Jim Cornette on Mean Gene & WWE Wrestlers Signing With WCW

From Episode 169 of Jim Cornette's Drive Thru
Artwork by Travis Heckel!
Send in your question for the Drive-Thru to: [e-mail]
Follow Jim and Brian on Twitter: @TheJimCornette @GreatBrianLast
Join Jim Cornette's College Of Wrestling Knowledge on Patreon to access the archives & more! / cornette
Visit Jim's official site at www.JimCornette.com for merch, live dates, commentaries and more!
You can listen to Brian each week on the 6:05 Superpodcast at 605pod.com.

[@mikeabel7577]

Gene was pivotal in getting the NWO over at the beginning. The way he worked the Hogan betrayal of the fans angle was genius. RIP Gene Okerlund. He is greatly missed.

[@aikidoboynj]

Gene was an instant elevation to the product. I couldn't believe him and heenan were in WCW, they were so iconic to see them in WCW just added another level of professionalism.

[@Coco-xw3wp]

I know right! I used to notice when I was younger why are all these WWF guys now in WCW? It confused the hell out of me as a child!

[@monsieurdubitatif8567]

True. In Québec, WCW was non-existant, even after Hogan's signing... until i stumbled on a promo while flipping channels... with Okerlund !!! I then started watching WCW, such was his worth. Him and "The Fink" were in a class of their own.

[@mr.tonywilliams1236]

@@Coco-xw3wp i said they same when they showed up in the wwf from the AWA. Eric did to vince what Vince did to Verne.

[@davidmeichner8346]

Bischoff's presence also encouraged me to watch initially with me remembering Bischoff at AWA and thinking Nitro was a new creative effort. I had stopped watching wrestling until I noticed them on TNT at 8.

[@Actionronnie]

@@Coco-xw3wp I was also confused as a kid. Like why are all my AWA guys cartoon characters in the WWF 😂

[@AmateurBarbarian]

Mean Gene was probably the most trusted voice in wrestling in the late 80’s and early 90’s. If he said it, it was a fact. He brought legitimacy to WCW.

[@eduardopazhurtado3882]

The answer is the same for all the stars that left to WCW: More money and better schedule.

[@chadk890]

@Randall Glatt He didn't have Turner money if he did Hall and Nash would've stayed back in 1996.

[@kira3159]

Eric Bischoff said he didn't give hall and nash more money than what they were making in WWF, they came to wcw because of lighter schedule

[@KomradeKrusher]

@Randall Glatt To be fair, he was insanely lucky things played out in his favor and most of all that WCW didn't know what talent they had on their hands.

[@lebeaumuni6247]

Does same amount of money for less working hours count as being paid more money? For example, you are being paid more per hour but working less hours.

[@KomradeKrusher]

@@lebeaumuni6247 Well, you certainly get paid more per hour that way, and sometimes that might be a more desirable incentive than more money overall. You really can't put a price tag on quality of life.

[@Sweetestsadist]

For those who don't know who Todd Pettingill is, just imagine a likeable Michael Cole.

[@kellyvaters1689]

More than a likeable Michael Cole, Todd was perfect for Saturday morning wrestling and could pull in a wide audience without having to sledgehammer us with Vince's lines.

[@85wastedyears]

and a Mullet

[@Sweetestsadist]

@@kellyvaters1689 Plus, he put on an Elmo costume and simulated having sex with Sunny.

[@RobTheUndertaker]

Perfect description of Todd Pettingill!

[@adamslemp9398]

He did a recap show on Saturday mornings with Shane's wife Marissa Mazzola

[@lyndonjohnson3975]

Mene Gene was awesome RIP

[@FnRenner]

The best and only memorable interviewer in wrestling history. There will never be another one.

[@bencafirefly]

@@FnRenner ctuse mu

[@mrg8581]

Nothing against Todd Pettengill. But Vince McMahon should have used the money he paid Todd to keep Mean Gene and Bobby the Brain!

