter, and the shockwaves from WrestleWar are fueling the road toward the most prestigious night in professional wrestling: WCW Starrcade XIX! Following Team WCW's legendary victory inside the double-cage of War Games, the landscape of World Championship Wrestling has been completely rewritten. Newly appointed WCW President Ric Flair has officially taken the reigns of power, and "The Nature Boy" has wasted absolutely no time executing his promise to dismantle The Foundation piece by piece.

With absolute match-making authority firmly in the hands of the executive office, President Flair has laid down the law for December 30 in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Foundation's golden grip on the promotion is facing its ultimate test, as Flair has hand-picked bitter rivals and set dangerous parameters for every major championship defense. Can the dominant faction survive the wrath of a unified WCW locker room, or will Starrcade mark the definitive end of their era?

The card is locked, the battle lines are drawn, and the historic Greensboro Coliseum is prepared to host an unforgettable night of high-stakes drama. Check out the official rundown of confirmed matches below!

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Following the blockbuster announcement by newly minted WCW President Ric Flair on WCW Nitro, World Championship Wrestling has officially unveiled the legendary inductees for the star-studded WCW Hall of Fame Class of 2001.

This year’s induction carries unprecedented historic weight. WCW officials have confirmed that the long-rumored development of the ground floor at the new international corporate headquarters—located at the landmark 1230 West Morehead Street facility in Charlotte—will officially manifest as the WCW Hall of Fame & Museum.

Slated for a grand opening in January 2002, the state-of-the-art fan experience center will serve as the permanent physical home for the Hall of Fame. The museum will feature expansive exhibits housing iconic pieces of wrestling history, specialized viewing stations where fans can relive classic WCW matches and pay-per-view events, and a dedicated event space designed for exclusive fan meet-and-greets with the stars of WCW's past and present.

The Class of 2001 perfectly bridges the rich history of the sport with the absolute pinnacle of sports entertainment. Here is a look at the icons set to be immortalized:

Main Hall Inductees

"Macho Man" Randy Savage
One of the most charismatic and influential figures to ever step through the ropes, Randy Savage altered the landscape of WCW upon his earth-shattering arrival in 1994. A multi-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, Savage anchored the company through its most explosive era of growth. From his unforgettable rivalries with Ric Flair and Hollywood Hogan to his unpredictable championship reigns, the "Macho Man" brought a level of intensity, high-flying athleticism, and larger-than-life showmanship that permanently raised the bar for the entire industry.

"The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart
Armed with his trademark megaphone and an endless supply of customized jackets, Jimmy Hart stands as arguably the most successful and obnoxious mastermind in wrestling history. In WCW, Hart’s creative brilliance and ruthless managerial tactics guided countless superstars to championship gold. Beyond leading the dominant First Family stable, Hart's invaluable contributions behind the scenes—including composing some of the most memorable entrance themes in WCW history—cement his legacy as an absolute foundational pillar of the business.

"Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff
A textbook definition of power, intensity, and unmatched standard of excellence, Paul Orndorff left an indelible mark on WCW both inside the ring and behind the curtain. A former WCW Television Champion and multi-time WCW World Tag Team Champion alongside Paul Roma as part of "Pretty Wonderful," Orndorff epitomized the gritty, hard-nosed style that fans demanded. Following his legendary in-ring career, Orndorff’s fierce leadership as the head trainer of the WCW Power Plant shaped the future of the company, moulding the rookies of yesterday into the main-eventers of today.

The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson)
Widely regarded as one of the greatest, most influential tag teams to ever lace up a pair of boots, Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson defined an entire generation of tandem wrestling. Their death-defying teamwork, unmatched speed, and flawless psychology made them multi-time World Tag Team Champions throughout the NWA and WCW territories. The Rock 'n' Roll Express created the blueprint for modern tag team wrestling, evoking a level of fan hysteria that has rarely been replicated in the decades since.

The Legacy Wing
The Legacy Wing is reserved for pioneering figures whose overall contributions laid the very groundwork for professional wrestling, honoring their global impact on the sport.

Orville Brown
A true titan of the golden era, Orville Brown holds the historic distinction of being recognized as the very first NWA World Heavyweight Champion in 1948. A dominant, rugged champion who carried the sport on his back during its pivotal unification period, Brown’s incredible legacy as a fighting champion paved the way for every single world title that followed, establishing the prestige that defines the Big Gold Belt today.

"Whipper" Billy Watson
A national icon and one of the most beloved figures in Canadian wrestling history, "Whipper" Billy Watson was a box-office phenomenon throughout the 1940s and 1950s. A two-time World Heavyweight Champion, Watson's immense popularity and mainstream crossover appeal helped legitimize professional wrestling on television during its infancy. His legendary career and tremendous philanthropic efforts outside the ring set the gold standard for what it means to be a true world champion.