What If: Sid Justice Won The 1992 Royal Rumble?

That is an interesting thing to think about. I believe I heard that Vince wanted Sid to be his next Hogan but Sid wanted to be a heel. Had Sid won the rumble, I think it would have been better for him to remain a babyface as the champion, he was super over at the time. I think the WWF could have gone a different route at WM8 with matches, I think they should have gotten Hogan vs Flair, Macho vs Jake, and Sid vs Taker for the WWF Title. Flair and Hogan would probably end the show since they were billing this as Hogan's retirement, I think they do the same ending here that they did with the Sid/Hogan match, have Papa Shango come down and interfere in the match - that way Hogan wins but Flair doesn't get pinned - then have Warrior run down to the ring and make the save. Sid vs Taker would take the spot of the mid-card main event with Sid winning, maybe by count-out to keep Taker strong (but, there goes the WM streak for Taker). I would have the Macho/Jake match after the Taker/Sid match that way they could do the same thing they did on SNME and have Taker save Macho and Liz from getting hit by Jake when they come back through the curtain thus turning Taker babyface at this event - since he was starting to get a lot of cheers at the time and it made sense for them to turn him. It's hard to go from here to Summer Slam after this card. I like the idea of Flair and Savage in a feud because they worked so well together but I think Flair makes the obvious choice to face Sid for the title at Summer Slam. I also liked the Warrior/Savage match at that event but it also doesn't make sense without the WWF title being in the picture. I could see them saving the Taker/Jake match for Summer Slam but it was during WM8 that Jake gave his notice so I don't see that happening. I think if Sid was still unhappy about being in the WWF, even if they gave him the title, I could see them doing a Saturday Nights Main Event after WM8 and having Sid drop the title to Flair, then you could have Flair vs Savage at Summer Slam for the Title. If they did do a SNME after WM8, I could also see the WWF asking Jake to stay until then to put over Taker, Jake may have done that since he was close to Taker at the time. If that was the case you would probably still get Taker vs. Kamala at Summer Slam. Warrior would probably work a program at Summer Slam with Papa Shango. I guess my new cards for WM8 and SSL92 would look like this:

WrestleMania 8:
1. HBK vs Tito (if they still ended up firing Marty)
2. Davey Boy vs Berzerker (was supposed to happen but didn't do to time)
3. Piper vs Hitman (IC Title Match)
4. Bossman/Virgil/Hacksaw/Sarge vs Mountie/Repo/Nasty Boys
5. Sid vs. Undertaker (WWF World Title Match)
6. Macho Man vs. Jake
7. Tatanka vs. Martel
8. Natural Disasters vs. Money Inc. (WWF Tag Team Title Match)
9. Owen Hart vs Skinner
10.Hogan vs. Flair (Hogan's "Retirement" Match)

SummerSlam 1992:
1. LOD vs. Money Inc.
2. Virgil vs. Nailz
3. HBK vs. Martel (No Hitting in the Face Match)
4. Natural Disasters vs. Beverly Brothers (WWF Tag Team Title Match)
5. Crush vs. Repo Man
6. Tatanka vs. Berzerker (this was a dark match on the show)
7. Ultimate Warrior vs. Papa Shango
8. Macho Man vs. Rick Flair (WWF World Title Match)
9. Undertaker vs. Kamala
10.Bret Hart vs. Davey Boy Smith (WWF IC Title Match)

I can’t imagine anyone but Ric winning this one. To me this is the most perfect Royal Rumble that has ever existed.

No disrespect to Flair or anyone who worked in that match, because it would have been outstanding regardless of commentary, but Bobby Heenan was the biggest star in that match. His work was comedic gold, and he sold Flair's win as if humanity had just figured out a way to eradicate hunger.

I liked how Hulk Hogan pulled Sid Justice out of the ring brother. Ric Flair was a great world champion. I didn't have a problem with him winning the world title that night.

I was surprised that Sid didn't win. From the previous SummerSlam to that point, it seemed that the WWF was setting him up to be Hogan's heir apparent. I've heard that Sid didn't want to be a heel at that point, and he didn't want to feud with Hogan. I can't blame him for that, but I'm glad that Flair won. With all that Ric achieved in his long career, we would look back on his time in the WWF and wonder why he never got a title run had Vince jumped from Hulk to Sid as his centerpiece.

whoa....another belter and its a scenario I just cant imagine. I've rebooked WM to give us Flair vs Hogan & an all round better card but my entire thesis for a better 1992 is based on Flair winning the RR...

Sid winning is something I genuinely cant picture for now because Ive gave it no thought in the past. But f*ck me Im gonna now!! LOL

I don't think Vince ever planned to go with smaller guys like Bret, Shawn, or even Austin. When it became clear that Hulk was feeling the lure of Hollywood, Vince wanted a younger version of Hulk for the 90s. If any of the early-90s guys that he picked to push--Warrior, Sid, or Diesel--decided to completely commit to the WWF, then the entire decade might have looked very different.

Yeah, I think if Sid would have won the rumble I don't think it would have been smart to put him up against Hogan for his first title defense, you don't want to have fans compete for who they like more. Having Sid face Taker makes the most sense, I would keep Taker heel until this feud/match was over. They could have kept the streak going, even though they weren't thinking about that at this time. Taker could have won by count-out or dq, this also could have set up a rematch for Summer Slam or another SNME between Mania 8 and Summer Slam 92 where Sid could have won. To me, if you don't have Savage/Flair or Hogan/Sid then you have to do Flair/Hogan here, I think if you bill it as his last match the fans will cheer. If you go back and watch WM8, Hogan received a huge ovation. Have the ending here be the same as what happened at the end of WM8 with Papa Shango interfering and Warrior saving the day. 

Kayfabe speaking, it still amazes me all these years later how much Sid got shafted at the Rumble. Tosses Hogan out but does he leave? NOOOO!!!! He has to pull on his arm to help eliminate em.

How was Hogan still a babyface after this??!!The crowed cheering his elimination still puts a smile on my face though