What If Flair had been in the WWF?, from 1988-1992 Options

[humanoid92]

I've always wondered what it would have been like had Ric Flair spent more years in the WWF earlier in his career. So here's a fantasy booking of Ric Flair jumping to the WWF from the NWA in late 1987/early 1988.

There are only two other things I'm going to change as far as the roster is concerned:

1) Ricky Steamboat sticks around after Wrestlemania IV (this could have easily happened had it not been for Vince's non-sensical feelings towards him).

2) Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard stick around longer than they did as well (this could have easily happened with Flair in the WWF).

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In late 1987, Flair enters the WWF claiming to be the "Real World's Champion", as he really did in 1991 (minus the big gold belt). Flair is built up as having dominated every other company he's ever been in, and he immediately targets WWF Champion Hulk Hogan in promos, claiming that Hogan is a fraud and Flair is the real World's Champion. Bobby Heenan sucks up to Flair and sets up all his interviews, but Flair doesn't actually wrestle. Hogan responds by saying that Flair isn't even in his league and until he's accomplished something in the WWF, he's accomplished nothing at all. Flair challenges Hogan for the Title, but Hogan refuses because Flair has done nothing to earn a shot. As a result, Flair decides to make things personal. After Hogan retains the Title in a huge match against Andre The Giant on Saturday Night's Main Event, Hogan's celebration is interrupted by Bobby Heenan. While Hogan is distracted by the Brain, Flair attacks Hogan from behind, taking his knee out with a lead pipe. Flair does a brutal number on Hogan's knee. Hogan is left with a semi-serious knee injury, but is so angered that he accepts Flair's challenge, and the match is made for Wrestlemania IV.

Wrestlemania IV:

Ultimate Warrior d. Hercules
Hart Foundation d. Islanders
Rick Rude d. Jake The Snake
Jim Duggan d. Harley Race
20 Man Battle Royale (Winner: Bad News Brown)
Brutus Beefcake d. Greg Valentine
Intercontinental Title: Randy Savage d. Honky Tonk Man © via DQ
Tag Team Titles: Demolition d. Strike Force ©
Ricky Steamboat d. Ted DiBiase
WWF Title: Ric Flair d. Hulk Hogan ©

In the IC Title Match, Savage is again screwed by Honky Tonk Man, as the ref rules for the DQ ending. Savage is incensed and goes crazy, giving both Honky and Jimmy Hart Flying Elbow Drops. Ranting and raving, he finally heads backstage and gives a ballistic interview.

In the WWF Title Match, Flair absolutely destroys Hogan's knee and uses every trick in the book to cheat. After being in the Figure Four Leglock for several minutes, Hogan finally passes out from the pain and Flair is awarded the victory and the Title (it's ruled a submission). Hogan hulks up after the bell and beats up Flair, but a Heenan distraction allows Flair to recover and clip his knee. Flair starts going to work on the knee again, and goes for a chair, but a crazed Randy Savage runs out from the dressing room and makes the save for his buddy with a chair of his own. Savage helps Hogan up to his feet to end the show, but Flair has the belt.

After Wrestlemania, Hogan is out of action for awhile, the kayfabe reason being he has to have knee surgery. Hogan vows to work hard to recover and get the Title back from Flair. Meanwhile, Savage is pissed at the WWF for allowing all the screwjobs, and Flair is pissed at Savage for ruining his big moment. Savage and Flair start a program leading into Summerslam. Two weeks before the show, Savage tells Flair he'll have a big surprise for him, but Heenan convinces Flair, Savage is just trying to psych him out.

Summerslam 1988:

British Bulldogs and Fabulous Rougeaus wrestle to a Time Limit Draw
Dino Bravo d. Don Muraco
Intercontinental Title: Ultimate Warrior d. Honky Tonk Man ©
Tag Team Titles: Demolition © d. Hart Foundation
Ted DiBiase d. Ricky Steamboat
Big Boss Man d. Koko B. Ware
Jake The Snake d. Rick Rude
WWF Title: Ric Flair © d. Randy Savage

