In the August 2001 edition of WOW Magazine, in the column called "The Phantom of the Ring," the columnist wrote about, if he owned the new WCW, how he would go about dealing with the relaunch. He talked about everything from who he would use for the backstage booking and writing, to who he would keep and not keep, to the titles that he would use. Although it could be argued that I'm completely stealing his idea, I decided that it would be fun if I did a writing piece on the same topic, so here it is:

If I had just purchased the WCW, there would be many, many factors that would need to be put into consideration for a successful relaunch of the promotion. Like "The Phanton" did in WOW Magazine, I'm gonna begin with the backstage agents, writers, and bookers. Like Phantom, I would use Tommy Dreamer and Johnny Ace. Tommy is an extremely positive pereson to work with. He has had booking and writing experience, along with being one of the few writers/bookers to ever step into a ring for a sanctioned match. If you can remember, Dreamer was, without a doubt, the last guy in the ECW lockerroom to not go and find new work. He didn't give up on ECW until it's very last day, and that's been confirmed by various other wrestlers in the ECW lockerroom. Wrestlers would go up to him and straight out ask him if he thought that ECW was really close enough to it's end and if they should start to begin a new era of their career and start looking for independent bookings. Tommy is an incredible leader, and one who has been experienced and close to this industry for a long time, and, as I stated above, one of the very few who has also stepped into a wrestling ring for a sanctioned match, let alone reigned as ECW World Heavyweight Champion. When you combine somebody who is a great leader, who has faith in his fellow wrestlers and promotion, who already has had experience in the backstage politics, who has been around the industry for a while, and who also knows what's possible, safe, etc., and what's not when booking matches and writing angles, you get a great writer, booker, and backstage agent.

On the subject of Johnny Ace, the other man who I would choose for the backstage ramblings, I really don't know much about him except that he's had experience in this background both in the U.S. and in Japanese promotions. He's had tons of experience as a booker and writer, making him a good choice for this position. Ed Fererra, a.k.a. Oklahoma, would be another possible add-on for this position, along with Stevie Ray. I would probably use three backstage people, so they would be Tommy Dreamer, Johnny Ace, and I would split time for Ed Fererra and Stevie Ray.

Next up are the titles that we would be a part of the new WCW. Of course, I would make one of them the WCW World Heayvweight Title, like their currently is, and I would also keep the look of that title, for I like the idea of having a name plate on the title, along with the overall look and shape of it. I would then make another major title called the WCW World Television Title, which is one of the only titles that WCW itself originated. This would be primarily won by the average or high mid-carders, such as Chris Kanyon, Lance Storm, and Rick Steiner. This title would be defended, you guessed, mostly on television, and would most likely spawn future superstars, just like it did with Booker T, Diamond Dallas Page, Chris Benoit, and Steven/William Regal. I would then make a new title, which I would name the WCW International Heavyweight Title, which could only be held by wrestlers who are of nationalities other than American. This, also, would probably produce future stars. I would then have one more singles title, and that would be another new one. I would call it the WCW Big Man's Title, and, just as you guessed, it can only be held by the bigger and more powerful wrestlers of WCW, with the weight requirement be weighing 278 pounds being the minimum, and 540 pounds or less being the maximum. The height requirement two win this title would be that the wrestler's height must be at least six feet three inches (that being the minimum), and a maximum of 7 feet six inches.

The WCW World Tag Team Title would be next, and, of couse, be held by a top tag team. I would them, of course, make a WCW World Cruiserweight Title, held by wrestlers weighing 216 pounds and less. There would be a minimum weight requirement, however, and that would be that the participant must weigh a minimum of 90 pounds. Then, like WCW did in it's final month, since the WCW Cruiserweight division would be so abundant, I would make a WCW World Cruiserweight - Tag Team Title, which would be held by a team where both members weight 432 pounds and under, or, more simply, has each member weighing 216 pounds or less. The minimum of the combined weight of both members would be 180 pounds, or 90 pounds per wrestler.

