World Championship Wrestling, or WCW, was a professional wrestling organization owned by Ted Turner that operated from 1988 to 2001, when its assets were sold to then WWF-owner Vince McMahon…its biggest competitor.

Despite a rich history in the sport, featuring the likes of superstars Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Sting, Goldberg, Macho Man Randy Savage, the Four Horseman, and most memorable of all, the nWo, or New World Order, the WWF, now WWE, made a short-lived effort to relaunch the brand…mostly due to its biggest stars still being under AOL-Time Warner-backed contracts, as they had taken control of the company after merging with Turner Broadcasting in early 2001.

But WWE still owns the rights, and fans have not forgotten about WCW - and now, the perfect opportunity exists to revive the valuable brand for a new era of wrestling fans…but also to bring back many who held WCW close to their heart.

In light of record-breaking media revenues for live sports and streaming content and new competitors airing pro wrestling product on television several nights per week, it makes plain business sense for WWE to consider this as an entirely new brand that will drive continued growth at the company.

But what makes it so logical to do is that the company currently employs numerous professional wrestlers who have familial lineage to some of the biggest stars in WCW, and its predecessor, the NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) history.

For example, several of WWE’s biggest stars today are the son & daughter of perhaps two NWA/WCW wrestlers that had the biggest wrestling feud of the 1980’s: CODY RHODES, the son of the legendary “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, and CHARLOTTE FLAIR, the daughter of the 16-time World Heavyweight Champion, “Nature Boy” Ric Flair.

But it doesn’t stop there.

Arn Anderson.
The Steiner Brothers.
Rey Mysterio.
Brian Pillman.
The Von Erichs.
Goldberg.
Sting.

All of these legendary names and more have a young man or woman in their family who is in, or is about to enter, the world of professional wrestling. It only makes sense to let them build their own chapters of their careers waving the same brand flag as their forefathers.

The recent death of Hulk Hogan drives home a very somber point about this concept: veteran wrestlers and personalities who could contribute in smaller roles with a WCW relaunch are being lost. Hulk Hogan was the #1 star during the company’s most successful era, but we can’t book him to make appearances to promote the brand and make fans happy; the same goes for Scott Hall. Sid Vicious. How much longer will our world have Ric Flair? Or Eric Bischoff? Or Ron Simmons? Or Kevin Nash?

On top of that, it provides another stage for the company to build new superstars, while utilizing retired stars to “give them the rub,” such as Diamond Dallas Page, Booker T, and yes, even Sting, who are all still healthy and engaged in the business.

The following pitch deck will outline a roadmap for making WCW: The Return of World Championship Wrestling a success.