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Post by hbkbigdaddycool on Apr 21, 2023 9:51:46 GMT -5
I wonder what wrestling would have been like if Verne Gagne was more into sports entertainment than pro wrestling, and put the rocket ship to Hogan in the AWA and built the company around him??
Would the AWA become a house hold name as well as Hogan still?? Or would Verne eventually mess it up??
Also, would Vince have Roddy Piper be the company's good guy and become World Champion?? He was over like crazy as a face in NWA before he jumped ship to the WWF in 1984.
What does everyone think would happen in that 1984 year if things didn't go as the way they did??
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Post by LA Times on Apr 21, 2023 10:04:22 GMT -5
There was always the rumor Vince was going to sign Kerry Von Erich and make him the face of the WWF if he couldn't get Hogan.
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TWJT
Superstar
Joined on: Aug 7, 2021 19:07:25 GMT -5
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Post by TWJT on Apr 21, 2023 10:23:39 GMT -5
I feel like Vince would have still eventually picked him up, maybe by '86 or '87. If he absolutely refuses to come, he either pushes Dusty, Backlund, or someone we haven't even heard talked about as being a potential filler of that spot, to be the top guy, and success still comes and the WWF still goes national.
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Post by The Brain on Apr 21, 2023 10:54:04 GMT -5
I dont think Vern wouldve been able to handle the Hulkamania train like Vince did.Just cant see it being as big as it was in WWF in the AWA
As far as who gets Hogan's spot in WWF,Well to me Sarge wouldve been a great option. Over like rover and with him playing the All-American babyface it just wouldve been right up Vince's alley. Perfect fit
Kerry no doubt had potential as the top dog but his demons wouldve been his downfall.If Vince signed em and put the rocket to em could he maintain all those years as the champ? I have my doubts with his history
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Old Zeke
Main Eventer
'Fraid old Zeke, he rides up here with me. Can't trust a pig with watermelons, you know.
Joined on: Jun 24, 2019 13:46:50 GMT -5
Posts: 3,361
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Post by Old Zeke on Apr 21, 2023 11:41:36 GMT -5
Verne would've  ed it up somehow. Probably by beating Hogan for the belt himself.  |
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Post by CM Tusk on Apr 21, 2023 14:08:03 GMT -5
Vince would have pushed harder for Dusty to come in and build around him probably.
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nibs92
Main Eventer
Joined on: May 29, 2008 5:47:21 GMT -5
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Post by nibs92 on Apr 21, 2023 15:09:32 GMT -5
Can’t see Hogan not going to WWF. Vince’s vision would have remained the same. Cable tv was always going to replace the old territory system and Vince was one of the only ones to see that. The WWF would have expanded to the point that they would be the biggest. If Hogan didn’t lead that, he certainly would have joined it once it was huge.
McMahon always so wrestling more as entertainment than sport and would have got the mainstream attention regardless. With the celebs on board, even if Hulk got the AWA title he would have given it all up in a heartbeat to raise his mainstream profile.
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Post by MKSavage on Apr 21, 2023 18:32:16 GMT -5
If Vern would have kept Hogan and quit messing with him with the World Title and really used him to push his Territory, I think he could have gone mainstream, but I don't think he would have done near as well as Vince did. But, he did have national exposure and a large territory where he could have done really well for a while.
As for Vince, I think he tried to get a bunch of other guys (Dusty, Kerry Von Erich, and the Road Warrior), but none of them decided to go to the WWf. It's been said that Dusty turned it down because he really wanted to be the booker of a territory and that was never going to be a possibility with the WWF. Kerry was still young and wanted to stay with his brothers and dad. Plus, at that time, I think WCCW was at its highest point ever. I've never heard the reason why the Road Warrior turned Vince down.
Without any of them, I would have still brought in Piper to play the heel, Piper was so good at being hated that he could work with anyone. They could have given him the WWF title and had all of the babyfaces in the company chase him for the belt. If not Piper, Sarge seems to be the best option. Sarge was really over at this point, and he could work well with anyone too. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever heard anyone bad mouth Sarge. I've also never heard that he had any issues with drug addiction or alcohol. He would have done well as the face of the company, going on all the talk shows to sell the company - he was the face of G.I. Joe for many years. It would have been just as huge - IMO - if he took the belt off of the Iron Sheik. Though, I would have let Sheik hold the title a bit longer to really build up the heat before having Sarge beat him for the belt. There was also Paul Orndorff who was really popular after turning babyface, he could have been another option. Those would be my top three choices. Though, with all that being said, I don't know if it would have been as big as it was with Hogan, but it still would have been great.
