WCW Boss Busch blunders; four talented wrestlers depart

Bill Busch was promoted to executive vice president last September to turn around WCW, which under the leadership of Eric Bischoff, had lost its strange-hold on the wrestling business. In his first few months as the WCW boss, it appeared the company made a wise decision to promote from within.

One of his first acts as the new vice president was to hold a meeting with the talent. He picked up where Bischoff left off in offering anyone a release if they were unsatisfied being in the company. No one took him up on the offer that day, but his words were not forgotten.

Busch made a bold decision to hire Vince Russo and Ed Ferrara away from the WWF. He signed them to two-year contracts and promised them six months without interference to turn around the company’s struggling television ratings.

Russo and Ferrara were dealt a bad hand. They lost the company’s top two babyfaces in Goldberg and Sting to injuries at a time they were positioned to feud with the reformed New World Order. Bush wanted to restructure Hogan’s hefty contract, which meant the eleven-time champion was unavailable to the new bookers.

Scott Hall was injured and suspended as the nWo was reformed. Ric Flair requested a release, and the company decided not to use Randy Savage with his contract about to expire (which has since expired). Russo and Ferrara planned a major feud with the Revolution vs. the Filthy animals - but then Konnan, Mysterio, Jr., and Guerrero all went down with injuries.

After three months as head bookers, Russo and Ferrara were demoted. Kevin Sullivan, who had lobbied for Russo’s position ever since his arrival in WCW, was named head booker. Kevin Nash, who had a disastrous run as head booker under Bischoff, was promoted to Sullivan’s top assistant on the revamped booking committee. At press time, Russo’s fate with WCW is still undetermined.

The decision to demote Russo and Ferrara upset many WCW wrestlers as much as the naming of Kevin Sullivan as the new booker. Chris Beniot, who actually is married to Sullivan’s ex-wife Woman (Nancy Sullivan), along with the Revolution, Kidman, and Konnan (who said he was speaking for Rey Mysterio and Juvetund Guerrera) asked for the releases Busch had promised.

Sullivan, trying to keep backstage harmony, decided to give the WCW title to Chris Beniot as an olive branch to the disgruntled wrestlers. The next day, Beniot, Saturn, Malenko, Guerrero, and Douglas were all sent home after again requesting their releases. Beniot handed the WCW title belt to referee Nick Patrick and departed the arena. Busch told them he would reconsider Sullivan’s promotion.

In the past, Sullivan has openly told mid card talent such as Saturn, Malenko, and Douglas that they were the “largest waste of money the company had,” and that they would, “never draw a dime.”

By mid week, Busch made the decision to stick with Sullivan as his top booker, and grant full releases (unlike the limited release Bischoff granted to Raven last August) to Beniot, Saturn, Malenko, Guerrero, and Douglas. Busch claimed he wanted to maintain a “team atmosphere.” Many top reliable sources indicate that Beniot, Saturn, Malenko, and Guerrero all have verbal agreements with the WWF.

On an unrelated tragic note, former West Texas Red Neck Bobby Duncum, Jr., 34, was found dead in his Travis County, Texas apartment last Monday. He is survived by his wife Michelle, daughter Cassidy, 2, and son Austen, 13, his brother Duane and his parents, Bobby and Glenda, all of Austin.

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