IWE Monday Night Wars
From Iwe
The Monday Night Wars were a period of mainstream televised American professional wrestling in which the International Wrestling Federation's (IWF, now IWE) Monday Night Raw and World Championship Wrestling's (WCW) Monday Nitro were broadcast opposite each other in a battle for Nielsen ratings each week. The ratings war lasted from September 4, 1995 to March 26, 2001.
The rating war was part of a larger overall struggle between the two companies, originating in personal animosity between IWF owner Vince Matteson and WCW owner Ted Turner. The rivalry between the companies steadily escalated throughout the 1990s to include the use of cutthroat tactics and the defections of employees between the two companies. Throughout the wars, the IWF and WCW would both adopt different concepts and narrative techniques innovated by Xtreme Championship Wrestling (XCW); meanwhile, both companies would establish both formal and informal partnerships with the company, with XCW performers either appearing on IWF and WCW shows while still under contract, or outright leaving XCW to work for one of the other two promotions.
While WCW was the dominant promotion for much of the mid-1990s, a variety of factors coalesced to turn the tide in the IWF's favor at the end of the decade, including a radical rebranding of their formerly family-friendly product to highly sexualized and violent shows geared towards older teens and adults. WCW ultimately ran into financial difficulties as a result of the amount of money they had promised wrestlers during a hiring binge in the early and middle part of the decade, which had been aimed at acquiring large portions of the IWF's talent roster. Despite efforts to salvage the company, it was ultimately sold to Vince Matteson, ending the Monday Night Wars.
In retrospect, wrestling commentators have come to see the era of the Monday Night Wars as the golden age of wrestling, with the feud between the two companies bringing out their best quality product both in terms of creativity and the performances of their wrestlers.
Contents |
Overview
History
Before the War
1980–1987: Cable television
1987–1993: Scheduling conflicts and Monday Night Raw
1993–1994: Eric Bischoff is put in charge of WCW
1994: Eastern Championship Wrestling goes Xtreme
The Monday Night Wars
1995–1996: The debut of Monday Nitro
1996: The Curtain Call Incident
1996–1997: WCW and the New World Order
1996–1997: IWF struggles
1997: The Montreal Screwjob
1997–1999: Attitude Era