In the WWF Title match, Flair uses his usual treating, as Bobby Heenan adds extra leverage to Flair's Figure Four. As Savage writhes in pain on the mat, the crowd goes nuts, as Hulk Hogan walks to the ring with no crutches. Hogan confronts Heenan and the Brain walks away, allowing Savage to gain momentum and reverse the Figure Four. The hold is broken, and Flair yells at Hogan from the ring, allowing Savage to roll him up... for two. Flair stomps him down, then Heenan slides a pair of brass knuckles in to Flair. Hogan sees this, and goes to chase Heenan around the ring on the outside. Flair goes to use the knucks, but Savage ducks a punch and suplexes Flair. Savage limps up top and hits the Elbow, just as Hogan catches Heenan and starts to get ready to pound on him. Savage covers, but the ref is on the outside, trying to restrain Hogan. Savage gets up and sees what's going on, and this allows Flair to nail him with the brass knuckles and knock him out cold. The ref rolls in and counts the three, as Ric Flair retains.

The Megapowers have been out-cheated and out-smarted again. They both want Flair at Survivor Series, so Flair recruits other Hogan and Savage rivals to join his team, namely Andre The Giant, Ted DiBiase, Akeem, and Big Boss Man. Savage's old rival Ricky Steamboat joins the Megapowers to oppose DiBiase, and Hogan gets his buddies Hillbilly Jim and Koko B. Ware to round out the squad.

Survivor Series 1988:

Ultimate Warrior, Brutus Beefcake, Jim Duggan, Blue Blazer & Sam Houston vs. Honky Tonk Man, Greg Valentine, Harley Race, Bad News Brown & Ron Bass (Survivor: Ultimate Warrior)

Hart Foundation, British Bulldogs, Rockers, Powers of Pain & Young Stallions vs. Demolition, Brainbusters, Fabulous Rougeaus, Conquistadors, Bolsheviks (Survivors: Hart Foundation)

Jake The Snake, Tito Santana, Hercules, Don Muraco & Scott Casey vs. Rick Rude, Mr. Perfect, Dino Bravo, Haku & Red Rooster (Survivors: Rick Rude & Mr. Perfect)

Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Ricky Steamboat, Koko B. Ware & Hillbilly Jim vs. Ric Flair, Andre The Giant, Ted DiBiase, Akeem & Big Boss Man (Survivors: Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage)

Hogan and Savage are able to extract a small amount of revenge on Flair by beating him (Hogan gets the pinfall), but Flair is still Champion. Hulk and Savage both enter the Royal Rumble, but Flair takes a break and welcomes a challenge by Ricky Steamboat to a non-Title match at the Rumble.

Royal Rumble 1989:

2 out of 3 Falls: Hart Foundation d. Rougeau Brothers
Super Posedown: Ultimate Warrior d. Rick Rude
Non-Title match: Ricky Steamboat d. WWF Champion Ric Flair
30 Man Royal Rumble Winner: Hulk Hogan

No one had been expecting much of the Flair/Stemboat match, but there ended up being a huge upset and a ***** match. Steamer becomes the first man in the WWF to beat Flair in a one on one match. Flair can't believe it. As for the Rumble match, Hogan drew a high number, prompting Ted DiBiase to try to buy his number. Hogan, man of integrity, of course rejects the offer, and DiBiase has Andre jump him as a result. After the Rumble, Hogan and Savage continue to feud with DiBiase and Andre, and the two main events for Wrestlemania V are set up: Hogan & Savage vs. DiBiase & Andre, and Flair vs. Steamboat. Flair, perhaps feeling a little insecure after his loss, recruits a group of technical wrestlers to surround himself with. The WWF version of the Four Horsemen is born, as Flair (via Heenan) joins up with Mr. Perfect, Arn Anderson, and Tully Blanchard. The new group shows their cohesiveness by organizing a beatdown on Steamboat during an edition of the Brother Love show.

Wrestlemania V:

Hart Foundation d. Rockers
Hercules d. Haku
Mr. Perfect d. Brutus Beefcake
Tag Team Titles: Demolition © d. Twin Towers
Jake The Snake d. Honky Tonk Man
Brainbusters d. Strike Force
Blue Blazer d. Red Rooster
WWF Title: Ric Flair © d. Ricky Steamboat
Bushwackers d. Rougeaus
Intercontinental Title: Ultimate Warrior © d. Rick Rude
Jim Duggan and Bad News Brown wrestle to a double DQ
Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage d. Ted DiBiase & Andre The Giant

Steamboat and Flair have another ***** match, this time with Flair going over and retaining the Title. He has now succesfully kept the belt for over a year and is established right along with Hogan and Savage as being one of the elite guys. Now that Wrestlemania is over, new programs begin, including Mr. Perfect and the Warrior, the Busters and Harts, and Steamboat and Rude. On a huge Saturday Night's Main Event, Hogan, Savage & Steamboat beat Flair, DiBiase, and Andre in a six man tag, when Savage pins Flair. Savage is granted a Title shot at Summerslam, and Hogan continues his feud with DiBiase. The Brainbusters beat Demolition on a different SNME to win the Tag Team Titles.

