WHY DID THE XFL FAIL? // THE RISE AND FALL OF THE ORIGINAL 2001 XFL DOCUMENTARY
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- Опубликовано: 27 май 2023
- In this All Sports History video we'll look back at what happened to the original XFL when it rose to prominence and suddenly folded after just one season in 2001.
Here's what this "XFL Documentary" video covers:
In 2001, Vince McMahon, the mastermind behind the WWE partnered up with NBC to create a one of a kind, unique football league that had aspirations to one day challenge the NFL’s superiority. In today’s video we’ll take a look back at the XFL’s sudden rise to prominence and its even faster demise after just one season.
The XFL, was a joint venture between World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) chairman Vince McMahon and NBC. It aimed to offer a more intense and fan-friendly alternative to the National Football League (NFL). The XFL featured several unique rule changes and a focus on entertainment, which set it apart from traditional football. The XFL first game debuted in February 2001, just a week after Super Bowl XXXV concluded.
One of the best XFL highlights and most notable innovations was its rule changes. It introduced a "no fair catch" rule, which meant that punt returners had to field the ball and couldn't call for a fair catch to avoid contact. Additionally, the league implemented special XFL rules and format changes for overtime, known as the "Million Dollar Game." It involved a series of one-on-one showdowns between a receiver and a defensive back, with the winner earning their team a chance to score.
The XFL also embraced entertainment as a central aspect of its product, taking inspiration from the WWE attitude era. The league featured sideline interviews with players during games, which provided unique insights and added a level of excitement for viewers. The XFL coin toss also took on a life of it's own, becoming known as the "Human Coin Toss" as it required two players to sprint and race to capture the football at the center of the field for possession. The players were encouraged to express their personalities, (with unique nickname jerseys like the classic XFL He Hate Me jersey) and the league embraced a more aggressive and physical style of play. Cheerleaders and colorful XFL teams names, such as the "Las Vegas Outlaws" and the "Orlando Rage," were part of the XFL's strategy to engage fans and create a sense of spectacle.
Despite significant hype and a strong debut, the XFL struggled to maintain its initial success. The league faced criticism for the quality of play, with some arguing that it didn't meet the standards of professional football. In addition, the XFL's focus on entertainment often overshadowed the actual sport, leading to concerns about the league's long-term viability. One notable event was the fallout after the league marketed a stunt involving a "live" look in into the cheerleaders dressing room during one of the XFL games. The halftime stunt ended up being nothing more than a XFL Cheerleader commercial, involving a XFL Cameraman getting hit and drifting into a dream sequence after being knocked out. What followed then was a series of sequences of cheerleaders dressed in bath robes and a surprise cameo by Rodney Dangerfield. XFL Attendance and television ratings declined as the season progressed, ultimately resulting in the XFL's closure after just one season.
While the 2001 XFL football league may not have achieved lasting success, its impact on the sports landscape should not be overlooked. The league's rule changes, such as the elimination of the fair catch and the XFL Championship game also known as the Million Dollar Game overtime format, influenced subsequent football innovations. The XFL's focus on entertainment and fan engagement also paved the way for future leagues to experiment with similar strategies, such as the Alliance of American Football (AAF) and the current reincarnation of the XFL in 2020.
In 2018, there was a XFL announcement of a new version of the league launching again in 2020, again spearheaded by Vince McMahon. However, the XFL comeback was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it filed for bankruptcy in April 2020. The league was then bought by former WWE star Dwyane "The Rock" Johnson and his business partners, with the intention of relaunching shortly after. The XFL 2023 week 1 marked the beginning of the third iteration of the XFL, which made it through it's first season in May. Despite the challenges faced by both iterations of the XFL, the league's ambition to offer a distinctive and dynamic football experience left an indelible mark on the history of American football.
So what did you think about the original XFL folding after only one season? Do you think the XFL will finally last as a legitimate spring football league? Let me know in the comments below!