[@DreDaDon16]

No....Todd fit the New Generation Era....Gene and Bobby were never the same in WCW as they were in AWA/WWF

[@ericlove6487]

Heenan was gone regardless. He didnt want to travel.

[@kellyvaters1689]

Todd was good at his job, and a fresh face and voice who brought both levity and gravitas to the product. Compared to Michael Cole, he was Mean Gene and Gorilla Monsoon put together.

[@Hizzoner21]

Didn't fit their 'New Generation' motto. McMahon was trying to move on from the steroid-fueled, Hulkamania-era. Hence dumping his 80s megastars while champion guys like Michaels and Bret. Out with the old, in with the new.

[@mrg8581]

@@DreDaDon16 I am agree

[@samhinnant4416]

I love how Jim gets off on different lines of thought on a question that he has to ask what the original question was lol 😆.

[@seanbonella]

...but always interesting

[@daleva187goligo]

where were we? ... mean gene

[@daleva187goligo]

twice!! ... starting to feel like an abbot and costello routine "who's on first"

[@craigphillips3154]

You'll get there one day, too. Trust me. LOL

[@bornfromforeign]

😭😭😂😂

[@bradpaton3927]

Eric Bischoff as a drunken sailor wiTHe "Lemme tell you SOME-thing!" finger LMAO!

[@jaydav6521]

'MEAN GENE! WOOOOO!" - Ric Flair

[@travismurell5228]

Damn. I miss Gene.

[@Natefuentes]

Meaaaaaaannnn By God Geeeeennnnneeee

[@miamiboy3056]

MEEEEEEAN! WOOOOO, GENE!

[@dxmanforlife]

MEEEEEEEAAAAAAAN WOOOOOOOOOOOO BY GAWHD GEEEEEENE

[@tobiasfarragut292]

@@dxmanforlife (Elbow drops the canvas)

[@starshipfame1]

RIP Tiny Lister (known as Deebo from Friday and Zeus in WWE)

[@avataz]

Awwww nooooo

[@lancehenry3165]

Seen that a few hours ago... Sad as fuck

[@i.c.e.m.a.n.2674]

What?!!! Tiny was the man in everything he did! R.I.P.

[@davey3884]

Oh no! Not Zues...how will the wrestling world continue

[@tobiasfarragut292]

Whatchu got on my 40 Homie??..Whachu got on my drink 🍾🍾

[@poindexterflex3528]

"Because if you're athletic, and you're green!... and Marc Mero certainly was both!' That was a top ten Corny quote for me.

[@FnRenner]

Marc Mero was awful. I hated Johnny B. Badd in WCW and Mero in the WWF was somehow worse.

[@john_blues]

Maybe not a top 10 quote, but certainly a top 10 segue! Whatever they're paying him, it needs to be more.

[@kingluigi7]

use promo code jce for 10% off and free shipping.........love him but YUCK, nasty product!!

[@craigphillips3154]

I would say his most memorable one lately (and, trust me, I wish it wasn't) was his segue into the Manscaper promo. Corny talking about being in a hotel room late at night shaving his balls was unforgettable...unfortunately.

[@john_blues]

Mean Gene Okerlund is the GOAT announcer. Always respected Gene. He was the ultra professional straight man amongst the craziness.

[@tobiasfarragut292]

He was hilarious in Outtakes too..I watched a couple of early 80’s WWF promo outtakes and Genes a funny bastard at times

[@justafanofnerdculture7602]

@@tobiasfarragut292 Funny that you would say that, because just yesterday I was watching the Summerslam promo when the SummerSlam sign fell off the wall. Gene's reaction was priceless!! Definitely, no doubt the greatest wrestling interviewer ever!

[@memorydrain7806]

I think the first time I really laughed at a Mean Gene interview was when he had to work with Raven and Stevie Richards near the crowd. Raven hits Stevie, and Mean Gene yells, "HE HIT HIM LIKE A CHILD....I CAN'T BELIEVE IT..." Love Mean Gene. He enhanced promos. Hulkster promos aren't at that level without Gene.

