The New Blood

Lore & Background

In early 2000, WCW brought back Eric Bischoff and Vince Russo to run the company. On-screen, they declared all WCW titles vacant on April 10, 2000, and formed a new stable called The New Blood, with both at the head. The stable consisted of most younger wrestlers and longtime background talent, feuding with the older stars of the 'Millionaire's Club'. At Spring Stampede on April 16 in Chicago, Illinois, the New Blood won all vacant titles except the WCW Hardcore Championship, won by Terry Funk. Hulk Hogan feuded with the New Blood, wearing a vest with 'F.U.N.B.' on the back, explaining the initials meant 'New Blood' and 'F.U.' The idea was to get younger talent over, but it evolved into an nWo rehash. The feuds continued for about another month before the New Blood disbanded because management decided it was not working, as the Millionaire's Club got most positive fan reaction. The true end of the angle occurred on July 9 at Bash at the Beach in Daytona Beach, Florida, after the infamous Russo shoot promo caused Hogan and Bischoff to leave the promotion. The New Blood theme continued with the New Blood Rising pay-per-view in August 2000.

In Their Own Story

The arena smelled of sweat and old leather. Three young men stood in the ring after a loss, the crowd's boos still ringing off the steel steps. Eda peeled the tape from his wrists, methodical, almost meditative. Nakamura paced the ropes, jaw tight, eyes on the exit ramp where the older stars were already walking out, already forgetting them. Kobashi sat on the bottom rope, bleeding from a cut above his eye, and laughed—a short, sharp bark.

"Same time next week," he said, not to any of them. To the room. To the ceiling. To whoever was listening.

Eda nodded. Nakamura stopped pacing. They walked out together, shoulder to shoulder, into the dark corridor where the real work began. Behind them, the ring light dimmed to a single amber glow, and the canvas still held the impression of their boots.

Reader's Guide

The New Blood was composed of six different stables within itself: 3 Count, KroniK, The Filthy Animals, The Mamalukes, The Natural Born Thrillers, and the New Blood itself. The New Blood members mostly feuded with The Millionaire's Club, while the other stables were supporting casts. The Natural Born Thrillers were all rookies except Shawn Stasiak; the rest had already had TV time.

Did You Know?

• Diamond Dallas Page quit WCW (in storyline), citing his feud with Eric Bischoff and the New Blood cost him his health, the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, his wife Kimberly, half of his possessions via divorce, and h
• Ric Flair's wrestling career was ended (in storyline) by Vince Russo and David Flair in a handicap match, with Flair's daughter Meghan throwing the towel in; Ric and son Reid had their heads shaved after the loss. In rea
• Sting suffered major injuries (storyline) after being set on fire and tossed off TurnerVision scaffolding by Vampiro.
• Hollywood Hulk Hogan suffered injuries (storyline) after being put through a table by Goldberg. Hogan was later publicly fired from WCW by Vince Russo during an in-ring promo.
• Jim Duggan suffered internal bleeding (storyline) and was stretchered out of the ring following Goldberg targeting his kidney.