Change The Timeline 1997: Bret Hart

gerrybbadd

I'm not sure if this has been tried or done before, and Mods, if so, please feel free to delete.

I'm proposing to have a series of posts / threads entitled: "Change the Timeline". I'll start with 1997 & Bret Hart.

How would the Wrestling World look today if the WWF didn't allow Bret to go to WCW? As we know, Bret signed a 20 year contract with the WWF in 1996 (which would still be running, up to 2016), but due to financial difficulties, McMahon realised he could not honor the contract, and encouraged Bret to go to WCW.

Some interesting questions arise if you consider what would have happened had Bret stayed:

Owen may not have died, as it's likely he wouldn't have been doing the Blue Blazer gimmick.

As we know, the Montreal Screwjob established Mr. McMahon's Heel status. If Bret had of sticked around, would he still have feuded with Mr. McMahon, and where would this have left Stone Cold - as we know Austin really exploded when he started his feud with Vince.

If Austin hadn't gotten as big, what of the Attitute Era - We know Bret wasn;t a fan of this period of time in wrestling.

And how would WCW have fared - it's likely that the WWF would not have gotten so popular without Austin & the Attitute Era. Perhaps we would all be watching Nitro now on Mondays!

Of course, with Bret not having gone to WCW, he wouldn't have gotten the concussion from Goldberg either, and may have wrestled longer then he did prior to his retirement.

So folks, thoughts? How do you feel thinks may have ended up. One small change in Bret staying in the WWF, could have ended with a wrestling landscape that looks entirely different than what we know today.:cool:

Omackeral

This is possibly the question. Hart leaving changed it all. I used this in my Around The Horn Knockout match with Bounty Hunter. If Hart stays what happens?

So much could be different. Shawn and HHH could have stayed in programmes with Bret and Owen. This would take Michaels out of his feud with Taker and prevent him from ever injuring his back in the casket match at Royal Rumble. Could also meant he would've stayed on and had a feud with HHH over the leadership of DX. Could've had implications on X-Pac returning. Who would he have sided with.

Mania 14 could have been a different prospect too. Where would Bret fit in? Would it be him against Austin to finish off their epic rivalry? Would Tyson have sided with DX still? Would they be looking to gate crash the main event? Maybe cost someone the title and start more rivalries? A triple threat of Austin/Hart/Michaels?

Also consider this. Bret Hart never met Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Could've happened at WM 15 if the Hitman stayed. Beats Taker v Bossman. But then we may not have the streak... who knows?

gerrybbadd

Omackeral wrote: »

This is possibly the question. Hart leaving changed it all. I used this in my Around The Horn Knockout match with Bounty Hunter. If Hart stays what happens?

So much could be different. Shawn and HHH could have stayed in programmes with Bret and Owen. This would take Michaels out of his feud with Taker and prevent him from ever injuring his back in the casket match at Royal Rumble. Could also meant he would've stayed on and had a feud with HHH over the leadership of DX. Could've had implications on X-Pac returning. Who would he have sided with.

Mania 14 could have been a different prospect too. Where would Bret fit in? Would it be him against Austin to finish off their epic rivalry? Would Tyson have sided with DX still? Would they be looking to gate crash the main event? Maybe cost someone the title and start more rivalries? A triple threat of Austin/Hart/Michaels?

Also consider this. Bret Hart never met Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Could've happened at WM 15 if the Hitman stayed. Beats Taker v Bossman. But then we may not have the streak... who knows?

Sorry Omackeral, I didn't realise you used this in Around The Horn, didn't mean to step on your toes.

Some fascinating points though, I never even considered the casket match implications.

Omackeral

Not at all gerry, in fact, it backs up some of the points I've made! You should give it a read and see if any of the things I said go with your OP. Nice idea for a thread btw. Hart at WM 14 is a fascinating scenario

SimonQuinlank

Don't think it would have made all that much of a difference really,WWF at that stage had to change to compete with WCW whether Bret had hung about or not.DX and Austin were well on their way by the time of the screwjob anyway.Foley and Rock were slowly on the rise too.

Bret probably would have went home and sulked for a while,then realised WWF were doing mega business without him and returned for a slice of the delicious money pie.