[@tobiasfarragut292]

@Neil Breen's Floating Ballsack the one when he calls Hogan a faget not in so many words “I CAME OUT TO SAN FRANCISCO TO FIND ME A WAHHHHHMAN!..WHAT CHU LAUGHIN ABOUT GENE? WHAS WRONG WIT U?!”

[@mikebowman1043]

@@memorydrain7806 I remember that very well Hilarious

[@HoustonIsImmortal]

Nobody goes off on an impromptu tangent like Corny!! "What were we talking about again???"

[@diamondwchamp]

Men Gene told me he left WWE because he didn't agree with some of the things going on at WWE. Gene was a cool guy to work with and a true gentleman.

[@Briansgate]

Gene went where Hogan went. Simple as that.

[@michaelmarino7391]

True, from AWA to WWF to WCW. Do the math that's close to 20 years together.

[@wiscounter]

I remember him saying as much in an interview on The Network. I think it was one of those Table for Three episodes.

[@justafanofnerdculture7602]

Briansgate No doubt, Mean Gene knew where the money was.

[@DefLeppardVanHalen]

@@justafanofnerdculture7602 Actually, Gene went to WCW before Hogan.

[@justafanofnerdculture7602]

@@DefLeppardVanHalen He sure did! You are correct.

[@matthillegas3099]

I didn't know Big Bully Busick became a bartender.

[@matthillegas3099]

@@italianmiltyfriedman6264 Corny has the Busick mustache there. That, and a bartender from Tombstone. Great artwork.

[@ISLAVERDE29]

@@matthillegas3099 I'm thinking more of the game tapper

[@seanshannon6314]

Osw rules

[@paulpurves828]

If someone made a Drunken Sailor Eric Bischoff action figure, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

[@davidgessin-mccully3919]

Gene Okerlund was a legend. His interview with Dave The Redneck Schultz was the best ever. One of the few times Gene lost it on TV. “I was looking for a Woman. I wanted a Woman. I couldn’t find no Woman. All I could find was a lot of men that looked like Women Now Hulk Hogan you belong in San Francisco. What’s the matter with You Gene?

[@stevensingleton1412]

It wasnt just the money that WCW had, but also that Vince was cutting pay. Apparently Mean Gene and Lord Alfred experienced multiple pay cuts. Bobby left do to travel and reduced schedule so he could be home more.

[@skinnypippen9580]

And to get Health insurance as he had neck problems!

[@Pedro_Kantor]

I remember being incredibly shocked to see Gene on WCW.

[@rochesterjohnny7555]

I actually tuned in when Gene Mean went over there, so the announcers might really be that valueable. You need good announcers for the whole show, while any individual wrestler only has to perform for a match or a promo.

[@AZK91]

I see what you did there 😂

[@specialk9424]

So true, Sheiky Baby. The announcers are so important to the show, because they're there throughout. I stopped watching WWE because of Micheal Cole. Every damn thing was "VINTAGE", or "The longest running, weekly, blah, blah, blah"", plus his forced, fake enthusiasm. I can't stand him. I started watching AEW because of Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone. More JR, but I remember Schiavone hosting Nitro, and he has a familiar voice, although he's reached the point where he doesn't give a fuck anymore, as long as the checks keep clearing. And if they don't bring JR back to Dynamite, I'll stop watching that, too. Excalibur is annoying. Yes, we get it Sockface, you know all the Japanese and Mexican names for shit, nobody cares. That's why Mike Tenay was never lead announcer in WCW, he was no good at carrying the show, but he's a pro wrestling encyclopedia. It's ridiculous how much that man knows about wrestling, and I promise you, he knows WAY more than Sockface does. But Excalibur is Kenny and the Bucks' pal, and doesn't call them out on doing pointless flips and dives, just for the sake of flips and dives, so they moved JR out, and Sockface in.