Next up, I would decide which of the already-established stars I would keep. These are the stars that have already paid their dues and have a definite chance of being used, either backstage, on camera, or both. These are basically any veteran or average mid-carder to superstar. My list would carry the names of Booker T, Sting, Diamond Dallas Page, Jeff Jarrett, Billy Kidman, Buff "Daddy" Bagwell, Chris Kanyon, "Big Poppa Pump" Scott Steiner, Rey Mysterio Jr., Ric "Nature Boy" Flair, Chavo Guerrero, Jr., and Bill Goldberg. Booker T has definitely paid his dues and recently was successfully pushed to main-event level. Sting is still loved by the fans, is a living legend, and still has a few more successful years ahead of him, and, may I add, still can wrestle great. Diamond Dallas Page is a veteran who, probably more than anyone except for a select view, has paid more dues than any other wrestler. He is still loved by the fans, can still wrestle, and still has a few more successful years ahead of him. Jeff Jarrett is a natural heel, and, just like Triple H, can get a tremendous amount of heat from the crowd with his outstanding mic skills, tons of past experience, great wrestling, and gimmick. He's definitely got some more title reigns ahead of him. He is also a great worker backstage. Billy Kidman is and always has been a tremendous cruiserweight, and, along with Rey Mysterio Jr., is the heart and soul of the WCW Cruiserweight division. Those are the two that are needed to make the division work. Buff "Daddy" Bagwell, although may whine sometimes backstage, is an incredible wrestler, loved by both male and (especially) female fans, has amazing mic skills and has such charisma that it'd be a sin to let him go. This man has a few world title reigns ahead of him. Chris Kanyon is tremendously overrated and could definitely be a top star in the future. Scott Steiner is extremely over with the fans and, just recently, was successfully pushed to main-event status and reigned as WCW Champion. Ric Flair has had more than two decades of experience in the industry and, although he looks disgusting when he wrestles with those short shorts and can't wrestle very well anymore, he still knows better than most how to play to the crowd and get a great reaction. I wouldn't have Flair wrestle often, but, instead, get him invovled in commissioner storylines and backstage politics, making the occasional interference and wrestling segment. Chavo Guerrero, Jr. is also probably needed to make the WCW Cruiserweight division work successfully, and still has many successful years and title reigns ahead of him. Lastly, Bill Goldberg is so over, such a money-drawer, and so loved by the fans that, like Bagwell, it'd be a sin to let him go no matter how high a salary he demanded. I'd put Shane Douglas on the wall (I may or may not use him so I'd keep him in close contact).

The already-established stars that would need to say sayonora would be Kevin "Big Sexy" Nash, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Disquo, Lex Luger, Scott Hall, Stevie Ray, Road Warrior Animal, Shane Douglas, Bam Bam Bigelow, Rick Steiner, Hulk Hogan. Nash I could definitely use but I just couldn't afford to keep him with me signing free-agent superstars (scroll down) like Rob Van Dam, Sabu, and Steve Corino. Duggan is just past is time and can't wrestle well any more. Disquo just isn't worth the money. Luger is just plain hated by the fans, doesn't have much charisma, probably couldn't be used in any way, and is basically an asshole who's gonna cause problems backstage. Scott Hall has definitely paid his dues and is definitely loved by the fans, but his drinking, drug, backstage, and legal problems aren't worth the agony. Stevie just hasn't had enough experience in the last year due to injuries, and isn't really over enough with the fans. Road Warrior Animal is not over at all, probably couldn't be used in any way, and just doesn't have a good gimmick/angle. Shane Douglas is a long-time superstar but I couldn't afford to keep him with all of the new talent that I'm signing (scroll down) Bam Bam Bigelow could be used but I need to make room for the big free-agent superstars. Same for Rick Steiner. For both, they are very talented but they just can't seem to get over with the fans. Dustin Rhodes can't wrestle very well and isn't really over with the fans. Besides, hiis Goldust days will always haunt him. Dustin's father, Dusty, just has no place to be put. Norman Smiley just isn't plain worth the damn money. Elizabeth is a legend in this industry, but, like most in this list, have no place to go. Konnan is certainly over and loved with by the fans, but I think someone even better can be afforded. No hard feelings, man. Fit Finlay just can't wrestle any more and is getting too old to compete. Terry Funk is still alive and well and risking his life, but he deserves to retire. Hogan, you ask? Hulkamania ended a while ago. He's just not liked by enough fans and has no place to go but down. No hard feelings for you either, man.

Next up is all of that newer talent that I'm gonna keep. Mike Awesome, Hugh Morrus, Johnny The Bull, "Sugar" Shane Helms, Shannon Moore, Evan Karagias, Sean O'Haire, Mark Jindrak, Elix Skipper, "Above Average" Mike Sanders, Kronic, Lash Leroux, Kaz Hayashi, and Yang. Mike Awesome, along with Mark Jindrak and Sean O'Haire, is absolutely amazing considering his size and how he can fly like a god-damned cruiserweight! A world title reign in the future for him? Possibly. Hugh Morrus? Same thing, but he's not quite as likely to win the world title as Awesome, but he still has a great chance. Johnny The Bull is extremely underrated and has tons of talent. It's amazing how he can jump up onto the top-rope and balance, considering his size. "Sugar" Shane Helms is a top cruiserweight, along with Shannon Moore, Evan Karagias, Elix Skipper (who I'd say is the best out of these seven cruiserweights), Lash Leroux, Kaz Hayashi, and Yang. "Above Average" Mike Sanders has great mic skills and is a great technical and cruiserweight wrestler. Kronik just has a great and intimidating look and, if used right, could be a tag team dynasty in the future. Shawn Stasiak is a great technical wrestler and has the drive to become the best, and is also a fan-favorite.

