World Championship Wrestling was an American professional wrestling promotion that became one of WWE’s biggest competitors during the 1990s. The company originally emerged from the NWA tradition and was later developed into a major promotion under Ted Turner. WCW became globally famous during the Monday Night Wars, when shows like WCW Monday Nitro at times even beat WWE in the ratings. Stars such as Sting, Ric Flair, Goldberg, and the nWo defined the company’s golden era. The New World Order stable in particular had a massive impact on wrestling television at the time. Despite its huge success, WCW was eventually purchased by WWE in 2001 and absorbed into its history.