Could WM XVIII = WM IV?

[Guest The Masked Yodeler]

With Kurt Angle beating HHH for the Wrestlemania title shot, and all the confusion about the Wrestlemania main event(s) now that the nWo has arrived, the possibility of a tournament for a vacant WWF title seems like a possibility.

 

Here's a scenario:  Jericho is defending the WWF title on Raw, and there's a double pin or something dumb, so the WWF title is held up in a tournament at Wrestlemania.  Let's say that Jericho, Angle and whoever Jericho was defending against, let's say HHH, all get byes into the second round.  Assuming that it would be a 16 man tournament, the most likely possibility, that leaves 13 total slots:

 

The Established WWF Main Eventers:

 

Jericho

Angle

HHH

Rock

Austin

Undertaker

 

The nWo:

 

Hogan

Hall

Nash

 

The Upper Mid Carders:

 

Kane

RVD

Booker T

Edge

 

There's 13 guys, and a tournament.  I'm not saying it's a great idea, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it happen, and it would be something different, at least.

[Guest AM The Kid]

I was thinking about that a few days ago...it could give a needed push to the upper-midcard guys and clear up the undercard for tag matches, other title matches and fueds. Wrestlemania would be awesome if they had a WWF title tournament.

[Guest Tony149]

I don't know. I wouldn't mind a tournament, but it would need to be booked carefully. Hogan would probably win.

[Guest The Masked Yodeler]

I'm a mark for tournaments, but bad booking can screw them up baaaad, regardless of the talent involved (see KOTR 2000).  I'd like to see RVD go over, but I know that's not going to happen, so I'd be happy with anyone other than The Tan That Walks Like A Man.

[Guest AM The Kid]

I'd want Jericho to get the the finals only to be beaten by Austin, RVD or *gasp* Hogan.

 

I'm a huge Hogan mark, always have been always will be!

[Guest The Electrifyer]

They already had a tournament at Vengeance for the Undisputed Title, they don't need another one for Wrestlemania. If they're going to do anything special for the WM min-event, then I suggest just to make it a triple threat or something.

[Guest AM The Kid]

There was a tournament...I don't remember that.

[Guest Tony149]

I don't think Vengeance was a tournament. The matches on Raw & Smackdown were part of a min-tournament with the final four guys meeting at the PPV.

[Guest Some Guy]

If they do a tournament it can't be like Survivor Series 98, with ten second matches.  It should a smaller tourney with longer matches that have time to develop and to really sell how hard it is to become champ.  No lame 15 minute restholds time limit draws either.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

The problem with a tournament is that they only work really well when someone wins the title for the first time.

 

RVD?  No matter how over he is...Vince won't let that happen.

 

I'd like to see a tourney...with Booker T winning.

 

That would own.

 

But a tournament would guarantee non-wins for at least 2/3 of the NWO...not exactly the way to be brought in.

 

I also wouldn't mind if Jericho won the title back...that would be unexpected and cement him on the top.

[Guest Tony149]

If they do a tournament it can't be like Survivor Series 98, with ten second matches.  It should a smaller tourney with longer matches that have time to develop and to really sell how hard it is to become champ.  No lame 15 minute restholds time limit draws either.

That wouldn't be the case with WrestleMania. Since WrestleMania is about 3 hours and 50 minutes long. Survivor Series '98 was about 2hrs 45mins long. WM would have a lot more time for the matches...at least for the good matches.

[Guest Some Guy]

WM IV was four hours and the matches were short and sucky.  My point is really that they should have a 8 man tourney like the first few KOTRs, with 4 hours they could also allow time for the undercard matches, IC, Euro, Tag, etc..

[Guest Tony149]

WM IV was four hours and the matches were short and sucky.  My point is really that they should have a 8 man tourney like the first few KOTRs, with 4 hours they could also allow time for the undercard matches, IC, Euro, Tag, etc..

I agree. That's why tournaments have to be booked carefully. The talent roster is a helluva lot better (Except for a few) now then it was back then. An 8 man tournament wouldn't be bad either.

[Guest Some Guy]

I would have Hogan, HHH, Angle, Austin, Rock, Y2J, RVD, and Booker in the tourney with Hogan going over due to interference by nWo.  This would lead to his singles feuds with Rock, Austin, HHH, etc...  I don't really wabnt Hogan as champ but it makes sense, for him to be chased by one of the faces.

[Guest Tony149]

Yeah, Hogan will probably get a run with the titles.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Does that bother anyone else?

 

At this point...wouldn't a Hogan title run do as much to expose the business as David Arquette winning it?

 

Times have changed.  People are more athletic than in Hogan heyday.

 

The Rock looks bigger than him...and Rock's not even one of the bigger guys...