Summerslam 1989:

Jimmy Snuka, Blue Blazer & Brutus Beefcake d. Honky Tonk Man, Greg Valentine & Red Rooster
Dusty Rhodes (w/ Jim Duggan) d. Big Boss Man (w/ Akeem) via DQ
Rick Martel d. Tito Santana
Rockers d. Rougeaus
Rick Rude d. Ricky Steamboat
Tag Team Titles: Brainbusters © d. Hart Foundation
Hulk Hogan d. Ted DiBiase
Intercontinental Title: Mr. Perfect d. Ultimate Warrior ©
Jake The Snake and Andre The Giant wrestle to a Double DQ
WWF Title: Randy Savage d. Ric Flair ©

Savage finally gets it done and beats Flair to become WWF Champion. Hulk Hogan comes out to congratulate him after the fact. After Mr. Perfect won the IC Title, the Horesmen breifly held all the Titles, and gave a backstage interview with all the belts. But their joy was shortlived, as Flair lost the Title less than hour later. Perfect won the Title with a Perfect-Plex (Heenan held down Warrior's other leg from the outside, so it was impossible to kick out. The Rockers/Rougeau match and Busters/Harts both hit ****+.

Survivor Series 1989:

Tito Santana, Brutus Beefcake, Jimmy Snuka & Blue Blazer vs. Rick Martel, Earthquake, Honky Tonk Man & Greg Valentine (Survivors: Rick Martel & Earthquake)

Dusty Rhodes, Jim Duggan & Demolition vs. Big Boss Man, Akeem, Barbarian & Warlord (Survivors: Dusty Rhodes & Smash)

Ultimate Warrior, Ricky Steamboat & Rockers vs. Rick Rude, Andre The Giant & Rougeaus (Survivors: Ultimate Warrior & Ricky Steamboat)

Jake The Snake, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Hercules & Terry Taylor vs. Ted DiBiase, Bad News Brown, Dino Bravo & Haku (Survivor: Ted DiBiase)

Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage & Hart Foundation vs. Ric Flair, Mr. Perfect, Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (Survivor: Hulk Hogan)

After Survivor Series, they can do the angle with Savage and Hogan, with Savage becoming paranoid that Hogan is jealous of his Title. They have a few disagreements but remain friends leading into the Royal Rumble.

Royal Rumble 1990:

Rockers d. Rougeaus
Intercontinental Title: Mr. Perfect © d. Tito Santana
Demolition d. Powers of Pain
30 Man Royal Rumble Winner: Hulk Hogan

At the Rumble, Hogan eliminates Savage last, and Savage goes ballistic, attacking him during his celebration after the match and turning heel. Savage cuts a promo on Hogan and says Hogan has always been jealous of him since it was he and not Hogan who beat Flair to get the Title. Hogan/Savage is built up as the main event for Wrestlemania VI. Elsewhere, Roddy Piper and Ric Flair start a huge feud. Ricky Steamboat starts to gun for the undefeated Mr. Perfect and his IC Title. Jake and DiBiase feud as they really did at the time.

Wrestlemania VI:

Tito Santana d. Rick Martel
Hart Foundation d. Demolition
Jake The Snake d. Ted DiBiase
Tag Team Titles: Brainbusters © d. Rockers
Rick Rude d. Dusty Rhodes
Intercontinental Title: Ricky Steamboat d. Mr. Perfect ©
Ultimate Warrior d. Earthquake
Ric Flair d. Rowdy Roddy Piper
Big Boss Man d. Akeem
WWF Title: Hulk Hogan d. Randy Savage ©

Hogan finally regains the WWF Title after two years, and Steamboat hands Perfect his first loss en route to regainint the IC Title. The Busters remain Tag Champions, but their next challengers, the Harts, pick up a big win. Tito gets the upset win over Martel, and Jake beats DiBiase after a year of feuding. Flair steals a win over Piper, but Roddy gets the moral victory after the match.

