Booking Challenge: Ken Shamrock-WWF Champion

[chunkylover53]

Inspired by the thread "Should Shamrock Have Won The World Title", I decided to make this thread. As we all know, Ken Shamrock came into the WWF with a red hot push and had World Title shots against Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. After that, he was placed in a feud with The Rock over the IC title, which he didn't end up winning. He won the 1998 King of The Ring, and eventually won the IC belt as well as the tag belts with the Big Bossman, but thats as far as he went. So can you come up with a convincing storyline to place him in the World Title scene as well as winning the big prize. I'll post my idea after I read a few replies.

[mrjl]

I'm the guy who started that thread. I didn't actually see the Survivor Series in 98 so I'm going off of the Wiki report about it.

The idea is simply that Shamrock becomes the Corporate Champion

First round
Mankind defeats Duane Gill
Steve Austin defeats The Big Bossman

Al Snow defeats Jeff Jarrett
Ken Shamrock defeats Goldust

X-Pac defeats Steve Regal when Chyna throws him back in the ring before a 10 count.
The Rock defeats Chyna(substitute for Triple H)Hunter can't wrestle due to a knee injury

Quarterfinals
The Undertaker defeats Kane
Ken Shamrock defeats Al Snow

Mankind defeats Steve Austin(this is the match we got at the actual Survivor Series 1998, Post match McMahon and co run away)
The Rock defeats X-Pac.

Semi-finals
Ken Shamrock defeats the Undertaker(during the match highlight include pulling the Undertaker off the ropes during Old School into a belly-to-belly) Shamrock wins after he attacks Bearer outside the ring. While everyone is distracted he grabs his IC title belt and nails Taker.

The Rock defeats the Mankind. Makind attempts the Mandible Claw outside the ring, Rock reverses into a Rock Bottom on the floor. He rolls him inside, hit another Rock Bottom, then the People's elbow for the win. The announcers theorize that if VInce was here he'd be very unhappy.

Tournament finals.
Ken Shamrock defeats the Rock.

During the match the ref is knocked out. Mankind interferes, and while Shamrock appears to welcome it he decides to attack Mankind. Vince comes out and tells the timekeeper to ring the bell as Shamrock locks on the Anklelock.

Vince comes out and talks about how Shamrock is a real champ, not like all the freaks and degenerates in the company. Vince awards the IC title to the Bossman. D'Lo Brown and Mark Henry join this version of the Corporation

[doinkmark]

Making Shamrock the champion is easy since he was involved with the likes of Hart and Michaels during his run. I find it far more interesting to book his actual run with the belt. I'd have Shamrock win the title at the DX pay-per-view when Owen Hart interferes and costs Shawn the belt. Dan Severn steps up to challenge Shamrock at the Rumble in a dream match and loses while DX focuses on Owen. At No Way Out, The Rock cites the old rule that he's number one contender due to his IC title. He loses as well. Finally, Shamrock turns heel during the buildup to his match with Austin at WrestleMania. The hype around the match also teases the possibility of a Tyson/Shamrock and Tyson/Austin confrontation. Austin takes the belt and the "Stone Cold" era begins as scheduled.

[Aceorton]

If it was going to happen, it had to be sometime in 1998. Here's what I've got:

- After seeing Shamrock fail to take the IC belt from the Rock (and frustrated with his own situation with Steve Austin), Vince McMahon invites Shamrock to the ring and praises him up and down. Says he's the World's Most Dangerous Man, etc., etc. Says he's bigger than the IC title -- in fact, he's a future world champion. BUT ... he says Shamrock must learn control and humility if he's ever going to succeed in the WWF. He can't just go around "snapping" and suplexing people. He needs to answer to authority and reason, and that starts with Vincent K. McMahon. "I can help you down the road, Kenny," Mr. McMahon says. "When you scratch Vince McMahon's back, he scratches yours." Shamrock gives the standard babyface response: Screw you. I'm a fighter, and I don't need your corporate crap.

- Shamrock makes it to the KOTR finals against the Rock. Gerald Brisco and Pat Patterson come down to ringside to "observe," the Nation gets involved, chaos ensues, and Patterson actually clobbers Rock with his own IC belt during the commotion. Shamrock, not knowing what just happened, pins the Rock to become KOTR. It's only when JR tries to interview him in the aisle afterward that he realizes the victory was due to the Stooges' help. He appears disgusted and storms to the back.

