What If: Steve Austin Feuded With HBK In 1996

If HBK/Austin happened in 1996 rather than Bret/Austin in 1996, 1997 may have been the final year of the WWF before it folded. Austin vs The Heart Foundation carried the WWF from Survivor Series 1996 to Survivor Series 1997. Sure, we had Taker and DX doing their things, but the main story for the majority of that year was Austin going after the Harts.

Let’s say Austin feuds with HBK and HBK goes over (similar to when he beat Bulldog and Mankind earlier in 1996). Austin’s momentum stalls due to HBK not getting him over like Bret did. Meanwhile, Bret returns and feuds with...who? Mankind and Taker were in a feud already. Sid? Vader? Neither of those options sounds like a draw (Bret/Vader would have been great in ‘94-96 but HBK did a ton of damage to Vader’s credibility by the time Bret returned).

Also, most importantly, Bret doesn’t have as strong a reason to “snap” and go heel like he did with Austin. Sure, they could have him lose to Sid at IYH or even pick up the Austin/Bret feud later than they did, but is it as effective if HBK already beat Austin in convincing fashion?

I honestly think the WWF may have tanked in 1997 even more than they did had Bret/Austin not happened when it did.