WCW Hallowed Halls
Chapter 1: Leaving WWE.
It had been eleven long years, since WCW had been bought by WWE. Let's go back to that fateful night at Clash of the Champions edition of Nitro. Vince and Shane appear via split screen. Vince, from Dayton, Ohio, where RAW would be live tonight from, and Shane, from Daytona Beach, Florida, where Clash of the Champions Nitro would be held. Let's go down to Daytona, Florida and Shane McMahon, as the main event, of Sting and Hogan had just finished, and it was a great one. But suddenly, the screen went split, as we saw Shane on the screen, with Vince.
Vince McMahon, owner of WWF: Good evening, Daytona Beach. My name is Vincent Kennedy McMahon. But you knew that. I am here tonight to announce that I have bought WCW.
Shane then smirks, thinking that he had bought the company that was floundering in terms of money, and in terms of fans. But at that time, we hear a laugh from Shane McMahon.
Shane: Oh no, you didn't Dad. I'm the man who now owns WCW. That's right, VINCE. I stole it right from under your nose!
Tenay: Wow! Shane McMahon just one upped his old man! But what does the future hold for us here at WCW? We'll find out, soon I hope. For everyone here, for now, thank you all for the past seven years, and ladies and gentlemen, for the final time, for Scott Hudson, Bobby Heenan and Larry Zbyszko, this is Mike Tenay, saying so long.
Or so they thought…
Fast forward to 2011. April 15th, to be exact. Rich Anderson and Kelly Kelly had just resigned as RAW GM's, to start a family, as they had married just a few days prior. And now, they had a meeting with Shane to discuss a potential comeback of a great company.
Rich: Shane, Kelly and I want to purchase the rights to the WCW name and all its trademarks.
Shane leans back in the seat he was sitting in, in his office. He had wanted to sell those rights because let's face it, for eleven years, the WCW name was collecting dust, in a vault somewhere. It was time to rehash WCW, as Vince attempted to ECW, five years prior to today's meeting.
Shane: Well, I do have a pretty low asking price.
Rich: Name it.
Shane paces for a bit, getting up from his chair, thinking of a price that the Anderson-Kellys could afford. He then grins, as he speaks, and as Kelly slips her glasses up.
Shane: How's $250,000 sound?
Kelly then smiles, showing that innocent, girl-next-door, smile, as she thinks. This was her decision as the meeting was her idea. Proving that she had more brains than people here in WWE gave her credit for.
Kelly: That seems fair, Shane. We'll take it.
Shane smiles knowing that he'd finally found capable holders for the keys to WCW, so to speak. But the next night on RAW, the announcement would come. Let's take you there.
As RAW is on the air, Rich and Kelly are seen, holding hands, and mics. Rich then takes the initiative, as he speaks up.
Rich: Everyone, you probably heard all day, that Kelly and I had an announcement to make. Well, it's really simple. Tonight is our last night on the WWE roster.
The crowd gasps, in shock, at what was heard. Rich and Kelly had spent the past six years in WWE, and now it was time to end it. Kelly then speaks, as she holds back a few tears. WWE was the only company she'd ever known, and now she was leaving home.
Kelly: You see, guys, Rich and I were in a meeting with Shane on Friday, prior to Smackdown. He has sold us the rights to WCW. However, we decided not to make it another brand, and to give it back its independence. So, for Rich here, I want to say "Thank You"
The crowd starts a "Thank you Rich and Kelly" chant, as we hear tears and crying coming from the WWE Universe. Rich and Kelly were now two of the biggest names in the company. Kelly had won three womens titles, and Rich had become a seven time WWE champion, and four time tag champion, with Michael Derksen.
Rich: To Vince, Shane and everyone, thank you for the greatest seven years of my life. If it had not been for you guys, I would not have met and married the love of my life, Kelly Kelly-Anderson, here next to me. Thank you, and good luck, WWE.
Walking out for the last time, to "Big Gun" by AC DC, Rich and Kelly took one look back, as they kissed, for the last time, on a WWE stage. But as they walked out, a line of WWE Superstars and Divas, headed by Michael Derksen, and his girlfriend, Gail Kim, would give them a standing Ovation.