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE XFL? // THE RISE AND FALL OF THE ORIGINAL 2001 XFL DOCUMENTARY 
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John Candy had a minority stake in the Toronto Argos. While he was filming his last movie, Wagons East, the team was sold. Even though his imput wasn't required for a sale of the team, he felt hurt and betrayed by it, and felt that the fans were let down, as well. He went on a bender, which likely exacerbated his already-failing health, and he died shortly afterwards.
I would have been 9 at the time and absolutely loved it. I was not a wrestling fan at all (parents wouldn't let me watch) but I loved the league and watched every game when I was a kid. A lot of people need to remember the state the NFL was in at the time, which adds context to the XFL's existence. The Ravens had just destroyed the Giants in what was possibly the most boring Super Bowl ever, and the boomers in charge of the NFL didn't allow players to express themselves the way we have now. We also didn't have social media yet, which stifled the NFL's personality. Madden and Summerall may have been iconic, yes, but in their later years Pat especially was very difficult to listen to. His voice was suited for golf, not football. Football as a sport was awesome, but the NFL was a very stale product.
Vince basically promised to fix a lot of what was wrong with the NFL. People hyper-fixate on the cheerleaders and the weird halftime gimmicks, but they were such a small part of the experience and that's not why I loved the XFL. The audio mix was outstanding, hits were a lot louder and player chatter was picked up more frequently. The skycam and on-field cameras were fun. The team names and logos were creative and a lot of the uniforms looked great - the ninja star of the LA X referencing their huge asian community, the Hitmen of New York referencing the city's mafia, it was cool stuff and I'll take genuinely creative stuff like that over "safe" stuff like the Salt Lake City Stallions of the AAF. Matt Vasgersian was a young, enthusiastic commentator and Ventura was fine as color.
Realistically, there were three teams worth watching - LA, SF, and Orlando. The football wasn't nearly as bad as anyone claimed, and it was basically a mix of NFL Europe, CFL, and Arena Football players. Most of the top names went on to have very valid, relevant careers elsewhere - Crandell of the Maniax won a CFL grey cup a few months later, Rod Smart (He Hate Me) and Yo Murphy played in a superbowl, Maddox started for the Steelers for a few years, and I'm pretty sure Jermaine Copeland set CFL records. These people weren't bad players by any means and the football wasn't scripted.
I've always believed sports media was told by the NFL to smear the XFL. The games were fun, the football wasn't bad, and it was a neat creative venture that could only work in 2001. It's upsetting that it's still viewed as a joke. It was far better than the recent trio of soulless spring leagues, and yes, the reboot of the XFL falls into that category.
Here a idea
CFL American expasion: a quick history
With
Chicago stags: a quick history
I think the CFL moving to the US would be a mistake.
But this video has a much bigger mistake, right at the beginning. Like 30 seconds in....
Your goal should be to hit at least 50k subs this year, not 20k.
Your stuff is too good.
Haha hey I gotta start small and build to bigger things. I would love to get to 50k believe me!
My team was the Orlando Rage 👊
I remember how disastrous the Million Dollar Game was too.
I got a couple of suggestions.
Tampa Bay Lightning super quick history.
What happened to the Buffalo Braves?
Buffalo Braves will be very soon!
Really nice video, awesome stuff, but you got your XFL rules mixed up. The kick off rules, double pass rule and extra point rules did not come around until XFL 2020. In 2001 for extra points, there was only the option for a 1 point conversation untill they modified the rules in the post season only to include the 2 and 3 point conversations - everything else was spot on, really nice video, love the OG XFL
Ah thank you for the correction, appreciate it!
I have became a huge fan of futbol, as we know as soccer. Since Major League Soccer has become more popular from their humble beginnings, can you do a documentary about its predecessor, the rise and fall of the North American Soccer League (1968-1984)?
