Timeline: The History of WWE – 1997 – As Told By Jim Cornette

The new millenium is upon us and the WWE machine is cranking out product as fast and furiously as ever. The federation is loaded with big names and big ideas…like the WWE Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas…well, besides that one! Rikishi was working near the top of the card for the better part of the year, winning the IC title in 2000. And now he walks you through the entire year month-by-month. Hear about Rock, Triple H, Stephanie, Linda, Vinnie Mac and the whole gang as Timeline tackles Y2K!

The WWE had yet to go national. The talent raids had not begun. Hogan was still Verne’s guy. And the biggest draws in the company would revolve around the Intercontinental title, held by The Magnificent One, Don Muraco. And the inside story is here! The series that blows open the real, unauthorized story of the WWE is back, and we head into the 80s again! Backlund…Morales drops title…Allentown…Rocky feud…Snuka and Nancy…Gilbert’s crash…McMahon power shift…Invading California…Wizard’s passing…Iron Mike Sharpe and OCD…Madison Square Garden…Victory Magazine…

It was before Hogan, before Ventura, and before charisma counted as much, perhaps moreso, as mat skills. It was 1977 in New York and Bruno’s run would soon come to an end. Enter The Superstar… Superstar Billy Graham burst onto the scene in the WWWF, unseated Bruno Sammartino, and rewrote the rulebook for pro wrestling heels. And now he wants you to join him on a journey to that pivotal year, where he’ll tell you everything that was happening within the walls of the largest wrestling federation in the world! We pick up the action in April of 1977, just before Graham gets the strap, and we follow the action into 1978, when Backlund takes it. The Sammartino title change…the McMahons…the ‘Wiz’…Japan…Backlund…the backroom dealings…missed opportunities…Albano’s antics…working the blade…the TV tapings… …all that and EVERYTHING that was happening in 1977/78 in WWE!!!

The 80s are winding down, business has seen its amazing peak and the arenas are still full. The world’s biggest federation is front and center in the spotlight, fighting to keep its growing market share. But Ted Turner has purchased WCW. The fallout of Duggan and Sheik’s arrest is still in the news. Wrestlers aren’t getting along. It’s big time, it’s 1988! Summerslam…Wrestlemania…Ventura…Adonis dies…Duggan/Sheik arrest…the locker room…Rougeaus and Bulldogs…road life with Jake the Snake…Turner gets in the ring…Von Raschke…Vachon…Survivor Series…Saturday Night’s Main Event…

The WWE began to see the marketability of its lady wrestlers as both performers and sex symbols in the last decade or so. And man, did we find someone who has some stuff to say about it! Lisa Moretti had an incredibly successful run as the character “Ivory” on WWE television. Join her as she takes us back to 2001 and we will live one year in the world’s most storied wrestling federation through the eyes of a DIVA!

The closing month of 1983 in WWE saw the arrival of an individual that would go on to set the entire pro wrestling landscape on its head. Roddy Piper’s effect on the largest federation in the world would set up Hogan for his massive championship run, introduce the concept of Wrestlemania, and push TV ratings to the stratosphere. Simply put…Piper helped make it all happen for WWE in the 80s. Join Roddy for a three and a half hour journey back in time and see how each piece of the puzzle was laid. Roddy, Vince, Hogan, Dave Wolf and others had a vision of what was to come. Now head back to the birth of the boom and hear about it all in the first-person, from one of the all-time greats. Here comes the ‘Pit, MTV, the coconut, and the HOT SCOT himself! All in this edition of the open-ended historical telling of the WWE’s history.

The fuse has been ignited on the explosive popularity of the WWE in 1985. The world was about to get its first Wrestlemania. The roster was loaded with the country’s hottest talent and the ‘Fed was all over cable TV, and the networks as well. Royalty checks begin pouring in for WWE stars as their images hit lunchboxes and dolls all over the world. The business has moved beyond wrestling as music and pop culture embrace it in this magical time. Saturday Night’s Main Event…Wrestlemania…CBS Cartoon…Mr. T…The IC strap…The Dream Team…Andy Worhol…Rick McGraw’s death…Rita Marie…Snakes and Bulldogs…Tito…The 20/20 expose’…The Wrestling Album…Blading…Cyndi Lauper…Albano’s face turn…

Universally regarded as one of the greatest shoot interviews ever, Cornette leads us on another journey into 1997. RAW is going live every week. The Shawn and Bret situation is reaching its boiling point. Bad news from Pillman’s hotel. 1997 is the year that will set up the big boom period to follow, as Austin, The Rock, and Undertaker were getting set to ignite the business. And our guest for this tour is none other than the most outspoken shoot DVD guest ever, Jim Cornette. Jim was working WWE creative in ’97 so you have unprecedented access to every meeting, locker room fight, and TV taping there was. And Cornette brings his WWE agent journal along just to make sure he gets every detail right!!!

