Paid Members tom Posted November 15, 2011 Paid Members Share Posted November 15, 2011 I was relatively surprised a few months ago to hear that Michaels supposedly was realistically considering jumping ship to WCW in '96/'97 to re-unite with his Clique buddies. Now, I've no idea how true any of that is, but say he did jump, what long-term and short-term impacts do you think it would have had on the industry? Who would take his place at the top of the card? Would WCW waste him? Â The Clique would obviously have big sway backstage in WCW but I do wonder about the relationship with HBK and Hogan. It also brings up some interesting booking options and dream matches; HBK v Sting, Flair, Goldberg, Luger, Malenko (a stretch in terms of card positioning, I know), Savage, Hogan? Yes fucking please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members wandshogun09 Posted November 15, 2011 Paid Members Share Posted November 15, 2011 I deffo read that he was threatening to jump ship when all the backstage shit with Bret was going on. Doubt it was ever that close to happening because I think he was tied into a contract for a few years still at that point. Would have been interesting how he'd have fit in with all the big names in WCW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobra_gordo Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 It's a tricky one. At first I was inclined to say they'd have wasted him like they did with Bret but when you think that Nash and Hall were already there he'd have probably ended up doing well for himself and gotten a decent push and decent angles, plus like you say some pretty cool dream match potential. I think he still would have ended up being out of the main event game over there and stuck underneath such main event gems as Hogan vs Piper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members IANdrewDiceClay Posted November 15, 2011 Paid Members Share Posted November 15, 2011 Michaels walked out in 1997. He threw the hair Bret Hart yanked out on Vince's table, told them to release him and walked out. As far as how he'd do in WCW, it seems pretty obvious how it would have went. The Clique already had big power in WCW, but Hogan had legal written creative control and had Bischoff's ear and was the biggest star in the promotion. Nash wasn't pushed as a main eventer in 1998 because of Hogan. The plan was always to have Nash vs Hogan feud, but Hogan told him where to go because they weren't friends at the time. People forget, when Hall and Nash were on Hogan and Bischoff's good side, they could get away with what they want. When Hall and Nash were on their bad side, they were pissed about. Hall and Nash were split up, Hall was doing pissed up storylines, the Wolfpac were in a rotten position for how over they were. If Michaels joined WCW, Austin would have still be a massive star in the WWF, WCW would have had another drugged up trouble maker in the locker room and Michaels would have probably have been working with Randy Savage and DDP in the uppercard. The main event slots were filled in 97 and 98 and there were smarter wolves in WCW than there were in the WWF. Michaels would have struggled in WCW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueknowzit Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 yeah a run with the NWO, possible worked shoot with bret, given the strap at some point then dropped to Hogan, possible overdose or certainly some drugged up Kliq antics and then sitting out his contract when it all went tits up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil_version_1 Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Probably would of been pushed for a few weeks then put shoved in the nwo where he would of no doubt been lost in the flow. I think its fair to say if he had of gone to wcw, we wouldn't remember him as the huge star we do now. But then again if he had, there's a good chance the 1997 bret hart screwjob wouldn't of happened......blimey what would I have talked about the the following 10 odd years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimufctna24 Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 I have always said as much I like HBK, I dont think it would have made any significant difference to wrestling history from a business standpoint if he jumped, although Montreal would have not happened. Â Austin and Tyson would have still drawn big and sent Austin on his way to mega stardom, and Foley or someone else would have dropped the belt to Austin and been knocked out by Tyson at Wrestlemania 14. HBK was the side salad at that event, Austin and Tyson were the steak, a bit like The Miz at Wrestlemania this year. Â Ian above summed up his prospects in WCW. HBK was one of the best in-ring performers of all time but he was never someone you could base the company around and do decent business like Rock, Austin and Hogan. I would argue also that a lot of performers below the 3 megastars just mentioned have at stages been more over and bigger draws than HBK ever was, like Foley, HHH and others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicholasjackson Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 If hbk had gone would it of been bret getting sparked out by tyson? Bulldog would of had no trapdoor problem and would hhh of gone to wcw,I wish this had happened Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members IANdrewDiceClay Posted November 15, 2011 Paid Members Share Posted November 15, 2011 There's a point. If Shawn Michaels would have walked out in mid-97, there would have been no DX. And without DX, Triple H wasn't getting over at the time. And with the other four Clique members on the other side, they'd have been able to get him a nice deal with Bischoff handing out the money. I think what would have happened if Triple H would have jumped seems the best question here, looking at how his career took off. Â And! What would have happened to CHYNA!!!!??!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members wandshogun09 Posted November 15, 2011 Paid Members Share Posted November 15, 2011 Yeah Triple H's career would have taken a very different road. DX made him and when Michaels got injured he was the natural heel to build in his absence. Â And! What would have happened to CHYNA!!!!??!! Â She'd have probably got her spotty arse out for a home made porno with La Parka I imagine. Â Another thing to consider. Would Michaels leaving mean Bret staying in the WWF? Chances are Owen would probably have never been doing the Blue Blazer gimmick again in 99 with Bret there and would likely still be alive today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicholasjackson Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 I'm sure chyna was close to deal with wcw before she signed with Vince Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimufctna24 Posted November 15, 2011 Share Posted November 15, 2011 I think Bret would have still left, Vince would have still probably not been able to pay him the agreed deal they had, unless HBK leaving left some more money to pay it. Although I swear I read that HBK was on quite a bit less than Bret in 1997. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators PowerButchi Posted November 16, 2011 Moderators Share Posted November 16, 2011 HBK and Scott Norton would have made a great tag team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaron Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 I don't think it would have made much difference to the business at the time or much in the long run. Â If this also meant no comeback in the 00s and subsequent run then it would have meant hardly anyone rating HBK as an all-time great. Perhaps. Given that his best years were after the demise of WCW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PunKer Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 if HBK jumped to WCW then this guy could of been main eventing...... Â Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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