Guest JMA Report post Posted June 23, 2003 Let's say that Hogan never joined the WWF after he got big (after Rocky III). Let's say he was given the AWA World title and allowed to run with the ball. What would Vince have done differently? Would Backlund still have lost to the Iron Sheik? Would the WWF have kept to mat based wrestling? Bobby Heenan thinks Vince would've been successful without Hogan, but how would he do? What do you think? Be as detailed as you like. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Boo_Bradley Report post Posted June 23, 2003 We'd all Know Hogan as the AWA's top draw for a decent chunk of the 80's.... BUT Randy Savage would be known on the same level that Hogan is, after McMahon used Savage as his top draw during the expansion.... Piper/Savage make obscene amounts of cash in a 1985 fued.... Big Fat Heels are all the rage... Greg Valentine is long remembered for his long fued over the World title from 86-87...After 3 years as a face, Savage turns heel in late 87, and fueds with Steamboat/Orndorff/Andre.....Brutus Beefcake never enters the WWF... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dynamite Kido Report post Posted June 23, 2003 Steamboat would be known to EVERYBODY, and not just the "Smart" fans as the greatest wrestler that may have ever lived!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ace309 Report post Posted June 23, 2003 I'm banking that Hogan's act could have been done by Savage, Slaughter or even... dear god... Ken Patera. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JMA Report post Posted June 23, 2003 Maybe Inoki would have gotten a longer run. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Stunt Granny Report post Posted June 23, 2003 Former WWF Champion the Junk Yard Dog. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Agent_Bond34 0 Report post Posted June 23, 2003 Here's a similar question, related to Hogan. What if Hulk Hogan never left the WWF to go to WCW, and what if he never started the nWo with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash? How would things be today, had these things not occured? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JMA Report post Posted June 24, 2003 It's interesting to think how Vince would fill the gap left by Hogan. Would he have continued to push Backlund? Would he have brought over more talent from Japan? Would Sgt. Slaughter have gotten a title reign? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Steviekick Report post Posted June 24, 2003 I agree with Stunt Nanny...JYD would have come to the WWF and made a huge impact. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Indikator Report post Posted June 24, 2003 Vinne Mac got 3 wrestlers in the beginning of 1984; Dr. D David Shultz, Rowdy Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. Those 3 would have been the foundation of the WWF. Shultz wouldn´t have been fired and I think that Paula would have gotten the belt. Shultz would have been a nice transition champ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JMA Report post Posted June 25, 2003 When exactly did Hogan leave the AWA for the WWF? Also, when did Randy Savage dub himself the "Macho Man"? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted June 25, 2003 Savage would've equaled Hogan's level and ALMOST did in Hogan's Shadows in reality. WWF would've stayed a Wrestling Company...With Savage-Steamboat-Dibiase-Roberts being the big piece of the 80s... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DarkHollywood Report post Posted June 25, 2003 I don't think there is anyway to answer "What If" questions unless someone invented a time machine, stopped Hogan from joining WWF, and then making it reality, but then this thread wouldn't be possible, cause then it would be what if he did join etc. etc. WWF would have died after Wrestlemania 1 is my prediction. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JMA Report post Posted June 25, 2003 WWF would've stayed a Wrestling Company...With Savage-Steamboat-Dibiase-Roberts being the big piece of the 80s... That would've SO ruled. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JMA Report post Posted June 28, 2003 Sigh. I REALLY thought this thread would get more replies... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Boo_Bradley Report post Posted June 28, 2003 Were you expecting the Smark Standard "Wrestling would be better off, just not on a mainstream level"... actually that's more like what many posters on KM say. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bravesfan Report post Posted June 28, 2003 WWF would have died after Wrestlemania 1 is my prediction. Wrestlemania would've NEVER happened. Without the backing of the celebrities and the Rock N' Roll Wrestling angle surrounding the event, Vinnie would not have the balls to go through with the idea. