Had Bret Hart not Left the WWF in 1997

[Guest Auph10imitated]

Ok I did this for another site so thought id post here for those who like this sorta stuff, its booking Bret Hart had he not left the WWF in 1997 and had he faced Steve Austin at WM 14 as originally planned.

 

Feel free to pick it apart or critique it (like most do with other fantasy booking) and feel free to do your own or let me know what you would change or whatever....

 

Oh and Im well aware this is in by no means as good as the original leading Austin/Michaels, but was a decent enough try.

 

 

 

Its Survivor Series '97 - WM 14

 

 

WWF Survivor Series 1997 -

Montreal, Quebec -

Molson Centre -

November 9, 1997

LIVE ON PPV!

 

WWF World Heavyweight Championship Match

D-X & The Hart Foundation Barred From Ringside

Bret "The Hitman" Hart © vs "HBK" Shawn Michaels

 

WWF Intercontinental Championship Match

Owen Hart © vs "Stone Cold" Steve Austin

 

Kane (w/Paul Bearer) vs Mankind

 

5-vs-5 Elimination Match

Vader, The Patriot, Ken Shamrock, Ahmed Johnson & Goldust vs.

The British Bulldog, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, Triple H, The Rock & Faarooq

 

(The story behind this one is that the heel team has members of the 3 biggest factions that had, had some sort of heat leading to the PPV, with DX, NOD & The Hart Foundation and the fact that the heels not being able to work as a unit is thier come-uppance, however the face team loses The Patriot in the weeks leading to the PPV through injury, and chances of it being 5-on-4 become likely, meanwhile Goldust is turning quasi heel and he and Vader have a confrontation on the RAW prior to the PPV, so things become less rosey for the face squad.)

 

The Legion of Doom & The Headbangers vs. The New Age Outlaws & The Godwinns

 

(The LOD are finishing up a fued with the Godwinns in which several weeks previous they regained the TagTitles and The Headbangers are in a mini fued with The New Age Outlaws after they blasted the Bangers with a boombox, this match is purely designed to carry N-A-O's heatinto a fued with LOD)

 

Lightheavyweight Elimination Match

Team Taka (Taka Michinoku, Flash Funk, Super Loco & Scott Putski) vs

Team Sasuke (Great Sasuke, Brian Christopher, Yoshihiro Tajiri & Aguila)

 

(On the RAW after Survivor Series the Lightheavyweight Tournament begins, Great Sasuke makes a special appreance to captain a team to take on Taka's team, Scott Putski is a member of Taka's team making his return after Ground Zero where Brian Christopher injured him)

 

WWF Survivor Series 1997 -

Montreal, Quebec -

Molson Centre -

November 9, 1997

(20,593; sell out; 18,101 paid)

 

Taka Michinoku, Flash Funk, Scott Putski & Super Loco defeated The Great Sasuke, "Too Sexy" Brian Christopher, Aguila & Yoshihiro Tajiri in an Elimination Match at 16:03; Sunny was the Guest Ring Announcer for the Match.

- Brian Christopher eliminated Scott Putski with a rollup and handull of tights

- Taka Michinoku pinned Aguila with a high crossbody

- Flash Funk pinned Tajiri with a 450 splash

- The Great Sasuke pinned Super Loco with a Michinoku Driver

- Taka Michinoku pinned The Great Sasuke with a Michinoku Driver after being inadvertadly knocked into by Christopher

- Taka Michinoku pinned Brian Christopher with a roll up after Sasuke nailed Christopher

 

Sasuke raised Michinoku & Funk's hand after the match

Winners: Taka Michinoku & Flash Funk

 

 

The New Age Outlaws & The Godwinns defeated WWF Tag Team Champions The Legion of Doom & The Headbangers at 12:45

- Thrasher pinned Phineaus with a Rollup

- Hawk pinned Henry after the Doomsday Device

- The Headbangers were disqualified for bringing in a Boombox to smash over Road Dogg's head

- Billy Gunn pinned Hawk after a sunset flip and holding oto Road Dogg outside

- Road Dogg pinned Animal after nailing him with the Tag Title Belt

 

Winners: The New Age Outlaws

 

 

Kane (w/ Paul Bearer) pinned Mankind with a tombstone at 9:30 (Kane's in-ring TV debut)

 

 

The British Bulldog, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, Hunter Hearst Helmsley (w/Chyna) "The Rock" Rocky Miavia & Faarooq defeated Vader, The Undertaker (Special Mystery Sub. For The Patriot) Ken Shamrock, Ahmed Johnson & Goldust (w/The Patriot) at 35:04

- The Undertaker pinned The Anvil with a Chokeslam

- The Bulldog pinned Ahmed with a running powerslam

- The Rock pinned Ken Shamrock after nailing him with a chair as a mele went on in the ring busting him open

- The Undertaker was counted out after Paul Bearer came to ringside to taunt him, Undertaker chased him backstage

- HHH & British Bulldog were both DQ'ed after getting into an argument over who would finish off Vader, the two then began brawlling around ringside with Chyna getting involved until referees instructed them to leave

- Goldust walked out of the match after refusing to tag in, leaving Vader all alone

- The Rock pinned Vader with a Rock Bottom after Vader was double teamed by Rocky & Faarooq

 

Winners: The Rock & Faarooq

 

 

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin pinned WWF IC Champion Owen Hart (w/British Bulldog & Jim Neidhart) with the Stunner at 4:02; prior to the bout, Austin hit the Stunner on Neidhart; after the match, Austin hit the Stunner on Owen & Bulldog

 

 

WWF European Champion Shawn Michaels & WWF Champion Bret "The Hitman" Hart went to a No Contest at 20:56 after members of The Hart Foundation and D-Generation X came to ringside, both Michaels & Hart got into it with thier rival factions leading to a hige pull apart brawl, after the match Michaels, HHH, Chyna & Rude escaped up the aisle and set light to the Maple Leaf Flag as the show came to a close.

