What if Shawn left with Hall and Nash

[Guest JMA]

Imagine if Shawn left the WWF in 1996 to join WCW. Imagine if he was in fact the third member of the Outsiders. What would this do to the WWF? What would it do for WCW?

[Guest bob_barron]

There was never any chance Shawn would've left in 1996 though- he was still under contract.

[Guest JMA]

There was never any chance Shawn would've left in 1996 though- he was still under contract.

That's not the point. He could have gotten himself fired to be with his friends. The point of this thread is to discuss what would have happened if this took place.

[Guest WrestlingDeacon]

WCW would have went out of business in 1998.

[Guest Choken One]

Two things would've drastically effected things...

 

Two things were critical in the Late 90's Wrestling boom...

 

1. Hogan turns Heel, Joins NWO.

2. DX...

 

If Shawn was the third man as he was strongly rumored to be, None of those two things would've happened. Thus, DX and Heel Hogan never would've happened.

 

WCW would've suffered the worse. The rise of the NWO pretty much was the rise of Ratings...HBK would've not been the HOLY FUCK shock that Hogan was. Thus it wouldn'tve become mainstream as it was. However, Although Hogan certaintly did play Politics...Shawn did too. Shawn and Eric would've been best of friends. However, NWO would've been more like DX only without the edge.

 

WWF would've lost their World Champion and thus would have to reboot the company...Don't forget Bret wasn't very commutable around this time. Vince would've after suffering the embarassment of losing his world champion gone ahead and given the contract to Bret. Put Bret over Vader at Summer Slam for the Vacent Title...Build Bret/Vader as the top fued for a few months...Hopefully Austin would've still occured with that same measurement of momentum as it did.

 

Meanwhile, WCW would've been winning the Ratings war anyways because they were fresher and had the Live shows to combat WWE.

 

WCW however, as it did anyways, Would've started to have the Imates run the Aslyum. Likely, Triple H would've defected over and become the U.S Champion. Likely, Shawn whom was a HUGE fan of Flair, would've reveled over a fued with The Horsemen as long as he was put over in the end would've been an entertaining fued For awhile.

 

WWE would've attempted the Racy attitude edge style anyways dispite the cookie cutter vanilla Champion and "leader" Bret. Bret, However, would'nt have that Hated rival that he had in Shawn and been filled with Paranoia and since he was a fan of Austin, didn't mind the edgy Hardcore edge.

 

WWF Would've been the same, Only without Shawn's Politics. eVERYONE would've been on the same track, However, Bret would've started to grow an slight Ego but it wasn't abusive. Bret would've been willing to job in Montreal only to Austin. Vince would've realized that he couldn't afford Bret's Conctract. With a few Incintives, Bret would've reconstructred the contract to help Vince out. "MR. McMahon" would not have ever happened... Which would've killed another one of the key reasons Wrestling enjoyed a HUGE boom in the 90's.

 

Meanwhile, WCW would've become Stagnat after the awesome NWO/Horsemen angle. Crow Sting never happened and He was simply an Secondary Face, often just had his deal with HHH and an occasional step in with Shawn. Shawn would've never gotten injuried because Karma wasn't after him, He would've have become an Born Again because he had no reason to...Thus Chris Jericho and he never became buddies. Shawn would've instantly had Hogan, The Biggest Face of all time Jobbed out of WCW. Hogan would still be world known for his B Movies.

 

However, while all this is Going on...An Revolution was occuring around Philly. With an Incredible Set-Up of Wrestlers and Intelligent Angles, Would've become an Major Impact player. All Three Companies would've evenfully hurt each other in the end as none of them really had an "Edge" over the other and Wrestling wouldn've enjoyed that Boom it did.

[Guest KingOfOldSchool]

Hm.

 

Austin may've been pushed to the top faster.

 

WCW would have been overrun by the Clique.

 

I don't think the screwjob would've happened. Maybe with Shawn out of the picture, Vince would be more willing to pay Bret, either because of Shawn not having Vince's ear anymore, or out of fear that he would lose someone else. Or Bret would be willing to take a paycut to stay in WWF.

 

Shane Douglas probably never would've went back to WCW... Maybe he would have been more willing to stay with ECW, knowing firmly that he wouldn't be able to get a job in WWF or WCW... At least on WCW's end, the talent raids on ECW wouldn't have happened.

 

Provided WCW was even still around by that time, that is. Maybe Vince's monopoly would have came sooner.

