5 Defunct Wrestling Promotions That Could Have Been Big

#2 Xcitement Wrestling Federation: 2001 - 2011

The Xcitement Wrestling Federation debuted in 2001. American entrepreneur and business executive Kevin Harrington pitched the idea of the company and would soon be joined in this venture by Jimmy Hart, Greg Valentine and 'nasty Boy' Brian Knobbs. Hulk Hogan once stated in 2001 that he was to be involved in a new wrestling company in a big way, and although he never had a deal with the XWF, many believed this was the company he had talked about.

The initial XWF tapings were conducted in November 2001 at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida in the soundstage that used to be the home for the WCW Worldwide Wrestling tapings, and would eventually serve as the home of TNA Wrestling, being better known as 'The Impact Zone'. The XWF would mostly feature superstars who WWE were not interested in at the time, such as Vampiro, Christopher Daniels, AJ Styles, Roddy Piper, Marc Mero, Sable, Low Ki, Kid Kash, Juventud Guerrera, the Road Warriors, Hacksaw Jim Duggan and more.

'Mr. Perfect' Curt Henning was planned on being the company's flagship performer, but he was snagged up by WWE in early 2002. Tony Schiavone and Jerry Lawler provided commentary, Bobby Heenan was a manager and 'Mean' Gene Okerlund was an interviewer. The XWF also received celebrity endorsement from Willie Nelson, Alice Cooper and Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS. They failed to find a television network and most stars would find work in WWE, TNA and elsewhere.

They haven't held any wrestling shows since 2002, although relaunches and business talks would happen in 2004, 2008 and 2009, but nothing ever materialized. The XWF is most notable for Hulk Hogan wrestling a once off match with Curt Henning, which was later released on a WWE Hulk Hogan DVD in 2006.