 

 

In Your House "Triple Jeopardy" -

Springfield, MA -

Civic Center -

December 7, 1997

LIVE ON PPV!

 

WWF World Heavyweight Championship Match!

Triple Threat Match

Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs "HBK" Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker

(All 3 have held the WWF Title at one point in 1997, all 3 have fueded with each other, Michaels & Undertaker go to a No Contest in a No.1 Contender Match and the desicion to have Bret Hart defend the title in a Triple Threat Match is made)

 

WWF Intercontinental Championship Match

Steel Cage Match

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs Owen Hart

(The final blow off to this fued inside the cage,I know realistically Austin would have been limited, so Owen will be bumping and bleeding for him in this one)

Hunter Hearst Helmsley (w/Chyna) vs "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith

(After brawlling at the Survivor Series, on RAW, HHH/Bulldog go to a Double DQ which ends up in Bulldog cuffed to the ropes as Chyna assulats Diana Hart Smith who is sat in the front row, angering the Bulldog he challenges HHH to this match, which leads to HHH cutting sexual promos on Diana)

 

Vader vs The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust (w/Luna Vahon)

 

WWF Tag Team Championship Match

The Legion of Doom vs "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn & Road Dogg

 

WWF Lightheavyweight Championship Finals

Taka Michinoku vs The Great Sasuke

(Taka defeats Tajiri in the Semi's while Sasuka pins Brian Christopher who was distracted by Taka Michinioku who came to ringside to observe, this is the rubber match between these in the WWF)

 

Jeff Jarrett vs Cactus Jack

(Jarretts first match back in the WWF is at the PPV, Sgt Slaughter books him vs. Dude love, however Dude informs Jarrett on RAW that he is unavailable and he must face Cactus instead.)

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

"The Rock" Rocky Miavia, Faarooq & D'lo Brown vs. Ken Shamrock, Ahmed Johnson & "Marvellous" Marc Mero (w/Sable)

In Your House "Triple Jeopardy" -

Springfield, MA -

Civic Center -

December 7, 1997

(6,358; sell out)

 

Taka Michinoku defeated The Great Sasuke with a Michinoku Driver at 12:00 after Brian Christopher's interference had backfired, Christopher was doing color commentary for the match and Sunny was the guest ring announcer, Sasuke raised Michinoku's hand after the match (Sasuke's last commitment with WWF)

 

"The Rock" Rocky Miavia, Faarooq & D'Lo Brown defeated Ken Shamrock, Ahmed Johnson & "Marvellous" Marc Mero at 7:08 after Rocky pinned Mero with a small package after Mero was distracted by Sable who was talking to a fan at ringside, before the match Rocky challenged the winner of the cage match to a match on RAW, after the match Mero screamed at Sable backstage

 

Hunter Hearst Helmsley (w/Chyna) pinned The British Bulldog at 9:01 after Chyna nailed Bulldog with a lowblow, after the match HHH & Chyna beat on Bulldog promoting Diana Smith to run and protect her falled husband until Chyna again attacked her until officials ran in.

 

The Artist Formerly Known as Goldust (w/Luna Vachon) pinned Vader at 5:45 when Luna smashed Vader over the head with a coconut.

 

Jeff Jarrett pinned Cactus Jack at 6:34 when The New Age Outlaws came out and nailed Jack with a Double DDT on the floor (Jack/Outlaws had a confrontation on RAW)

 

WWF Intercontinental Champion "Stone Cold" Steve Austin defeated Owen Hart in a Steel Cage Match at 7:45 by escaping the cage after he had handcuffed Hart to the door and nailed him repeatedly with a "Stop" sign.

 

Billy Gunn & the Road Dogg defeated WWF Tag Team Champions the Legion of Doom to win the titles at 9:23 when Gunn pinned Road Warrior Animal with a victory roll after Road Dogg hit Animal in the back with a steel chair, preventing the Doomsday Device; immediately after the win, the new champions ran backstage and drove off

 

"HBK" Shawn Michaels defeated WWF World Champion Bret "The Hitman" Hart & The Undertaker in a Triple Threat Match at 20:50 after Kane came out and Tombstoned The Undertaker on the Steel Steps as Hart & Michaels fought around the ring, Michaels then pushed Hart off the apron through the announce table and covered the unconsious Undertaker to win the Title.

 

 

After the Dec PPV, the fued between Michaels & Hart continues (with smatterings on the Undertaker thrown in too who obviously has his issues with Kane) In a match on RAW pitting DX vs The HF (Shawn Michaels, Triple H & Chyna vs Bret Hart, Owen Hart & The Bulldog) DX injure and put out the Bulldog by hanging him over the top rope by a Dog Collar Chain and beating him down as Bret & Owen are handcuffed to the ringposts, all the confrontations between DX/HF hint at a Hart Foundation babyface turn, as they play the default faces. Before long Hart challenges Michaels to a Ladder Match at The Royal Rumble.

