In a recent episode of his “What Happened When” podcast, veteran wrestling announcer Tony Schiavone offered fascinating insights into WCW) production challenges during the mid-1990s. Schiavone’s revelations shed light on how the advent of WCW Monday Nitro in 1995 dramatically altered the company’s approach to content creation and rendered their pre-taped shows at Disney increasingly irrelevant.
Tony Schiavone recounted that WCW began filming marathon taping sessions at Disney in July 1993, producing content that would air over the course of several weeks or months. This approach, while efficient for scheduling and editing purposes, soon clashed with the dynamic nature of live weekly programming introduced by WCW Monday Nitro in September 1995.
The success of Nitro, which quickly became WCW’s flagship show, created a rapidly evolving product that often outpaced the pre-recorded content.
I remember Eric [Bischoff] talking to me when WCW Monday Nitro got really hot, and that show drove the ship. Something like a guy would change his hair colour and you’d see it on Nitro. Then that weekend you would watch WCW Saturday Night or WCW Worldwide from Disney and he’d look completely different.
The situation was further complicated by WCW’s approach to storytelling. This led to a significant amount of unused footage from the Disney tapings, according to Schiavone.
They did angles and things on Nitro without even considering what was in the can already. So in effect we had to throw a lot of stuff away, there’s a lot of matches, and I mean a LOT of matches from Disney that never aired because no one would take the time to think about what was in the can.
Eric Bischoff, recognised the need to prioritise the live content over pre-taped shows. This shift in strategy marked the beginning of the end for WCW’s Disney tapings.
We can’t let what we shot at Disney drive the train. If we’ve got a good idea for Nitro we need to go with it regardless of what is in the can for Disney. I just remember him telling me ‘it’s not working for us anymore’ (in regards to filming at Disney).
The revelations from Tony Schiavone provide a unique glimpse into the challenges faced by WCW during a pivotal period in pro wrestling history. The transition from pre-taped to live programming not only changed the way content was produced but also had significant implications for storytelling and talent management as they strove to compete at the highest level with WWE in the Monday Night War.
Tony Schiavone Explains Why Hulk Hogan Would Not Be A World Champion Today
Also recently on his podcast, Tony Schiavone said he did not think Hulk Hogan would find as much success today as he did in his prime in the 80s if he were the guy on top as World Champion in the current era.
H/t to TJRWrestling.net