As shown on the Week 2 episode of Monday Night Thunder, here is the highlights from the press conference held to discuss the details of the upcoming brand split.
First in order - the brands!
Eric Bischoff goes first. He confirms that his brand will be taking the name of WCW's flagship show, and will be named Thunder. Bischoff says that he wants to continue to take professional wrestling in new directions, and he has planned multiple changes to the WCW formula when the new Thunder launches. While he can't announce everything he has planned, he can confirm one thing - the very core of WCW Thunder itself will be as unique as it has ever been in professional wrestling: the Thunder ring will be switching from a regular four-sided ring to a six-sided one. Bischoff says that this change will allow for innovation among the roster, and will be the perfect match that lights the fire of the new style of professional wrestling that Thunder will present.
Second up is Flair! He comments on Bischoff's ideas, (carefully and diplomatically) stating that he has a very creative mind and will be able to bring a lot of ideas to his brand. However, Flair says that fans shouldn't expect the classic WCW style to disappear - he plans for his brand to continue the great legacy of World Championship Wrestling that has carried on since the days of Jim Crockett and the NWA. As a perfect fit for this style, Flair says he has gone back to the past for his brand - which will be called Nitro! The Nitro name has not been used since Bischoff took power in WCW in 1995 and left the NWA, and Flair says that it's this connection that shows the direction he wants to take his brand.
The second topic is championships.
Arnold Schwarzenegger says that the two brands will have five completely separate championships, and the only shared titles will be those sanctioned by the GHC Foundation, such as Keiji Mutoh's GHC Heavyweight title. He says that though not all the championships will be new titles, all current championships will have an updated look for the new era. The brands' commisioners will detail their titles, with Flair speaking first.
Flair lists the titles for Nitro as follows:
WCW World Heavyweight Championship
WCW United States Heavyweight Championship
WCW World Tag Team Championship
WCW Brass Knuckles Championship
WCW Cruiserweight Championship
Ric Flair confirms that the titles on Nitro will be contended with strict weight limits - no one over 220 pounds will be able to challenge for the Cruiserweight championship, and no one under 220 pounds can challenge for the World or United States Heavyweight championships. The tag team titles and the Brass Knuckles championship, however, have no limits.
Chris Jericho is given a moment to speak about the WCW World Heavyweight championship. He says that it's no surprise to him that Flair would claim such a historic title. Jericho says he's proud to hold a championship that has been held in the past by guys like Magnum T.A, Terry Gordy, Arn Anderson, and Ric Flair himself, and he hopes he'll be the one to carry such a legendary championship into the new age.
Next up is Bischoff, who reveals the belts for Thunder:
WCW International Openweight Championship
WCW National Openweight Championship
WCW International Tag Team Championship
WCW Television Championship
WCW Women's Championship
Eric Bischoff confirms that, yes, when WCW Thunder enters its new era the women's division will be returning to WCW! He also states that, as some may have guessed, none of the championships will have weight restrictions. Bischoff says his Thunder is about opportunity, and he's excited to provide the best of the best with the chance to be the face of the brand, no matter their size.
Sting speaks on the soon-to-be International Openweight championship. He says that getting rid of weight restrictions is a great idea, and he's prepared to take on any opponent. Sting says that the International championship is something that's very important to him personally, as he feels that he has been one of the people to fight for that championship the most, and he wants to be the guy in Thunder and prove that just because he's a more experienced guy doesn't mean he can't keep up.
Next on the docket, the event schedule.
Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks again. He says that the pay-per-view schedule will include twelve main pay-per-views throughout the year, with WCW Presents and international collaboration shows (such as the GHC Supershow) scheduled sporadically. The schedule will allow for four shows specific to Thunder, four shows specific to Nitro, and four cross-promoted shows over the course of the calendar year. Schwarzenegger says that the events will alternate throughout the majority of the year - with one being a Thunder show, the next a Nitro, and the next a cross-branded event - with the exception of November and December, as Fall Brawl and Starrcade will keep their position and will both be cross-branded. Arnold also notes that the lesser shows will be cross-branded. A final note establishes that the first event of 2001 - titled The Big Bang, and will be the official last night of the pre-brand split era - will be cross-branded, but after that event the January pay-per-view will belong to the Thunder brand.
The 2001 pay-per-view schedule is as follows:
January - The Big Bang - Cross-branded
February - Clash of the Champions - Nitro
March - Spring Breakout - Thunder
April - Slamboree - Nitro
May - Greed - Thunder
June - Bash at the Beach - Cross-branded
July - The Great American Bash - Nitro
August - New Blood Rising - Thunder
September - SuperBrawl - Nitro
October - Halloween Havoc - Thunder
November - Fall Brawl - Cross-branded
December - Starrcade - Cross-branded
Next in the discussion were details about TV and the draft.
