Piper post-Wrestlemania I

[747]

I'm having a little difficulty understanding a few things here. I'm going to try to answer my own questions, but would appreciate some input from forum members as well.

1) How long did Piper expect his program with Hogan to go on for if he wasn't going to job to Hogan?

They fought at the Wrestling Classic, but after that the WWF was moving Hogan towards his program with Bundy while Piper ended up feuding with Mr. T until Wrestlemania II and got stuck in the boxing match. My point here is that surely Piper must've realized that creative wasn't going to let their champion go on too, too long without a #1 heel to pin.

2) Piper was brought in as a manager in January 1984 was he not? Would he have remained in a better position there?

If he wasn't going to job at least have a stable of wrestlers chasing the title. Heenan was able to throw Bundy and Andre at Hogan in 1986 and 1987 and still retain significant heat. Piper was more than capable of drawing as much heat as a manager I'm certain.

3) Would Piper have retired in 1987 if he had remained a heel?

I still believe that he would have. As a face at that point I'm not sure if the character had anywhere to go as Hogan was still dominating the main event and Piper would've likely gone on to some other upper mid-card feud. Same if he was still a heel, he'd likely be mired in some mid-card feud.

[johnnyk9]

Hard to say, Piper turning face was shocking at the time, but it did work out well

[lildude8218]

well at first Piper DID have a stable of wrestlers to throw at Hogan. he was managing Orndorff, Studd and Schultz very briefly and that's basically the 3 guys who rotated shots at Hogan the most in that first year.

[BrodietheSlayer]

Dec 22, 2011 11:49:32 GMT -5 747 said:

I'm having a little difficulty understanding a few things here. I'm going to try to answer my own questions, but would appreciate some input from forum members as well.

1) How long did Piper expect his program with Hogan to go on for if he wasn't going to job to Hogan?

They fought at the Wrestling Classic, but after that the WWF was moving Hogan towards his program with Bundy while Piper ended up feuding with Mr. T until Wrestlemania II and got stuck in the boxing match. My point here is that surely Piper must've realized that creative wasn't going to let their champion go on too, too long without a #1 heel to pin.


2) Piper was brought in as a manager in January 1984 was he not? Would he have remained in a better position there?

If he wasn't going to job at least have a stable of wrestlers chasing the title. Heenan was able to throw Bundy and Andre at Hogan in 1986 and 1987 and still retain significant heat. Piper was more than capable of drawing as much heat as a manager I'm certain.

3) Would Piper have retired in 1987 if he had remained a heel?

I still believe that he would have. As a face at that point I'm not sure if the character had anywhere to go as Hogan was still dominating the main event and Piper would've likely gone on to some other upper mid-card feud. Same if he was still a heel, he'd likely be mired in some mid-card feud.

On the first point.....I think Piper knew his feud with Hogan was coming to an end, but he's always kept the animosity (Kayfabe (?)). At the first Saturday's Night Main Event, he transitioned from Hogan to Orndorff for a while, due to the Piper betrayal at WM. They teased Hogan/Savage in late 85/86, and then went into Hogan/Bundy. Orndorff went to Adrian Adonis in early 86, as well as Piper and Mr. T.


2. Nah, we want to see Piper fight. At least I do. He could manage guys on the side, but unless Piper was injured, I'd want to see him in the ring during that period. I have to imagine it would have cost WWE somewhat to keep Piper as a manager solely.


3. I think Piper was smart enough to see the writing on the wall, as he was too entertaining to keep crowds hating him. He kind of needed to be a face at that point......I just don't see him still being a heel in 87, and if he were, his act would have gotten stale by then.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

Piper is the kind of guy who details matter to. He even mentioned on his DVD how the ref shouldn't have counted his shoulders down because he still had Bret in a sleeper.