They were still riding fresh of the wave, 2000 was also the start in ratings decline
You can lose the wave overnight in wrestling. As WCW well knows. Russo left in fall 1999 and they kept getting bigger. Even with losing Austin in November 99. Ratings decline started with leaving USA and then the invasion
it was years of mistakes and riding/banking everything on the only hot angel they had, NWO. When Russo got there things were a mess which is why they canned bytchoff in the first place
...it's like being a fan of a loser ass sports team. 



by May,then get
around Summerslam, the. Go
until pretty much MANIA season.