 

Meanwhile on the RAW following Survivor Series, Stone Cold defends his IC Championship against Rocky Miavia, Rock wins via DQ when Ken Shamrock runs in attempting to stop interference from Faarooq but gets Austin DQ'ed, from then on Rocky & The Nation becomes a thorn in Austin's side, despite Shamrock trying to help Austin, he refuses to accept until Shamrock decides to leave Austin to his own devices, before long a Triple Threat IC Title Match is set for Royal Rumble.

 

Plus, its announced that Mike Tyson is doing the Enforcer gig at WM, and will show up at the Royal Rumble as a guest.

 

Also since September when Austin stunned McMahon, more and more references to Vince being the owner are apparent, plus his dislike for Austin, which comes to a head during the Mike Tyson announcement as McMahon comes out to formally announce it and Steve Austin confronts him downplaying it as not being a big deal as he is badder than Tyson which leads to Austin stunnering McMahon for a 2nd time.

 

WWF Royal Rumble 1998 -

San Jose, CA - Arena -

January 18, 1998

LIVE ON PPV!

 

WWF World Heavyweight Championship Match

Ladder Match

Shawn Michaels © vs Bret 'The Hitman' Hart

 

WWF Intercontinental Championship Match

Triple Threat Match

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin © vs "The Rock" Rocky Miavia vs. Ken Shamrock

 

WWF Tag Team Championship Match

New Age Outlaws © vs The Legion of Doom

 

Handicap Match

Vader vs The Artist Formerly Known as Goldust & Luna Vachon

 

WWF Lightheavyweight Championship Match

Taka Michinoku © vs "Too Sexy" Brian Christopher

 

30 Man Over The Top Rope Royal Rumble

 

WWF Royal Rumble 1998 -

San Jose, CA - Arena -

January 18, 1998

(18,542)

 

Vader defeated The Artist Formerly Known as Goldust and Luna Vachon in a Handicap Match at 7:41 after nailing Vaderbomb on Goldust while Luna was on his back.

 

WWf Lightheavyweight Champion Taka Michinoku defeated Brian Christopher at 8:40 with a Michinoku Driver after Christopher was distracted by Sunny at ringside, Sunny had been the guest ring announcer and Christopher tried hitting on her at the beggining of the match which resulted in Sunny slapping him.

 

WWF IC Champion "Stone Cold" Steve Austin defeated The Rock & Ken Shamrock in a Triple Threat Match at 10:50 after hitting a stunner on The Rock as Ken Shamrock had ben knocked to the outside of the ring, After the match Vince McMahon came out to interview Mike Tyson but Steve Austin refused to leave the ring as he was celebrating, causing a host of officials having to remove him Ausin stunned three oficials until Vince saisd he would be removed from tonights Rumble if he did not co-operate, Austin left but went face to face with Tyson in the aisle as he made his entrance.

 

Vince McMahon interviewed Mike Tyson, who claimed to be a fan of Steve Austin but also said that if he gets in his face again in that manner he would take him out, McMahon seemed pleased.

 

The Legion of Doom defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Billy Gunn & the Road Dogg via disqualification at 7:54 when the Road Dogg broke a pin attempt with a steel chair, after handcuffing Road Warrior Hawk to the ring post; Hawk broke free of the handcuffs after the match to come to Animal's aid

 

Steve Austin won the 30-man Royal Rumble match at 55:20, by lstly eliminating Rocky Miavia.

Notes:

- Mick Foley competed three times at Dude Love, Mankind & Cactus Jack

- Kane was eliminated by 7 guys and on his departure he destroyed 3, before having a face to face with The Undertaker who was making his entrance, a face turn had been teased by Kane on the previous RAW, Paul Bearer was flapping and dragging Kane away as Undertaker passed.

- An injured Triple H (w/Chyna) came out and nailed Owen Hart with his crutch leading to his elimination, leading to Owen attacking HHH and officials breaking it apart, prior to themain event HHH attacked Owen backstage preventing him from being Bret's corner man in the Main Event

- The final 3 was The Rock, Undertaker & Austin, Rock thought he had eliminated both men and began celebrating but it was only the Undertaker's feet that hit the ground and Austin re-entered, stunnered Rock and eliminated him for the win.

 

WWF Champion Shawn Michaels (w/Triple H) defeated Bret "The Hitman" Hart at 25:03 in a Ladder Match after Chyna lowblwed Hart with HHH's crutch as both men scaled the ladder, causing Bret to fall and Michaels to retrieve the belt. Bret had overcome the odds of 2 on one by knocking the injured Triple H out with a chair sending him over the guardrail, however it was Chyna who came running out to help Michaels save the gold.

 

 

Steve Austin & Mike Tyson have a huge pull apart brawl on the RAW following which prompts Vince McMahon to set up a match between Rock/Austin for the IC Title the following week, were his Title Shot is also on the line, Austin defeats Rock with interference from Ken Shamrock, promoting Vince to set up a match at No Way Out were Austin's World Title Shot is on the line against The Undertaker. Austin agrees and relinqishes the IC Championship by tossing it into a river telling McMahin the World Title would be his and theres nothing he could do about it.

 

The Rock vs Ken Shamrock is set for No Way Out the winner becoming the New IC Champion

 

More teasing of an Undertaker-Kane union, which comes to an end on the RAW before No Way Out when aukl Bearer lures Undertaker into a trap, Kane comes out of a casket and attacks Undertaker, Vader makes the save, Kane had assualted Vader the week previous and they will meet at No Way Out.