 

Completely forgot about DX... Maybe Vince would've started an anti-authority group to counter WCW's nWo, but Triple H wouldn't be involved in any way, as he would have jumped ship, unhappy over his de-push resulting from the MSG incident.

[Guest JMA]

Two things would've drastically effected things...

 

Two things were critical in the Late 90's Wrestling boom...

 

1. Hogan turns Heel, Joins NWO.

2. DX...

 

If Shawn was the third man as he was strongly rumored to be, None of those two things would've happened. Thus, DX and Heel Hogan never would've happened.

 

WCW would've suffered the worse. The rise of the NWO pretty much was the rise of Ratings...HBK would've not been the HOLY FUCK shock that Hogan was. Thus it wouldn'tve become mainstream as it was. However, Although Hogan certaintly did play Politics...Shawn did too. Shawn and Eric would've been best of friends. However, NWO would've been more like DX only without the edge.

 

WWF would've lost their World Champion and thus would have to reboot the company...Don't forget Bret wasn't very commutable around this time. Vince would've after suffering the embarassment of losing his world champion gone ahead and given the contract to Bret. Put Bret over Vader at Summer Slam for the Vacent Title...Build Bret/Vader as the top fued for a few months...Hopefully Austin would've still occured with that same measurement of momentum as it did.

 

Meanwhile, WCW would've been winning the Ratings war anyways because they were fresher and had the Live shows to combat WWE.

 

WCW however, as it did anyways, Would've started to have the Imates run the Aslyum. Likely, Triple H would've defected over and become the U.S Champion. Likely, Shawn whom was a HUGE fan of Flair, would've reveled over a fued with The Horsemen as long as he was put over in the end would've been an entertaining fued For awhile.

 

WWE would've attempted the Racy attitude edge style anyways dispite the cookie cutter vanilla Champion and "leader" Bret. Bret, However, would'nt have that Hated rival that he had in Shawn and been filled with Paranoia and since he was a fan of Austin, didn't mind the edgy Hardcore edge.

 

WWF Would've been the same, Only without Shawn's Politics. eVERYONE would've been on the same track, However, Bret would've started to grow an slight Ego but it wasn't abusive. Bret would've been willing to job in Montreal only to Austin. Vince would've realized that he couldn't afford Bret's Conctract. With a few Incintives, Bret would've reconstructred the contract to help Vince out. "MR. McMahon" would not have ever happened... Which would've killed another one of the key reasons Wrestling enjoyed a HUGE boom in the 90's.

 

Meanwhile, WCW would've become Stagnat after the awesome NWO/Horsemen angle. Crow Sting never happened and He was simply an Secondary Face, often just had his deal with HHH and an occasional step in with Shawn. Shawn would've never gotten injuried because Karma wasn't after him, He would've have become an Born Again because he had no reason to...Thus Chris Jericho and he never became buddies. Shawn would've instantly had Hogan, The Biggest Face of all time Jobbed out of WCW. Hogan would still be world known for his B Movies.

 

However, while all this is Going on...An Revolution was occuring around Philly. With an Incredible Set-Up of Wrestlers and Intelligent Angles, Would've become an Major Impact player. All Three Companies would've evenfully hurt each other in the end as none of them really had an "Edge" over the other and Wrestling wouldn've enjoyed that Boom it did.

You sure tell a great story, Choken One.

[Guest JMA]

Shawn would probably have to use his real name (Michael Hickenbottom) if he left for WCW. I'm pretty sure the WWF owns the name "Shawn Michaels."

[Guest Jericholic82]

Shawn would probably have to use his real name (Michael Hickenbottom) if he left for WCW. I'm pretty sure the WWF owns the name "Shawn Michaels."

hmmm I thought he owned the name (he has his own wrestling school with the name and would appear at his pormotions shows as shawn michaels , but maybe wwf gave him permission?)

[Guest Choken One]

Shawn has owned the name for long while...However, Shawn could not use Heartbreak Kid anymore...

[Guest converge241]

I mean i know they would have taken him if they could but i dont thinkBischoff was ever high on Michaels

[Guest RevEvil]

What if at Survivor Series '97, It was decided that Shawn would be wrestling his final wwf match instead of Bret?

[Guest Choken One]

Either the roles are simply reversed and He and Hunter leave WWF. Bret tones down the Anti-American sentiments...And he goes to Mania with Austin.

 

Austin does his McMahon program (I'm assuming that with the same screwjob, it has equal effect) and Bret turns Face when Owen turns on him...Bret is forgiven by America and While the same stuff that happened in reality occurs...Bret and Owen pretty much have fun for a few months...

