After WWF purchased WCW in early 2001, there was serious consideration to having WCW resume operations later in the year as a seperate show with its own roster. But the timeslot didn't materalize and the Booker T vs Buff Bagwell test match on RAW was a failure with the crowd, leaving the entire plan shelved and giving us The Invasion instead.
But what if things had gone as originally intended? Vince McMahon acquires a time slot for WCW - perhaps a new WCW Saturday Night? - and relaunches it some time in the summer of 2001.
Your starting roster is limited to the contracts acquired by McMahon as part of the WCW purchase or picked up before the Invasion started:
| David Flair Shane Helms Shannon Moore Evan Karagias Lance Storm Billy Kidman |
Chuck Palumbo Sean O’Haire Mark Jindrak Kaz Hayashi Jimmy Yang Johnny The Bull |
Elix Skipper Reno Mike Sanders Lash LeRoux Shawn Stasiak Chavo Guerrero Jr. |
Hugh Morrus Mike Awesome Buff Bagwell Diamond Dallas Page Chris Kanyon Booker T |
Championships
WCW World Heavyweight Title: Booker T (won on the final episode of Nitro on March 26, 2001)
WCW United States Title: Booker T (won at the Greed PPV on March 18, 2001 - should be vacated and a tournment held to crown a new champion)
WCW World Tag Team Titles: Chuck Palumbo & Sean O'Haire (won at the Sin PPV on Jan 14, 2001)
WCW Cruiserweight Title: Shane Helms (won at the Greed PPV on March 18, 2001)
Future Signings
Near the end of the year you can sign Scott Steiner (who was injured at the time of WCW's purchase) and other WCWers who were not initially picked up because of contract issues such as Bill Goldberg, Rey Mysterio Jr, Hogan, Scott Hall, and Kevin Nash.
Keep in mind that due to personal issues between them and Vince McMahon, the following would not sign with this new WWF-owned WCW: Bret Hart, Jeff Jarrett, Shane Douglas.
You might also consider shifting a few minor WWF wrestlers from 2001 over to WCW, especially those that would compete in the cruiserweight division.