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Post by hbkjason on Sept 18, 2020 14:16:36 GMT -5
What If: Bret Hart Went Through Savage, Warrior and Hogan In 1992/93
I am a huge Bret Hart fan and him becoming the WWF Champion in 1992 was huge fo me as a kid. We have all heard the rumors a million times that he was supposed to go through Savage, Warrior and Hogan. I am not sure what I think about that, I am sure Bret mentions taking on Warrior at the Royal Rumble, but as a kid I vividly remember the first Royal Rumble 1993 poster still having Bret and Razor on it and also the Warrior. Anyway, my "What If" is this. After SummerSlam 1992, Vince wants to go in a different direction, which he ultimately does. My question is if instead of taking the belt of Ric Flair, what if Bret Hart beat Randy Savage for the belt, then defended it against Ultimate Warrior and also Hulk Hogan. Bret got over as good as he could during a time when wrestling was on a downward swing in the USA. Do you think had Vince decided to have Bret Hart go through the old guard that it would have put him even more over. I know that part of this What If, relies on the Warrior not getting canned in November. However, I think that Bret made it work, no matter who they put him in there with. Just imagine how much more impactful it would have been had he took out the old guard during that first year. I would love to read you guys thoughts on what would have happened had the WWF decided to go this way. |
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Post by Evil Abed on Sept 18, 2020 14:22:28 GMT -5
I personally wonder if Bret would have gotten booed into being a heel. You’re asking fans of three of the biggest names in WWE history to accept the fact that this guy is getting the corporate push through all of them in a short span. Realizing that that kind of push for Bret wouldn’t have been met with as much disapproval as the recent push for Roman since it was different times but I still don’t think it would have gone over well.
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Warriah'
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Post by Warriah' on Sept 18, 2020 14:22:47 GMT -5
I always felt that Bret had an uphill climb given how really nobody aside from Flair and Piper who was a legitimate star genuinely put him over on his way up.
Guy was supposed to face Jake at Survivor Series, Warrior at Rumble, Savage at Mania and Hogan at Summerslam and none of it went through.
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Post by hbkjason on Sept 18, 2020 14:24:29 GMT -5
Wow, I had no idea he was supposed to fight Jake, first I have heard of that. I imagine that would have been pretty awesome stuff if it happened.
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Warriah'
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Post by Warriah' on Sept 18, 2020 15:43:42 GMT -5
Wow, I had no idea he was supposed to fight Jake, first I have heard of that. I imagine that would have been pretty awesome stuff if it happened. Bret talked about it in his book, he talks about it here and says it was Summerslam 92 so he may be getting his wires crossed a bit |
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Post by The Brain on Sept 18, 2020 17:17:50 GMT -5
Man what a great visual it wouldve been to see Hogan in the sharpshooter at SSlam 93.
It's a shame Jake left after Mania VIII as a feud with Bret for the IC belt wouldve been fantastic.
And man nothing against Yoko but boy do I wish we got Bret/Savage at Mania IX.Talk about an all time classic.
