Why only a 2 day Intercontinental reign for The Mountie?

[Spider2024]

Was watching Royal Rumble '92 and wondered why The Mountie was given the title win over Bret Hart, only to immediately drop the title to Roddy Piper. Why was it so short though? Did they want the Piper win that night, maybe for the allure of the while "Piper going for 2 title wins in one night" angle? Or were they planning Piper/Hart at WM8 that early on?

[Deleted]

They were planning Bret and Roddy that early. Bret talks about it is in his book. Mountie is a literal transition champion.

[lildude8218]

One of the stranger stories of the past week involves the Intercontinental title. Officially, as the storyline goes, Bret Hart went to the ring with a 104 degree fever on Friday night (1/17) in Springfield, MA and lost the title to The Mountie. Mountie in turn dropped the title at the Rumble two days later to Roddy Piper. As has become pretty common knowledge as the week went on, Hart had negotiated and at one point agreed to a deal where he would debut on Tuesday (1/21) at the Clash of the Champions for WCW in Topeka where he'd come out with the Intercontinental title as something of a payback for the WWF bringing in Ric Flair and having him wear what WCW considered their world title belt (of course the situations are completely different in that Flair was fired by WCW after the company attempted to cut an existing contract almost in half, which somehow six months later WCW feels is the WWF's fault for, to the extent they went to court over getting the belt off WWF television shows. So this idea was to gain revenge on the WWF, but the difference is that Hart would be walking out on a valid contract). The fact Hart was losing the title in Springfield was the world's worst-kept secret being that the WWF syndicated shows went out on the satellite Wednesday, which means anyone with a dish (which probably means well over one million potential viewers) would have been able to watch on Wednesday them talk about, in the past tense, in detail, an angle that was going to occur two days later.

It should be noted that the decision made to change the Intercontinental title from Hart to Piper was made weeks ago, before any talks had even started with WCW. So despite rumors to the contrary that are sure to spread, it wasn't a last-minute decision made by Titan to get the belt off Hart for fear he was leaving. If anything, Hart knowing he was going to lose the title may have been an impetus in his exploring the option of a jump. Apparently WCW offered Hart a guaranteed deal that was substantially more than he had been earning as Intercontinental champ. However after apparently agreeing to the deal, Hart had to back off because he realized his contract with the WWF, which he thought had run out, had rolled over and he couldn't give notice for several more months. However, WCW sources indicate that Hart, who had backed out of the deal as of a few days ago, will be coming in after all in not too many months. Hart was promised that after losing the strap to Mountie at a house show that he would be getting it back at Wrestlemania, even if it meant in a babyface match against Piper. However those are the kind of promises in wrestling that aren't often kept. In this case, since word got out on several wrestling 900 numbers over the weekend (which said that Hart would be starting at the Clash on Tuesday, and I'm sure many people, with Hart not appearing at the Rumble--which was to sell the illness and allow Piper to get the match and the strap; believed that confirmed the reports he was jumping) the plan WCW was attempting, Hart probably isn't in exactly the most favorable political position in the WWF right now as a possible lame
duck. As far as similar rumors involving Curt Hennig, first off, he's still months away from returning to the ring to begin with. Second, he just signed a new contract as an announcer with the WWF from what I'm told, although he is long-time friends with Rick Rude (they both grew up together in Robbinsdale, MN) and nearly everyone in wrestling is envious of Rude's contract with WCW (rumored to be $300,000 for working 142 dates).

Wrestling Observer Newsletter, January 27, 1992

[knifeedgechop]

May 19, 2018 11:05:08 GMT -5 lildude8218 said:

One of the stranger stories of the past week involves the Intercontinental title. Officially, as the storyline goes, Bret Hart went to the ring with a 104 degree fever on Friday night (1/17) in Springfield, MA and lost the title to The Mountie. Mountie in turn dropped the title at the Rumble two days later to Roddy Piper. As has become pretty common knowledge as the week went on, Hart had negotiated and at one point agreed to a deal where he would debut on Tuesday (1/21) at the Clash of the Champions for WCW in Topeka where he'd come out with the Intercontinental title as something of a payback for the WWF bringing in Ric Flair and having him wear what WCW considered their world title belt (of course the situations are completely different in that Flair was fired by WCW after the company attempted to cut an existing contract almost in half, which somehow six months later WCW feels is the WWF's fault for, to the extent they went to court over getting the belt off WWF television shows. So this idea was to gain revenge on the WWF, but the difference is that Hart would be walking out on a valid contract). The fact Hart was losing the title in Springfield was the world's worst-kept secret being that the WWF syndicated shows went out on the satellite Wednesday, which means anyone with a dish (which probably means well over one million potential viewers) would have been able to watch on Wednesday them talk about, in the past tense, in detail, an angle that was going to occur two days later.

