WCW returns

WWE have today announced that WCW will return, but not as a 3rd brand, as many fans have suggested on message boards, and social media over the last few decades. Instead, it will take its pride of place on Monday Nights, as WCW Monday Nitro returns, and WWE Monday Night Raw is put to rest. This may come as a shock to those around the wrestling world, but it won't affect much of how the company works. Those assigned to Monday Night Raw deals will be transferred over to WCW Monday Nitro deals, or be given a chance to be transferred across to WWE Smackdown, in the exclusive 48-hour transfer window, that will be in effect following this Sunday's Royal Rumble event. 


WWE Undisputed Champion Roman Reigns will defend both belts at the event, as AJ Styles challenges for the WWE Championship, and Seth Rollins challenges for the WWE Universal Championship. No news at the moment on how recent events will affect the status of the championships, in both matches.


- More news to follow in due course

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WCW Titleholders

WCW World Heavyweight Champion

Vacant 

WCW United States Champion

Robert Roode

WCW Tag Team Champions

Alpha Academy

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WCW Roster


AJ Styles
Big Cass
Ciampa
Chad Gable
Cody Rhodes
Erik
Ivar
Karl Anderson
Luke Gallows
Montez Ford
M.J.F
Otis
PAC
Robert Roode

WCW CEO
Shane McMahon

Interested to see what you do with this. I was trying to think the other day about who might be "WCW guys" in a modern era, so I'm curious what you do. I don't know that I like Nitro randomly replacing Raw, but I'm at the very least curious.

WCW Monday Nitro - What to expect?
New WCW Nitro CEO to appear 


At the Royal Rumble, fans were introduced to the person who'll be steering the ship of the new WCW Nitro brand. Shane McMahon was named as the CEO of WCW, by his sister the 'acting' CEO of WWE Stephanie McMahon at the event. Shane McMahon said he will announce his intentions on the event tomorrow night, but to expect an 'explosive' first episode of Nitro. In the message at the event, he formally rebranded the WWE United States Championship, to the WCW United States Championship, and The Raw Tag Team Championships to The WCW Tag Team Championships. 


Also at the event, Roman Reigns defended both of his championships, in back-to-back match efforts, while also fending off a 'failed' cash-in attempt on himself from Austin Theory. Nobody can seem to stop the might of 'The Tribal Chief', and he seems destined to have an even-longer championship reign. Before the night's Royal Rumble Match main event, Roman Reigns announced he was vacating his Universal Championship, as he sees the title below him, and handed it to WCW CEO Shane McMahon, who looked puzzled at what just happened.

The Biggest news of the night however was the returning Cody Rhodes, who won the Royal Rumble match, and will headline WrestleMania, challenging for either Roman Reign's WWE Championship - or - the recently vacated WWE Universal Championship, however many expect this to be rebranded as WCW's top championship soon.



- What will happen on Monday Nitro? 

WCW Monday Nitro
Monday January 30th 2023


Show Review
Shane McMahon opened the show and welcomed everyone to the new, and improved World Championship Wrestling. He said that this is a new iteration of the WCW brand, and that everyone will be impressed by what we have to offer. He started off by announcing that the current WCW Tag Team Champions Alpha Academy would defend their belts on the show tonight against War Machine, he gave the WCW United States Champion Robert Roode the night off, but said that he would be expected to defend his belt at some point in the future. 

He also stated that tonight a 4-man tournament would start, and the final would take place at the next 'Special Event' being held in Saudi Arabia, in which a new WCW World Heavyweight Champion would be crowned. The 4 men taking part in the tournament would be AJ Stlyes, Ciampa, Montez Ford and a returning Pac. It was after this announcement that the WCW CEO was interrupted by the winner of the men's rumble match, Cody Rhodes. Cody announced that whoever is the winner of this little tournament, he'd be facing them at WrestleMania for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. 