 

The fued between DX and The Hart Foundation continues Bret repeatedly claiming that it will be he who will defend against Stone Cold at Mania, so he can beat him 2 years in a row, British Bulldog and Jim Neidhart make thier returns and a No DQ Anything Goes Match is set between DX and The Harts at NWO, The New Age Outlaws join forces with DX on this night after scoring a tag team win over Bulldog & Owen with help from Triple H.

 

Jerry Lawler joins forces with Brian Christopher to humilate Taka Michinoku leading to George The Animal Steele making the save, a tag match is booked for NWO where the Lightheavyweight Title is on the line and Taka can lose if Steele takes the pinfall.

 

 

WWF No Way Out of Texas -

Houston, TX -

Compaq Center -

February 15, 1998

LIVE ON PPV!

 

No DQ Anything Goes Eight Man Tag Team Match

D-Generation X (WWF Champion Shawn Michaels, WWF European Champion Triple H & WWF TagTeam Champions Road Dogg & Billy Gunn)

vs The Hart Foundation (Bret "The Hitman" Hart, Owen Hart, The British Bulldog & Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart)

 

Wrestlemania Title Shot On The Lime

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs The Undertaker

 

Vacant WWF Intercontinental Championship

The Rock vs Ken Shamrock

 

No.1 Contender Tag Match

The Legion of Doom vs Cactus Jack & Terry Funk

 

Kane (w/Paul Bearer) vs Vader

 

WWF Lightheavyweight Title Tatch

Taka Michinoku & George "The Animal" Steele vs Brian Christopher & Jerry "The King" Lawler

 

TAFKA Goldust & Marc Mero (w/Sable & Luna) vs. The Headbangers

 

 

WWF No Way Out of Texas -

Houston, TX -

Compaq Center -

February 15, 1998

(16,110)

The Headbangers defeated Marc Mero & TAFKA Goldust (dressed as Marilyn Manson) (w/ Luna Vachon) at 13:53 when Thrasher pinned Mero with an inside cradle after the Headbangers switched places while Mero and Goldust attempted to seperate Luna and Sable on the floor; prior to the bout, Mero ordered Sable backstage but she returned in the later moments of the match; after the bout, the two women had to be held apart by officials as well; moments later, Sable shoved Mero to the mat

 

Brian Christopher & Jerry "The King" Lawler defeated WWF Lightheavyweight Champion Taka Michinoku & Gerorge "The Animal" Steele at 6:03 when guest ring announcer Sunny turned heel and lowblowed Taka as Steele was tied up with the referee leaving him prone to the Tenesse Jam, after the match Suny & Christopher embraced, before the match Sunny had kissed Taka good luck, as a result Christopher became the Lightheavyweight Champion

 

Cactus Jack & Terry Funk defeated The Legion of Doom at 6:05 to become the No.1 Contenders to the Tag Titles, The New Age Outlaws did color commentary for the match.

 

The Rock defeated Ken Shamrock via reverse decision at 10:52 to win the Vacant ICChampionship; Shamrock had scored the pinfall with a belly to belly suplex but after the decision the referee found a foreign object in the challenger's trucks, which Rocky had hidden there after using it on Shamrock; thinking Shamrock had used the weapon to score the pin, the referee changed the decision; Shamrock beat down a number of referees following the bout

 

Kane (w/ Paul Bearer) pinned Vader with the tombstone at 6:50; after the bout, Kane brutally hit Vader in the face with a wrench

 

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin pinned The Undertaker with a stunner at 17:01 after The Undertaker was distracted by Kane and Paul Bearer who had come to ringside, after the match during Austin's celebration Undertaker confronted Kane, Kane attacked him with the wrench he attacked Vader and dragged a prone Taker backstage before chokeslamming him into a casket, which was immeidately closed by Bearer; moments thereafter, Paul Bearer came ringside and the now locked casket was brought to the entranceway where Kane smashed at it with an axe and eventually set it a blaze, with Undertaker presumably inside.

 

WWF Champion Shawn Michaels, WWF European Champion Triple H & WWF Tag Team Champions The New Age Outlaws defeated Bret "The Hitman" Hart, The British Bulldog, Owen Hart & Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart at 25:54 when Shawn Michaels pinned Owen Hart with a Superkick, after the match Bret Hart threw a fit over the defeat and got into a confrontation with Steve Austin who had been doing color commentary at ringside resulting in Austin nailing Hart with a stunner.

 

 

On the RAW following the PPV Bret Hart addresses his hissy fit and Steve Austin, claiming that he will be facing Austin at WM if it kills him and challenges Shawn Michaels to a title match in the show and if he doesnt win he will leave the WWF forever, as a result Michaels accepts, and in the main event Hart pins Michaels after a masked man comes through the crowd and puts Michaels out, Austin did commentary for the match and had a face to face showdown with Hart after the match.

 

In the lead up to the WM Main Event, Bret Hart officially re-turns heel and attacks his Hart Foundation teamates claiming them aas the reason its taken him so long to regain the title, and the fact they have been a hinderance, rather than taking responsiblity for his own actions. Meanwhile he forms some sort of a quasi alliance with Vince McMahon who makes in clear he does not want Austin as champion of his company, McMahon also gets Mike Tyson on side by paying him a large sum of money to make sure Austin gets screwed at WM, so all the odds are against Austin going into WM with Hart having McMahon in his back pocket and cMahon paying off Tyson.

