Starrcade (1999) - Aftermath

Aftermath

Due to the controversial ending to the match between Bret Hart and Goldberg at Starrcade, the WCW World Heavyweight Championship was vacated the following night on WCW Monday Nitro. Hart and Goldberg faced each other later on the show, where Hart regained the title with the help of Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. Hart, Hall, Nash and Jeff Jarrett formed a new incarnation of the New World Order (nWo) group, named nWo 2000. The mule kick Goldberg performed to Hart during their match at Starrcade gave Hart a severe concussion. Unaware of the severity of the injury, Hart continued to compete in matches in the days following. Hart was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome, and relinquished the title on January 16. nWo 2000 disbanded soon after, and was the last incarnation of the nWo in the promotion. Later that year, Hart retired from professional wrestling.

In April, Eric Bischoff returned to the promotion in a position that involved the managing and overseeing of the creative process. Bischoff worked with Vince Russo, and two new groups were created to feud with each other: the Millionaire's Club, which included older wrestlers, and the New Blood, with younger wrestlers. The value of the WCW World Heavyweight Championship had decreased over the past years, thanks in part to the hotshot booking of Bischoff and Russo, and Bischoff devised a storyline that began at the Bash at the Beach event to restore its value. At the event, according to Bischoff, Russo acted on his own and ruined Bischoff's plan by cutting a worked shoot promo on Hulk Hogan. Russo contends that Bischoff and Hogan were aware of the plan and agreed to it ahead of time. Bischoff left the promotion soon after due to problems he had with Russo.