After buying World Championship Wrestling ( WCW ) , its business opponent through the 1990s , in March 2001 , the World Wrestling Federation ( WWF ) wanted to find a way to split itself into two separate brands , because of the numbers of Superstars that it had gotten as part of WCW 's purchase . After acquiring the remains of World Championship Wrestling ( WCW ) , its main competitor throughout the 1990s , in March 2002 , the World Wrestling Entertainment sought a way to split itself into two separate promotions , because of the numbers of talent that it had acquired as part of its purchase .