 

Meanwhile the DX/Hart Foundation fued continues with Bulldog & Owen as faces, Michaels accuses Owen of being the masked man who cost him the title, Owen denying it saying he is no longer associated with his brother and so much so he is backing Austin at WM. (This includes a cracker of a title match on RAW with Bret defeating Owen with interference from DX) Meanwhile Bulldog and HHH reprise thier fued when HHH has a confrontation with Diana Smith, he calls her husband so much of a joke Bret Hart even kicked him to the curb, Diana slaps him and he pedigree's her, setting up Bulldog trying to regain his European Title.

 

Also on the RAw follwowing NWO, we see the infamous Dumpster Bump from Cactus/Funk from the Outlaws.

 

Plus Undertaker returns before WM to accept Kane's callenge...

 

WWF WrestleMania XIV -

Boston, MA -

FleetCenter -

March 29, 1998

LIVE ON PPV!

 

WWF World Heavyweight Championship Match

Guest Referee: Mike Tyson

Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs "Stone Cold" Steve Austn

 

"HBK" Shawn Michaels vs Owen Hart

 

Brother vs Brother

The Undertaker vs Kane (w/Paul Bearer)

 

WWF European Championship Match

Triple H (w/Chyna) vs "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith (W/Diana Hart Smith)

 

WWF Tag Team Championship Match

Dumpster Match

The New Age Outlaws vs Cactus Jack & Terry Funk

 

WWF Intercontinental Championship Match

The Rock vs Ken Shamrock

 

Mixed Tag Team Match

Marc Mero & Sable vs TAFKA Goldust & Luna Vachon

 

WWF Lightheavyweight Championship Match

Brian Christopher (w/Sunny) vs Taka Michinoku

[hyperchord24 0]

I hate fantasy booking

[Guest Auph10imitated]

My advice to you in regards to that would be

 

1) Dont ever do it

2) Dont open posts containing it

 

You should be fine.

[Richard 0]

Why was Austin's title shot on the line at NWO? Even assuming Vince had the authority to hold up the shot out of spite, you shouldn't have used the Taker as his opponent, especially with Stone Cold going over semi-clean. Otherwise you've done alright.

[Guest Auph10imitated]

Why was Austin's title shot on the line at NWO? Even assuming Vince had the authority to hold up the shot out of spite, you shouldn't have used the Taker as his opponent, especially with Stone Cold going over semi-clean. Otherwise you've done alright.

 

I started the Vince & his Power Trip thing about 2 months earlier than actually reality so that he could be involved in having Mike Tyson on side (as opposed to DX) and having a hand in turning Bret heel again (as he was quasi-face/tweener in the DX fued) its basically been on slow burn since the Sept RAW where Austin stunned him, by January him announcing Tyson and whatnot and his fall out with Austin has given us the impression he is more than a commentator, pretty much the same way he did after Mania. So he booked Austin against the 2nd strongest face on the roster, I was gonna go with Undertaker/Austin being the last two in the Rumble so he give the match to Taker but I didnt want Austin going over Taker clean twice... However if you could always have it that Vince "arranged" with Slaughter and officials to book that math rather than booking it himself and giving himself this power out of nowhere.

 

As for Undertaker jobing to Austin, its just sort how he did to Michaels in reality at the Rumble with Kane interfering.

 

I was gonna go with Bret, Owen Bulldog & Austin vs Michaels, HHH, NAO, and start dissentian between Bret/Austin there but by adding Undertaker/Austin I got one more high profile match for what was a dreadful PPV (Otherwise id have had to put Godwinns/Quebeccars back on the card to beef it up some more lol) and I could also keep Undertaker on TV another few weeks, as opposed to reality were he dissapeared for almost 2 months.

[The C Man 0]

I can see where you're coming from, but I feel the Taker match should have been saved for after Austin became champ, like in reality. That Summerslam match really cemented Austin as the man. I know people like to be unconventional and distance themselves from reality as much as possible when fantasy booking but sometimes reality can't be bettered, if it aint broke, don't fix it.

[Guest Auph10imitated]

I can see where you're coming from, but I feel the Taker match should have been saved for after Austin became champ, like in reality. That Summerslam match really cemented Austin as the man. I know people like to be unconventional and distance themselves from reality as much as possible when fantasy booking but sometimes reality can't be bettered, if it aint broke, don't fix it.

 

I agree with that one, the fact Undertaker/Austin should have been saved until after Summerslam, however this could have been used in that later angle, after all at that point they would be 1-1 (No Way Out & Cold Day In Hell) on PPV going into Summerslam with that being the Rubber Match. Undertaker wanting to revenge a defeat earlier in the year could have been enough motivation to join forces with McMahon's unholy alliance of Kane & Mankind, which if I remember correctky they hinted at alot in the weeks prior to Summerslam.

 

I also agree things happen for a reason and Bret going to WCW actually worked out better but it can be fun doing the "what if" factor, and how others would have gone about it. Its cool to do if bored, but its not to be taken seriously of course.

[Prime Time Andrew Doyle 0]

This is all well and good but Hart was never going to be cheered in that period unless he turned on the HF. A better way to do it would be to have him turn face by leaving them the night of the Raw match against HBK, making Michaels think that he would be alone against Bret and having it the HF come down and help him win it with them celebrating with McMahon as he was behind it all along, siding with Hart over HBK, because Hart had beaten Austin before.

 

However this is all would never have happened like this because we know what was ahead of for Hart as McMahon laid it out before him before he left.

