A NEW documentary is uncovering the rise and fall of a prominent wrestling competition from the 1990s.
The World Championship Wrestling (WCW) enjoyed several years in the limelight before a capitulation – and now wrestling fans can look back on the story with insight from the era’s leading figures.
A new series illustrating the rise and fall of the WCW can now be streamed
What is the ‘Who Killed WCW?’ wrestling documentary about?
The documentary tracks the downfall of the World Championship Wrestling, which was founded in 1988 but eventually ceased operations in 2001.
Key figures in the WCW’s history are interviewed, with the four-episode series seeking to uncover the management issues and missteps culminating in the company’s demise.
Details surrounding the infamous “Monday Night Wars” period, a bitter rivalry with the WWF (now WWE), are also uncovered.
During that conflict, the WCW went to head-to-head with the WWF by pitting its Monday night show “Monday Nitro” against “Monday Night Raw”.
The docuseries’ first episode was released on June 4 and the second on June 11, with the following two to come over the next fortnight.
The latest episode tracked concerns around the WCW’s stars putting themselves ahead of the company.
Episode three, to be released June 18, promises to shine the spotlight on a New Yorker hired to save the company – but who ended up clashing with top stars.
The series takes wrestling fans back to a golden era full of drama.
Who stars in the Who Killed WCW wrestling documentary?
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson
GettyThe Rock owns the company the produced the series[/caption]
The documentary was produced by Seven Buck Productions, which is owned by The Rock.
The Rock debuted on WWF’s Monday Night Raw in 1996, eventually becoming one of the company’s biggest stars by the late 1990s.
The WCW was eventually bought out by the WWF, which marked an era called “The Invasion” where WCW wrestlers were lined up against those of the WWF.
The Rock was a key figure during this time, claiming multiple championships.
Bill Goldberg
GettyBill Goldberg was the face of the WCW[/caption]
Goldberg also features in the documentary, having been the highest paid WCW wrestler during the 1990s boom.
He pieced together a long undefeated streak and became the face of the competition.
He was forced to leave for the All Japan Pro Wrestling competition following the WCW’s death, before eventually returning to the US for the newly named WWE.
Bret Hart
Bret Hart started wrestling in WWE (then WWF) in 1984WWE
The Canadian-born Hart was already a household name when the WCW won his signature in 1997 on a lucrative deal.
Tragically, his brother Owen died during an accident with the WWF in 1999, leading to Bret taking several months off.
The WCW eventually terminated his contract in 2000, with the ageing Hart then into his 40s.
Booker Huffman
Booker T also stars in the documentary
Booker Huffman, known as Booker T, had the most illustrious career in WCW history and headlined multiple pay-per-view events.
He won a contract with the WWF as the WCW fizzled out and continued to play major roles.
He is now a commentator and reflected on as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.
Eric Bischoff
Bischoff had huge influence in the WCW’s rise and fall
Bischoff in 1991 joined the WCW as an announcer.
He worked his way up to executive producer and onto senior vice president, making him one of the most influential figures of the era.
Bischoff won the signature of Hulk Hogan, invested heavily in WCW production and increased pay-per-view events.
He was a WCW leader in the battle with WWF in the Monday Night Wars, where he’d still act as an announcer.
WCW began to decline years later and Bischoff was replaced by 1999.
How to watch Who Killed WCW?
The series can only be watched on VICE TV.
If you have cable, you can log in to the website to stream episodes.
VICE TV is also available on iOS, Android, Apple TV and Roku.