Post by corndog on Oct 20, 2011 0:50:55 GMT -5
I would go so far as to say we don't have a late 90s wrestling boom. Bret would have probably ended up in the NWO as the 3rd man and not had the same impact as Hogan turning. Thus, WCW wouldn't move the needle, even if Hogan turned later it would be another guy turning.
However, the bigger problem is the WWF. In that 1997 time period Bret Hart made Austin a megastar. Without Bret in the WWF I have no idea what Austin does other than drift around and attack people left and right. Michaels was in such a horrible mindset that I doubt he would have made Austin look good. Further without Vince screwing Bret the WWF wouldn't have gotten that massive kinetic boost from Montreal. In essence Bret Hart's last year in the WWF from Survivor Series 1996 to Survivor Series 1997 is one of the most valuable runs anyone has ever had. He basically made the company's next top babyface (Austin) and two top heels (HBK, Vince).
I completely agree with this post, Bret run from 96-97 was extremely valueable to the WWF and completely set up the company for it's sucessful run after his departure. Without the Montreal Screwjob I doubt Vince would have become the megaheel to fued with Austin and without his match at WM13 would anyone have properly put Austin over? It's possible the Undertaker could have helped Austin out, but I doubt it would have been as well done as what Hart did for him.
Another major problem would have been the backstage atmosphere. Even though we weren't there, from internet reports and more reliably interviews with the wrestlers themselves and wrestlers books it was obvious the lockeroom was split between backing Michaels and Hart. The Rock was a young wrestler at the time who was working his way through the card and becoming a star. He was also a wrestler that Michaels and HHH didn't care for, but Bret did. Would the Rock have overcome Michaels and HHH's politics or would he end up like Chris Candido?