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Post by Fighter Hayabusa on Aug 30, 2022 22:30:01 GMT -5
Speculation was that he didn’t want to drop the belt to Bret so he exaggerated his knee injury and forfeited the title. So him not “losing his smile” means that the planned rematch woulda happened. It’s a well known story, and HBK nixed other potential Bret/HBK matches around that time as well. Even if HBK doesn’t fake his injury I wouldn’t be shocked if they still didn’t work together. Vince probably fires him if he straight up refuses to work the match. Shawn was a liability at the time and didn’t really have much leverage to be refusing to play ball. That’s why he played up the knee injury instead of just saying he wasn’t gonna drop the belt to Bret. |
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Post by MKSavage on Aug 31, 2022 8:29:28 GMT -5
It’s a well known story, and HBK nixed other potential Bret/HBK matches around that time as well. Even if HBK doesn’t fake his injury I wouldn’t be shocked if they still didn’t work together. Vince probably fires him if he straight up refuses to work the match. Shawn was a liability at the time and didn’t really have much leverage to be refusing to play ball. That’s why he played up the knee injury instead of just saying he wasn’t gonna drop the belt to Bret. I don't know, Vince always had a soft spot for Shawn, I don't think he fires him - maybe a short suspension. Vince even kept him on the payroll after WM14, even though he didn't have too, just so he wouldn't go to WCW. I think at that point (February 1997), Vince probably didn't want to loose another "big name" talent to WCW while he was still losing the War. Austin was just emerging, but not yet THE GUY, and the Rock was getting booed at many buildings; so Bret, HBK, and Taker were still his top stars at the time, and for the immediate future. |
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Post by cordless2016 on Aug 31, 2022 12:23:19 GMT -5
It’s a well known story, and HBK nixed other potential Bret/HBK matches around that time as well. Even if HBK doesn’t fake his injury I wouldn’t be shocked if they still didn’t work together. Vince probably fires him if he straight up refuses to work the match. Shawn was a liability at the time and didn’t really have much leverage to be refusing to play ball. That’s why he played up the knee injury instead of just saying he wasn’t gonna drop the belt to Bret. I doubt Vince fires his golden boy. HBK got away with anything and everything at the time and Vince barely ever gave him a slap on the wrist. Heck, even after WM14, Vince kept him on payroll to prevent him from going to WCW. |
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Post by JokerFC on Sept 1, 2022 6:46:27 GMT -5
Very little changes.....Austin's rise continues & still happens as does his feud with the Harts. Only now his feud with Bret involves the world title and the Submission match likely occurs at KOTR 97 or one of the IYH events. Bret wanted Austin as an opponent....his heel turn was already in motion.
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