Rumor Mill: Who Are The Twelve?

Ted Turner and Magnum T.A. dropped a bombshell on the wrestling world Saturday night.  Jim Crockett Promotions has ceased to exist, and in it's place is now World Championship Wrestling.  Turner has broken away from the NWA and is planning to have his own champions.

Magnum T.A. said there will be a round robin tournament with twelve participants to determine the first WCW World Heavyweight Champion.  But who are the twelve?  Let's take a look at some of the potential candidates that could participate in this tournament.

Ric Flair

This is a no-brainer.  He was the reigning NWA World Heavyweight Champion.  He is the face of what is now World Championship Wrestling.  He has to be in this tournament to give it any kind of credibility.

Dusty Rhodes

Flair's long time nemesis.  How many main event matches has Flair and Rhodes been in?  I wouldn't be surprised to see Magnum T.A. put his old friend in the tournament to foil Flair's plans on walking away with the title.

Lex Luger

A former NWA United States Heavyweight Champion.  He was supposed to face Ric Flair at Starrcade for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, so it makes sense that he should be in this tournament.  Easy as that.

Sting

This kid is on a meteoric rise in pro wrestling.  He was in the main event of Clash of Champions I against Ric Flair.  He is incredibly popular with the fans and would be a good fit in this historic tournament.

Randy Savage

He is the current WWF World Heavyweight Champion and a former WWF Intercontinental Champion.  He is also a former CWA International Heavyweight Champion, a two time former AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion, and a three time NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Champion.  Not sure if Vince McMahon and the WWF will let him compete for the competition, but stranger things have happened.

Hulk Hogan

The biggest name in wrestling today.  He is a former IWGP Heavyweight Champion and a former WWF World Heavyweight Champion.  Like Savage, it is unclear if McMahon and the WWF will let him work for the competition.

Ultimate Warrior

Sting's former tag team partner.  A former WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion and a former WCCW World Tag Team Champion.  Warrior is the current WWF Intercontinental Champion.  He has a great look, but like Savage and Hogan is under contract with the WWF.

Sgt. Slaughter

Slaughter is a former NWA United States Champion, a former two time NWA World Tag Team Champion, a former AWA America's Champion and a former AWA British Empire Heavyweight Champion.  He is fresh off an appearance in the animated G.I. Joe movie, which is incredibly popular with the kids right now, so it might make sense to bring him in to put the spotlight on the new company.

Ted DiBiase

A former NWA United National Champion, former two time NWA National Heavyweight Champion, and a former Mid-South North American Heavyweight Champion.  DiBiase is currently one of the top heels in the WWF, which might make it really difficult for Vince McMahon and the WWF to loan him out to the competition.

Rick Rude

Rude is a former NWA Southern Heavyweight Champion .  With his skills on the microphone, he would be a great fit in this tournament, but "The Ravishing One" is under contract to Vince McMahon and the WWF.

Nikita Koloff

The big, bad Russian.  A former NWA United States Champion and a former NWA National Heavyweight Champion.  He hasn't been the dominant wrestler we have seen in the past.  Not sure if his interest in wrestling is still here or what is going on.  

Jerry Lawler

The current AWA World Heavyweight Champion.  The undisputed "King of Memphis" would be a great choice to be in this tournament.  However, he is scheduled to be in a title unification bout with WCCW World Heavyweight Champion, Kerry Von Erich on December 13 in Chicago.  Not sure if Verne Gagne would let him compete, but if he would even want to take his focus off his match against Von Erich.

Now that we have put together the ultimate wish list of people all fans would love see compete in this tournament, let's look at who we are probably going to wind up with outside of those under contract with World Championship Wrestling.

Curt Hennig

A former AWA World Heavyweight and World Tag Team Champion.  He just recently started with the WWF but has yet to receive any kind of push yet.  Could be a nice name to have in the tournament if the Turner organization was able to pull it off.

Terry Taylor

A former Mid-South North American Heavyweight Champion, Mid-South Television Champion, NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion.  He is currently signed to the WWF, however he is struggling and could be very easy for the WWF to let him participate in this tournament to try and give him some credibility when he returned.

Honky Tonk Man

A former WWF Intercontinental Champion.  He hasn't gotten a major push in the WWF since losing the Intercontinental Championship to the Ultimate Warrior in a squash match at Wrestlemania IV. He would be entertaining for a title tournament, however, I don't know what kind of matches we would get out of him.

Kerry Von Erich

The current WCCW World Heavyweight Champion.  He is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion, a former NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion and a former NWA American Heavyweight Champion.  Von Erich is the son of the legendary Fritz Von Erich.and made his name in World Class Championship Wrestling in Dallas and is currently in the Continental Wrestling Association, feuding with Jerry Lawler.

Rowdy Roddy Piper

A former two time NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion, former two time NWA Television Champion and a former two time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion.  Piper hasn't been seen on WWF television since his retirement match at Wrestlemania III against Adrian Adonis.  Not sure if he is currently filming another movie, but I for one would love to see him return to the ring for this historic tournament.

Nick Bockwinkel

A legendary name in the world of professional wrestling. A four time AWA World Heavyweight Champion.  He announced his retirement last year after he lost the AWA World Heavyweight Championship to Curt Hennig at SuperClash II.  Word is that since his retirement, Bockwinkel has been working with the WWF in a non-wrestling capacity.  Makes me wonder if a tournament like this could bring the legend out of retirement for one more shot at the top spot.

Stan "The Lariat" Hansen

A former AWA World Heavyweight Champion, and a former NWA International Heavyweight Champion.  He is currently working for All Japan Pro Wrestling where he is the reigning NWA United National Champion. Hansen is a tough son of a bitch who would be a tough fight for anyone he faced in the tournament.

Terry Funk

A former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and a former NWA United States Heavyweight Champion.  Funk is a hard-nosed, tough as nails veteran who would be someone to take seriously in this tournament.  However, like Hansen, Funk is also currently working for All Japan Pro Wrestling.

We honestly don't know who Ted Turner is going to pay to come in for this tournament.  All we do know is that as fans, World Championship Wrestling has to get this tournament right.  They only get one opportunity to make a first impression on us, so they better not blow it.