Crush as champ in 1994

I think they really thought about giving him a main event run a few times throughout 1992 and 1993. He was on the short list in 92 of who was gonna take the belt off Flair, they positioned Doink and He as probably the third biggest match on that years mania. He had the mini program with Yoko. I just don’t think he had the main event chops to carry main events.

If anything I think them changing his role from #4 or #5 babyface to turning him heel in an attempt to move him up the card. That was the mistake. There would have been no shame in him being behind Bret, Lex, Taker, and Razor. Turning him heel ended up putting him behind Yoko, Owen, Borgia, Shawn and Diesel, and Lawler.

I have said it a million times, but his failure to get his revenge on Doink and his failure to win the IC title, which ties into his feud with Doini killed all the momentum he had in 1992.

As big a fan of his as I was, I just do not see him as world champion material. IC champ would have suited him, but HBK was no way dropping that title lol.

I liked Crush, but I don't think he was capable of being the WWF Champion. He might have been able to hold the IC title for a bit, but I don't think he had the ability to even carry that belt over HBK, Razor or Diesel at the time. Maybe if they gave him a good run with the IC title first, kind of like Warrior's IC title run in the late 80s, he might have been able to make it to the level of a WWF Champion, but even then, I still do not see it happening. He didn't have the look or charisma of the Warrior and he didn't appear to get any better over the years (on the mic or in the ring). Even though the roster was paper thin at the time, he still had to leapfrog a lot of guys who were better than him, either in the ring or on the mic.

I like the Crush character a LOT. Talking mainly about the Kona and Evil incarnations, but as decent as he was for a big guy he just didn't seem to have that something special to make him truly stand out as a main event contender.

He was pretty over - or at the very least his finishing move/taunt was - for a while. However, I don't believe Crush was ever able to recover from getting embarrassed during his feud with Doink. Time and time again, Doink got the upper hand and made him look like a fool. As much as I obviously love that era of Doink, being on the losing end of a heated rivalry against such an over-the-top gimmick character which was very much one-sided probably hurt his stock with the fans. How could they take him seriously as some major title contender when he couldn't even wrangle the silly wrestler clown?

Crush will always make my boys stable. He was a favorite from my earliest years watching the WWF and his run as the evil foreign sympathizer was also enjoyable. However, he was never someone who I felt was established enough to crack the upper part of the card on a consistent basis. Some of that blame goes to mediocre booking while some is on him.

Crush being an IC Champion as a baby face in 1993, sure!

Crush being a Tag Team Champion with Yokozuna in 1994, sure!

Crush being WWE Champion during those years?? No, probably not.


The only way it would have worked is if Crush slammed Yokozuna on July 4th and then beat Yokozuna at SummerSlam. Even if that did happen, I can't see a long title reign happening because I feel fans would eventually burn out on the concept of Crush as WWE Champion.

WWE never had any plans on pushing crush, they just constantly saw him as a 6 foot 6 inch jobber

Had Crush beat Macho at Mania, Yoko sliding down the card due to weight issues, Borga disappearing and Shawn wrapped up in a feud over the IC he coulda stepped forward as a top heel, just behind Owen.

If anything, Crush being in Backland's spot at SS94 woulda been doable.

The feud with Mach was great. Love the story told. Like how they'd get em on the phone during his recovery and when Mach talked he'd just hang up.

Ton of potential for sure during this run. Shame it never materialized for em