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Post by hbkbigdaddycool on Oct 2, 2023 16:53:27 GMT -5
So I was thinking when looking back at some old wrestling magazines yesterday how much Ric Flair leaving WCW in the summer of 1991 changed the complete atmosphere for WCW in wrestlers, title changes and groups being formed.
I think it's pretty safe to say that Lex Luger was going to beat Ric Flair for the WCW Title at Great American Bash 91. I know he had his chances in 1988 and 1990, but this time I think we all knew and felt that it was pretty obvious Luger was going over as the winner.
The Four Horsemen were kind of falling apart during this time too. Sid Vicious had left WCW already and was signed with the WWF. Barry Windham and Arn Anderson were paired up with Paul E. Dangerously in a feud with the Steiners and Missy Hyatt.
Now I remember Flair stating he was willing to drop the title to Barry Windham leading into Great American Bash but that one confuses me. Why would Barry even be challenging Flair for that title when he was partnered with him just weeks prior in the Four Horsemen??
If that had happened, we would have gotten Barry Windham vs. Lex Luger for Barry's WCW Title. We did get Barry vs. Lex but it was for the vacant WCW Title.
Flair leaving then made Barry Windham a baby face, Lex Luger a heel WCW Champion, and put Arn Anderson in a new tag team with Larry Zbyszko.
So another thing to think about, with Sid leaving, was Larry gonna be the new fourth member of the Horsemen?? He did compete in War Games at Wrestle War 91 for Arn who was injured at the time.
Ric Flair leaving opens the door for a new super group of heels too. The Four Horsemen were no more, so just months later we saw the debut of the Dangerous Alliance, and ironically Arn Anderson was in that group too as we all know.
Would the Dangerous Alliance even happen if Flair had stayed with WCW?? Would Paul E. have managed Rick Rude just as a solo wrestler and have no group?? Would Rick Rude even come to WCW??
I loved the year 1992 for WCW. It felt like a complete opposite of what 1991 was, and it all started to shape that way in the fall of 1991 after Flair had left for the WWF.
So with all this being said, how would WCW in 1992 be if Flair had stayed??
Would Lex Luger have a successful WCW Title reign as a baby face??
When would Flair take the belt back from Luger??
Would Ric Flair turn baby face when Rick Rude joined in October of 1991??
Would the Four Horsemen break up and everyone go their separate ways??
Just a lot to wonder if Flair had stayed with WCW and not left for the WWF in 1991.
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Post by ASR (therockisback) on Oct 2, 2023 18:15:02 GMT -5
He would have been World Champion over there at least twice in 91/92
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Post by The Brain on Oct 2, 2023 18:45:31 GMT -5
Gotta think if we still get the DA, then Naitch has to turn baby. A high profile feud with Rude during this era wouldve been great.
I also would turn Luger with Race as his manager like it happened. Have Naitch win it from em at Superbrawl instead of Sting. I think no matter what Naitch needs to turn baby. The Baltimore crowd at GAB wouldve been the catalyst for this no doubt
Its also crazy thinking about no Naitch WWF run. No classic Rumble win/feud with Mach. Hard to imagine.
In the end I'm glad he left when he did. I enjoyed the hell outta his run in the Federation and WCW proved they can do just fine without em
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Post by JokerFC on Oct 3, 2023 22:57:05 GMT -5
Great thread...so many variables. With Flair gone does there even be an opportunity for a new heel group or do they just make Rude a Horseman when he debuts?
So much!!!
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Post by MKSavage on Oct 4, 2023 9:05:53 GMT -5
Flair definitely has to become a babyface; I really think the fans wanted it by that time in WCW. I would have Arn turn on him to join/form the new Dangerous Alliance. I would do most things the same way that they happened, and Flair could be more of an attraction at this point, he definitely didn't need the belt as much as the other guys. But I'm kind of glad he left, I really liked 1991/1992 WWF and 1992 WCW was really enjoyable for me. Him leaving for a little bit and allowing WCW to work on their younger guys, made him returning in 1993 all the better; WCW in 1993 and 1994 was really good.
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Post by MKSavage on Oct 4, 2023 9:09:16 GMT -5
Great thread...so many variables. With Flair gone does there even be an opportunity for a new heel group or do they just make Rude a Horseman when he debuts? So much!!! Probably, that seemed to be their go to move at that time (recreating the Horsemen). But I can't see Rude working with the Horsemen, he was more of a leader, not a follower. The only way I see that working is if they bring Rude into the Horsemen and eventually him and Flair butt heads, leading to him turning on Flair and leaving the Horsemen. I would throw in Arn turning on Flair as well, which leads to the formation of the Dangerous Alliance. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2023 9:14:16 GMT -5
not sure but mayb we would have got a luger/rude match/fued somewhere in there
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Post by JokerFC on Oct 5, 2023 1:52:07 GMT -5
Great thread...so many variables. With Flair gone does there even be an opportunity for a new heel group or do they just make Rude a Horseman when he debuts? So much!!! Probably, that seemed to be their go to move at that time (recreating the Horsemen). But I can't see Rude working with the Horsemen, he was more of a leader, not a follower. The only way I see that working is if they bring Rude into the Horsemen and eventually him and Flair butt heads, leading to him turning on Flair and leaving the Horsemen. I would throw in Arn turning on Flair as well, which leads to the formation of the Dangerous Alliance. Yeah...I could def see that. Also great observation about Rude...he 100% wasn't a follower if he's to be in a stable. His personality was too strong. |
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Post by hbkbigdaddycool on Oct 5, 2023 13:51:29 GMT -5
Probably, that seemed to be their go to move at that time (recreating the Horsemen). But I can't see Rude working with the Horsemen, he was more of a leader, not a follower. The only way I see that working is if they bring Rude into the Horsemen and eventually him and Flair butt heads, leading to him turning on Flair and leaving the Horsemen. I would throw in Arn turning on Flair as well, which leads to the formation of the Dangerous Alliance. Yeah...I could def see that. Also great observation about Rude...he 100% wasn't a follower if he's to be in a stable. His personality was too strong.
I can just hear Arn Anderson's promo right now...
"On one hand, I have a man who has aggression and wants championship gold and to be a leader, and on the other hand I have my best friend from the past 10 years... there can only be one leader, and I guarantee that at the end of the night, the right Ric(k) will be the leader of the greatest group of professional wrestlers in the history of this business." Thus not saying the Four Horsemen, showing that he isn't planning on staying with Flair.
Then during the Flair vs. Rude match, Steve Austin runs to ringside and Barry Windham tries to stop him. Up next is Larry Zbyszko, and Arn comes down to the ring and the fans are going nuts. Barry and Steve are brawling outside, and Arn gets into the ring to stop Larry from going after Flair. Arn yells to him, "You were on the verge of greatness!" As Arn holds up the four fingers, saying Larry was one step away from joining this group in time.
Just then Arn turns and clobbers Flair.
Rude gets the win.
Arn, Rude, Larry and Steve all celebrate with Paul E. Dangerously.
The following WCW Saturday Night, we get Arn and Larry vs. Bobby and Barry. Bobby Eaton then turns on Barry and at the end of the night, Paul E. cuts a promo talking about the creation of the Dangerous Alliance and how 5 is always going to be better than 4.
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Post by ASR (therockisback) on Oct 6, 2023 17:18:22 GMT -5
Flair vs Stunning Steve would have been a great match
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