Chicago Sun-Times: Buying power: Bischoff may be purchasing WCW

The rumors have been hot and heavy over the last months that Eric Bischoff was looking to purchase World Championship Wrestling from Turner Sports, and now it looks as if that could become a reality.

Bischoff, now producing a television program for UPN, has convinced members of his program's parent company to buy the struggling organization from Turner.

Turner Sports claims it has lost more than $150 million on the wrestling promotion over the last two years and would be eager to drop the expense, but it would continue to air the WCW product on TBS and TNT.

A group led by Bischoff also could mean another return for Hulk Hogan to WCW. Hogan and Bischoff have been working together the last few months on a new promotion, but they'd be better served trying to inject some life into a current powerhouse. As good as this news could be for Hogan, Lex Luger, Scott Hall, Randy Savage and Kevin Nash, it could mean the beginning of the end for Vince Russo, The Cat and the entire crew of so-called up-and-coming stars of the organization.

RATINGS: "Raw" defeated "Nitro" again in the national Nielsen ratings last week 5.4 to 2.6. "Raw," still down despite the end of the Summer Games from Sydney, did a 4.8 first hour and a 5.9 second hour for its 5.4 total, while the struggling "Nitro" program went from a 3.1 to a miserable 2.2 when the World Wrestling Federation hit the air. But "Raw" is still delivering some of the best ratings ever for TNN, its new cable home.

HEARD AROUND THE RING: Matches set for the WWF "No Mercy" pay-per- view include The Rock defending the WWF title against Kurt Angle, HHH challenging Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero facing Val Venis with the WWF IC title on the line, Kane battling Rikishi, and the newly formed team of Tazz and Raven taking on the Dudley Boys. . . . As for the upcoming WCW "Halloween Havoc" show, the only confirmed matches are David Flair against Buff Bagwell, Shane Douglass teaming with Tori to face Kidman and Tigress, and General Rection will challenge Lance Storm and Jim Duggan in a handicap match. . . . The Undertaker reinjured his groin and could miss up to three weeks. . . . Look for 2 Cool to make a heel turn in the coming weeks and feud with Rikishi once the big man is done with Kane. . . . The new Pro Wrestling Illustrated top 500 is out, and HHH was No. 1 on the list followed by The Rock and Benoit. Surprisingly, Justin Credible came in at No. 7, and Vader was 11th. . . . Despite rumors to the contrary, Stone Cold Steve Austin will not be turning heel. In fact, the latest rumor has The Rock turning against the fans and forming an alliance with HHH. . . . Buff may not be the father of Miss Hancock's child, but Russo has told friends he knows who will be revealed as the father. Russo is not telling anyone, fearing the info will leak. . . . Brian Knobbs has been given his release from WCW. . . . The WWF paid more than $180,000 to have an elevator put in at Droz's house. Droz was paralyzed during a match earlier this year.

HOTLINE: The latest on the return of Hall to WCW and more on Shawn Michaels as the driver of the car that ran over Stone Cold. All on the hotline: (900) 454-SLAM; calls cost $2 per minute.