Now the question is, without Hulk, does Vince keep things edgy or does he still go towards the child-friendly promotion like they did with Hogan? In 1981 & 1984 you had two of the bloodiest matches in WWF/E history; the Alley Fight (Sarge & Patterson) and the Boot Camp Match (Sarge & Sheik).
Even without Hulk, their 1984 roster would have been really good:
Andre the Giant
Roddy Piper
Sgt. Slaughter
Iron Sheik
Paul Orndorff
Jimmy Snuka
Pat Patterson
Bob Orton
Don Muraco
Greg Valentine
Chico Santana
JYD
Jesse Ventura
Adrian Adonis
Wild Samoans
Big John Studd
Nikolai Volkoff
George Steele
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Post by The Brain on Apr 22, 2023 5:50:02 GMT -5
If Vern would have kept Hogan and quit messing with him with the World Title and really used him to push his Territory, I think he could have gone mainstream, but I don't think he would have done near as well as Vince did. But, he did have national exposure and a large territory where he could have done really well for a while. As for Vince, I think he tried to get a bunch of other guys (Dusty, Kerry Von Erich, and the Road Warrior), but none of them decided to go to the WWf. It's been said that Dusty turned it down because he really wanted to be the booker of a territory and that was never going to be a possibility with the WWF. Kerry was still young and wanted to stay with his brothers and dad. Plus, at that time, I think WCCW was at its highest point ever. I've never heard the reason why the Road Warrior turned Vince down. Without any of them, I would have still brought in Piper to play the heel, Piper was so good at being hated that he could work with anyone. They could have given him the WWF title and had all of the babyfaces in the company chase him for the belt. If not Piper, Sarge seems to be the best option. Sarge was really over at this point, and he could work well with anyone too. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever heard anyone bad mouth Sarge. I've also never heard that he had any issues with drug addiction or alcohol. He would have done well as the face of the company, going on all the talk shows to sell the company - he was the face of G.I. Joe for many years. It would have been just as huge - IMO - if he took the belt off of the Iron Sheik. Though, I would have let Sheik hold the title a bit longer to really build up the heat before having Sarge beat him for the belt. There was also Paul Orndorff who was really popular after turning babyface, he could have been another option. Those would be my top three choices. Though, with all that being said, I don't know if it would have been as big as it was with Hogan, but it still would have been great. Now the question is, without Hulk, does Vince keep things edgy or does he still go towards the child-friendly promotion like they did with Hogan? In 1981 & 1984 you had two of the bloodiest matches in WWF/E history; the Alley Fight (Sarge & Patterson) and the Boot Camp Match (Sarge & Sheik). Even without Hulk, their 1984 roster would have been really good: Andre the Giant Roddy Piper Sgt. Slaughter Iron Sheik Paul Orndorff Jimmy Snuka Pat Patterson Bob Orton Don Muraco Greg Valentine Chico Santana JYD Jesse Ventura Adrian Adonis Wild Samoans Big John Studd Nikolai Volkoff George Steele Gotta think he wouldve went kid friendly with Sarge. The whole GI Joe stuff being the main reason.He still wouldve got bloody in big matches but I think Vince overall wouldve wanted em as the hero kids looked up to just like Hogan And that is an awesome roster there.Perfect for a non Hulkamaniac like me  |
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Post by JokerFC on Apr 22, 2023 10:36:02 GMT -5
I think Vinces vision was built around Hogan to be honest....Verne couldn't comprehend what was happening just like Fritz, Watts, Owens etc etc.
I think if Hogan sustains some kinda brain injury & doesn't sign for Vince after Vinnie outlined his strategy & stays with Verne?
We just get Hulkamania a bit later.