During this era of the brand split, we began seeing promos shot at an Irish castle, featuring an intriguing figure. This guy would debut in January, get some gold around his waist, and work the “Smackdown” brand in the WWE. Dave Finlay is that guy, and he’s our guide back to the year 2006 in the world’s biggest federation. Finaly would also agent for the the WWE, as well as train, so he’s got a very unique perspective of life in the federation, both on camera and off. Come back with us just a few years, and see life from inside the BLUE side of the WWE.

The edgy, dark product that was gracing WWE TV in the mid-90s gave birth to a towel wearing, adult film character named Val Venis. The man behind that character was Sean Morley and the year 1999 would see a high-point for Val…as he won the Intercontinental title. But celebration would be short lived as a parents’ group trained their crosshairs on the risque product and the “Right to Censor” angle was born. The porn star was gone, and the new clothes just didn’t fit Morley or his aspirations. We go back to another year in the TIMELINE!!!

The first Wrestlemania is history and business is booming! Wrestlers are making top dollar, traveling all over the world, seeing dolls in their image, and some can even quit teaching and wrestle full time! Especially if they were in one of the WWE’s hottest angles with Macho Man Randy Savage and Elizabeth. And such is the case with George The Animal Steele. The man behind that scary and lovable character takes you back to 1986 and examines all the major happenings in wrestling’s biggest federation. Saturday Night’s Main Event skits…a jealous Savage…JYD…Adonis…turning babyface…Albano…the McMahons…Steele’s students…Wrestlemania 2…the Funks…”King” Harley Race…The Wrestling Album…the dangers of TV…more…more…MORE!!!

The WWE would soon feel the explosion of what has come to be known as the second boom period. But in 1995, those benefits could not yet be reaped. Business was down, the B shows were cancelled. What could turn this around? Vince hoped it would be a group of guys working at the top of his card…a group that became known as the clique. Kevin Nash will take us back to ’95 when the kliq was formed, and he was given the strap. But was he REALLY Vince’s “guy?” Join Kevin for a journey into this pivotal year as the kliq solidified their stranglehold on the WWE.

1980 in the WWF. Business isn’t so hot. Backlund isn’t drawing the houses they thought he would and business is moribund at best. That is, until a young Larry Zbyszko proposes an idea to his mentor that would change the course of the federation, and make the career of Zbyszko himself. This journey into 1980 is an incredible illustration of how Bruno Sammartino gave Larry Zbyszko the education of a lifetime in both the construction of the “Shea Stadium” program, as well as how to play the game of politics with the heavy hitters, like McMahon. No one saw the impact this angle would have on the gate at Shea, the direction of the company, the shadow it would cast on World Champion Backlund, and the heat and hatred Zbyszko would have to get used to living with. Relive the angle that re-ignited the biggest federation in the world…from the INSIDE…from the angle’s conception, to holding McMahon up for more money.

This Kid was ready to impress everyone on the biggest wrestling stage in the world, and also make some very powerful friends as well. It’s 1994, the business is preparing to rebound in a couple of years, and the guys are jockeying for position for that ride. Sean Waltman will take you back to that year in another edition of the Timeline series. Bret and Lex are vying for footing at the top, while Nash, Shawn, and Razor are ready to get the world’s attention. This was such a critical time in the formation of the Kliq, and Waltman will show us how it happened.

We’re still in the 80s and we’re flying high! Hogan is still drawing his legion of fans and the WWE is running 2,3, and even 6 (yes SIX) shows in a day. Things are good and Hogan’s best friend in the business would get his highest profile run, albeit in the form of a very odd gimmick. Brutus Beefcake had become “The Barber” and was struttin’ and cuttin’ his way to headlining Summerslam with Hogan against Savage and Zeus. Yeah, remember him?! Go back in time and relive yet another chapter in the ongoing history of the world’s biggest federation, and fill in another year in the 80s on your Timeline shelf!