[Guest Auph10imitated]

This is all well and good but Hart was never going to be cheered in that period unless he turned on the HF. A better way to do it would be to have him turn face by leaving them the night of the Raw match against HBK, making Michaels think that he would be alone against Bret and having it the HF come down and help him win it with them celebrating with McMahon as he was behind it all along, siding with Hart over HBK, because Hart had beaten Austin before.

 

However this is all would never have happened like this because we know what was ahead of for Hart as McMahon laid it out before him before he left.

 

Im not sure if I get what you mean there, but no Hart was unlikley to be cheered at this point, but he did begin playing a more tweener role when DX started fueding with the Harts in October time (Around the time The Nation was involved too) so through the month of December he could have played a more tweener-faceish role based on the actions of DX which were really heelish and they were getting good heat then, I never really meant for Bret to be turned fully fledged face then back to heel, the whole time the Harts were tweeners with gradual face turn... only Bret doesnt fully turn while Owen & Bulldog do, leading them into a fued with a heel DX.

 

Bret then just totally veers avay from Bulldog & Owen and forms an alliance with McMahon to fued with Austin.

 

This would have also lead to a Bulldog/Michaels match at the Mayhem in Manchester PPV (UK) where Bulldog gets his win back.

[theintensifier 0]

My advice to you in regards to that would be

 

1) Dont ever do it

2) Dont open posts containing it

 

You should be fine.

I've always hated that saying on message boards.

 

I've always been a big fan of fantasy booking, but I've never done a history re-written fantasy booking. I always do the present / future style.

 

A reason why I disliked your booking was simple, you had DX completely destroy the Hart Foundation at a couple PPV's, and then quickly had Hart regain the title and get ready to face Austin.

[Guest Auph10imitated]

It was giving Hart that never give up until you acheive it element. DX being the team to beat and Hart keeps coming back for more until he does what he says he intended to do. The fact he puts his career on the line in the RAW match means its do or die this time and he gets the win. Its pretty much how the fued was run with Owen Hart anyways, they constantly killed him on RAW and PPV but he kept coming back and coming back and the fans were backing him to a point, thats how I kept it, but with the whole Hart clan getting dicked about so much so Bret puts his career on the line.. then gets the win.. the transition from Harts/DX to Hart/Austin is one thing I didnt like myself but theres so much to do in a small time period.

 

From there on Owen & Bulldog will be pretty much getting the Mania face win over DX to avenge the fact DX have been getting the upper hand (In reality DX always got the upperhand over Owen, so I wanted it differently this time) so at least Bulldog & Owen get thier heat back, Bulldog also pins Michaels on the UK PPV, and that would be Michaels last match due to injury and Triple H unhappy with the downward spiral brings in X-Pac, and adds the New Age Outlaws.

 

I've always been a big fan of fantasy booking, but I've never done a history re-written fantasy booking. I always do the present / future style.

I do enjoy doing that but its often difficult to go SO far ahead in time because the WWE signs new people and fired people every other week, new people enter the business etc, so its a bit harder as I feel as if ive gotta work with the current roster only and dont know wether to introduce new people etc, I dunno it seems a bit more difficult to guage for me, but I do like doing that, simply for the fact theres SO many things I wouldnt change in the current product, but im sure many feel that way.

 

I've always hated that saying on message boards.

 

Well its true, why open a post containing something you dislike or have no interest in? Ah, I know to make the typical smart ass comment because its "cool" to run someone down isnt it? Whatever, ill just give the dickish comments back, but personally if I see posts I have no interest in (Eg: I hate all that balloted HOF stufff on boards) I wont even waste my energy clicking on it, but each to thier own.

[Guest Teq]

I believe they would have probably done a 4-way at the December PPV, then after that just built for a Hart/Austin Mania match, where Austin would have gone over Bret clean for the title. This was the original idea.

 

This was sheduled for a house show, which leads me to believe they would have done something at least marginally similar at IYH 19. This is of course all before the plan for Bret to leave after Survivor Series came about, but nontheless is pretty interesting:

 

[Promoter 0]

I've read that Hart v. Austin was going to be the main event of WM 14, BUT when was this planned? Did Vince just tell Hart that was the plan? I say this because Vince imo had HBK pegged as the champion around September. Look at the booking. Vince changed his mind to HBK even if Hart had stayed. I will throw another monkey wrench into all of this. How about HBK NOT getting his back all screwed up. How would that change things? What if HBK/Hart happened at KOR '97 instead of Survivor Series? The big problem was the heat between HBK and Hart. If these two didn't have heat things would be a lot different. Basically how much more the wwe would have benefitted with Hart and HBK IN the wwf for 1998. I think if you tweak 1997 wwf things would be drastically altered.

 

I'll do a quick rundown:

Let's really mess with this in 1997, but try to keep to reality if certain incidents didn't or did happen.

Bret returns and faces Austin, yadda yadda. Things stay the same for Survivor Series 1996.

Bret Hart hints at Vince being the boss for giving him the opportunity to get a title shot with the Royal Rumble. Keep the booking the same, but have HBK/Hart happen in the dome. HBK jobs in the match and goes off on Vince Mcmahon instead of Bret Hart. This eliminates HBK trying to avoid the title rematch because it's in his hometown(then again...). Anyways, let's stick with this alternate history. We get the San Antonio screwjob and get Mr. Mcmahon months ahead of time. Now would HBK have lost his smile? Maybe, maybe not. The Hart family reconcile post Rumble RAW.