Now, all of the newer talent that I'd get rid of: The Wall, Big Vito, The Demon, David Flair, Glacier, Ernest "The Cat" Miller, Reno, Alex Wright, Chuck Palumbo, The Harris Brothers, Shawn Stasiak, Kwee-Wee, and M.I. Smooth. For all of these guys, we could replace them with someone better. Wall just has no charisma, agility, or any sort of talent, and he's not over with the fans. Big Vito is very talented but could be replaced with someone even better. Demon could be replaced with someone better. David Flair is, by far, the worst person, not even wrestler, to step into a ring (besides David Arquette). Glacier's gimmick sucks. Ernest "The Cat" Miller is just not a favorite of mine and just plain isn't even a wrestler; he's a martial arts expert! Reno isn't over yet, but we can replace him with somebody better. Alex Wright just isn't over and is having problems getting a good gimick that clicks. Chuck Palumbo is an young and soon-to-bloom talent, but I need to afford better qualified superstars, so I would cut him. Same thing with the Harris Brothers: They could be used pretty well but I would need to drop a couple of superstars to make room for new free agents. They would be two of them. Shawn Stasiak is a great technical wrestler and has the drive to become the best, and is also a fan-favorite, but, along with Chuck Palumbo and the Harris Brothers, I need to make room for new and already-bright stars, so he would need to go. Kwee-Wee is a great up-and-coming cruiserweight, but, like the Harris Brothers, Chuck Palumbo, and Shawn Stasiak, he needs to go to make room for the new and already-bright talents. M.I. Smooth is somebody that I recognize the name of but don't even damn know, but I do know that he's not worth the money.

Now for the women of WCW. I would definitely keep Stacy Keibler, a.k.a. Ms. Hancock, probably Kimberly Page, and, at least in my mind, the one woman that WCW needs to survive, Torrie Wilson. Ms. Hancock is just so over with her sexy legs and hip-hop dance attitude that I couldn't let her go if I tried. Kimberly Page, wife of former three-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page, may be hard to deal with in terms of attitude problems backstage, but the fans love this luscious former-Playboy model and she could be used in some great angles with Page and other superstars. If she had a bad attitude ever, though, I would fire her immediately, because, with a specific salary cap, I can't waste my money on complainers that aren't worth trying to work with. Torrie Wilson is just extremely loved by the fans and is the one woman needed to make the new WCW work in the the long run. Did I mention she's the hottest woman of wrestling ever, even more so than Trish Stratus or Lita?

Now for the free agents (the wrestlers from other promotions) that I would try to hire. First up I will name the men. They would be Rob Van Dam, Super Crazy, Nova, Gangrel, Essa Rios, Sabu, and Steve "Old School" Corino. RVD has such a fan base that not even someone like Kurt Angle can beat it. Super Crazy, Nova, and Essa Rios would all bring much more to the WCW Cruiserweight division. Gangrel is very underrated and could become a superstar very quickly. Sabu, along with RVD, simply equals higher ratings. Same with Corino, who has both a positive attitude and work ethic, but also experience, talent, and is young.

Next, I would have to pick up some female free agents. Those would be Stacy "The Kat" Carter, Dawn Marie, and, of course, "The Queen of Extreme," FRANCINE! Stacy "The Kat" Carter is the only diva out there willing to take it all, and I do mean all, off for her fans. She would equal extremely right ratings. When you add Dawn Marie and Francine into that equation, that equals even higher ratings. They are the two biggest female free agents out there. If I could, I'd try to rehire Major Gunns.

Next come announcers/commentators. I would pick up Michael Buffer as Ring Announcer and Joey Styles and Jerry "The King" Lawler as commentators. Michael Buffer is very well-known and is extremely experienced in the field of ring announcing. Joey Styles is extremely underrated, and I could difinitely use somebody with an extremely wide knowledge of moves and submissions. The return of Jerry "The King" Lawler would equal something very simple, and that's high ratings.

For referees, I would use Nick Patrick and Charles Robinson. Both have tons and tons of experience.

That would be my new WCW roster. Send me your thoughts and comments on it!