- Shamrock loses by DQ to Owen at Fully Loaded (just a regular match, not a Dungeon match) when he again snaps and starts chucking officials all over the place. The next night on Raw, McMahon gives Shamrock another public lecture on keeping his head. Shamrock responds by flipping McMahon the bird, suplexing Brisco and putting Patterson in the ankle lock. McMahon backs away, doing the big-eyed stare and gulp.

- Shamrock beats Owen decisively in their rematch in the Lion's Den at SummerSlam. Austin beats Undertaker in the main event, same as before.

- They announce Shamrock is getting a title shot against Austin at Breakdown: IYH in September. Heading into the event, Shamrock is still steadfastly rejecting Vince's pressure to join forces. Meanwhile, Undertaker and Kane are unhappy because each feels HE should be facing Austin.

- At Breakdown, Shamrock and Austin put on a solid match for 15 minutes before UT and Kane come down to ringside to stir things up. Vince comes down, too. Referee Hebner goes down. A huge brawl erupts. Austin and Shamrock work together to fend off Taker and Kane, and then Mankind shows up with a sledgehammer to get his payback on Kane for SummerSlam. Those three (UT, Kane, Mankind) fight to the locker room. McMahon sneaks up behind Austin and waffles him in the back with a chair. Shamrock, seeing this, violently snatches the chair out of McMahon's hand, and they share a looooooong staredown. Then Shamrock turns, just as Austin is getting up, and KO's him across the face with the chair. Shamrock smiles at McMahon. "BAW GAWD! THEY'RE WORKING TOGETHER!" Shamrock covers Austin, who's busted open. JR is practically having a coronary. Hebner crawls over to count: 1 ... 2 ... 3. New champion.

- Shamrock holds the belt until the December PPV (which obviously wouldn't be called Rock Bottom anymore). At that show, the title becomes vacant when Austin, as guest referee, counts both Shamrock and Taker out and declares himself champ (the original Judgment Day booking). Vince "fires" Austin and declares the title up for grabs in the Royal Rumble match in three weeks.

- Shane McMahon goes against his father's wishes and "hires" Austin back for the Rumble, but Vince rigs it so that Austin draws No. 1. Vince likewise makes sure Shamrock gets No. 30.

- At the Rumble, the Final Four are Austin, Shamrock, Kane and the Rock. The Rock, who has been getting huge babyface support since SummerSlam, eliminates Kane with an assist from Austin. Shane McMahon's alliance with Austin turns out to be a ruse when Shane pulls the top rope down, causing Austin's elimination. Seconds later, Vince pulls a huge shocker by doing the exact same thing to Shamrock. "BAH GAWD! WHAT IN GOD'S NAME?!!" Rock, alone in the ring, is the new WWF champion. Vince cuts a scathing promo saying Shamrock didn't have what it took to be the WWF champion after all, and thus the NEW, IMPROVED corporate champion is THE ROCK.

- Main event at WM is Rock vs. Austin vs. Shamrock in a three-way, with Austin regaining the WWF title by pinning Shamrock after a Stunner. Rock gets future rematches with Austin, while Shamrock drops out of the title picture.

[chunkylover53]

Jan 5, 2009 5:11:17 GMT -5 Aceorton said:

If it was going to happen, it had to be sometime in 1998. Here's what I've got:

- After seeing Shamrock fail to take the IC belt from the Rock (and frustrated with his own situation with Steve Austin), Vince McMahon invites Shamrock to the ring and praises him up and down. Says he's the World's Most Dangerous Man, etc., etc. Says he's bigger than the IC title -- in fact, he's a future world champion. BUT ... he says Shamrock must learn control and humility if he's ever going to succeed in the WWF. He can't just go around "snapping" and suplexing people. He needs to answer to authority and reason, and that starts with Vincent K. McMahon. "I can help you down the road, Kenny," Mr. McMahon says. "When you scratch Vince McMahon's back, he scratches yours." Shamrock gives the standard babyface response: Screw you. I'm a fighter, and I don't need your corporate crap.

- Shamrock makes it to the KOTR finals against the Rock. Gerald Brisco and Pat Patterson come down to ringside to "observe," the Nation gets involved, chaos ensues, and Patterson actually clobbers Rock with his own IC belt during the commotion. Shamrock, not knowing what just happened, pins the Rock to become KOTR. It's only when JR tries to interview him in the aisle afterward that he realizes the victory was due to the Stooges' help. He appears disgusted and storms to the back.