[@MilMaska]

"I love Gene to death but Gene is having a double scotch while waiting for a kidney transplant" - Kevin Nash

[@bigmike2464]

" A man's man" as Nash also said in reference to Gene

[@jeremyc.2680]

Gotta love Nash.

[@BoyleJr]

Ironically my father does the same. Its better than a bottle of beer liquid wise for a guy who can't piss

[@btipton6899]

Hair flip

[@partypoppers1988]

Bischoff helped make pro wrestling exciting again in the mid-90s. Let's face it, the business had been running on empty for years before that. Plus, he's a great talker and always made for a memorable character, onscreen.

[@tempestfennac9687]

I agree. Realistically, spending a lot to get certain talent on the roster was necessary to get attention, and bringing in a lot of international stars who hadn't had mainstream US exposure was great as far as match quality went. Getting people on contracts which lacked creative control clauses and moving away from the nWo in '99 at the latest would have been wise though, and the booking in TNA suggested he still thought it was the original Monday Night Wars.

[@mattthomas1442]

Bischoff did a great job of cutting expenses at increasing revenue when he took over. I know people will say "Cut expenses?, he's the guy that gave out all these bloated contracts." Yes he eventually did that but at first he cut expenses by getting rid of house shows(WCW was losing money every time they went out the door but guys like Watts still ran them cause "that's how it always was done"), he then started filming shows at MGM in Orlando which allowed them to tape all their TV weeks in advance so they didn't need to spend as much flying in talent and production staff. He then was smart enough to realize that WCW's main source of revenue was PPV, so before him WCW/WWE would only run 4 a year cause they were afraid to saturate the market, Bischoff realized that the die hard fan(which were the only people watching WCW at that time) would pay for 8 so he doubled the PPV schedule adding a ton of revenue. It was moves like that which allowed Turner to put his trust in him and the company and open up his checkbook.

[@tempestfennac9687]

@@mattthomas1442 Those are good points. I know Jim's a big Watts fan but his time running WCW was hardly setting the world on fire from what I can gather (banning top-rope moves altogether and taking the mats away from the ringside area was ridiculous). Regarding the TV tapings being done in advance, it's just a shame that events often screwed things up like injuries or Sid trying to murder Arn with scissors.

[@Drummer8282]

Vince didn’t take WCW stars?!? -Vader -Cactus Jack -Mean Mark Callus ( Undertaker ) -Diamond Stud ( Razor Ramon ) -Oz ( Diesel ) -Marc Mero -Sid -Lex Lugar -Steiners -Road Warriors -Ric Flair -Steve Austin

[@craineyfit8619]

"Anyway...what was the question? "Gene Okerland. "Oh yea! Lol

[@CaptainTae]

I liked Todd Pettengill

[@MsPoomaster]

He was very good at his job.

[@TheMartinTD]

Yeah he was awesome

[@CaptainTae]

@Chris Terry I alos love Mooney. He's working with NWA now.

[@josephcostello695]

Bobby Heenan always called him Todd Pettingzoo. Loved it

[@madringking1119]

That Paul Heyman discussion he's talking about is on KZbin. Idk how much knowledge he had at that time when Nitro was announced but he pretty much hit the nail on the head on how it started.

[@Treklosopher]

I remember watching my first episode of Nitro at 12 years old. I was, in fact, sold on the show when I saw that they had Mean Gene. He was someone I always knew and liked. I gave the wrestlers a shot because he was on screen interviewing them.

[@g62412]

Jim can talk lol god damn. Hooked

[@HitLeftistsWithHammers]

Main reason why he's been at the forefront of the business for over 40 years. Always enjoyed his promos.

[@brunorege1742]

Yeah

[@mikemooney1757]

He is one of the best and has so much good inside knowledge.

[@jeffreyb6165]

Anytime Jim says" i ain't knockin' him"........let the knockin' begin!😄

[@ericgilbert56]

Todd Pettingill was the guy that recommended Michael Cole as his replacement... Thanks Todd.