After Wrestlemania, the Savage/Hogan feud rages on and several feuds are built to be blown off at Summerslam.

Summerslam 1990:

Texas Tornado d. Rick Rude
Tag Team Titles: Hart Foundation d. Brainbusters ©
Earthquake d. Big Boss Man
Rockers d. Demolition
Ultimate Warrior d. Ted DiBiase
Ric Flair d. Jake The Snake
Intercontinental Title: Mr. Perfect d. Ricky Steamboat ©
Dusty Rhodes & Jim Duggan d. Orient Express
WWF Title: Hulk Hogan © d. Randy Savage

Savage joins up with the Four Horsemen for Survivor Series.

Survivor Series 1990:

LOD, Texas Tornado & Tito Santana vs. Rick Rude & Demolition (all three) (Survivors: LOD)

Jake Roberts, Dusty Rhodes & The Rockers vs. Ted DiBiase, Rick Martel & Power & Glory (Survivors: Ted DiBiase, Rick Martel, Hercules & Paul Roma)

Big Boss Man, Jim Duggan, Sgt. Slaughter & Tugboat vs. Earthquake, Dino Bravo, Haku & Barbarian (Survivor: Big Boss Man)

Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, Ricky Steamboat & Hart Foundation vs. Randy Savage, Ric Flair, Mr. Perfect & Brainbusters (Survivor: Hulk Hogan & Ultimate Warrior)

Royal Rumble 1991:

Rockers d. Orient Express
The Mountie d. Koko B. Ware
Tag Team Titles (2 out of 3 Falls): Brainbusters d. Hart Foundation ©
30 Man Royal Rumble Winner: Ric Flair

Flair draws #3, lasts an hour and wins the Rumble, much to the joy of Bobby Heenan on commentary (sound familiar?). Warrior plays the role of Sid (setting up a Title match at Wrestlemania VII). After the Tag Title match, Bret Hart starts to wrestle singles matches and quickly racks up a bunch of wins. People start to call him the best technical wrestler in the WWF, which Mr. Perfect takes offense to. Ric Flair gets dragged into a feud with the very popular Big Boss Man, after months of Heenan insulting Boss Man's mother. If Boss Man wins, he gets five minutes with Heenan. Ricky Steamboat and Randy Savage rekindle their old rivalry because Savage claims he's done everything there is to do in the WWF... but the one blemish on his career (other than losing to Hogan) was when he wrestled in front of 93,000 people at the Silverdome.... and lost. With everyone talking about Wrestlemania VII set to break the Wrestlemania III attendance record (WM 7 is set to be held in the LA Coliseum), Savage wants to beat Steamboat this time and re-write his legacy.

Wrestlemania VII:

LOD d. Nasty Boys
Undertaker d. Dusty Rhodes
Intercontinental Title: Mr. Perfect © d. Bret Hart
British Bulldog d. Warlord
Ric Flair d. Big Boss Man
Jake Roberts d. Rick Martel
Randy Savage d. Ricky Steamboat
Ted DiBiase d. Virgil
Tag Team Titles: Rockers d. Brainbusters ©
Earthquake d. Texas Tornado
WWF Title: Ultimate Warrior d. Hulk Hogan ©

Flair feels he deserves a Title shot and plays the role he really played at Summerslam '92, but Hogan/Warrior ends in a clean finish, and Flair will get his Title shot at Summerslam.

The Savage/Steamboat feud escalates and with the series tied at one apiece, they are set to have a Career ending match at Summerslam.

Summerslam 1991:

British Bulldog d. IRS
Intercontinental Title: Bret Hart d. Mr. Perfect ©
LOD d. Brainbusters
Million $ Title: Virgil d. Ted DiBiase ©
Jailhouse Match: Big Boss Man d. Mountie
Tag Team Titles: Rockers © d. Nasty Boys
WWF Title: Ric Flair d. Ultimate Warrior ©
Hulk Hogan d. Earthquake
Career Match: Ricky Steamboat d. Randy Savage

Steamboat offers a handshake after the match, and Savage accepts, turning face now that his career is over. Flair is now the Champion again, with Hogan eager to get it back. Hogan and Flair have always been rivals, opposing each other at Survivor Series each year but they haven't had a Title match on PPV since Wrestlemania IV. Hogan is now the clear cut #1 contender for the Title, and they start to built to an eventual match right away. In October, The Rockers lose the Tag Team Titles to the Natural Disasters. Meanwhile, Jake The Snake goes through with his heel turn, as he really did, and aligns himself with the Undertaker.

