Backstage politics, have, and likely always will be an influential factor in pro wrestling. Politics is essentially a simplified way of describing manipulations and power plays, that wrestlers or promoters implement to serve their own interests. When it comes to WCW, many see backstage politics as the main reason for the downfall of the entire company.
RELATED: 10 Wrestlers WCW Wasted During The Monday Night War
In the case of WCW, specifically, their saga is something of a cautionary tale of disorganization, abuse of power, and lack of leadership. For this list compilation, we look back at some of the worst examples of backstage politics in WCW history.
10 The Midnight Express Split/Walk-Out
In the late 80s and early 90s, Jim Herd was placed in charge of WCW, without much in the way of a wrestling background. He clashed with several WCW personalities, with Jim Cornette and his charges, The Midnight Express, chief among them.
At one point, Cornette had enough of Herd, to the point that he left and went home, quitting the company altogether. Stan Lane would follow suit, with Bobby Eaton choosing to stay. This would essentially mark the end of one of, if not, the greatest teams in wrestling history, simply due to backstage machinations.
9 Black Scorpion Debacle
This could be chalked up to a creative dispute as much as a political scenario, but at the core of it seemed to be something of a power struggle. In the early 90s, Sting was firmly positioned as the WCW Champion, and top babyface in the company. The problem was that he didn't have any fresh opponents.
A storyline began, and initially it showed great promise. But as was often the case with WCW, they hadn't really planned far enough ahead. When the time came to reveal the Black Scorpion, the original choice, Al Perez, was deemed as being unsatisfactory. The role would instead go to Ric Flair, and the entire angle had a flat conclusion.
8 Breaking Up The Hollywood Blondes
Steve Austin and Brian Pillman were the team that wasn't supposed to be, and when the idea actually worked, ironically, it was then abandoned. The tag team known as The Hollywood Blondes did serve a purpose in that allowed both Pillman and Austin to show more range and personality as performers, but it could have been much, much more.
The team wasn't actually supposed to get over, and when they did, it caused certain people backstage to extinguish it. This was a particularly egregious case of backstage politics, as it could have derailed the careers of two future main-event level stars. Thankfully, both Pillman and Austin would go on to do great things, but that was no thanks to the sometimes-petulant environment in WCW.
7 Jim Duggan Squashes Steve Austin
The frustrations for Steve Austin in WCW, didn't stop at just The Hollywood Blondes fiasco. When Hulk Hogan signed with WCW in Summer of 1994, he brought several of his friends and former colleagues with him.
'Hacksaw" Jim Duggan was among Hogan's group, and he was scheduled to face then U.S. Champion, Steve Austin at Fall Brawl. Duggan would trounce Austin in seconds, sending a message loud and clear on whom the company saw as a priority. Austin was understandably disillusioned and angry, and would leave the company not long after.
6 Jim Herd Runs Ric Flair Out Of WCW
By all accounts, Ric Flair and Jim Herd had an acrimonious relationship from the start. It likely stemmed from Flair's perception of Herd as being unqualified for his job, and Herd seeing Flair as past his prime. Things escalated when Herd proposed that Ric Flair change his entire persona, and be rechristened as Spartacus.
RELATED: 5 Worst Ideas Of Jim Herd's WCW (& 3 That Were Cancelled)
Finally, they would reach a boiling point, and Flair would announce his departure from the company, and wanted his deposit for the title that he held at the time. Allegedly, Herd blew him off, and Ric Flair would infamously show up on WWE television with the WCW World Title in a moment that is still remembered to this day.
5 Eric Bischoff Fires Ric Flair
Jim Herd wasn't the only WCW authority figure that Ric Flair had issues with. After Herd had left WCW, Ric would return, and shortly thereafter, Eric Bischoff would be placed in charge of WCW. Things seemed fine initially, but when Flair wanted time off to attend his son's wrestling tournament, a miscommunication would have major ramifications.
According to many, Eric would openly say that he planned on not only running Flair out of wrestling, but putting his family on the streets! Of course, Flair would fire back and after being rehired, he and Bischoff would actually work together.
4 Goldberg's Streak Ending
Jim Ross was once quoted as saying that throughout the most lucrative run in WCW history, only one talent who wasn't already an established star, actually got over. That man was Bill Goldberg. WCW kept things simple with Goldberg, and as a result they had a bonafide star on their hands.
His winning streak, though rumored to be heavily embellished, became lore at the time, and then it was inexplicably ended by Kevin Nash of all people in December 1998. Many see this decision as the first step into WCW's ultimate destruction.
3 Finger Poke Of Doom
Not satisfied with the ending of Goldberg's undefeated streak, WCW politics were at it again the very next night. The NWO had become split into two factions at the time, and the main event of Nitro was set to feature Hulk Hogan challenging Kevin Nash for his newly won World Title.
The two would go nose to nose, and then Hogan would simply poke Nash in the chest, and the latter would fall to the mat, allowing the former to pin him. There has never been a good explanation offered as to why this happened, and that's probably because there isn't one. This would diminish and devalue any credibility the WCW World Title had left.
2 Starrcade 1997
This was to be the biggest moment in WCW history, and had it been done correctly, the wrestling landscape could look much differently than it does today. WCW was riding a huge wave of momentum going in to Starrcade 1997, and had all eyes firmly on them, with Sting challenging Hollywood Hogan at the show.
RELATED: 10 Things WCW Fans Forget About The Build-Up To Starrcade 1997
Much of the blame for this going south has gone to Hulk Hogan, who got cold feet at the final hour, and decided that he wasn't going to put Sting over "strong," as they say. The match would somehow achieve making Sting look inferior and making Bret Hart's WCW debut fall decidedly flat, after coming into the company as the most sympathetic personality in the business. This was the moment in which WCW all but handed the war to WWE.
1 Bash At The Beach 2000
Recently featured on an episode of Dark Side Of The Ring, Bash At The Beach 2000 is seen as the final nail in WCW's coffin. It was a combustible situation leading up to the event, as former WWE head writer, Vince Russo, was now working for WCW. Vince had a different vision for the finish to the show, that didn't see Hulk Hogan walking out with the World Title.
According to Russo, Hogan said "that doesn't work for me, brother," and had the finish changed. This would see Russo go into business for himself, and cut a scathing, profanity-laced promo on Hogan, after the latter had left the building. WCW would go out of business altogether, less than a year later.