[@_dreamz]

According to Jim Ross, Vince was never going to renew Gene's contract and was going to let it lapse knowing WCW would offer him a big pay day.

[@dennismurphy9836]

Pritchard said they were letting Gene go and Vince played it so Gene would get more money from Wcw.

[@lo1bo2]

I was going to say something similar. Apparently Vince wanted to move on, and was happy to help Gene get as much as possible from WCW knowing it would help tie up WCW's finances in the long run.

[@JM1993951]

According to Cornette himself Vince did something similar with Bret leading up to Survivor Series 1997. Advising him to go with WCW because Vince couldn’t honor their contract.

[@chrisadams6530]

@@JM1993951 Well that's well know. That doesn't mean Bruce is a good source of information.

[@mattthomas1442]

@no name Bruce said that before he even started working there again. Also guys like Patterson and Jim Ross have both said Vince did things like that. Actually I think Cornette said something similar when him and MX met with Vince in the 80s. When they turned down VInce I believe Jim said Vince said something like "Well I hope you can atleast use this meeting to get yourself more money someplace else." After all why wouldn't he? Makes business sense to make your competition pay more and make the talent that turned you down think you cared about him. BTW I think even if Gene took a paycut WWE didn't want him there. Not that he wasn't great at his job but they were going with the whole "New Generation" thing then, they didn't want any relics from the past that may remind them of Hogan and the previous generation.

[@FullReconTTV]

Thanks for answering my question!

[@robertm6590]

That was a good bit. Jim goes off on a story about weird executives in the WWE offices and then "What was the question?" and Brian yells "Gene Okarland!" Since he had already gotten off track once since he'd asked the first time lol

[@jrtjonathanwinchell3955]

I remembered Mean Gene from the 70's in the AWA he did fantastic interviews especially with The Body that's where Mean Gene got his nickname from Jesse Ventura.

[@bryanmcneil9872]

Marc Mero despite what Jim says here was underrated in my opinion. He was exciting in the ring and had a pretty impressive move set..

[@moffjerjerrod1579]

And a plastic wife until Brock Lesnar took her.

[@stormydavis8546]

Yet they didn’t try to hold onto JR..... more ignorance on the part of WCW “leadership”

[@78bcat]

More BS. JR was Jim Herd and Bill Watts' right hand man. For 4 years he was chief lieutenant of failure and he thought it put him next in line to be in charge...and he was passed over. WCW figured out what Vince eventually learned and had to manage: JR is a political bureaucrat. He told everybody what they wanted to hear and undermined the boss because he was a yes-man. He reveals it to this day: Mention Rock and Austin and JR will tell you how HE signed them, then mention Styles and Samoa Joe and JR will tell you he just did what VINCE said. But lets be marks and pretend he's just on-air talent: He went to WWE where he was the "voice" for the worst years ever. 4 years of awful shit that he had no bearing on because announcers are simply interchangeable. See, the reality is JR was awesome when he had Flair/Steamboat, Sting/Vader, Austin/Rock, Foley/Taker. Wrestling announcers are radio DJ's. They're only great because of the music.

[@jesterr7133]

I wish Jim could get along with Bischoff well enough to do a segment with him. Bischoff feels exactly the same way about Shitstain as Corny does, and has said many of the same things about him. Hearing the two of them talk about him would make a great segment.

[@KaneRobot]

Cornette talking about Bischoff doing nothing after his WCW run is pretty funny considering Cornette has never had any success on that level at all. He was a popular manager in the second tier company in the '80s and ran a c-tier promotion for a few years in the mid-90s until he bankrupted them.

[@wodencafe]

Is that Eric Bischoff dressed as a sailor?

[@brandonmedina4471]

How could Marc Mero be the only boxer in the Brawl for All and lose? Never understood that.

[@rahowherox1177]

I think he just got taken down repeatedly... coz he couldn't wrestle.

[@Dr170]

He's a nice guy and all, but some people were just seemingly born to lose. And even so more people know his name than any of us.

