Few wrestling storylines or feuds will ever be as important as the New World Order trying to take over WCW. Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall forming the nWo started the angle of them leading a hostile takeover. Other members joined to make the nWo feel like a gang and continue the feud with WCW talents.
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There were plenty of twists like the Wolfpac and Hollywood split leading to faction warfare within the group. Future incarnations of the nWo Elite and nWo 2000 provided more memories. However, that much time to cover for such a wild angle led to fans overlooking things from the on-screen and backstage sides each. The following things are often perceived wrong about the WCW vs nWo storyline.
10 Kevin Nash Vs Hulk Hogan Rift Started Wolfpac/Hollywood Split
The huge storyline of the New World Order splitting apart led to Hulk Hogan leading nWo Hollywood as heels and Kevin Nash forming the Wolfpac babyface group. Fans often assume the Nash vs Hogan rift was the story to cause the split that also impacted the WCW roster, but Randy Savage was more involved.
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Hogan and Savage having issues started the nWo civil war with Nash refusing to let Hulk manipulate him. However, Nash became more over than Savage as the first two members of the Wolfpac. Fans just felt Nash perfectly represented the cool side of the nWo keep him as leader, even with Sting and Lex Luger joining.
9 Sting Opposed NWO From Start Of Crow Character
WCW’s biggest story to find success from the WCW vs New World Order storyline featured Sting embracing his Crow character. Sting being framed by the nWo led to him embracing the dark side and eventually taking down Hulk Hogan.
However, fans often forget that Sting had a different approach to his new character at the start when staying silent and watching from afar. Sting made it clear he wasn’t tied to the nWo nor WCW when attacking WCW talents disrespecting him like Jeff Jarrett or the Steiner Brothers.
8 Curt Hennig Betraying Ric Flair To Join Was His First WCW Heel Turn
The Four Horsemen named Curt Hennig as their replacement for Arn Anderson in an emotional moment that saw him betraying them at the end of the angle. Hennig joined the New World Order during a War Games match when slamming a cage door on Ric Flair’s head.
Even though fans were shocked by the wild betrayal, Hennig had already pulled off a heel turn moment. Diamond Dallas Page introduced Hennig to WCW as his tag partner facing the nWo, and Hennig walked out. The Horsemen betrayal was the second time he did that in just a few months.
7 They Didn't Put Over Anyone
One common complaint about the New World Order is that they never put over the wrestlers they faced. Many fans and even wrestlers like Ric Flair feel it was a flaw for the group that they just buried talent without making anyone look strong.
WCW actually improved the careers of many babyfaces feuding with the nWo by giving them big wins or standout moments. Diamond Dallas Page, Sting, Goldberg, Lex Luger and the Steiner Brothers all felt more credible than ever when looking great vs nWo members.
6 NWO 2000 Ended When Bret Hart Got Injured
The hope to turn WCW around in late 1999 by bringing back the New World Order featured a few new twists. Bret Hart was the new leader of nWo 2000 with Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Jeff Jarrett and Scott Steiner behind him. The group even used silver and black as a new color scheme to feel fresh.
Everyone remembers the end of that promising idea coming when Bret had to step away from the career-ending injury suffered vs Goldberg. However, WCW kept them around a little longer with Nash becoming Commissioner and Hall clashing with Jarrett in the WCW Championship picture.
5 Kevin Nash Booked Himself To Beat Goldberg
WCW was criticized for a backstage element of a New World Order member gaining power when Kevin Nash became the lead booker. One inaccurate talking point about the on-screen feud is that Nash booked himself to end Goldberg’s undefeated streak.
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However, the timeline shows that Nash didn’t get his new role until a few months later in 1999 after he dropped the belt to Hulk Hogan. Nash did book some wild moments for the nWo Elite during this time working backstage, but he never booked himself to beat Goldberg.
4 First Four Horsemen Impression Was The Best One
The controversial segment of the New World Order impersonating the Four Horsemen after Arn Anderson retired gets talked about decades later. Kevin Nash, Buff Bagwell, Konnan and Sean Waltman were criticized for the disrespectful moments, but it was considered a captivating segment.
Fans often overlook that the nWo did a better and more comedic impression of the Four Horsemen in 1999. Nash once again impersonated Anderson, but Hulk Hogan portraying Ric Flair was the most entertaining part. It was a rare great segment from the nWo in 1999 a few months before the group ended.
3 Forgetting The Giant Was Kicked Out Twice
A funny thing about the New World Order vs WCW story that deserves more talk is how often The Giant switched sides. WWE fans joke about Big Show’s constant flip flopping, but it started back in WCW when he became the first person to get kicked out of the nWo twice.
The Giant was the first talent outside of the original three to join the early version before getting kicked out for wanting a title shot against Hulk Hogan. WCW trusted Giant as a babyface for over a year until he betrayed everyone again to join nWo Hollywood. Fans often forget he was kicked out of the nWo Elite since he left right after to sign with WWE.
2 Bret Hart Was Secondary NWO Hollywood Leader
The New World Order: Hollywood faction failed to provide as much entertainment as the Wolfpac. Bret Hart shockingly turning heel to join the nWo Hollywood side saw him teaming with Hulk Hogan in big matches against fan favorites like Sting, Lex Luger and Ultimate Warrior.
Even though Bret held a great importance due to these matches, Scott Steiner was actually the secondary leader behind Hogan. WCW even ran a storyline of Steiner leading nWo Hollywood after Hogan left for the absurd story of him starting a presidential campaign.
1 Hulk Hogan Was Only Realistic Plan For Third Man
WCW created great suspense when Scott Hall and Kevin Nash started teasing a mystery third man to form the New World Order. Hulk Hogan was the best choice since his heel turn made the nWo become the hottest act in wrestling to new levels.
However, Eric Bischoff has confirmed that Hogan wasn’t sold and almost backed out of the pitched idea. Sting was the only name kept as a backup since WCW’s top fan favorite homegrown star could have made a huge impact with the turn. WCW lucked out with Hogan being the best-case scenario, but it wasn’t a sure thing.
