How would Owen's Career have finished?

jaykhunter

I was discussing this with my mate earlier today. If Owen Hart didn't tragically die in '99, how do you think the rest of his wrestling career would've panned out? Would he have gone to WCW or stayed in the WWF? World champion? Retired? I'd be interested to know what you think. There's no right or wrong answers here.



Personally I think he would've left for WCW along with Jarrett and came back briefly ~2002ish and it wouldn't work out, then retire from wrestling in general, coming back to do special appearances when WWE needed a blash from the past. I also think it would've gotten Bret back in the WWE much sooner (~2005).

CMpunked

He would have been at midcard status for ages anyway.
With or without bret i think.

Why do you think it would have gotten bret back to the wwf sooner?

duuuaaaane

apparently vince was planning on pushing him into the main event in 1999. due to his death the push went to British Bulldog in September when he entered a program with The Rock and competed in the 6-pack challenge for the belt at Unforgiven. The push bombed and Bulldog ended up teaming with the Mean Street Posse until he left the company.

Revolution9

He had the ability and charisma to be one hell of a world champion.

Such a tragedy.

jaykhunter

Ya I don't think he'd have been WWF champion - but with the brand split, definitely. If Khali can get the title, anyone can.

CMpunked wrote: »

Why do you think it would have gotten bret back to the wwf sooner?

I reckon if Owen was on good terms with WWE, Bret would be more open to mend fences with Vince as well, maybe do a short tag run with Owen or something. Seeing Bret back this year means that he did have an inkling to return, get a DVD out and end his career on a much happier note, and having Owen there would've cajoled him into doing it much sooner.

Mr.Nice Guy

Owen could have been a legit main eventer before his death had Michaels and Hunter not used their stroke backstage. He was promised a push when Bret left to keep him sweet and stop him from wanting to quit and join his brother. The company then reneged on their promises and were pissed at his reluctance to do sexual angles. I suspect that because of his moral inclinations he would have been kept out of the title picture at the time. A shame because there was a lot they could have done with the 'Black Hart' persona. I agree in all likelihood he would have went to WCW at the next opportunity, and with the fall of the company I suspect he might well have retired immediately after that and gone back to Canada. I could see things between Bret and the WWE being resolved much sooner through Owen's influence. Would Owen have gone back to the WWE? I could see him coming back for a run and wanting to be with his former friends. Benoit was able to win the title in '04, and Eddie also, and I could see Owen having as much popularity as those guys if not more as he had an infectious personality and would have suited the smaller, technically adept wresters of Smackdown from around 2002 onwards.

I would say he would have had an excellent chance at being a WWE champion. I would even go so far as to say he might have been held in the same esteem, if not higher, than Bret himself. Crazy thought? Well consider the great matches Owen could have had in the last decade with the likes of Angle, Jericho, Eddie, Benoit, Rey, Austin, Edge etc. He would be 45 if alive today which is the same age as Michaels. If Owen had lived, and was active and in shape for the company, then I reckon he could have been considered one of the top all-time greats. He had the ability, charisma, and as well as that the professionalism that would have been valued massively the last ten years.

With the likes of Rock, Austin and Foley moving on, and not to mention the brand split coming into play, it's hard to conceive how he wouldn't have won the title. The story of the professional toiling for so many years waiting for the big win was done with Eddie and Benoit and if Owen was there I reckon a similar thing would have been done.

It's interesting to speculate about. For me, the fact he was so well liked and the natural talent and charisma he had makes it highly probable that he would have had a run with the gold. I suspect the Attitude Era may have had to run its course though in order for it to happen.

Handsome Bob

If you're inclined to believe his wife, Owen was itching to get out of the business altogether. So I think his career would have ended with a whimper rather than a bang.

gimmick

^ Bret pretty much said the same in his book. Owen did not like the "edgy" new turn wrestling had taken, was scrimping and saving to quit altogether.

Of course, whetehr this came to pass or not we will never know. But Owen was a reluctant superstar. Was probbaly glad of the money he had made, and would probably have bowed out not long after his death.

Jolt2007

I think Owen's been overrated quite a bit because of his tragic death. Not to say he wasn't talented, but I don't think he would've made it past mid card level, unless he went to TNA. Would think that'd be pretty likely being friends with Jeff Jarrett. I'd imagine his career would've ended up pretty similar to how Christian's is going if he stayed in wrestling.

Wompa1

Jolt2007 wrote: »

I think Owen's been overrated quite a bit because of his tragic death. Not to say he wasn't talented, but I don't think he would've made it past mid card level, unless he went to TNA. Would think that'd be pretty likely being friends with Jeff Jarrett. I'd imagine his career would've ended up pretty similar to how Christian's is going if he stayed in wrestling.

Alot of people that die young get overrated but I really liked Owens wrestling style. I thought when he came into WWF he was very unique with the chain wrestling and flips and stuff. I agree he'd probably be in the same situation as Christian alright...two very similar guys in my opinion. Both seemingly decent people, good wrestlers but never given their push

Revolution9

Wasn't "The Game" moniker and persona created for Owen Hart?

Surely adopting that character would've been his big push.

Charisteas

I think he would have left WWE in 2002, at the age or 37/38, and most likely retired. Couldn't have seen him going to TNA, unless he really needed the money.

I also couldn't have seen him ever winning the WHC, as there were too many guys above him in the pecking order in the early 2000's.

Not only would he have been behind the likes of Rock, Austin, HHH, Undertaker, Kane, Foley and Big Show, but by the time 2002 came around, Lesnar and the nWo had joined, not to mention a ton of the WCW invasion guys, Owen would have gotten lost in that shuffle and maybe called it quits around this time.

Dean820

Ah Owen, such a shame. His death brought tears to my eyes.

flahavaj

A hat-trick against Liverpool in front of the Kop would be an epic end to his career IMO.

Sully34

flahavaj wrote: »

A hat-trick against Liverpool in front of the Kop would be an epic end to his career IMO.

Cant see that happen any time soon!

gimmick

flahavaj wrote: »

A hat-trick against Liverpool in front of the Kop would be an epic end to his career IMO.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

Headshot

I remember watching the show and I was in total bits, im nearly in tears just thinking about it now

Owen was just a class act, simple as that