March 26th, 2001 marked the end of an era when WCW Nitro aired its final episode after 288 shows. Now, on March 26th, 2025, All Elite Wrestling’s Dynamite will make history by airing its 289th episode – officially surpassing Nitro’s record to become the longest-running primetime wrestling series in Turner network history.
World Championship Wrestling, the once-dominant promotion that defeated WWE for 83 consecutive weeks during the Monday Night Wars, ultimately collapsed under crippling mismanagement and corporate turmoil. When Tony Schiavone delivered his emotional final sign-off – “For all of us here at WCW, we thank you for tuning in. Goodbye.” – few could have predicted wrestling’s triumphant return to Turner networks would come nearly two decades later through AEW. With Tony Schiavone, no less.
WCW’s Final Curtain: What Went Wrong
The last Nitro was a surreal mix of storyline deception and real emotion. While Vince McMahon gloated on Raw about purchasing WCW for just $4.2 million, his son Shane shocked fans by appearing on Nitro to claim he’d bought the company instead. This brilliant swerve set up what should have been wrestling’s greatest feud – but the “Invasion” angle failed spectacularly because WCW’s biggest stars like Hulk Hogan, Goldberg and Sting were still locked into Time Warner contracts.
The final match saw WCW icons Ric Flair and Sting wrestle knowing they were performing a eulogy. When Flair made Sting tap to the Figure-Four, it wasn’t just another win – it was the last victory WCW would ever record. The subsequent highlight reel wasn’t just a collection of moments, but a memorial service for what might have been.
All Elite Wrestling: The Phoenix Rises from WCW’s Ashes
Nearly 20 years later, wrestling history came full circle when AEW Dynamite premiered on TNT in 2019. This week, March 26th, 2025 as AEW Spring Break Thru airs the 289th episode of Dynamite, it officially surpasses Nitro’s 288 episodes to become the longest-running primetime weekly wrestling show in Turner Sports history. The parallels between these historic March 26th broadcasts reveal wrestling’s remarkable full-circle journey:
- 2001: WCW’s final Nitro ends after 288 episodes
- 2019: AEW Dynamite premieres on TNT
- 2025: Dynamite surpasses Nitro’s record with its 289th episode
This milestone represents more than just surpassing a number – it symbolizes how AEW has successfully revived the spirit of competition that made Nitro must-see television, while avoiding the pitfalls that doomed WCW. Where WCW fell victim to reckless spending and backstage chaos, AEW has built sustainable success through long-term planning and corporate stability.
Where WCW failed, AEW has thrived by focusing on sustainable growth rather than reckless spending, implementing long-term booking strategies instead of chaotic creative processes, and maintaining strong corporate support that WCW lost in its final years.
Full Circle Moments
The parallels between eras are striking. Tony Schiavone returned to wrestling commentary on Dynamite. Sting finally got his proper sendoff in AEW after missing WCW’s finale. AEW has beaten WWE in key demos multiple times, proving competition is back in professional wrestling.
A Better Future Built on Past Lessons
AEW has achieved what WCW couldn’t – lasting success on Turner networks by learning from history. They’ve developed new stars rather than relying on aging legends, maintained corporate support without backstage drama, and created must-see television without resorting to weekly shock-value swerves.
As Dynamite makes history this week, one thing is clear – the spirit of competition that made Nitro must-see TV lives on, but with the stability to last. The Monday Night Wars may be over, but wrestling’s future on Turner has never looked brighter.