- Shamrock loses by DQ to Owen at Fully Loaded (just a regular match, not a Dungeon match) when he again snaps and starts chucking officials all over the place. The next night on Raw, McMahon gives Shamrock another public lecture on keeping his head. Shamrock responds by flipping McMahon the bird, suplexing Brisco and putting Patterson in the ankle lock. McMahon backs away, doing the big-eyed stare and gulp.

- Shamrock beats Owen decisively in their rematch in the Lion's Den at SummerSlam. Austin beats Undertaker in the main event, same as before.

- They announce Shamrock is getting a title shot against Austin at Breakdown: IYH in September. Heading into the event, Shamrock is still steadfastly rejecting Vince's pressure to join forces. Meanwhile, Undertaker and Kane are unhappy because each feels HE should be facing Austin.

- At Breakdown, Shamrock and Austin put on a solid match for 15 minutes before UT and Kane come down to ringside to stir things up. Vince comes down, too. Referee Hebner goes down. A huge brawl erupts. Austin and Shamrock work together to fend off Taker and Kane, and then Mankind shows up with a sledgehammer to get his payback on Kane for SummerSlam. Those three (UT, Kane, Mankind) fight to the locker room. McMahon sneaks up behind Austin and waffles him in the back with a chair. Shamrock, seeing this, violently snatches the chair out of McMahon's hand, and they share a looooooong staredown. Then Shamrock turns, just as Austin is getting up, and KO's him across the face with the chair. Shamrock smiles at McMahon. "BAW GAWD! THEY'RE WORKING TOGETHER!" Shamrock covers Austin, who's busted open. JR is practically having a coronary. Hebner crawls over to count: 1 ... 2 ... 3. New champion.

- Shamrock holds the belt until the December PPV (which obviously wouldn't be called Rock Bottom anymore). At that show, the title becomes vacant when Austin, as guest referee, counts both Shamrock and Taker out and declares himself champ (the original Judgment Day booking). Vince "fires" Austin and declares the title up for grabs in the Royal Rumble match in three weeks.

- Shane McMahon goes against his father's wishes and "hires" Austin back for the Rumble, but Vince rigs it so that Austin draws No. 1. Vince likewise makes sure Shamrock gets No. 30.

- At the Rumble, the Final Four are Austin, Shamrock, Kane and the Rock. The Rock, who has been getting huge babyface support since SummerSlam, eliminates Kane with an assist from Austin. Shane McMahon's alliance with Austin turns out to be a ruse when Shane pulls the top rope down, causing Austin's elimination. Seconds later, Vince pulls a huge shocker by doing the exact same thing to Shamrock. "BAH GAWD! WHAT IN GOD'S NAME?!!" Rock, alone in the ring, is the new WWF champion. Vince cuts a scathing promo saying Shamrock didn't have what it took to be the WWF champion after all, and thus the NEW, IMPROVED corporate champion is THE ROCK.

- Main event at WM is Rock vs. Austin vs. Shamrock in a three-way, with Austin regaining the WWF title by pinning Shamrock after a Stunner. Rock gets future rematches with Austin, while Shamrock drops out of the title picture.

Wow thats amazing!!! And with the swerves, it seems very Russoish, something that would fit the booking style back then.

Anyway, here's what I would do. Though not as inventive. I would put Ken Shamrock in The Rock's place during the Deadly Game tournament while the rest of the tournament virtually stays the same. I would hold The Rock's push for a later time.

Anyway, its the same as The Rock/Mankind formally, as Mankind is what appears to be Vince's corporate champ, while Shamrock is the person who appears to be the one Vince dosen't want.

The finals comes down to Mankind/Ken Shamrock, with Ken Shamrock placing Mankind in the anklelock, with Vince McMahon replicating the Montreal Screwjob. At first Shamrock looks devasted about what just happened, then he smiles and the two hug. Vince McMahon then explains how Mankind was a pawn and how Shamrock was his choice all along.

The duo has a match at the next PPV that goes to a no contest, then on the January 4th, 1999 edition of RAW, Mankind wins the belt from Ken Shamrock to the delight of the fans. Ken Shamrock challenges Foley to a rematch the next week and comes short.

That same night, The Rock(who is still a babyface) defeats Triple H in a number one contender's match to determine who will face Mankind at The Royal Rumble in an "I Quit" match at Mr. McMahon's request. The match virtually stays the same except they have more of a friendly rivalry going on. The Rock wins the match the same way(with the prerecorded voiceover) and then reveals he was part of the plot all along with Shane and Vince McMahon and history proceeds as normal.