Late 1998–1999: WCW begins to struggle
1999–2000: WCW's decline
The end of the War
2001–2003: IWF/E, Inc. purchases WCW and XCW
Aftermath and legacy
Comparison of ratings between Raw and Nitro
| Date | Raw | Nitro |
|---|---|---|
| 1995-09-04 | N/A | 2.5 |
| 1995-09-11 | 2.5 | 2.4 |
| 1995-09-18 | 2.7 | 1.9 |
| 1995-09-25 | 1.9 | 2.7 |
| 1995-10-02 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| 1995-10-09 | 2.6 | 2.6 |
| 1995-10-16 | 2.6 | 2.2 |
| 1995-10-23 | 2.2 | 2.6 |
| 1995-10-30 | 2.1 | 2.3 |
| 1995-11-06 | 2.6 | 2 |
| 1995-11-13 | 2.6 | 2 |
| 1995-11-20 | 2.3 | 2.5 |
| 1995-11-27 | 2.3 | 2.5 |
| 1995-12-04 | 2.6 | 2.4 |
| 1995-12-11 | 2.5 | 2.6 |
| 1995-12-18 | 2.3 | 2.7 |
| 1995-12-25 | N/A | 2.5 |
| 1996-01-01 | 2.6 | 2.5 |
| 1996-01-08 | 3 | 2.8 |
| 1996-01-15 | 2.4 | 3.5 |
| 1996-01-22 | 2.9 | 2.7 |
| 1996-01-29 | 2.4 | 2.8 |
| 1996-02-05 | 2.7 | 2.9 |
| 1996-02-12 | N/A | 3.7 |
| 1996-02-19 | 3.1 | 2.9 |
| 1996-02-26 | 3.1 | 3.2 |
| 1996-03-04 | 3.6 | N/A |
| 1996-03-11 | 2.9 | 3.2 |
| 1996-03-18 | 2.9 | 3.6 |
| 1996-03-25 | 2.8 | 3.1 |
| 1996-04-01 | 2.9 | 2.8 |
| 1996-04-08 | 4.7 | N/A |
| 1996-04-15 | 3.1 | 2.8 |
| 1996-04-22 | 3.3 | 2.7 |
| 1996-04-29 | 2.9 | 2.1 |
| 1996-05-06 | 4.1 | 1.9 |
| 1996-05-13 | 3.5 | 2.3 |
| 1996-05-20 | 2.3 | 3.1 |
| 1996-05-27 | 2.3 | 2.8 |
| 1996-06-03 | 2.3 | 3 |
| 1996-06-10 | 2.7 | 2.6 |
| 1996-06-17 | 2.3 | 3.4 |
| 1996-06-24 | 2.7 | 3.3 |
| 1996-07-01 | 2.6 | 3.3 |
| 1996-07-08 | 2.5 | 3.5 |
| 1996-07-15 | 2.6 | 3.4 |
| 1996-07-22 | 2.2 | 2.6 |
| 1996-07-29 | 2.1 | 3.1 |
| 1996-08-05 | 2.8 | 3 |
| 1996-08-12 | 2 | 3.3 |
| 1996-08-19 | 2.9 | 3.5 |
| 1996-08-26 | N/A | 4.2 |
| 1996-09-02 | N/A | 4.3 |
| 1996-09-09 | 2.4 | 3.7 |
| 1996-09-16 | 2.1 | 3.7 |
| 1996-09-23 | 2 | 3.4 |
| 1996-09-30 | 2.3 | 3.3 |
| 1996-10-07 | 2.1 | 3.5 |
| 1996-10-14 | 1.8 | 3.3 |
| 1996-10-21 | 2.6 | 3.2 |
| 1996-10-28 | 2 | 3.6 |
| 1996-11-04 | 2.3 | 3.4 |
| 1996-11-11 | 2.5 | 3.7 |
| 1996-11-18 | 2.4 | 3.2 |
| 1996-11-25 | 2.1 | 3.1 |
| 1996-12-02 | 2.3 | 3.4 |
| 1996-12-09 | 2.3 | 3.3 |
| 1996-12-16 | 2.3 | 3.2 |
| 1996-12-23 | 1.5 | 3.1 |
| 1996-12-30 | 1.6 | 3.6 |
| 1997-01-06 | 2.1 | 3 |
| 1997-01-13 | 2.3 | 3.4 |
| 1997-01-20 | 2.2 | 3.7 |
| 1997-01-27 | 2.2 | 3.6 |
| 1997-02-03 | 2.6 | 3.1 |
| 1997-02-10 | 2.3 | 3.8 |
| 1997-02-17 | 2.1 | 2.9 |
| 1997-02-24 | 2.5 | 3 |
| 1997-03-03 | 1.9 | 3.4 |
| 1997-03-10 | 2.3 | 3.5 |
| 1997-03-17 | 2.4 | 3.6 |
| 1997-03-24 | 2.5 | 3 |
| 1997-03-31 | 2.7 | 3.4 |
| 1997-04-07 | 2.2 | 3.7 |