Schwarzenegger says that each brand will have a main TV show (like the current Monday Night Thunder) and a minor TV show (like WCW Worldwide & Saturday Night). While all of the broadcasting deals have yet to be worked out, Arnold says that he can talk about what is in the hands of WCW - and that is what brand gets what slot. Arnold says that the Monday night time slot will be decided in the same way that the draft order will be decided - and it will be decided in a way which should allow some members of the roster to end their rivalries - WarGames! Ric Flair and Eric Bischoff will pick teams this November to compete in WCW's signature contest, and the winning team will win the Monday night timeslot and the right to first picks in the draft. Arnold notes that just because someone is on a team does not mean that they are drafted to that owner's brand - if Bischoff were to pick Sting for the match, Flair could still draft him to Nitro, for example.
Arnold continues, saying that before the draft begins, there will already be commitments made to each brand. In December, each commissioner will pick three wrestlers to be the first official signings to their brand, and those wrestlers will meet in a six-man tag team match at Starrcade.
After Starrcade, the draft will begin. It will begin on the first Monday of January and will end on the final Monday, airing weekly on Monday nights. No matter the outcome of the WarGames match, the draft will not air on Thunder or Nitro, as January will see the weekly programming take on a neutral label, simply being identified as "World Championship Wrestling" for those four weeks. The draft will happen on and off-air, with most talent being drafted on TV and out-of-ring personnel (including referees and commentators) being drafted behind the scenes. Though the draft ends on the last edition of Monday night programming in January, it will not go into effect until February - The Big Bang will officially be the final pay-per-view of the pre-brand split era, after which the brand split will be in full effect.
Following the draft conversation is discussion about upcoming changes to the roster and future tournaments
Arnold also notes that the fans should expect new faces to appear in the coming months. An emphasis has been put on ensuring that both brands have the highest level of talent they can, and WCW have been scouting the world to ensure that is possible. While negotiations are in progress for many, WCW can confirm three returning stars who are the first in line: Scott Hall, Dustin Rhodes, and Ken Shamrock will all be making their returns to WCW soon!
Flair and Bischoff speak up next, as Bischoff mentions that fans shouldn't only expect returns from this period. There are plenty of unknown wrestlers who have been offered deals with WCW from all across the world, ready to make their mark on professional wrestling. Bischoff continues by saying that the place he expects the most for this is the new women's division - after all, you can't have the division without the women. He announces that after the beginning of the brand split, there will be a tournament to crown the first women's champion of the new era, which will feature a lineup of hungry young women ready for the big time.
Flair speaks next, saying that just like Bischoff is valuing his women's division, Flair is putting a lot of focus into the cruiserweights. He says that he wants plenty of competition on his show - he doesn't want a division of five or six people going back and forth, he wants a real lineup. Flair officially announces the Flyin' Brian Cup, which will feature sixteen un-signed cruiserweights from all over the world, with one rule - they have to be as young or younger than 28, the age Brian Pillman was when he won the Cruiserweight championship for the first time. Flair says that he expects the cruiserweights to bring their best, because the most impressive standouts will receive a contract with the Nitro brand. Not only that, he says, the winner will receive a special opportunity - a title match against the current Cruiserweight champion and a non-title match against current GHC Junior Heavyweight champion and the first ever WCW Cruiserweight champion, Jushin Liger!
Schwarzenegger says that the formats for both tournaments are not yet confirmed, but it is possible that they may be broadcast on their own special series over the course of the tournaments, with showcase matches on weekly television for the talent involved. Arnold also confirms that the Crockett Cup and the Blackjack Classic will continue, being held on WCW Presents shows currently planned for April and August respectively, and they will be open to all talent. He also notes that the winner of this year's Starrcade Royale will go undrafted, and will have six months - until Bash at the Beach - to pick a brand by deciding which world champion they'd like to challenge.
Finally, one note is added about the company's power structure
Arnold announces that he plans to limit his on-screen presence from this point forward, as he does not wish to be a persistent face on WCW programming. While he will still be in control behind the scenes, he says that WCW is in the process of establishing a Board of Directors to oversee the commissioners. This Board of Directors will feature individuals who are known for their experience both in and outside the ring, though they are not expected to be on-screen figures themselves. Instead, the Board of Directors will be represented by one person, yet to be named.
With nothing left to announce, the press conference concludes!
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