Yeah I definitely want to start doing soccer videos, and the NASL would be a good one to start with! I have list of other topics I'm going through, so it might be a bit, but I'll get there as soon as I can :)
@AllSportsHistory UFL took over I really like the XFL but too many people after the WWE I grew up watching it and that's very controversial cause of what happened to the wrestlers that didn't know what happens on the streets
Hey Sports Historians! What did you think about the original XFL folding after only one season? Do you think the XFL will finally last as a legitimate spring football league? Let me know in the comments below! 🏈
🚨UPDATE🚨 - There were a few of copyright notices that I had to remove from the video around 3:00, 10:30, and 15:00. So if you notice a weird jump cut, that's why 🤷
I wish I was the Xtreme fan back in the day.
On a personal note, my sister and I went to two Wildcat games at DHSP near Cal State Dominguez Hills in 2020… for free, and we had a blast. Like, my sister enjoyed the experience of going there, despite the questionable moniker of “Wildcats.”
While we don’t have a team, I hope that 3.0 would last long enough for LA to have a team.
Great video as always! Always looking forward to your videos and I know how much work goes into them.
Had there been a year 2, Washington and Detroit were rumored to get expansion teams.
@@PhilTeoli Thank you, appreciate the support!
This league had no chance when Covid hit.
It’s good to see you upload some new videos even though it takes a while for you but are there anymore of them to expect later this year?
Thanks! Yeah it’s difficult to make these videos on a faster timeline with my day job and all. But I’m working on more videos as we speak, and I’m thinking of new ways to get them out more frequently 😀
Love this video. Looking forward to more MLB relocation videos about the Braves, Browns, A's, Giants, and especially the Dodgers
Hoping to do more baseball for sure! Glad you loved the video, thanks!
17:37 -- "Until we can guarantee the safety of our NBA players...there will be no more basketball this season!" Who would've thought this line from Space Jam (1996) would actually come true 14 years later?
Do one on The WFL.😀👍🏈
Definitely in the plans :)
@@AllSportsHistory awesome. 😀👍🏈
For future videos, I have an episode idea.
What happened to the original LA Rams and their relocation to St.Louis and their return back to LA.
Yeah I’d love to do a video on why the Rams left STL.
NBC's investment in the XFL is the main reason why they didn't renew the NBA Broadcast rights when they expired in 2002.
I remember in the late 80's the WWF would sometimes hold wrestling cards prior to CFL games Saskatchewan. Perhaps seeing the large attendance at the stadium planted the seed that an alternative league could work in the US as well.
You forgot to mention that tommy maddox (aka t-gun) was the first and only former original xfler to win a super bowl with the steelers.
I enjoy these videos Is the channel still active??
Glad you’ve enjoyed the videos! Yes the channel is active, just takes me a bit to put these videos together lol. I’ve got a new one coming pretty soon :)
The first XLF was excellent. 😀👍🏈
I’ve see xfl trying to make a comeback so I guess that’s pretty interesting
the names really kept reminding me of baseketball, like the san fran ferries, miami dealers, new york mobsters or whatever
The thing with McMahan is everythig that he has touched outside of wrestling, it has pretty much flopped. His approach to everything like wrestling bit him in the butt. WBF (World Building Federations) and XFL has ot gone to plan. May be the next iteration would be better but to be honest, after I heard about the Rock buying the league, I did not even know that the league launched. So, we will see hat happens but it needs more exposure. I also remember the first week that it launched back in 2001. I remember people tuning in to see what it was as they were curious but the product on the field was just not good. It was very boring and people tuned out right away.
Except the XFL didn't flop the 2nd time around. They were well on their way to being a success when the pandemic hit. IN fact, all The Rock did was take what Vince's 2nd version was and run with it. Every rule he had touted as being game changing was used in Vince's 2020 version.
Vince has always craved "mainstream" success and recognition, and no doubt hates the fact that he owes his fame and fortune to "wrasslin". Much of his "feud" with Ted Turner likely has to do with Turner's "self-made" status, since Vince bought the WWf from his old man, rather than built it from the ground-up. He is like the Shooter McGavin of millionaires/ billionaires.