[@gobblegobble7]

So many great nuggets in this clip

[@terrencecastonguay1984]

The same goes with Bobby Heenan going to WCW.

[@guardian08527]

@Chris Terry Took me years to get used to Jerry Lawler on commentary.

[@trak2k]

Bobby Heenan daughter was going to college at the time he went to WCW. WCW announcers were also “employees” so they had benefits like health insurance.

[@Smokey1419]

Bobby Heenan will always be part of my childhood because of WCW. He was hilarious, smart, and knew how to get people over with his quick wit.

[@tomr3422]

The Brain - was always the good part of where ever he was, didnt care for some of the crazy stuff in WCW, but would watch just to see Bobby, same for WWF some stuff was just eye rolling crazy.

[@trak2k]

@Chris Terry it’s what my phone calls him. Darn autocorrect

[@kylorenkardashian79]

Your Ad Placements are fantastic

[@carter358]

@5:30 - He's right. Nobody thought WCW had a chance against WWF. Then when I saw Gene on WCW I did a double take. He added legitimacy and professionalism to that outfit that it never had before.

[@ModernDayRenaissanceMan]

Gene was always with Hogan even back in the AWA. Getting Gene was perfect for the NWO.

[@coreynihart3883]

Steve Austin, Marc metro, Dustin Rhodes, Brian Pillman, Ron Simmons, Vader, Tex Slazenger and Shanghai Pierce, seems like Vince took a lot of the WCW guys.

[@williammitchell4695]

I am actually shocked Bischoff ever and I mean EVER had a job after leaving Verne's AWA

[@christopherhamer9584]

Why?

[@dkupke]

That he had a job in production, as an agent, as an announcer, should come as no surprise-he had the pedigree thanks to AWA. That they promoted him to the men in charge abs gave him unlimited power to do whatever he pleases was a one in a million miracle.

[@RobTheUndertaker]

The gift of gab(talking) can take you far, which Bischoff had.

[@spectrumlocalb191]

HE SOLD NINJA OUTFITS OUT OF HIS CAR

[@BigFredMachine]

​@@dkupke He wasn't really in charge and he couldn't do whatever he pleased. He had higher-ups in the company he was answering to (mainly Harvey Shiller) and he had to work within the approved budget. Of course, as he was achieving more and more success over the years, his position grew, but he never had power like Vince. For example, he couldn't fire anybody from the office.

[@st4ne4rmthevill63]

Started listening for wrestling shoots. Stayed for excellent ad transitions.

[@frtaylor29]

Jim, we love you brother. Love your perspective of the business and honesty. Love this channel. Thank you. 🙏🏻

[@breezecardenas3941]

I love the segue! so flawless!

[@sobbyhasselhoff]

Jim is calling someone an idiot, while he's saying he was doing a job for free. Intelligent man.

[@MrBoston6]

Oh, you aren't a skilled listener are you. He wasn't doing the job "for free," it was just part of the job back then. Herd was the idiot for not understanding the business, not Jim for doing his job.

[@sobbyhasselhoff]

@@MrBoston6 he gleefully did a job for free. He said it himself. Repeating what he said and claiming "I'm not a skilled listener", doesn't change that fact.

[@MrBoston6]

@@sobbyhasselhoff If your boss came to you and said I'm going to pay you to do something you're already doing, would you call yourself an idiot?

[@sobbyhasselhoff]

@@MrBoston6 go back and read comment. Seems you're not too bright either.

[@profshad3429]

@@sobbyhasselhoff No the fact that you only understand pro wrestling from a money perspective, shows you're not too bright or understand the business. You also don't know the reason why he didnt want the money.

[@FnRenner]

WCW became unwatchable when Mark Madden showed up. Worst commentator in wrestling history.

[@stephensmith5724]

I don't know I think Mark Madden was all right I mean his job was to be a heel announcer and get heat

[@louis3141]

I'd put him up there with Josh Matthews

[@LJWilliams15]

What about Mike adamle for ecw, jeez he was awful !