 

WrestleMania 13?

You see sometimes rumours just seem strange. One rumour had it being HBK/Hart from the start to main event the show. Then somewhere else it was UT being in the main event winning the title for the 13th show. So, what side do I choose for this alternate world? UT. Move up the SummerSlam main event to WM 13 and have the same finish with Bret Hart winning. Same stipulation and HBK is the ref since "he lost his smile" anyways. Have Austin face Ken Shamrock at this event and have Austin do something similar to what really happened. Fans would still latch onto to it since Shamrock had his UFC aura at its height during this time. Austin surviving a bloodbath and anklelock with a UFC guy "might" have the same effect. The Mcmahon/Austin feud begins the night after Mania by refusing him a title shot after such a great showing the night before.

 

SummerSlam '97

Have Austin/Hart submission match for the title in New Jersey. This also changes Austin getting injured.

 

Survivor Series in Montreal

Austin wins the title dethroning Bret in his home country and turns face with help from Austin shaking his hand or something. A year long storyline comes to a close before wcw can capitalize on the wcw/nwo sting/hogan 1 year build for Starrcade.

 

WrestleMania 14

WWF TITLE MATCH

AUSTIN VS. MIKE TYSON

I know, but the wwe would have made A LOT MORE MONEY with this match. Tyson wins the Rumble at #30 and is Vince's golden boy. If Vince never caused the heat between Tyson and King it would have been some goldmine promos with Vince/King/Tyson against Austin. MEDIA ATTENTION GALORE!! Okay, Tyson might have been a trainwreck, but have Patterson work with the guy. The unpredictability of it all is fun for smarks everywhere and for marks a dream match. I guess DX could be his trainers and be at his side to cause antics and so on. So, it's still D-X Raided.

 

 

In terms of Bret and HBK remaining in the company I think it would have pushed a few things back which might have helped the wwf not get stale by the year 2001-2002. HBK/Austin's feud for example might have climaxed at SummerSlam '98. Austin/Taker might have gone to WM 15(which was a rumour around September '98). Austin/Rock might have happened at SummerSlam '99 who knows. HHH would have still got his push somewhat. HBK/Taker would be just under Austin. Austin would have reigned because he was the cash cow any way you sliced it. Austin may have stayed on without that Owen injury thing. They might have built to Austin/Big Show at WM 16 because I read Big Show was guaranteed a title shot in his contract and was one of the reasons he jumped ship. Just only if Vince didn't turn the guy so much times in that year and used him correctly they might have had another Hogan/Andre. You see how things would have been different if Bret and HBK were still active in 1998?

 

-----------------------

Another thing I always wondered was suppose the DX angle was started in 1996 around the time of the nWo roots? Like say HBK ran Ultimate Warrior out of the wwe on raw instead of that match he had with Owen Hart(Warrior's last match). It was around the same time(KOR time) the nwo was starting with Hall and Nash on nitro. I think the following night Hogan turned heel he did not show up on nitro. What if the wwf had HBK proclaim HE was the one behind the takeover down south? The Kliq just expanded and not disbanded using the curtain call footage like he did the night after the first hell in a cell? Suppose HHH had won the KOR and now HBK and HHH were the kings of the wwf, while Hall, Nash, Hogan ran down south? Would that have helped the wwf have better ratings and attendance in the summer and fall of 1996? Remember these were the days of kayfabe before the net really took off. I think it might have worked to a point, but the roster was still kind of thin. Just something to ponder.

[theintensifier 0]

Changing the Hart/Austin match at WM 13 is a horrible idea no matter how you spin it. That match is what the WWF is all about, changing it would be ridiculous and just down right insane.

 

The marks would have been all over Austin - Tyson at WM 14, but the smarks would have shit on it. It would have it's positives, and negative aspects. It would bring in more press, and worldwide coverage, meaning more money and revenue for the WWF. The downside would be actually paying Tyson to wrestle a fixed match, and hoping he doesn't legit knockout your superstar champion. Also, Tyson winning the Rumble would have been ludacrious. Considering the fact that McMahon won it in 1999, which I am sure would not have changed. So in back-back years we have two non-wrestlers winning at the third biggest PPV. Not good.

[Promoter 0]

The Hart/Austin match still happens in the alternate reality. It happens at SummerSlam. I know it looks strange to take that match out of WM 13, but that is exactly what would have happened if HBK didn't "lose his smile". I think the wwe should have gone with the idea of giving Bret the title in the cage match on RAW against SID to make Austin/Hart a title match. Austin STILL loses anyways. It's the LOSS and how he loss that made Austin. The crowd was shifting towards Austin, but it didn't really catch fire until after that match and that whole angle on RAW with Bret Hart when Pillman made his return. So, having the match later in the year when Austin was gaining steam anyways might not have changed anything in terms of when the match happened. Austin was gaining real steam in the summer months feuding with Hart. What really screws things up is HHH winning the KOR in 1996 as was the original plan. We would not have got Austin 3:16.

 

I see the problems with Austin/Tyson(Tyson's a nutcase, but let's be honest if Vince could have done it he would have*Austin could outwrestle the guy you know especially if he didn't have that neck injury which he wouldn't have in my alternate reality) but that is exactly what people thought was going to happen when that incident happened on RAW. Look how the media picked that up and ran with it. Remember the timeframe. The wwe was losing the war at that time and paying Tyson for buy-rates and press that they would never have got anyways. It's that angle that made Austin a household name. Austin got over in the prior year with just the wwe fans and some wcw fans(I do remember some wcw fans downplaying his rise saying things like Austin wasn't an "icon" like Hogan, Piper, Flair etc in wcw). Why would Tyson winning the Rumble be ludicrous? Remember it's MIKE TYSON!!!!

