atm.
Main Eventer
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Post by atm. on May 23, 2019 10:49:25 GMT -5
On the 20th anniversary of the unfortunate passing of Owen Hart, just wanted to know thoughts on if Owen would have overall been a bigger star than Bret in the long run. Thoughts?
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atm.
Main Eventer
WF 10 Year Member
Joined on: Mar 31, 2008 12:48:07 GMT -5
Posts: 1,371
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Post by atm. on May 23, 2019 10:50:14 GMT -5
Sorry, was meant to be posted in Classic, can be moved if needed.
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Post by k5 on May 23, 2019 11:13:48 GMT -5
rumours were that Owen’s black heart gimmick was supposed to lead into a main event push against michaels, but that seems to have gotten nixed as by late 98 he was being phased out of being any real type of player in the wwe.
that plus the fact that his wife wanted him to retire earlier, and his unwillingness to be part of edgy storylines, made it pretty apparent he wasn’t going to be climbing the ladder.
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Post by Next Man’s Knowing Rock on May 23, 2019 12:48:49 GMT -5
No. He had a brief moment as a main eventer in 1994. He certainly wasn’t going to overtake The Rock and Stone Cold in late 1999.
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Post by bababooey on May 23, 2019 13:28:35 GMT -5
I believe he would have become an even bigger star than he already was, but I don’t think he would have been bigger than Bret. I honestly think that no one in the Hart family will ever surpass Bret.
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Post by Chip on May 23, 2019 13:53:25 GMT -5
bigger than Bret? probably not...but he would have absolutely been a world champion at some point even if it was a short run. he was clearly loved by everyone, and had a lot of talent...his promos weren't always the best but the guy was damn good in the ring. i feel like he would have been around another 10 years and at least gotten the World Heavyweight once before hanging it up.
i mean he would have only been 40 in 2005 right in the middle of the "RA" era, and you could tell Owen was a guy who was in great physical shape, could have had a career into his mid-40's easily.
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Post by hbkbigdaddycool on May 23, 2019 13:56:57 GMT -5
No, for Owen had reached his limits as IC Champion in 1997.
Even his Tag Title reign in 1999 with Jarrett seemed forced. Owen just didn't fit the Attitude Era at all in my opinion. He had more of a personality during the New Generation Era than he did during the Attitude Era.
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Post by punksnotdead on May 23, 2019 14:08:56 GMT -5
No. I think Owen was unequivocally better than Bret in every facet as a performer. Better talker, way more charisma, and he was more versatile in the ring. But, the big difference seems to be the passion. Owen was apparently a “what have you got for me” guy, and Bret had more of a mind for building matches and stories and that’s how he built his relationship with Vince.
Owen should have won the cage match at SummerSlam. At worst, he should have won the title at Survivor Series 94 instead of Backlund. Backlund winning the title in 94 is probably my most hated title decision in WWE history.
Owen’s best shot at the main event post screw job was feuding with Shawn in 97/early 98 and they curved Owen towards HHH instead, and Austin was coming anyway. I have no clue why Owen didn’t face Shawn at IYHDX, but he would have lost anyway.
There was nothing wrong with Owen as a baby face but man was he born to play the annoying little brother. So I think Owen as a top heel in 98/99 and you’re dealing with Kane, Taker, Rock and then Triple H and it wasn’t very realistic. Vince had seemingly made up his mind about Owen in 1994.
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Post by punksnotdead on May 23, 2019 14:18:10 GMT -5
Oh, and also, according to Martha, Owen was done after his current deal. Something about they were building their dream house and he wanted to just retire and be a normal guy (a fireman) and raise his family.
You never know if that actually ever happens, because wrestling, but I’ve always kind of never fantasy booked his time into the RA era because I always assumed he’d be done by then.