 

Meanwhile, A power struggle occurs as Shawn, Nash, Hall, Waltman and Hunter all usurp Hogan from his throne as Shawn gets on Turner's good side. Shawn decides to keep the NWO too a limit in a effort to keep others from enjoying the lurels of the group....

 

Shawn was a mark for Flair so he would've booked NWO Vs 4H for the main fued...Shawn would have debuted at Starrcade during the Outsiders title match with whomever Face team at the time (Harlem Heat? Nasty Boys?) and Superkicked the faces and Reveal a NWO shirt.

 

The Next night after STING cleanly defeats Hogan and blows of the WCW Vs NWO fued.

 

Shawn is clearly shown as the new leader of the NwO as Nash and Hall run down Hogan whom goes away for a Couple Months to rest and regroup. Shawn decides that he needs to IMPACT the NwO and KICKS out all the members...leaving Himself, Nash, Hall, Syxx. At Souled Out, Remember that Hall was promised a title match against Sting...So Hall fights Sting that night but the Match ends up a DQ when NWO runs in...Meanwhile, Sting fights them off...But Triple H storms the crowd and is a little Larger, Hops in the ring and Pedigrees Sting and NWO spraypaints and shit...

 

HHH is not called Triple H Anymore but merely Paul Levensque (Whatever you spell it)...but is pretty much the same character. So NWO is pretty much the Clique.

 

Sting requests that Shawn fights him at Super Brawl but Shawn doesn't "Feel Like It". He says Sting should settle for Nash. Sting avoids the muck and pins Nash...But NWO beats down Sting again but this time, HULK Hogan in Red and Yellow runs down to the ring and chases them off...Sting and Hogan shake hands.

 

Hogan aplogizes to the crowd to a huge ovation. Shawn arrives and Pretty much runs Hogan down. WCW Commish Dillon announces that their will be a 3 Team Battle Royal at Uncensored with Sting, Hogan, Luger and The Giant Vs Flair, Benoit, Mongo and Anderson Vs Shawn (whom STILL hasn't wrestled since arriving to WCW), Nash, Hall and Levensque.

 

Luger, Benoit and Levensque start the match...Team NWO wins the toss...Hall comes next then Mongo and then Giant...Nash...then Anderson and Sting...Shawn next but he never enters the ring...Flair and Hogan.

 

By the time Flair enters it is now...For Team WCW- Sting and Hogan, 4H-Flair and NWO-Shawn, Nash and Hall.

 

Shawn continues to avoid ring contact...Hogan is knocked with a Chair by Shawn...Shawn runs away from Flair who chases him away while Sting battles Hall and Nash and eliminates Nash and Pins Hall for the win to a big Pop...

 

Shawn has avoided the Ring since he had debuted in December and now it was April...

 

Shawn manipulates Dillon to give him the title match at Slamborree...but NWO is Barred.

 

Shawn goes over in a ***** classic. Sting is demoted to Mid-Cardville with Levensque, Hall and Nash.

 

By That point, Syxx is the CW Champion, Nash and Hall are the Tag Champs...Levensque is the United States Champion...once again TV title isn't targeted by them.

 

WCW has to go with Hogan/Shawn at Bash at the Beach since Shawn decides Flair/Shawn ought to go down at Starrcade.

 

They manage to play switch and Bait until Bash...Shawn goes over. Shawn decides that Hogan serves ZERO purpose anymore and convinces Bischoff and Turner to release him. WWF decides they don't want him either.

 

WCW decides to Have a Place hold fued with Shawn and Savage for a month or so just to hold off 4H and NWO. Shawn has no problem.

 

They book War Games

 

NWO-Nash, Hall, Syxx and Levensque (Shawn will be a Manager)

Four Horsemen-Flair, Benoit, Mongo and Melenko (I will assume that Anderson will got injured and is a Manager)

 

It goes down as a Bloody war with Flair locking Levensque in a F4 but Shawn counters that by Viciously injuring Anderson...(This will serve as his Career Ender). Levensque taps and Flair chases after Shawn.

 

Flair requests a shot at Shawn but he doesn't care for the title but Dillion decides Flair is insane and suspends him for 30 Days but Flair still finds ways to interject himself.

 

Shawn, To kill time, Starts a small angle with Diamond Dallas Page, using the same angle they did in reality. Page is sold as a CLOSE BUT NOT Close enough challenger as Shawn escapes by the skin of his teeth.