[@TheMartinTD]

No way is he worse than Michael cole or Corey graves.

[@igorivanov299]

Art Donovan

[@themedianman9712]

Growing up I kinda checked out with Todd Pettengill. It wasn't him per se, it was more the symbolism. I was a little older and he made me aware that I was watching a glorified cartoon. The OSW review guys have helped me appreciate him. The guy had to bring energy to a stinker of a product.

[@kyleshiflet9952]

That's true he came into the WWE at a bad time

[@sdd619]

This was wrong. According to Mean Gene in a number of shoot interviews. He was not being renewed by WWE at the time. Which is why he left for WCW.

[@AbrahamMiha]

I still believe that Vince smashed Sable.

[@sniperchosenleader2481]

He probably still does

[@anniesanta4328]

These set ups for ads is the funniest part of the videos🤣

[@rickytpb2164]

One of the only silver linings of the dying days of WCW is that it was home to some of Mean Gene's funniest mic work.

[@ajk]

"YOUR MUSTACHE IS CROOKED!" "YOUR BEARD IS A LITTLE SIDEWAYS TOO!" "THAT'S ALRIGHT!" funniest promo he and Savage ever did together, hands down for me lol.

[@tobiasfarragut292]

Or when he would pull out the “HEY! Hey I’ll call my attorneys” when a heel promo would almost get physical

[@ajk]

@@tobiasfarragut292 Oh yeah, or.....his whole promo with Hogan at Bash at the Beach 96 after the big turn. "Tony, Bobby, Dusty...DAMMIT! Back to you.", such a great way to close that. He was one of kind for sure.

[@tobiasfarragut292]

@@ajk hahahah member when Heenan spoiled it with the “YEAH BUT WHOS SIDE IS HE ON?!!!!” And dusty was like “WHAT?!?! NAWWWWWWWW” lol

[@jonathanbynoe4375]

In some degree it was Vince's fault because during the dawning of the 90's, he thought that most of the talent and the announcers of the 80's were already washed up and too old and the steroid trail which prompted the drug test was something that contributed to established talent of the WWE to jump ship to WCW for more money too. Then in 1993/94, the WWE went for branding their product as the New Generation, having a new breed of talent mixed in the some familiar faces from the 80's. Now these days, ironically Vince did the opposite, he brings in legends to wrestle part-time and take over the spotlight of the young talent for the sake of nostalgia, having them win titles and battle royals to the fans distaste most likely, paying them a great deal of money than the younger talent.

[@Muertes-tf2oj]

The only announcer they ever needed was Bob Caudle.

[@SimianScience]

mean gene was a icon right up there with piper/savage/hogan letting him go was a mistake

[@AngieTaber]

WPLJ sounds like a Frank Zappa song.

[@LongLiveRockAnRoll]

2:30 yes, Scott and Todd..."I got a tree on my house" 😅

[@networktwentythree]

I WANNA SEE THE BOAT MOVIE

[@jeffreyschatz164]

I didn’t know who the sailor sitting at the bar was until 10:15

[@aznluvr7]

I remember being a lapsed wrestling fan and occasionally tuning into WCW and seeing Heenan and Okerlund and feeling like, "wow, these guys are big time now". I mean look at WWF in the 80s, they didn't have "Meltzer Matches", but it just felt like you stepping into a family friend's living room and your uncles, Gorilla, Heenan/Ventura and Mean Gene were going to watch some matches with you. Just felt comfortable and I think WCW did themselves a great service by hiring these guys. I didn't like Petengill as a kid, but I think he symbolized that things had changed and everyone hates change. Watching him today, I think he did well. His obvious enthusiasm and effort is endearing.

[@Fearik83]

Is it sad to say I'm getting to where I look forward to the end of these clips to hear the segues?

[@TheSwerveShow]

I would pay announcers more back then. TV personalities were HUGE. Bob Barker etc. Wrestlers are Dime a Dozen.