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JMA Report post Posted June 29, 2003 Actually, I was looking for someone to write a probable synopsis of what would happen. But I guess I'll do it instead. Without Hogan to hold the undercard down, the midcard would be elevated to main event. I see the IC title being dropped because of this. Thus, we'd have only the Heavyweight title and Tag Team titles. I think Backlund would still lose to the Iron Sheik. But, instead of Hogan beating The Iron One, I see Slaughter doing it. He would respond to Iron's anti-American promo with something like, "America may have some problems, but we do have freedom of speech. The same freedom of speech that allows you to bad mouth us. We also have a democracy where WE, the people, choose our officials. Can you say the same? If you put that title on the line, I'll show you just how tough Americans are. How about it, maggot?" Iron would accept and eventually lose via the Cobra Clutch. Slaughter would get the invincible American push for several months. He would then shock the world by joining his enemy, The Iron Sheik and his manager Freddie Blassie. Sarge would claim he did it for more power. He wouldn't be an Iranian sympathizer or anything, though. By this time, Backlund would return to claim his itle. But first he would have to beat the former champ and the man who beat him, The Iron Sheik. He forces the Sheik to submit to the Crossface Chicken Wing and becomes the number one contender to the Heavyweight title. Slaughter would then be beaten next week by Backlund to the same maneuver. After this, The Iron One and Sarge would get a long reign as tag champs. There would eventually be a breakup, and feud, though. Blassie would refuse to take sides. Sarge and Iron would have a match to settle their differences and then be a team again, Blassie would claim. It wouldn't turn out that way, though. The Sheik would steal a victory by putting his feet on the ropes. Blassie would be angered that two of his best workers were fighting. He would get tired of it and leave both of them, going to manage others. Sarge and Sheik would then feud. Sarge would beat the Sheik first in a Boot-camp match and then in a flag match, ending their feud and turning Sarge back into a face. Back to Backlund. After another long reign, Randy Savage would upset Backlund for the title. Savage would then feud with Steamboat (who would eventually win the title). Now, anyone care to give their opinion on what would happen? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted June 29, 2003 I did this situational F.B once it went 22 pages...I don't care to do it again tho. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JMA Report post Posted June 29, 2003 I did this situational F.B once it went 22 pages...I don't care to do it again tho. It doesn't have to be 22 pages. It could just be a couple of paragraphs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JMA Report post Posted June 30, 2003 I guess we don't have many who like to write. Oh well. I thought this thread was a good idea... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bravesfan Report post Posted June 30, 2003 I'll write a GOOD response to this, once I set aside some time this week. Just leave the thread up, and people will come to it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Hass of Pain Report post Posted July 3, 2003 Well, people usually say that JYD and or Jimmy Snuka would have simply slid into Hogan's place and WWE's history would have been unchanged. Personally, I don't know how much I buy in to this theory. Jimmy Snuka was not nearly mainstream enough to do what Hogan did. Sure he got great pops and could draw, but I don't think his personality would have been conducive to the marriage between the MTV generation and the then WWF. JYD could have been a pretty good main event player and he might have slightly changed wrestlings demographic a bit, but I don't think that he had the legs as a six year draw on top that Hogan did. WWE was in major financial trouble and along with Hogan's Rocky III appearance and Lou Albano's relationship with Cyndi Lauper, WWE really had a lot of luck on their side as well. Roddy Piper would have had the ability to be a lot bigger player without having to constantly play second fiddle to Hogan and could have drawn a TON of money even without Hogan. However, I think that only one guy could have truly taken Hogan's place and been nearly as effective and that man was Kerry Von Erich. He had EVERYTHING (well, besides a foot) at that point in his career. His build put Hogan's to shame, he could cut a promo, the women and kids loved him and he could work a good match. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
King Cucaracha 0 Report post Posted July 3, 2003 I doubt the WWE would have been as successful as it was without Hogan. I mean sure 'the great talent would have shone through', but probably about 75% to 80% of money earned in the late 80's, early 90's was due to Hogan. Directly or indirectly. For indirectly read the people who sent get well soon cards to Hogan after Quake squashed him, and ended up getting catalogues and shit from WWE. I don't think anyone could do the Hulk Hogan act better than Bollea, but who knows maybe someone could. But without Hogan, the vast mainstream attention never would have come. Wrestlemania would have been a good few years behind if it ever happened at all. With Piper as the main guy, it wouldn't have worked so well unless he went face. Back then, fans would want to see a good face rather than a good heel. Hogan brought the mainstream appeal and money in that many others wouldn't have got near. In ring improvement or not, without Hogan WWE wouldn't have got where they are today as quickly as they have. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Indikator Report post Posted July 3, 2003 Kerry lost his foot in the late 80´s so he would have been able to be a superb main eventer. He was loved by church people in Texas and the rest of the South so McMahon would have used that opportunity to get a main eventer who was accepted by the mainstream media. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JMA Report post Posted July 4, 2003 Hm. Kerry Von Erich. I never thought about him. Maybe it would work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JMA Report post Posted July 7, 2003 Anyone else? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