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Post by LA Times on May 23, 2019 14:22:17 GMT -5
No, for Owen had reached his limits as IC Champion in 1997. Even his Tag Title reign in 1999 with Jarrett seemed forced. Owen just didn't fit the Attitude Era at all in my opinion. He had more of a personality during the New Generation Era than he did during the Attitude Era. Owen wouldve fit in well with WCW if he went there after the Screwjob. He couldve had great matches against Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Rey Mysterio Jr, Eddy Guerrero, etc |
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Post by rowdy1971 on May 23, 2019 14:28:07 GMT -5
Sorry but no. Everyone likes to glamorize Owen as one of the greatest workers, he was good, but not great. That's at least in my mind. If Owen was still alive I seriously doubt he would still be in wrestling at all. Other then convention signings and the eventual HOF induction. Owen would be forgotten about.
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Post by TheLastDude on May 23, 2019 14:50:56 GMT -5
Like everyone else has said, no. I could have seen them either giving him a gimmick where he had the most IC title reigns or the longest IC title reign, but he probably never would have gotten the big one. If he did, it would have been for a month at most as a transitional champion, but even that is probably a very slim chance.
He was a good worker, and he had charm and charisma out the wazoo, but I don't know that he was the face of the company. I think his look and his voice held him back at the time.
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Thunder Chunky
Main Eventer
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Post by Thunder Chunky on May 23, 2019 14:57:45 GMT -5
I doubt it. Austin refused to work with him after he broke his neck. He never said sorry either. If the biggest star in the company isnt going to work with you, how are you get to the top level?
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Post by theoutlaw1999 on May 23, 2019 15:43:30 GMT -5
Call me crazy but I could've easily imagined him in Austin's role through 1998. Owen Vs McMahon would've been epic.
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Post by cordless2016 on May 23, 2019 16:54:08 GMT -5
By 1999 Bret was a main eventer for nearly a decade while Owen was an upper midcarder for much of that time. There seemed to be no plans to push Owen any higher around the time of the incident either. I love Owen but even if he survived I feel that Bret would have still been the bigger star.
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Post by JokerFC on May 24, 2019 10:08:18 GMT -5
I admired Owen as a worker and the guy was a damn fine mid card heel from 94-99...great programmes with Bret, HBK, Austin and his teams with Bulldog & Jarrett were top dollar.
The writing was on the wall for Owen when there was no revenge angle against HBK. When he was busted outta RR98 the way he was? that was all she wrote.
Owen peaked in 1997. He was never going to be any bigger. Even if he had received a programme with HBK? no way would he have went over...Hed likely have been slaughtered if his programme with HHH was anything to go by.
For folks saying he would have done well in WCW...WTF are you basing that on? Bret was a bona fide top guy and look what happened to him....we don't even need to bring Bulldog/Neidhart into it....and no....Bischoff wouldn't have used Bulldog & Owen as a team & pushed them.
As for replacing Austin with Owen in a feud with Vince?.....Cmon now. Owen was nowhere near the mic guy Austin was...not a knock But Austin was one of THE best EVER.
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Post by PJ on May 24, 2019 15:10:28 GMT -5
I know Bret has said Owen was the best of them in the past, but I never saw Owen as more than a mid-card title holder and I don’t think my opinion would have changed had he not passed away.
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Post by ~*Young $ Money*~ on May 25, 2019 1:18:47 GMT -5
I always preferred him over Bret but I don’t know if he would have gotten a bigger push.
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Post by The Brain on May 25, 2019 21:11:01 GMT -5
His peak was definitely from 94-97.Still an awesome run nonetheless.
Even though I knew he was never going to reach the World Title, I still pulled for em at SSlam 94.
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koreygunz
Main Eventer
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Post by koreygunz on May 27, 2019 12:38:57 GMT -5
Though I think he could have gotten the backlund spot with the title, overall I think he was right at the level he should have and could have been. Solid mid card, IC level guy that could maybe give you a brief main event run from time to time with a top face. But he wasn't going to get on the Bret/HBK/Austin level.
And there's nothing wrong with that
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