| 1997-04-14 | 2.2 | 3.5 |
| 1997-04-21 | 2.8 | 3.4 |
| 1997-04-28 | 2.7 | 3.4 |
| 1997-05-05 | 2.8 | 3.2 |
| 1997-05-12 | 2.8 | 3.2 |
| 1997-05-19 | 3.1 | 3.6 |
| 1997-05-26 | 2.7 | 3.3 |
| 1997-06-02 | 2.5 | 3.3 |
| 1997-06-09 | 2.2 | 3.4 |
| 1997-06-16 | 2.4 | 3.3 |
| 1997-06-23 | 2.4 | 3.3 |
| 1997-06-30 | 2.5 | 3.3 |
| 1997-07-07 | 2.5 | 3.4 |
| 1997-07-14 | 2.6 | 3.5 |
| 1997-07-21 | 4.1 | N/A |
| 1997-07-28 | 2.9 | 3.4 |
| 1997-08-04 | 2.7 | 4.4 |
| 1997-08-11 | 2.9 | 3.8 |
| 1997-08-18 | 3.2 | 4 |
| 1997-08-25 | N/A | 5 |
| 1997-09-01 | N/A | 4.8 |
| 1997-09-08 | 2.2 | 4.3 |
| 1997-09-15 | 2.6 | 3.9 |
| 1997-09-22 | 2.4 | 3.7 |
| 1997-09-29 | 2.7 | 4 |
| 1997-10-06 | 3 | 3.9 |
| 1997-10-13 | 2.3 | 3.8 |
| 1997-10-20 | 2.9 | 4.6 |
| 1997-10-27 | 2.3 | 4.3 |
| 1997-11-03 | 2.6 | 4 |
| 1997-11-10 | 3.4 | 4.3 |
| 1997-11-17 | 3.1 | 4.1 |
| 1997-11-24 | 3 | 3.9 |
| 1997-12-01 | 3 | 3.8 |
| 1997-12-08 | 3 | 4.3 |
| 1997-12-15 | 2.7 | 4.1 |
| 1997-12-22 | 3.1 | 3.5 |
| 1997-12-29 | 3.6 | 4.6 |
| 1998-01-05 | 3.3 | 4.3 |
| 1998-01-12 | 3.4 | 4.6 |
| 1998-01-19 | 4 | 4.5 |
| 1998-01-26 | 3.5 | 4.7 |
| 1998-02-02 | 3.5 | 4.9 |
| 1998-02-09 | 3.2 | 4.6 |
| 1998-02-16 | N/A | 5.1 |
| 1998-02-23 | 3.2 | 4.6 |
| 1998-03-02 | 3.8 | 4.8 |
| 1998-03-09 | 3.6 | 4.9 |
| 1998-03-16 | N/A | 5.1 |
| 1998-03-23 | 3.6 | 4.6 |
| 1998-03-30 | 3.8 | 4.2 |
| 1998-04-06 | 4.4 | 4.6 |
| 1998-04-13 | 4.6 | 4.2 |
| 1998-04-20 | 4.4 | 5.1 |
| 1998-04-27 | 5.7 | 1.72 |
| 1998-05-04 | 5.5 | 3.5 |
| 1998-05-11 | 4.3 | 4.3 |
| 1998-05-18 | 5.3 | 2.51 |
| 1998-05-25 | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| 1998-06-01 | 4.4 | 3.7 |
| 1998-06-08 | 4.3 | 4 |
| 1998-06-15 | 4.3 | 4 |
| 1998-06-22 | 4.3 | 4.1 |
| 1998-06-29 | 5.4 | 4.1 |
| 1998-07-06 | 4 | 4.8 |
| 1998-07-13 | 4.7 | 4.5 |
| 1998-07-20 | 5 | 4.7 |
| 1998-07-27 | 4.9 | 4.7 |
| 1998-08-03 | 4.9 | 4.2 |
| 1998-08-10 | 4.5 | 4.6 |
| 1998-08-17 | 4.2 | 4.9 |
| 1998-08-24 | 4.7 | 5.2 |
| 1998-08-31 | N/A | 6 |
| 1998-09-07 | N/A | 5.5 |
| 1998-09-14 | 4 | 4.5 |
| 1998-09-21 | 4 | 3.9 |
| 1998-09-28 | 4 | 4.6 |
| 1998-10-05 | 4.55 | 4.5 |
| 1998-10-12 | 4.8 | 4.6 |
| 1998-10-19 | 5 | 4.4 |
| 1998-10-26 | 4.5 | 5.1 |
| 1998-11-02 | 4.8 | 4.1 |
| 1998-11-09 | 5 | 4.1 |
| 1998-11-16 | 5.5 | 4.3 |
| 1998-11-23 | 4.9 | 4.5 |
| 1998-11-30 | 5 | 4.2 |
| 1998-12-07 | 5.15 | 4.2 |
| 1998-12-14 | 5.2 | 4.2 |
| 1998-12-21 | 4.7 | 4 |
| 1998-12-28 | 4.9 | 4.6 |
| 1999-01-04 | 5.7 | 5 |
| 1999-01-11 | 5.5 | 5 |
| 1999-01-18 | 5.6 | 4.4 |
