So with PSN being wonky yesterday, I couldn't get into the WWE Network to review the first of many PPVs for your pleasure. New schedule, then:
Today: a WHAT IF.
Tomorrow: a TNA PPV.
Sunday: WrestleMania Recall.
Monday: Raw in DC.
Tuesday: A wild card PPV.
Wednesday: BoDWF News Report with Wade Michael Meltzer.
Here is today's What If:
What if Brutus Beefcake never went parasailing on July 4, 1990?
On that day, Beefcake was involved in a horrific crash that by all rights should have cost him his career and nearly killed him. He required a very long reconstruction surgery to his skull, and he didn't take a bump or wrestle a match until 2 1/2 years later. At the time, he and Mr. Perfect were embroiled in a hot feud, one that seemed ready to culminate at SummerSlam 1990 with the Intercontinental Title on the line.
Now, on the surface this seems a rather easy answer: he wins the I-C title from Mr. Perfect, they turn him heel and test him against Hogan in 1991 or later, and he cruises as one of the Hogan Clique members from there. In fact, his WCW career is likely unchanged. HOWEVER...
The bigger issue is who gets their push delayed as a result of Beefcake still being around. In 1990, Kerry Von Erich was signed hastily by Vince as a replacement Barber (and for his value to the Texas market). His WWF career seemed doomed from the start, since he was inevitably compared with Ultimate Warrior and came up short in the charisma department. If Vince doesn't need him, does the NWA/WCW take a chance on him? And if so, what happens to him?
But then there's Bret Hart. Vince had been willing and trying to pull the trigger on a Bret singles run for some time, and you can see in Royal Rumbles that Bret's stamina is a valuable asset -- he had long runs in 1988, 1990, and 1991. However, does he get that chance if Hogan's brother Bruti is still active? Or does Vince have to delay Bret's rise until 1992-93 -- which in turn puts his World title reigns on the back burner for a year or two?
Gentlemen, discuss: WHAT IF?
Today: a WHAT IF.
Tomorrow: a TNA PPV.
Sunday: WrestleMania Recall.
Monday: Raw in DC.
Tuesday: A wild card PPV.
Wednesday: BoDWF News Report with Wade Michael Meltzer.
Here is today's What If:
What if Brutus Beefcake never went parasailing on July 4, 1990?
On that day, Beefcake was involved in a horrific crash that by all rights should have cost him his career and nearly killed him. He required a very long reconstruction surgery to his skull, and he didn't take a bump or wrestle a match until 2 1/2 years later. At the time, he and Mr. Perfect were embroiled in a hot feud, one that seemed ready to culminate at SummerSlam 1990 with the Intercontinental Title on the line.
Now, on the surface this seems a rather easy answer: he wins the I-C title from Mr. Perfect, they turn him heel and test him against Hogan in 1991 or later, and he cruises as one of the Hogan Clique members from there. In fact, his WCW career is likely unchanged. HOWEVER...
The bigger issue is who gets their push delayed as a result of Beefcake still being around. In 1990, Kerry Von Erich was signed hastily by Vince as a replacement Barber (and for his value to the Texas market). His WWF career seemed doomed from the start, since he was inevitably compared with Ultimate Warrior and came up short in the charisma department. If Vince doesn't need him, does the NWA/WCW take a chance on him? And if so, what happens to him?
But then there's Bret Hart. Vince had been willing and trying to pull the trigger on a Bret singles run for some time, and you can see in Royal Rumbles that Bret's stamina is a valuable asset -- he had long runs in 1988, 1990, and 1991. However, does he get that chance if Hogan's brother Bruti is still active? Or does Vince have to delay Bret's rise until 1992-93 -- which in turn puts his World title reigns on the back burner for a year or two?
Gentlemen, discuss: WHAT IF?