WWE apparently had plans to bring back the nWo during the ThunderDome era, but Eric Bischoff says the original crew had no clue it was even being discussed.
The New World Order will hit its 30th anniversary on July 7, and that brought up old talk about WWE kicking around the idea of a reboot back in 2020. The pitch reportedly came during the pandemic era, when WWE was looking for fresh ideas while shows were being held without live crowds.
Former WWE writer Chris Dunn recently claimed that a new version of the nWo was close to happening. The idea would have featured newer names like Sheamus, Shinsuke Nakamura, Cesaro, and Lars Sullivan as part of the group. Dunn also said the plan involved one original nWo member introducing the new version, but that person did not pass a COVID test. The idea was delayed and eventually scrapped.
Bischoff addressed the story on his 83 Weeks podcast and said he never heard about any of it. He also said Sean Waltman reached out to ask if he knew anything, and Kevin Nash apparently had no idea either.
“Sean Waltman reached out to me and said, ‘Hey, did you ever hear anything about this?’ I said, ‘I never heard anything about that,’ and neither did Kevin Nash, apparently, according to Sean Waltman.”
Bischoff said that if the original surviving members knew nothing about the pitch, then they clearly were not part of the process.
“You know, the three surviving members of the nWo knew nothing about it. So, obviously, we weren’t involved in it, which makes me think maybe there’s something lost in translation along the way here.”
That makes the whole thing even stranger. WWE may have discussed bringing back one of WCW’s most famous factions, but the people most tied to the nWo brand were apparently left out of the loop.
The original nWo changed wrestling in the 1990s and became one of the biggest reasons WCW exploded during the Monday Night War. Trying to bring it back with a new lineup during the ThunderDome era would have been a bold move, especially with no live crowd reaction to help sell it.
In the end, WWE never pulled the trigger. The idea was talked about, the names were apparently floated, and then it disappeared before fans ever saw it play out.
What do you think about WWE considering a new n Wo without the original members being involved? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
