If Steamboat was healthy . . .

[Guest MillenniumMan831]

What do you guys think Ricky Steamboat's status would have been had he not of been injured in 1994. A U.S. Title contender? T.V. Title contender? Reduced to putting over 'up and coming talent?'

 

Personally, I feel he would have been in the TV/US ladder of competition but never given any kind of push with real steam behind it. I also think he would have patched up his differences with Vince McMahon and made one last run in the WWF/E before a retirement right around the Attitude Era.

 

What do you think?

[Guest WrestlingDeacon]

At the time he was injured, Steamboat was in charge of preparing Steve Austin for a main event run and going over Flair as the new standard bearer of the company. However, then Hogan came in and shot that plan to hell. If Steamboat would have stuck around he would have been shoved into a tag team or used as cannon fodder in the Dungeon of Doom angle. That would have led Steamboat to retire.

 

No matter how badly you wanted Ricky to return to the WWE it wasn't happening. He felt humiliated by Vince from the last time and we all know that McMahon is one to hold a grudge. They just didn't get along and Vince never felt that Steamboat was a huge enough draw to go kowtowing to him.

[Guest Choken One]

Steamboat wasn't a big fan of Hogan, So I doubt he would've been willing to stick around for his crap. I say he would've Had one last run with the U.S Title...Job it to an Up and Comer like Badd and Left quietly.

 

He could've had a Quickie Comeback angle in 1994/1995 for WWE in the role of Backlund essistantlly. Vince would've brought him in just for that Hart/Steamboat match...Job him a couple times and cut him.

 

Steamboat wasn't going to be around much longer anyhow....The injury just allowed him to leave with Integrity.

[Guest Andy]

Steamboat was a brilliant wrestler, and I think Vince would have brought him back if he was healthy and was considered enough of a draw.

 

Cheers - A.

[Guest ShooterJay]

Yeah, he retired at just the right time. Even without the injury, there was nothing left for him to do.

[Guest snuffbox]

Nobody thinks he would have eventually made a main in ECW? Paul may have signed if hed work there as another main event talent. I could see it happening to add esteem to the ECW world title.

 

I also think Vince would have signed him for a run with Bret Hart. That would have been a smarks wetdream, and probably would have sold fairly well. Steamboat-Flair was always a strong mainevent draw, im sure vs Hart with a fresh angle would as well.

[Guest Your Olympic Hero]

After his US title run he should have packed his shit and wrestled in All Japan for about 5 more years before calling it quits.

[Guest Your Olympic Hero]

Nobody thinks he would have eventually made a main in ECW? Paul may have signed if hed work there as another main event talent. I could see it happening to add esteem to the ECW world title.

 

I also think Vince would have signed him for a run with Bret Hart. That would have been a smarks wetdream, and probably would have sold fairly well. Steamboat-Flair was always a strong mainevent draw, im sure vs Hart with a fresh angle would as well.

Steamboat would not have worked out in ECW. Ricky Steamboat in a caning match against the Sandman? Barbed wire against Raven? I don't see him doing anything like that. Maybe an occasional appearance against someone like Malenko, Guerrero, Jericho, or 2 Cold Scorpio... that would have been nice.

 

As for the WWF.... why would he go back after that ridiculous fire breathing crap in the early 90's and his heat with Vince from the late 80's? He knew better than that, unlike some people.

[Guest MillenniumMan831]

If the fire-breathing shtick he was doing was so bad in 1991, why did he continue doing it in WCW in 1993-94?

[Guest snuffbox]

No, I dont think Steamboat would have worked any of the garbage in ECW. But I could see a mainevent run with the workrate guys there (Benoit, Guererro, Malenko, Scorpio etc) and maybe the likes of Douglas, Raven, Japanese imports etc. It wouldve drawn for ECW, no barbed wire needed.

 

And if Vince offered a contract guranteeing hed be brought in for a Bret Hart run, I do think Steamboat wouldve signed.

[Guest Choken One]

I think Steamboat Vs Douglas would've been GREAT if Steamboat came in after Douglas threw down the NWA Title....Then Steamer could've won the title...and Drop it back to Douglas before Funk ever came in...

[Guest snuffbox]

Douglas-Steamboat couldve been classic. A great fued. Shane could have been cutting an anti-Flair, anti-NWA promo and out comes Steamboat. Im sure Ricky could deliver the promo of a lifetime here. Set up a good angle and a few **** matches.

[Guest Choken One]

Oh, Yeah...Steamer would've done that "You have ZERO respect for the legends" spiel and Douglas would have done his Killer "Fuck Tradition, You old fuck". Steamer pops him one...Steam rips him apart as ECW Arena about shatters...Douglas runs away as Steamboat raises the title to an MASSIVE POP.

 

Three months of Insults...Steamer wins a 21 minute **** match...Douglas demands a rematch in a 2/3 falls match next month...Douglas wins and Steamboat asks for a rematch but Shane makes it a Retirement Match...Douglas wins and retires him.