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Post by MKSavage on Apr 22, 2023 15:04:11 GMT -5
If Vern would have kept Hogan and quit messing with him with the World Title and really used him to push his Territory, I think he could have gone mainstream, but I don't think he would have done near as well as Vince did. But, he did have national exposure and a large territory where he could have done really well for a while. As for Vince, I think he tried to get a bunch of other guys (Dusty, Kerry Von Erich, and the Road Warrior), but none of them decided to go to the WWf. It's been said that Dusty turned it down because he really wanted to be the booker of a territory and that was never going to be a possibility with the WWF. Kerry was still young and wanted to stay with his brothers and dad. Plus, at that time, I think WCCW was at its highest point ever. I've never heard the reason why the Road Warrior turned Vince down. Without any of them, I would have still brought in Piper to play the heel, Piper was so good at being hated that he could work with anyone. They could have given him the WWF title and had all of the babyfaces in the company chase him for the belt. If not Piper, Sarge seems to be the best option. Sarge was really over at this point, and he could work well with anyone too. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever heard anyone bad mouth Sarge. I've also never heard that he had any issues with drug addiction or alcohol. He would have done well as the face of the company, going on all the talk shows to sell the company - he was the face of G.I. Joe for many years. It would have been just as huge - IMO - if he took the belt off of the Iron Sheik. Though, I would have let Sheik hold the title a bit longer to really build up the heat before having Sarge beat him for the belt. There was also Paul Orndorff who was really popular after turning babyface, he could have been another option. Those would be my top three choices. Though, with all that being said, I don't know if it would have been as big as it was with Hogan, but it still would have been great. Now the question is, without Hulk, does Vince keep things edgy or does he still go towards the child-friendly promotion like they did with Hogan? In 1981 & 1984 you had two of the bloodiest matches in WWF/E history; the Alley Fight (Sarge & Patterson) and the Boot Camp Match (Sarge & Sheik). Even without Hulk, their 1984 roster would have been really good: Andre the Giant Roddy Piper Sgt. Slaughter Iron Sheik Paul Orndorff Jimmy Snuka Pat Patterson Bob Orton Don Muraco Greg Valentine Chico Santana JYD Jesse Ventura Adrian Adonis Wild Samoans Big John Studd Nikolai Volkoff George Steele Gotta think he wouldve went kid friendly with Sarge. The whole GI Joe stuff being the main reason. He still wouldve got bloody in big matches but I think Vince overall wouldve wanted em as the hero kids looked up to just like Hogan And that is an awesome roster there. Perfect for a non Hulkamaniac like me Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Kid Friendly seemed to be what Vince wanted (and still wants). I think the kid-friendly stuff makes it easier to market, not to mention all the money that can be made off of kids with toys and other merchandise. An adult, especially back then, might buy one shirt of their favorite wrestler, but a kid wants every shirt of their favorite wrestler, no matter how many they have - just look at Cena, that's why they kept changing his shirts up every few months, they knew kids would want the latest shirt even though they already had the 10 previous shirts. Same with toys, they will want all releases, and their parents will buy it for them. Smart business decision on Vince's part. Yeah, that roster is still great, and just think, in the next few years they add Macho, Hart Foundation, British Bulldogs, Jake the Snake, Ravishing Rick, Mr. Perfect, the Rougeau Brothers, Demolition, among others. Not saying it would have been near as big as it was with Hogan, whether you like him or hate him you cannot deny that he was immensely popular in the 80s, but it still would have been great wrestling for sure. |
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Post by JokerFC on Apr 23, 2023 4:49:05 GMT -5
Also? Wouldn't Vince have been a sorry man if he had went with KVE? Wow. What a disaster
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Post by hbkbigdaddycool on Apr 23, 2023 11:43:56 GMT -5
I wonder too if Vince would have put the rocket ship to Jimmy Snuka and made him be the big time baby face WWF Champion in 1984?? He didn't take the IC Title off Muraco in 83 but was super over like rover then, I think he could have been a solid WWF Champion for something new in 1984.
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Post by MKSavage on Apr 23, 2023 12:11:41 GMT -5
I wonder too if Vince would have put the rocket ship to Jimmy Snuka and made him be the big time baby face WWF Champion in 1984?? He didn't take the IC Title off Muraco in 83 but was super over like rover then, I think he could have been a solid WWF Champion for something new in 1984. I don't think he would unless he had no other options. By 1983/84, people were saying that Snuka was becoming very erratic and unreliable. They already had people riding with Snuka to make sure he made the shows. I don't think Vince would have staked everything he had on Jimmy. Plus, Vince needed a face that could go on all of the talk shows, MTV, SNL, to promote his business. Snuka wasn't a great talker so he wouldn't have worked. |
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Post by hbkbigdaddycool on Apr 23, 2023 12:44:26 GMT -5
I wonder too if Vince would have put the rocket ship to Jimmy Snuka and made him be the big time baby face WWF Champion in 1984?? He didn't take the IC Title off Muraco in 83 but was super over like rover then, I think he could have been a solid WWF Champion for something new in 1984. I don't think he would unless he had no other options. By 1983/84, people were saying that Snuka was becoming very erratic and unreliable. They already had people riding with Snuka to make sure he made the shows. I don't think Vince would have staked everything he had on Jimmy. Plus, Vince needed a face that could go on all of the talk shows, MTV, SNL, to promote his business. Snuka wasn't a great talker so he wouldn't have worked.
Ahhh yes the talk shows and other news media outlets that the champion would have to be on.... I forgot about all that! Snuka wasn't the best at cutting promos.
I can't picture Dusty Rhodes being the guy either though in 1984 for the WWF. Dusty was better suited at chasing the title, not holding onto it.
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