Survivor Series 1991:

Bret Hart, British Bulldog, Big Boss Man & Virgil vs. Ric Flair, Ted DiBiase, IRS & Mountie (Survivor: Ric Flair)

Ricky Steamboat, Tito Santana, Texas Tornado & Sgt. Slaughter vs. Warlord, Hercules, Paul Roma & Skinner (Survivors: Steamboat, Santana, Tornado & Slaughter)

Rockers & New Foundation vs. Nasty Boys & Beverly Brothers (Survivors: Jerry Sags & Beau Beverly)

Hulk Hogan, Legion Of Doom & Jim Duggan vs. Undertaker, Jake The Snake & Natural Disasters (Survivor: Hulk Hogan)

WWF President Jack Tunney declares for the first time that the winner of the Royal Rumble will earn a Title shot at Wrestlemania. Shortly after Survivor Series, they do the Jake/Savage angle, where Jake's snake bites Savage. Savage is granted a one-time match at the Royal Rumble to gain his revenge on Jake.

Royal Rumble 1992:

Intercontinental Title: Bret Hart © d. Mountie
Randy Savage d. Jake The Snake
New Foundation d. Orient Express
WWF Title: Ric Flair © d. Ricky Steamboat
30 Man Royal Rumble Winner: Hulk Hogan

Hogan/Flair is now set for Wrestlemania VIII. Jake/Savage was essentially the Tuesday In Texas match, as Savage beat him quickly, but Jake got his revenge after the match and slapped Elizabeth. Savage is irate, and Jack Tunney works out an agreement for a career match at Wrestlemania VIII- if Jake wins, Savage retires forever; if Savage wins, he's reinstated and Jake retires.

Wrestlemania VIII:

Shawn Michaels d. Ricky Steamboat
British Bulldog d. Mountie
Intercontinental Title: Bret Hart © d. Rowdy Roddy Piper
Money Inc. d. Big Boss Man & Virgil
Career Match: Randy Savage d. Jake The Snake
Tatanka d. Rick Martel
Undertaker d. Sid Justice
Tag Team Titles: LOD d. Natural Disasters ©
WWF Title: Hulk Hogan d. Ric Flair ©

From there, Bret Hart becomes the next big star. I'd have Hogan, Flair, or Savage pass the belt on to him at Wrestlemania IX.

So here's how the Title scene goes in my scenario as opposed to reality.

WWF Title:

Hulk Hogan > Ric Flair > Randy Savage > Hulk Hogan > Ultimate Warrior > Ric Flair > Hulk Hogan

Randy Savage > Hulk Hogan > Ultimate Warrior > Sgt. Slaughter > Hulk Hogan > Undertaker > Hulk Hogan > Ric Flair > Randy Savage

Intercontinental Title:

Honky Tonk Man > Ultimate Warrior > Mr. Perfect > Ricky Steamboat > Mr. Perfect > Bret Hart

Honky Tonk Man > Ultimate Warrior > Rick Rude > Ultimate Warrior > Mr. Perfect > Texas Tornado > Mr. Perfect > Bret Hart > Mountie > Rowdy Roddy Piper > Bret Hart

Tag Team Titles:

Demolition > Brainbusters > Hart Foundation > Brainbusters > Rockers > Natural Disasters > LOD

Demolition > Brainbusters > Demolition > Collosal Connection > Demolition > Hart Foundation > Nasty Boys > LOD > Money Inc.

[smh810]

Great job Humanoid, what you added in made sense and you kept the good stuff as is.

[Guest_Your Olympic Hero_*]

That was definitely a kick ass scenario that seems like it would have put WCW out of business ten years early.

[Guest_Douche_*]

A Flair/Hogan feud for 4 years underlying or otherwise? No thanks. It's bad enough Flair's only good buyrates came from his two big matches in WWF. I don't like Ultimate Warrior being pushed down the card even though TO THIS DAY people still rant and rave about that match nor do I like Wrestlemania V having a tag main event when Wrestlemania's only tag team main was the first one.

[The Czech Republ...]

I always thought it would be cool if Bobby Heenan just announced he had a big surprise and the Horsemen showed up, belt and all.