feelosofer
#ninergang
I really liked the show too. When they all planned to hold out for a new contract, I was shocked their agents didn't call up Vince McMahon and see what he would offer them. Having all the OG Gladiators switch to WWE (WWF at the time) would have been massive. The Gladiators were more than qualified to wrestle and had more name recognition than 3/4 of the WWF roster. Nitro was as big a Heel as anyone in the WWF. I guarantee the AG show runners wouldn't have cut them and renegotiated their contracts, quickly.
I do agree they underestimated their leverage but it's tough because the Gladiators were really pioneers in Sports Entertainment. They were like hip-hop in 88 when it started becoming commercially viable.