In 1996, the nWo changed the course of pro wrestling history. The group would be the best and worst thing that ever happened to WCW. They would propel the promotion to previously unthinkable heights. Unfortunately, they would also prove to be detrimental to the company's evolution and talent development. WCW would close in March 2001.
In 2002, WWE decided to bring the nWo into the promotion. The timing wasn't perfect. Most fans wanted to see them during WWE's ill-fated Invasion angle. Nonetheless, the nWo arrived at No Way Out 2002. Their early booking was solid, but the wheels fell off after some questionable booking decisions. Truthfully, their entire run should've been booked a bit differently.
10 Hogan Remains The Leader For A Longer Period Of Time
The nWo's booking leading into WrestleMania X8 wasn't perfect, but it wasn't bad by any means. However, the mistakes started immediately after the match between Hollywood Hogan and The Rock ended. Perhaps the biggest mistake WWE made during the entire nWo run was turning Hogan babyface too quickly. It's easy to see why WWE wanted to make the switch.
After all, a babyface Hogan had already proven to be lucrative for the company in the past. Regardless, Hogan should've been booked to remain the leader of The nWo for a bit longer. It would've made for a better story. His eventual turn could've been even bigger had WWE just exercised some patience.
9 Eric Bischoff Reemerges
One of the biggest complaints of WWE's Invasion angle was the lack of involvement from true WCW talent. Many fans clamored for Eric Bischoff to be the one leading the charge rather than Shane and Stephanie McMahon. One way to right that wrong should've been for Bischoff to re-emerge shortly after WrestleMania and once again be the puppet master behind The nWo.
Booking that wouldn't have been very complicated. All Bischoff would've had to do was show up and declare that WWE beat WCW imposters during the Invasion. That would've set up a war between WWE and the entity that essentially destroyed WCW from within, the nWo.
8 The NWO Wins All The Gold
One reason The nWo was never seen as a legitimate threat in WWE was their lack of success. Both Hogan and Hall lost marquee matches at WrestleMania X8 and never really got their heat back. WWE should've countered that by booking Hall, Nash, and Hogan all to win championships. The most logical thing would've been for Hall and Nash to win the WWE Tag Team Championships and have Hogan win the WWE Undisputed Championship.
The latter wouldn't be a stretch considering that Hogan would go on to win the WWE Undisputed Championship shortly after WrestleMania anyway. Having him defeat Triple H as a heel and bring the title over to the nWo would've helped reinforce the group as a threat.
7 Austin vs. Hogan At SummerSlam
WrestleMania X8 gave the wrestling world one of its biggest dream matches ever, Hollywood Hogan vs. The Rock. However, due to creative differences, WWE left an even bigger dream match on the table in Hollywood Hogan vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin. WWE should've booked a heel Hogan to defend his WWE Undisputed Championship against Austin at SummerSlam 2002.
The build-up would've been incredible with both men claiming to be the biggest star in the history of WWE. Admittedly, the match itself probably wouldn't have been a barn burner, but the nostalgia alone would've made it special. Having Hogan drop the title to Austin would've led to friction in the group and could've been used as a catalyst for the nWo's future actions.
6 The NWO Turns On Hogan After SummerSlam Match
Hogan splitting from The nWo was always going to happen in WWE. The only question was when. The betrayal should've been booked to take place after Hogan lost the WWE Undisputed Championship to Steve Austin. A rematch between Hogan and Austin should've been booked on the Raw after SummerSlam, with Hogan coming up short again, embarrassing the nWo in the process.
In that scenario, it's easy to imagine Hogan being consoled post-match by Hall, Nash, and Bischoff, only for Bischoff to order Hall and Nash to take Hogan out, officially ending his association with the faction. It wouldn't take much to explain the group's motivation for dumping Hogan.
5 Wait Until The Right Time For The Return Of The Red & Yellow
Hogan's eventual face turn would've been huge no matter the circumstances. Still, WWE was very quick to do it. WWE should've booked for the turn to happen after losing the Undisputed Championship to Austin and being kicked out of the nWo. The audience would've sympathized with Hogan, making him a bigger babyface than ever. Conversely, Hall, Nash, and Bischoff would've had more heat than ever.
Hogan should've been booked to challenge Hall and Nash for the WWE Tag Team Championships at Unforgiven 2002. The Rock offering to team with Hogan out of respect would've made sense and set up a huge marquee match. Inserting The Rock into the storyline at this point would delay his Hollywood hiatus for a few months, but the potential payoff would be worth it.
4 The Rock Shocks The World
Like the original formation of the nWo in 1996, in 2002, WWE should've booked a swerve that nobody saw coming. That swerve should've come at Unforgiven 2002, where Hogan would've been tagging with The Rock to take on Hall and Nash. At the match's climax, when it looked like Hogan and Rock were closing in on the WWE Tag Team Championships, The Rock should've hit Hogan with a Rock Bottom, allowing Hall and Nash to pick up the win.
Hogan taking a post-match beating and being spray-painted at the hands of Rock, Hall, and Nash would make reality start to set in. A Bischoff promo introducing The Rock as the new leader of The nWo would remove all doubt.
3 The NWO Takes Out Vince McMahon
When The nWo arrived in WWE, a hostile takeover seemed unavoidable. Surprisingly though, it never happened. WWE should've booked a hostile takeover after The Rock's shocking turn. The new-look nWo should've vowed to destroy WWE from within just like WCW, prompting an appearance from Vince McMahon. By this point, McMahon should've already been booked to retake full control of WWE from Ric Flair shortly after WrestleMania X8.
Booking The Rock to lead a beatdown on Vince McMahon would've helped sell his heel turn and it could've been easily explained. The Rock would simply have to tell McMahon that he still owed him for WrestleMania X-Seven. Having McMahon do a stretcher job and writing him off TV would allow the opportunity for a hostile takeover.
2 The NWO Costs Austin The Undisputed Championship
Making the nWo overly dominant is part of WCW's downfall. However, if booked correctly, the group's dominance would've only made for a bigger payoff. After McMahon's beatdown, the nWo should've been booked to start interfering in matches. Seeing how Stone Cold Steve Austin would've been the one who ripped the WWE Undisputed Championship away from the group, he would be a logical target. Booking the nWo to cost Austin the Undisputed Championship against The Undertaker at No Mercy 2002 would've been ideal.
The move would've infuriated The Texas Rattlesnake and placed the group in his crosshairs. The move could've easily set up one final epic clash between the nWo and arguably the greatest stars in WWE history.
1 Austin, Hogan, Undertaker, & McMahon vs. Bischoff & the NWO At Survivor Series
At Survivor Series 2001, Team WWE beat The Alliance, ending the Invasion angle. It would've been a bit repetitive to book a similar match against the nWo the following year but WWE should've done it anyway. It would've made sense to have The Rock unsuccessfully challenge The Undertaker for the WWE Undisputed Championship the night after No Mercy 2002. The loss would've prompted an attack by the nWo, causing Stone Cold Steve Austin to come to The Undertaker's aid followed closely by Hollywood Hogan.
From there, the logical move would've been to have a returning Vince McMahon book himself, Austin, Hogan, and The Undertaker vs. the nWo and Eric Bischoff at Survivor Series 2002. Winner-take-all. Obviously, Team WWE would go over, disbanding the nWo in the process. This wouldn't necessarily mean the end of Hall and Nash. As the WWE Tag Team Champions, they would've been able to keep their jobs. The booking would allow for The Rock to go to Hollywood and Bischoff to disappear for a bit. It would've also gotten WWE's money's worth out of the nWo.