| 1999-01-25 | 5.5 | 5 |
| 1999-02-01 | 5.9 | 4.7 |
| 1999-02-08 | N/A | 5.7 |
| 1999-02-15 | 5.9 | 3.9 |
| 1999-02-22 | 5.5 | 4.8 |
| 1999-03-01 | 6.3 | 4.3 |
| 1999-03-08 | 6.4 | 4.4 |
| 1999-03-15 | 5.8 | 4.3 |
| 1999-03-22 | 6.4 | 4 |
| 1999-03-29 | 6.5 | 3.5 |
| 1999-04-05 | 5.8 | 4.3 |
| 1999-04-12 | 6.3 | 4.4 |
| 1999-04-19 | 6.1 | 4.1 |
| 1999-04-26 | 6 | 3.9 |
| 1999-05-03 | 6.4 | 3.4 |
| 1999-05-10 | 8.1 | N/A |
| 1999-05-17 | 6.4 | 3.8 |
| 1999-05-24 | 7.2 | 3.1 |
| 1999-05-31 | 6.3 | 3.3 |
| 1999-06-07 | 6.7 | 3.2 |
| 1999-06-14 | 6.7 | 3.3 |
| 1999-06-21 | 6 | 3.1 |
| 1999-06-28 | 6.8 | 3.6 |
| 1999-07-05 | 6.2 | 3.3 |
| 1999-07-12 | 5.97 | 3.45 |
| 1999-07-19 | 6.3 | 3.3 |
| 1999-07-26 | 7.1 | 3.4 |
| 1999-08-02 | 5.9 | 3.1 |
| 1999-08-09 | 6.4 | 3.1 |
| 1999-08-16 | 6.6 | 3.3 |
| 1999-08-23 | 5.9 | 2.9 |
| 1999-08-30 | 4.2 | 4 |
| 1999-09-06 | 4.4 | 4.1 |
| 1999-09-13 | 6 | 3.3 |
| 1999-09-20 | 6.1 | 3.1 |
| 1999-09-27 | 6.8 | 3 |
| 1999-10-04 | 5.9 | 2.9 |
| 1999-10-11 | 6.1 | 2.6 |
| 1999-10-18 | 5.4 | 3.3 |
| 1999-10-25 | 5.6 | 3.5 |
| 1999-11-01 | 5.9 | 3.2 |
| 1999-11-08 | 5.4 | 3.4 |
| 1999-11-15 | 6.3 | 3.1 |
| 1999-11-22 | 5.5 | 3.4 |
| 1999-11-29 | 6.5 | 3.1 |
| 1999-12-06 | 6 | 3 |
| 1999-12-13 | 6.1 | 2.8 |
| 1999-12-20 | 5.8 | 3.2 |
| 1999-12-27 | 5.8 | 2.9 |
| 2000-01-03 | 6.4 | 3.3 |
| 2000-01-10 | 6.8 | 3.5 |
| 2000-01-17 | 6 | 3 |
| 2000-01-24 | 6.7 | 3.1 |
| 2000-01-31 | 6.6 | 2.8 |
| 2000-02-07 | 6.5 | 2.7 |
| 2000-02-14 | 4.4 | 3.6 |
| 2000-02-21 | 5.9 | 2.8 |
| 2000-02-28 | 6.5 | 2.1 |
| 2000-03-06 | 6.4 | 2.8 |
| 2000-03-13 | 6.3 | 2.6 |
| 2000-03-20 | 6.2 | 2.5 |
| 2000-03-27 | 6.6 | 2.6 |
| 2000-04-03 | 6.4 | 1.8 |
| 2000-04-10 | 6.2 | 3.1 |
| 2000-04-17 | 6.7 | 2.5 |
| 2000-04-24 | 7.1 | 3.1 |
| 2000-05-01 | 7.4 | 2.5 |
| 2000-05-08 | 6.2 | 2.8 |
| 2000-05-15 | 6.1 | 3.1 |
| 2000-05-22 | 7.1 | 3.03 |
| 2000-05-29 | 6.4 | 3 |
| 2000-06-05 | 5.9 | 2.8 |
| 2000-06-12 | 6.8 | 3 |
| 2000-06-19 | 5.8 | 2.7 |
| 2000-06-26 | 6.4 | 2.8 |
| 2000-07-03 | 5.3 | 2.3 |
| 2000-07-10 | 6 | 2.6 |
| 2000-07-17 | 6.2 | N/A |
| 2000-07-24 | 6.2 | 2.8 |
| 2000-07-31 | 6.4 | 2.7 |
| 2000-08-07 | 6.3 | 2.5 |
| 2000-08-14 | 5.9 | 2.4 |
| 2000-08-21 | 6.2 | 2.6 |
| 2000-08-28 | 4.9 | 3.5 |
| 2000-09-04 | 4.2 | 3.6 |
| 2000-09-11 | 5.8 | 3.2 |
| 2000-09-18 | 5.7 | 2.75 |
| 2000-09-25 | 5.4 | 2.9 |
| Raw win | Nitro win | Tie |
| Ratings unavailable or program not aired | ||
| Overall score Raw: 155 Nitro: 112 Tie: 4 Ratings unavailable or program not aired: 20 | ||