@@mangrove Vince was well-known for wanting to be anything but wrestling. It shows in how he all but outright banned terms like "Professional Wrestling" and "Wrestler" instead insisting they be called "Sports Entertainment" and "Superstars", and for the Championships (you're not allowed to say "belt" either, by the way) to look more like logo-branded toys than prestigious awards.
In recent weeks however (now that Vince has been finally kicked out), they've been apparently making efforts to change that. "Wrestling" no longer a dirty word, and the new unveiling of rather gorgeous Championship Belts with far more subdued WWE logos, and actually including the words "wrestling champion" on them for the first time in decades. Hopefully the filming style changes back as well, without the need for excessive cuts and camera moves with every single in-ring maneuver (goodbye Kevin Dunn, you will NOT be missed).
Best Football Player Game Fans Brilliant Name XFL and NFL Amazing Name Really A Joy Very Nice Love This Video XFL Football Warriors Talent Show Strongman Power Hero Warriors Championship My Favorite XFL Playoffs Season History Legend😃🎊🎉🏈❤️💕
Could you do a video on the bizarre CFL USA expansion in the 90s? There’s not a lot of coverage of it
Yeah that's a good one to cover, I'll add that to my list. Thanks!
Since then, of course, the XFL has merged with the new USFL to create the UFL. The one thing I was disappointed about was that there are still only eight teams in the merged league.
What I thought would happen is that they would merge and create a 16 team league. With one NFC team and one AFC team Providing players to each league. Another words, a true minor league. This could still happen in the future.
But I’m glad that the UFL exists because it gives players a chance to show what they can do in real game conditions. To either make it to the NFL or try to get back in the NFL. Also is great for players who have used up their college eligibility so they could keep on playing the game that they love at a decent level.
He hate me.
Meanwhile, in the LA Xtreme - "I Hate He" and "I Hate He 2" :P
14:30 What exactly happened there? I wonder if somebody copyright struck this video prior.
Yep that’s exactly what happened, I had to remove a part or it’d be unavailable to watch in some regions 🙁
Ill be honest i thoght the original XFL lasted longer than a single season. And i didnt know about the WWE connection mostly cause i was watching other things or playing video games in 2001
Funny thing is that CBS owned TNN and UPN (now Paramount Network and The CW) at the time. I mean, CBS swooped the AFC package when NBC backed away in '98 and now they were teaming up for the XFL, which is owned by Vince's WWE.
Funny, isn't it? LOL.
yo bro can you tell history of why the new jersey nets moved to brooklyn in 2012?
Yeah, that’s definitely on my to do list!
When it comes to football Vince McMahon is very delusional.
Could you talk about the aafc?
Can you please do what happened to the St Louis Rams.
Yeah I definitely want to a video on the Rams leaving St. Louis
When do you think you can make the video?
No wonder why the original XFL failed. It was unique. If it was special, it would've succeeded
I honestly hope that the xfl stays but if i had a favorite 2001 xfl team I would probably choose the Los Angeles Xtreme
I’m from LA so I’m bias towards the Extreme as well haha
@@AllSportsHistory Ditto :P
Tommy Maddox was quite the character as well. And an awesome offensive team to back him up, particularly in Saladin McCullough, Jeremaine Copeland, Darnell McDonald, and the pinpoint kicks of José Cortez. By the time we got to the Million Dollar Game (which we literally just watched yesterday on the virtual anniversary of the game) we had all but completely forgotten about He Hate Me. Though it was fun when the LA team temporarily had "I Hate He" and "I Hate He 2" LOL
Too much wrestling for the football fans. Too much football for the wrestling fans.
First
🥇
Sand paper the balls 😂😂😂
Covid hit n shyte hit the fan....XFL 2.0 was PERFECT....xfl 3.0 ?.......doesn't even come close
Do one on The WHL.😀👍🏒
Yes that and the WHA!
@@AllSportsHistory cool 😎. 😀👍🏒