10 Promotions That Have Rivalled WWE

2. XWF

Active: 2001-2002

Jimmy Hart’s group was formed in response to WWE purchasing WCW in 2001, which had left anyone blackballed or out of favour with Vince McMahon’s operation without a place to earn a living.

The promotion would hark back to a previous era, presenting a PG product featuring family-friendly entertainment akin to the WWF during its 80s heyday, far removed from the smutty output of the WWE Attitude Era of the time.

In November 2001, XWF taped several episodes of television featuring a vast array of top names from the previous and future generations. Spearheaded by Hulk Hogan, the roster featured names such as Konnan, Greg Valentine, Mr. Perfect, The Road Warriors, Marc Mero and The Nasty Boys in addition to hot stars of the future such as AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels.

With a roster like that it could not fail . . . Only it did, almost immediately.

McMahon helped ensure that by signing several of the promotion’s top stars, including Hogan, Perfect, Jerry Lawler and Roddy Piper. Their departures made it impossible for Hart to strike a TV deal with any networks as the roster they were interested in was no longer there for future episodes.

A few house shows with a depleted roster later and the plug was pulled when it became clear there was no TV deal forthcoming.

• lists
• WCW
• All Elite Wrestling
• AEW

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