The year of 1993 saw the pressures of indictments befall the WWE, but there was a glimmer of hope in restoring the image of the P.R. troubled company. There was a ‘narcissistic’ heel working the arenas that would soon become a flag bearing, all-American hero. And that guy is here to take you back in time with him. Lex Luger became the focus of the company as he led the charge across the US in his famous “Lex Express” tour bus, as the biggest wrestling federation in the world sought to polish off its bad press and attempt to build wrestling’s superhero babyface for the next generation in wrestling. But did it work?

In early 1963, Toots Mondt and Vincent J. McMahon seceded from the governance of the NWA to form the WWWF. Shortly thereafter they would crown their champion and hang the fortune of their venture on him. That man will be your guide for a journey back to 1963 and the formative years of the WWWF up through 1969. Bruno Sammartino was selling out houses all across the northeast and was privy to all the inner workings of the company.

The Ric Flair phenomenon wasn't turning out to be what Vince had hoped it would be, and five names were put on a list to be the new flag-bearer for the world's largest wrestling federation. And one of those names is here to take you back to a troubled time in WWE history, but a great time for himself. The Excellence of Execution himself, Bret Hart joins us for a journey back to the year he became the World Heavyweight Champion and took of on a singles journey that truly made him a pro wrestling legend. Its a tough time in WWE as scandals are surfacing and sending the business on a downturn. The kid-friendly product is being hampered by allegations of sexual misconduct and steroid use. But Bret would be the breakout star and deliver what juiced up monsters could no longer.

Atop the tag team division in the WWE in 1981 stood a fiery youngster and his brother figure, both of whom had the looks and the brawn to bring fans to their feet all over the Northeast. They slammed Moondogs, battled Samoans, and were high-flying champions full of excitement. Head back to 1981 with Rick Martel and enter the locker rooms walked by Vincent J. McMahon, Gorilla Monsoon, Capt Lou Albano and the legends of yesteryear. This may have been a simpler time in the business, but the lessons learned were hard, and so was the road. Come into the venues of yesteryear and see who was getting over and who wasn’t. This is the real deal…a time with no cable TV, no pay-per-view, and one hour of syndicated TV per week…and the arenas were packed.

Our series travels to a year where the world’s largest federation is split among three brands. In this era of roster shuffles and drafts, find out what it meant to be a member of one of those brands. And just how those brands worked together to create winning television. Join Brian Myers, as he outlines the journey of his character, Curt Hawkins, and life inside the WWE in the new millennium.

The Attitude Era has become a benchmark in WWE history, universally agreed to signify one of the most successful eras in the company’s history. This year would rivet us to TVs, eagerly awaiting Stone Cold’s next move against his nemesis and chess master Mr. McMahon. ‘Smart marks’ would just as eagerly await the Tuesday morning ratings. So as seemingly everyone was awaiting something, our guest for this edition of Timeline was trenched down with Vince McMahon, busy helping create what would shock us next Monday. Join WWE’s former head writer Vince Russo and head inside the locker rooms, writing meetings, and everywhere else once restricted and relive the era that breathed new life into wrestling’s biggest company.

Imagine toiling away in comic matches and bouncing around ringside in a secondary role when suddenly, you are thrust into a huge angle beside the boss, playing his son! Someone must’ve wished on a four-leaf clover because that was 2007 for this LIttle Bastard! And he’s taking you inside that and so much more!!! Join Swoggle and examine more of the brand-split era with a view from the inside, a little lower than usual.

This transitional year of 1990 would see a move away from some of what made wrestling cool in the 1980s. The company would try, with varying degrees of success, to prepare for tomorrow and where the business might go. Heck..maybe it wasn’t with pro bodybuilding or Gobbledy Gookers. But they had to give it a shot! They would transition the heavyweight title away from Hulkamania and more towards the Warrior galaxies above! A red-faced preacher type was getting in our faces every week and driving the babyfaces crazy. The man behind that character was also running much of WWE TV that year and he is our guest for an exclusive journey back to that year of 1990…Bruce Prichard. Join Bruce and get the inside scoop on everything from the ICOPRO to the lawsuits…from the Legion of Doom to the Battle Kat…you’ll get the good and the bad!!!