In the lineage of the World Heavyweight Championship—the physical belt known as the “Big Gold”—there are names that evoke reverence: Lou Thesz, Ric Flair, Harley Race, Sting. These men bled, traveled thousands of miles, and wrestled hour-long draws to establish the championship as the pinnacle of professional wrestling. However, on April 26, 2000, that lineage was irrevocably fractured. On an episode of WCW Thunder taped in Syracuse, New York, the referee’s hand hit the mat three times, and the ring announcer declared a new champion. The winner was not a grappler, a fighter, or an athlete. It was David Arquette, the co-star of the Scream franchise and the lead actor in the wrestling comedy Ready to Rumble .The moment is frequently cited by critics, historians, and fans as the death k

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