Montez Ford reached the final of the title tournament, as he made PAC tap out in 5 minutes. Montez Ford is showing a new mean side to him, since splitting from his now-former tag team partner, Montez addressed the crowd as said 'The time of partying is over, you can stick those red solo cups up all your asses....AJ...CIAMPA....WHO WANTS THE SMOKE?!?!?!". Meanwhile, Alpha Academy retained their WCW Tag Team Championships against War Machine. Otis showed his strength as he triple powerbomed Erik for the win.


Cody Rhodes was then interviewed backstage, and asked why he decided to go for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania, instead of going after Roman Reigns and the WWE Championship. Rhodes sharply said, "I'll state my intentions at a later date", and he walked away from the scene. It was time for the night's main event, as AJ Styles defeated Ciampa in a enthralling match, however, that isn't the story the night is ending on. As a debuting MJF turned up, and started to attack 'The Phenomenal One' , it's a shock as MJF hasn't been seen in the wrestling world since last year, let alone not signed to WCW. We now know that AJ Styles will take on Montez Ford in the 'Title Final', but what was MJF doing here, and will his actions have repercussions? 


- What is MJF doing in WCW? stay tuned to find out more




Match Results
Montez Ford def PAC
Alpha Academy def War Machine
AJ Styles def Ciampa

WCW Press Release - World Heavyweight Championship/MJF situation

Montez Ford will take on AJ Styles for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, on this coming WCW Monday Nitro. The decision was taken to have the match this week, following Royal Rumble Winner, Cody Rhodes, announcing his intention to challenge for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. The 'Special Event' in Saudi Arabia is still scheduled to go ahead, with 3 WCW branded matches taking place on the show. All of them for the brand's championships, with matches announced at a later date. 


Following the attack on AJ Styles to close out the debut edition of the 'Rebranded' WCW Nitro, Maxwell Jacob Friedman has penned a 'multi-year' deal with the WCW brand, after he was a free agent for some time now. MJF has been ordered by the WCW CEO Shane McMahon to appear on Nitro, what will happen when MJF appears on WCW television - and - what will he say? 

Big Cass joins WCW Nitro
A big arrival for WCW


Big Cass has signed a multi-year deal with the WCW brand, following extensive talks with the WCW CEO Shane McMahon, and a few of his peers, he felt it was time to step back into the wrestling spotlight. He was last seen on the wrestling scene back in 2018, when a few personal demons, and a health scare took him away from the squared circle for a small period of time. Now, more energised and focused than ever, Big Cass will be showcasing his skills on Monday evenings. Below is a snippet of what Big Cass has had to say on his WCW arrival.



"It's no secret I've spent time away from the spotlight, but I've been working on my craft, I've been working day-in and day-out, making sure that I can be the best that I can be. It's an honour to have signed a deal with WCW, Shane McMahon spent some time with me, and really pressed to make the deal happen for the WCW brand, and for myself. He believes in me, and believes my future is one of the brightest in the business, and if a person like a McMahon has that much faith in your ability, you've got to take the bull by both horns and run with it. A McMahon believes in me, so I'm going to make sure everyone does too, and you can believe that a championship will be in my future".


- Big Cass will be on Monday Nitro this week. 

WCW Nitro - What to expect this week

A huge episode of WCW Nitro will air this coming Monday, as the crowning of a new WCW World Heavyweight Champion will happen, as Montez Ford will take on AJ Styles in the final. Royal Rumble Winner Cody Rhodes will be in attendance, to see who he will face for the title at a later date.

Also, we will see the debut of Big Cass, after he penned a 'multi-year' deal with WCW. Will the rejuvenated Big Cass show what we've all been missing? will he prove whoever he faces that they're just SAWFT? Maxwell Jacob Friedman, after also penning a 'multi-year' deal with WCW, will explain his actions for attacking AJ Styles last week, and go into detail what he is doing in World Championship Wrestling. 

WCW World Heavyweight Championship 

- Montez Ford v AJ Styles - 

- The Debut of Big Cass - 

- MJF speaks about his actions - 

- Cody Rhodes will be in the building -