Dennis Rodman in Pro Wrestling: Former Top Executive Details How WCW Cost WWE the Chance to Sign Notorious NBA Legend

Before WWE purchased WCW in 2001, the company was in its booming period from 1996 to 1998. WCW defeated WWE for 83 straight weeks in the rating war. WCW dominated the Monday Night Wars for almost two years before the attitude era started.

WWE brought in big celebrities from Hollywood and from other sports. The deal was so good that celebrities went to WWE with no problems. However, WCW, at its peak time, also brought many celebrities, with Dennis Rodman being the one who referred to himself as ‘Rodzilla’.

NBA Basketball player Dennis Rodman appeared on WCW in 1996 as a member of nWo. He came into the company through his friend Hulk Hogan. The Hulkamaniac set a meeting between Rodman and Eric Bischoff. 

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Recently, on the podcast 83 Weeks, Conrad Thompson asked Eric Bischoff about the deal Rodman had with WCW. 

Bischoff said, “I got a hold of Dwight Manley, who was Dennis’s agent at the time and had a great conversation with Dwight. Got right to the point and for the most part did the deal over the phone in the lobby of the airport Marriott at Atlanta, Georgia. It was a very easy deal to do.”

Bischoff said Rodman was a Hulk Hogan fan and wanted to join WCW for the same reason. He also said Rodman just wanted to be in the ring and was not that much money driven. However, for a two-year deal, Rodman made $1.6 Million which was more than many WCW wrestlers made.

WWE offered a contract first to Dennis Rodman

Before Dennis Rodman signed with WCW, the then rival competitor WWE had offered the NBA star a contract for two-match deal. The deal Vince offered was around $1 million. Vince had planned Rodman to be a Tag-Team partner for Goldust for two matches.

However, Rodman, a fan of Hulk Hogan, went to WCW and asked them if they can offer him a similar or a better deal. Rodman admired the business and knew what was best for him. Eventually, WCW could wrap the deal with Rodman and he appeared on WCW as a part of nWo.

Rodman didn’t join WWE because Hogan wasn’t in the company

Dennis Rodman loved pro-wrestling. He couldn’t compete sooner because of his NBA contract. Once his NBA contract was over, he moved forward to fulfill hi passion for pro-wrestling.

Rodman had an offer from WWE as a tag partner of Goldust. However, he signed a better deal with WCW. Rodman was a fan of Hulk Hogan, and hence, he accepted the WCW offer.

Rodman’s most famous WCW match was him teaming with Hogan vs Diamond Dallas Page and Karl Malone at Bash at the Beach PPV in 1998.

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