[@SairajRKamath]

I heard that Mean Gene wanted to stay in WWE at that time, but nobody reached out to him to renew his contract.

[@wodencafe]

What a shame.

[@darylchase7595]

Plus Gean was also making a shit pile of money from the wcw hotline. He said on one shoot that he didn't just get a percentage from it but he practically owned it..

[@caseyj8313]

Mean Gene athletic green...

[@PeterWhiteprowrestler]

Jim, after 5min of answering the question: "what was the question?" Hahaha

[@wiscounter]

Remember Scheme Gene from those Billionaire Ted skits?

[@jdgeibe]

I always get a kick out of their segways into the product promo at the end 😂

[@davidporter7051]

Wrestling 101 a great color and interviewer will get talent over faster and better than anyone. One of the many reasons no one is over.

[@NEZLeader]

Jim needs to do every ad on KZbin for those energy drink mixes too. Hilarious.

[@robbymarton74]

Let me tell you something Mean Gene!

[@davidmeichner8346]

Seeing Mean Gene handling interviews was the main reason I noticed Nitro - I saw it as a new, unique effort. Hall's initial appearance made me watch weekly.

[@robbybee70]

so how does someone hire Corny to do the end of podcast commercial for them?

[@Timmyk5150]

Do a drawing of Eric Bitchoff hosting the mid-late 80's Hollywood Squares that John Davidson used to host. That would crack me up, lol!!

[@mikelewis5335]

Gene Mean Razor Ramon lol 😅

[@VuTron30]

Literally the only Pod where I listen to the AD reads lol. Smoothest AD reads in the game…

[@johnnyd6135]

"speaking of green, and we know how green Marc mero was..." lmao I loved Mean Gene. He was the one interviewer with personality that didn't need to take bumps or get attacked by heels. He could just add to the story with his talent on a microphone.

[@mangamegs]

I'm guessing Vince thought he could make Mark Mero a new macho man at first. Couldn't he still act like he did im wcw even with the name change?

[@stephenrogers4537]

The first thing you do when you want to build a new TV show is get the best announcers money can buy and that's what WCW did🤑😲🤔👍

[@1madinjun]

What is wrong with youuu Geeene? - David Schultz

[@Mattdog45]

Who was the wcw commentator who would turn to the crowd and raise both his arms at the start of the show?

[@mikereynolds5711]

That I think was Bobby the brain henehen?probably missed spelled the shout of that

[@MichaelGonzalez-hd7kk]

Anyone happen to know what podcast Jim was talking about as far as Kevin Nash sounding off on that woman?

[@crowdpleaser2k]

Put some respeck on the name of Marvelous Marc Mero

[@robfinlay8058]

Gene was very underrated in how instrumental he was in allowing the WWF to take over the Midwest in the 80s. Other than Hogan, he was the most important guy they brought over from the AWA, more than Ventura, Heenan, Patera, Lanza, Brunzell or anyone else.

[@sheepdavis]

Todd Pettengill kicked ass

[@philipclarke9696]

Gene when he signed with WCW was being phased out in the WWF. When his contract was up, he wanted more money than Vince thought he was worth. The last few years Gene was there he was barely on TV.

[@davidcota4978]

Jim makes me laugh everyday

[@Dakatari]

Now Jim you know Vince was moving towards a more youthful appeal which is why Mean Gene, Bobby Heenan and the older guys were fazed out. Rest In Peace Gene Okerlund and Bobby Heenan

[@BadstreetMI]

To the question: Okerlund was THE guy to have in the 80's, not the 90's. He had more value in WCW in the 90's than he did in the WWF.

[@princesavage2234]

11:40 😂 💀

[@vinceraven1501]

Strange though is that most of all the "big stars" that WCW signed were originally in WCW several years prior before they left & became big time names lol...

[@free_live_free-511]

When I was on Guam I was surprised to find a Mean Gene's burger shop. Only one I've ever seen, and on Guam. They were good burgers, but you could feel yourself getting fatter as you ate one.