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Post by MKSavage on Sept 18, 2020 18:22:00 GMT -5
Man what a great visual it wouldve been to see Hogan in the sharpshooter at SSlam 93. It's a shame Jake left after Mania VIII as a feud with Bret for the IC belt would've been fantastic. And man nothing against Yoko but boy do I wish we got Bret/Savage at Mania IX. Talk about an all time classic. Yeah, I would have loved to have seen a feud with Jake and Bret in 1992, I think that would have been great. I too would have loved to have seen Hogan in the sharpshooter at Summer Slam 1993. And Bret/Savage for the title at WM9. Although I do think it would have been cool if Bret could have gone through Hogan, Warrior and Savage. However, I agree with Evil Abed, that might have forced the fans to choose between Bret and Hogan or Warrior or Savage, I'm not sure if the fans would have gotten behind Bret over those 3 at that time. I don't think he would have been completely booed but I believe the fans would have been on the other 3's side more than Bret's - it might not have been best for Bret. |
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Post by The Brain on Sept 18, 2020 18:27:38 GMT -5
Man what a great visual it wouldve been to see Hogan in the sharpshooter at SSlam 93. It's a shame Jake left after Mania VIII as a feud with Bret for the IC belt would've been fantastic. And man nothing against Yoko but boy do I wish we got Bret/Savage at Mania IX. Talk about an all time classic. Yeah, I would have loved to have seen a feud with Jake and Bret in 1992, I think that would have been great. I too would have loved to have seen Hogan in the sharpshooter at Summer Slam 1993. And Bret/Savage for the title at WM9. Although I do think it would have been cool if Bret could have gone through Hogan, Warrior and Savage. However, I agree with Evil Abed , that might have forced the fans to choose between Bret and Hogan or Warrior or Savage, I'm not sure if the fans would have gotten behind Bret over those 3 at that time. I don't think he would have been completely booed but I believe the fans would have been on the other 3's side more than Bret's - it might not have been best for Bret. Unless they turned one of those three heel.Hogan and Warrior I couldnt see although the latter would've been interesting as hell. Savage turning heel in the build to Mania couldve worked though. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2020 21:12:50 GMT -5
im glad he didnt really. i really wasnt a fan of bret/shawn getting the big spotlight like they did. to me they were smaller IC champ type guys. at least until later in 1997 and later was ok tho.
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Post by cordless2016 on Sept 18, 2020 22:11:54 GMT -5
If anyone could have beaten all three of those guys and still be a fan favorite, it’s Bret. And honestly, of those three guys, I feel like Savage is the only opponent where the fans would be split at that time. With Hogan and Warrior, by 1992/3 I feel like fans were sick of them (Hogan atleast). Bret would been great playing the underdog against them.
Problem is if we did get the Hogan/Bret match at SummerSlam 1993, I don’t see Hogan ever putting Bret over clean. Hogan was all about himself, and we’ve all heard how Hogan felt that Bret was “too small” to be the world champ. If they worked together, I see an overbooked ending where the match ends in a no contest, or one of them wins after being attacked by someone else (I wouldn’t put it past Vince to book Hogan to go over Bret, even in 1993). I have similar feelings with Warrior.
Honestly the only match I wish we’d have gotten was Bret vs Savage at WM9. I know that they’d have put on a classic and Savage would have no problem putting Bret over clean. And if Vince wanted Bret/Yoko at WM, he still could have booked Bret/Savage at the rumble).
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Post by The Brain on Sept 18, 2020 22:19:40 GMT -5
If anyone could have beaten all three of those guys and still be a fan favorite, it’s Bret. And honestly, of those three guys, I feel like Savage is the only opponent where the fans would be split at that time. With Hogan and Warrior, by 1992/3 I feel like fans were sick of them (Hogan atleast). Bret would been great playing the underdog against them. Problem is if we did get the Hogan/Bret match at SummerSlam 1993, I don’t see Hogan ever putting Bret over clean. Hogan was all about himself, and we’ve all heard how Hogan felt that Bret was “too small” to be the world champ. If they worked together, I see an overbooked ending where the match ends in a no contest, or one of them wins after being attacked by someone else (I wouldn’t put it past Vince to book Hogan to go over Bret, even in 1993). I have similar feelings with Warrior. Honestly the only match I wish we’d have gotten was Bret vs Savage at WM9. I know that they’d have put on a classic and Savage would have no problem putting Bret over clean. And if Vince wanted Bret/Yoko at WM, he still could have booked Bret/Savage at the rumble).  |
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Post by K5 on Sept 18, 2020 23:13:52 GMT -5
warrior and hogan yes, savage wasn't needed. thoroughly dismantle the limited worker bodybuilder mega face and replace it back with top quality workers like Bret and Savage
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Post by hbkjason on Sept 19, 2020 2:43:14 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies guys, him vs Savage, especially if they could have gotten Savage to be heel or at the very least his older aggressive self could have been great stuff indeed.
I know that many people say they could not see Hogan putting him over clean, but I think Warrior would have had the biggest problem with it. No matter what, I could not see either Hogan or Warrior submitting to Bret Hart.
