Calaway began to question his future in WCW after being told by booker Ole Anderson, during contract renewal talks, that nobody would ever pay money to watch him perform. Callous wrestled Lex Luger for the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship at The Great American Bash, but was pinned. According to WWF/E executive Bruce Prichard, "feelers" had already been sent out to the WWF by Heyman: Calaway wrestled the match with a dislocated hip knowing that he was being watched by Vince McMahon. McMahon initially did not express interest, but Prichard encouraged him to speak with Calaway when WCW traveled to New Jersey for a house show in the Meadowlands on August 24. The meeting between the two went well and Calaway gave notice to WCW on August 27. His final match was on September 7 at a "WorldWide" taping in Amarillo, Texas in which he defeated Dave Johnson.