 

Dillon decides that if Flair wants Shawn...The only way he can do that is if he can win Battlebowl. WCW decides to kill WWIII and bring back the Battlebowl foumula.

 

They have 40 Wrestlers in the Bowl...Flair is drawn with A Jobber (Let's Say Duggan) and forced to fight Melenko and Mongo.

 

Selling that if Flair CAN make Battle Bowl...He won't have TWO of his horsemen in the ring.

 

Flair manages to win since They sell that Flair demanded that Mongo and Melenko don't just lay down for him and just WRESTLE like men.

 

However, Benoit grew Syxx and they face Nash and Hall. This sells a 1-Vs 3 angle...this match has wicked pyschlogy but Benoit falls short.

 

Battle Bowl Ends up with 20 Winners...

 

It goes down to

 

Flair,Page, Hall, Nash,Levensque.

 

Levensque and Page dump each other...

 

Leaving Flair Vs Hall and Nash...Shawn runs in but screws up and kicks Hall out...Then Benoit and The others rush out and chase Shawn away...Nash is alone...Flair tosses Nash and wins.

 

Flair Vs Shawn for the World Title at Starrcade.

 

Shawn and Flair have a classic ***** match for the ages when Flair wins via Inside Cradle at 36:00.

[Guest CoreyLazarus416]

See, Choken...you should book for HHH. You understand an ego's need for glory, and know how to put somebody over in the pay-off, even if they're already way over.

[Guest Choken One]

Thanks...I was willing to go into 1999 by Having Shawn feeling that he tired of being a heel and he wanted to turn face.

 

So with that, I would had NWO attack Shawn after he says he respects Flair. Shawn is punked out...NWO is killed.

 

Nash and Hall stick together but the rest go their own way. Shawn takes a few weeks off to rest nagging injuries.

 

So WCW decides to Avoid a Nash/Flair fued seeing how 4H defiantly ended NWO.

 

Nash and Hall decide just to collect a paycheck and tag team for the time being. Syxx is a major CW heel fueding with Melenko, Mysterio and Jericho (I'm assuimeing Shawn never finds Jesus here and thus Jericho isn't his buddy and that means Jericho isn't given freedom to create his character. So he remains the Babyface). Levensque is pretty much a lifetime Upper-Carder. He has held the U.S title for 8 months and is doing a HTM thing with it...

 

WCW decides that with Shawn returning as a Face, they should have a new Heel and contemplate Turning Flair heel but they felt it was too soon after his triumphant win at Starrcade. They decide to bring back Randy Savage, whom left a little after Shawn came in but there wasn't any beefs. They decide that they want to switch the usual roles of Savage/Flair. Savage comes in with that Prima Donna character he had with Gorgeous George. Flair goes over of course.

 

Shawn returns and goes over Nash at Superbrawl...Flair turns at Superbrawl by Attacking Chris Benoit and Melenko during his title match with Sting during a "Respect" Match.

 

Flair and Sting headline again while Shawn has his run as a Face against a Heel turned Page. Of Course Shawn and Flair on a collision course again...Instead they don't wait til Starrcade and Blow it off at Bash with Shawn going over in another ***** match.

 

That is where I end...

 

Here is the problem with doing these things...

 

You tend to forget alot of the wrestlers...Focusing on the Main Stage of characters...

 

Notice that not ONCE did I mention Goldberg? Raven? And what about Giant, Luger, and all the other NWO castoffs?

[Guest WrestlingDeacon]

In the shambles of the nWo I say it would make sense for Raven to take all of the castoffs in and form a new mid/low card stable with The Giant being his main enforcer.

 

Luger would probably get fed up with not having a prominent role and either go back to the WWF or retire.

 

I could still see Goldberg catching on the way he did and winding up in the same slot where the Clique would almost be forced to put him over and he would make a good foil for Flair (who probably wouldn't have a problem putting him over) while Shawn dealt with his ex-nWo buddies. Eventually you work to a Goldberg/Michaels feud where one would hope Shawn would put him over and pass the torch. (Yeah, I know probably wouldn't happen.)

[Guest Choken One]

Shawn likely would had jobbed to Goldberg at Starrcade that year in a FACE/FACE showdown and turned shortly after that and make sure he goes over again At Spring Stampede.

[Guest geniusMoment]

The real answer is scary. Vince would have paid Ultimate Warrior, remember that run, what he wanted. Warrior would have been the champ. I guarantee it. I am a genius after all.