I have to disagree about Bret getting a negative reaction. I think he was the one guy that fans would have bought and accepted taking out the old guard. I know first hand just how over Bret Hart was here in the UK (and the rest of Europe) by all accounts and I do not think he was all that less over in the USA.
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Post by JokerFC on Sept 19, 2020 8:34:41 GMT -5
I dont think he would have got a negative reaction. careful booking would have been required but Its doable. Vince missed a huge trick with Savage in 93/94 being a anti NG heel. It would have been gold in my book. He was wasted in the announce booth.
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Warriah'
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Post by Warriah' on Sept 19, 2020 9:12:42 GMT -5
I dont think he would have got a negative reaction. careful booking would have been required but Its doable. Vince missed a huge trick with Savage in 93/94 being a anti NG heel. It would have been gold in my book. He was wasted in the announce booth. Bret didn't even get a negative reaction in England against the British Bulldog. No chance he was being booed against Hogan or Warrior in 93. Against Savage, even as a face you're looking at 50/50 at best, which would have created as great an atmosphere as Bulldog/Bret or Rock/Hogan on a big stage. |
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Post by Nivro™ on Sept 19, 2020 11:39:09 GMT -5
Have we ever heard anyone other than Bret and/or Bret's friends say the plan was for him to go over the big 3? Sorry but I have a really hard time thinking Vince was going to let Bret beat Flair, Savage, Warrior and Hogan within 6/8 months of each other especially knowing Savage & Hogan, unlike Flair & Warrior werent "gone" for good.
And we really gotta stop with fans were tired of Hogan by the 90s. He wasnt 87 white hot but he was still getting reactions that 98% of the roster would have KILLED to get.
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Post by Evil Abed on Sept 19, 2020 11:47:22 GMT -5
Would have loved to see Bret vs. Savage. Savage is the only one I could see putting over Bret clean anyways.
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Warriah'
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Post by Warriah' on Sept 19, 2020 14:29:51 GMT -5
Have we ever heard anyone other than Bret and/or Bret's friends say the plan was for him to go over the big 3? Sorry but I have a really hard time thinking Vince was going to let Bret beat Flair, Savage, Warrior and Hogan within 6/8 months of each other especially knowing Savage & Hogan, unlike Flair & Warrior werent "gone" for good. And we really gotta stop with fans were tired of Hogan by the 90s. He wasnt 87 white hot but he was still getting reactions that 98% of the roster would have KILLED to get. Pretty sure Bruce Prichard confirmed Hogan/Bret took the promo photoshoot of them tugging on each end of the belt, and it's well documented that Savage was pencilled in to win the Rumble until last minute. |
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koreygunz
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Post by koreygunz on Sept 19, 2020 16:50:14 GMT -5
Wow, I had no idea he was supposed to fight Jake, first I have heard of that. I imagine that would have been pretty awesome stuff if it happened. I think Bret is mistaken here. He said in his book he was going to face Jake at Surviror Series for the title. Jake left in April that year. Vince didn't even make the decision to put the belt on Bret until August/September. He didn't have his reign planned at WM8. Of all those matches, I think the only one that realistically could have worked was against Savage at WM9. Because Savage could have played a quasi-heel in the build up, then at the end of the match he shakes Brets hand and all is good. Warrior and Hogan would not have been good. Face vs face didnt work back then, plus I could never see Warrior or Hogan agreeing to put Bret over. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2020 16:57:30 GMT -5
Have we ever heard anyone other than Bret and/or Bret's friends say the plan was for him to go over the big 3? Sorry but I have a really hard time thinking Vince was going to let Bret beat Flair, Savage, Warrior and Hogan within 6/8 months of each other especially knowing Savage & Hogan, unlike Flair & Warrior werent "gone" for good. And we really gotta stop with fans were tired of Hogan by the 90s. He wasnt 87 white hot but he was still getting reactions that 98% of the roster would have KILLED to get. When I started watching in 91 he was getting great reactions. Even in 92 and 93. |
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