WCW Legend Didn’t Understand Why They Had Major Heat In WWE
A WWE Hall of Famer had a troubled start to life in the company.
In early 2001, the unthinkable happened. After years of heated competition, WWE and Vince McMahon acquired WCW, declaring the so-called “Monday Night War” well and truly dead, once and for all.
What followed was a period of unchallenged dominance for WWE, arguably until it was finally met with fresh competition from AEW in 2019.
With WWE absorbing WCW, several talents immediately made the jump and arrived on television to kick off “The Invasion.” This saw the universally beloved Diamond Dallas Page unveiled as the mystery figure who had been stalking The Undertaker’s wife.
As their rivalry continued, Page was routinely beaten from pillar to post, in what many felt was a clear message to other WCW talent. Page’s heel turn is now best remembered as a spectacular booking misstep as fans quickly rejected the character, given how popular he’d been for much of his career.
Diamond Dallas Page Was Surprised By WWE Attitude
In a new interview with CasinoBeats, Page was asked about this period of his career, and he admitted he didn’t fully understand the political power play he was subject to. The Hall of Famer noted that he had significant heat backstage after signing with WWE, although he didn’t understand why.
“Over the last 10 years, me and Taker have gotten to be really tight. But back then, WCW was coming in, I never realized the heat that we had because what are you talking about? Heat?
I mean if anything WCW made the WWF the best it’s ever been. You know, it’s iron versus iron, iron sharpens iron, you know? So I never thought especially that there would heat be heat towards me as a character. But I didn’t realize, and it was funny.
Taker said when we got to the part about WWE. I have to say before this, he put me over so strong throughout that interview. I mean, my heart was touched because Taker knows who the real Dallas Page is today and has for a number of years now.
But back then, there was this new meat coming in and he said ‘I’ve been accused of trying to ruin your career and these guys don’t understand, I didn’t book that!’ And I said ‘bro, we’re good!’ Because it wasn’t his idea.
Vince wanted to see every WCW guy beat down, especially the only top guy besides Booker T, that came there. And I represented WCW. I’m the only guy who didn’t trade over at the height of my career, like everybody did. And so I was the kind of the face of WCW. And I get it and I explained it to Taker.
I said, ‘you know what, I learned from that though?’ But I am never in the position that I am today without going through what I went through going into the WWE because it taught me that you can’t be afraid to walk away from the table. Like if you know you’ve got what they want.”
Page went on to explain that he would have loved to do a “People’s Champion vs. People’s Champion” rivalry with The Rock.
“My idea would’ve been People’s Champion vs People’s Champion and that would’ve gotten so over…
Taker’s character is a dead man. He doesn’t sell! He does. And he has, but you can go back to that character for that. So that made sense, you know? But I would love to have worked with Taker. I wish I’d gone in there a year earlier because man, we’d have lit it the f*ck up. We would’ve had a lot of fun.”
Diamond Dallas Page retired in 2006, although he’s made five in-ring appearances since. The former World Champion was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017 and is currently signed to a Legends contract.