 

You wouldn't have to worry about Vince Mcmahon winning the Rumble in 1999 because I believe the real reason they had him win was so that they could not have AUSTIN WIN 3 friggin years in a row! That would not have been good. What are the chances of someone winning 3 RUMBLE MATCHES in a row? That was way too predictable and lame if that had happened. They easily did the swerve with Mcmahon to build the tension for his rivalry with The Rock and with the boss. They gave Austin the title match because Vince gave up the title shot and being a runner up he took the spot of Mcmahon against The Rock. Austin wouldn't have won The Rumble in 1998 in my alternate reality because he would have been the reigning champion heading into Mania 14. In my alternate reality, Austin could have won The Rumble in 1999 when Vince would finally get the strap off Austin in late '98. Austin winning the Rumble in 1997 and then missing 1998 only to come back in 1999 as the winner is easier to swallow than Austin winning 3 years in a row.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

I've read that Hart v. Austin was going to be the main event of WM 14, BUT when was this planned? Did Vince just tell Hart that was the plan?

Vince proposed it to Bret as part of the series of matches presented to Bret supposedly to try to get him to stay but obviously designed to get him to leave. The series was Bret losing three straight to Shawn, beating Shawn for the belt and then dropping it to Steve.

[Promoter 0]

I've read that Hart v. Austin was going to be the main event of WM 14, BUT when was this planned? Did Vince just tell Hart that was the plan?

Vince proposed it to Bret as part of the series of matches presented to Bret supposedly to try to get him to stay but obviously designed to get him to leave. The series was Bret losing three straight to Shawn, beating Shawn for the belt and then dropping it to Steve.

 

 

Yeah, I know that is why I said if Vince just didn't tell Bret that story and had the real plan of Austin/HBK. Bret would just be transitional. HBK getting those wins and then giving Austin his win back from Hart at Mania as well as giving him the belt sets up HBK/Austin in a strong feud. Where does that leave Hart afterwards? Vince was moving HBK in Bret's position since One Night Stand when Bret wasn't even on the cover of the dvd/tape and his match got taken out in the States release. Vince saw HBK/Austin as the money feud and Bret was just an obstacle to getting to that feud in his mind. Bret being smart went to wcw with having won his feud with Austin and knew Austin would be the premiere star of the wwf at the time instead of opting for what Vince proposed to him. It's another reason why Bret wanted to choose WHO he lost to.

[Guest Teq]

Shawns stated that Vince had no intentions of ever putting the title back on Shawn. I guess because Bret was leaving, Vince decided it would be good to reignite the Bret/Shawn feud that should have happened a year earlier and so put it back on Shawn.

 

After listening to many WO lives with Bret, shoots and reading a tonne of stuff, the plan was that when Bret returned in '96 they'd start a program with Shawn and Bret about how Bret was bitter about losing, hence why Bret built this up in his columns when he was off and even still in some promo's once he got back, which proves they were still unsure of what the Mania 13 card would look like. It appears as though Shawn didn't like the idea and didn't understand the build up while Bret was away.

 

I very much doubt the Austin/Hart feud would have happened, had Bret and Shawns program worked out. Could be due to Shawn being glad Bret was out the way and now once the idea is proposed they have an angle together resulting in Hart winning the title back at Mania 13, Shawn refused. Could not be.

 

This is just what I've came to the conclusion on, so I'm not saying its the complete truth.

[Promoter 0]

I think initially Bret was the main guy and that was the reason why Vince signed him to that multi 20 year contract. However, I think some truth was in Flair's book when he said Vince didn't feel he was worth the money around RR 97. I say this because they went with UT as champion at WM 13. Then the re-negotiating of HBK's contract in 1997 probably made Vince re-think his position on Bret. HBK was actually making more money than Bret with his 20 year contract when broken down. Business wise I could see Vince saying he needed to make his money back on his biggest paid star in HBK and that's where all this heat escalated between the two.

 

I don't know that timeframe around WM 13 is a bit strange. Would Hart win the title in a rematch at WM 13 and then feud with Austin? However, what in the world would HBK do? I think Vince just had a big issue to handle of who he wanted to be the top dog and it took months to figure out and it all topped out at Survivor Series with going with HBK. I think when Vince gave HBK the bigger contract it sealed the deal and caused even more tension. Luckily for Vince Austin took off and made it easy.

 

As you said, HBK probably did not like how Bret was running him down as champion and maybe his way of getting back at Bret was to pull out of the title match at Mania 13. That has always been in the back of my mind. IMO, I don't think Bret's dissaproval of HBK as champion was an angle. HBK gave Bret props the night after he won the title, but Bret kept egging on how he was robbed of the title. It wasn't exactly how Hogan acted as a babyface hero after losing the title to Warrior 6 years earlier.

[Guest Teq]

Shawn told Bret to 'get the fuck out of the ring' after that match. It wasn't professional.

 

Bret jabbing at Shawn throughout the summer was a work, designed to start a feud when he returned in the fall, likely leading to a Wrestlemania rematch at 13. Shawn seemingly didn't co-operate with this and didn't want Bret back in the picture. This likely lead to a lot of the problems you covered.