It should be noted that the decision made to change the Intercontinental title from Hart to Piper was made weeks ago, before any talks had even started with WCW. So despite rumors to the contrary that are sure to spread, it wasn't a last-minute decision made by Titan to get the belt off Hart for fear he was leaving. If anything, Hart knowing he was going to lose the title may have been an impetus in his exploring the option of a jump. Apparently WCW offered Hart a guaranteed deal that was substantially more than he had been earning as Intercontinental champ. However after apparently agreeing to the deal, Hart had to back off because he realized his contract with the WWF, which he thought had run out, had rolled over and he couldn't give notice for several more months. However, WCW sources indicate that Hart, who had backed out of the deal as of a few days ago, will be coming in after all in not too many months. Hart was promised that after losing the strap to Mountie at a house show that he would be getting it back at Wrestlemania, even if it meant in a babyface match against Piper. However those are the kind of promises in wrestling that aren't often kept. In this case, since word got out on several wrestling 900 numbers over the weekend (which said that Hart would be starting at the Clash on Tuesday, and I'm sure many people, with Hart not appearing at the Rumble--which was to sell the illness and allow Piper to get the match and the strap; believed that confirmed the reports he was jumping) the plan WCW was attempting, Hart probably isn't in exactly the most favorable political position in the WWF right now as a possible lame
duck. As far as similar rumors involving Curt Hennig, first off, he's still months away from returning to the ring to begin with. Second, he just signed a new contract as an announcer with the WWF from what I'm told, although he is long-time friends with Rick Rude (they both grew up together in Robbinsdale, MN) and nearly everyone in wrestling is envious of Rude's contract with WCW (rumored to be $300,000 for working 142 dates).

Wrestling Observer Newsletter, January 27, 1992

Interesting. Kind of understand now in 1998, if Vince thought Bret agreed to wear the IC strap in WCW once then surely he'd have no issues of bringing the World Title there.

[Reflecto]

Though it still is kind of interesting that, if WWE truly believed Bret Hart was about to jump to WCW with the Intercontinental Title, they would protect Bret by saying he was really sick in the defeat and wouldn't take the opportunity to say "See what a loser Bret Hart is? He just lost this badly to The Mountie and The Mountie got destroyed later!" like they would for other people leaving the company, let alone people planning to defect to the rival company.

Even then, that "Bret Hart had a really, really bad fever you guys and he's still planning to compete!" was one of the weirdest ways to try and protect a wrestler WWF had ever done.

[KofiMania]

May 19, 2018 11:05:08 GMT -5 lildude8218 said:

One of the stranger stories of the past week involves the Intercontinental title. Officially, as the storyline goes, Bret Hart went to the ring with a 104 degree fever on Friday night (1/17) in Springfield, MA and lost the title to The Mountie. Mountie in turn dropped the title at the Rumble two days later to Roddy Piper. As has become pretty common knowledge as the week went on, Hart had negotiated and at one point agreed to a deal where he would debut on Tuesday (1/21) at the Clash of the Champions for WCW in Topeka where he'd come out with the Intercontinental title as something of a payback for the WWF bringing in Ric Flair and having him wear what WCW considered their world title belt (of course the situations are completely different in that Flair was fired by WCW after the company attempted to cut an existing contract almost in half, which somehow six months later WCW feels is the WWF's fault for, to the extent they went to court over getting the belt off WWF television shows. So this idea was to gain revenge on the WWF, but the difference is that Hart would be walking out on a valid contract). The fact Hart was losing the title in Springfield was the world's worst-kept secret being that the WWF syndicated shows went out on the satellite Wednesday, which means anyone with a dish (which probably means well over one million potential viewers) would have been able to watch on Wednesday them talk about, in the past tense, in detail, an angle that was going to occur two days later.

It should be noted that the decision made to change the Intercontinental title from Hart to Piper was made weeks ago, before any talks had even started with WCW. So despite rumors to the contrary that are sure to spread, it wasn't a last-minute decision made by Titan to get the belt off Hart for fear he was leaving. If anything, Hart knowing he was going to lose the title may have been an impetus in his exploring the option of a jump. Apparently WCW offered Hart a guaranteed deal that was substantially more than he had been earning as Intercontinental champ. However after apparently agreeing to the deal, Hart had to back off because he realized his contract with the WWF, which he thought had run out, had rolled over and he couldn't give notice for several more months. However, WCW sources indicate that Hart, who had backed out of the deal as of a few days ago, will be coming in after all in not too many months. Hart was promised that after losing the strap to Mountie at a house show that he would be getting it back at Wrestlemania, even if it meant in a babyface match against Piper. However those are the kind of promises in wrestling that aren't often kept. In this case, since word got out on several wrestling 900 numbers over the weekend (which said that Hart would be starting at the Clash on Tuesday, and I'm sure many people, with Hart not appearing at the Rumble--which was to sell the illness and allow Piper to get the match and the strap; believed that confirmed the reports he was jumping) the plan WCW was attempting, Hart probably isn't in exactly the most favorable political position in the WWF right now as a possible lame
duck. As far as similar rumors involving Curt Hennig, first off, he's still months away from returning to the ring to begin with. Second, he just signed a new contract as an announcer with the WWF from what I'm told, although he is long-time friends with Rick Rude (they both grew up together in Robbinsdale, MN) and nearly everyone in wrestling is envious of Rude's contract with WCW (rumored to be $300,000 for working 142 dates).

Wrestling Observer Newsletter, January 27, 1992

I think Meltzer retracted this the next week.

[lildude8218]

A correction from last week in regards to Bret Hart. The word we received at press time regarding Hart going to WCW was incorrect in that by the time we wrote it, the deal was temporarily dead. Hart is under contract to the WWF. His earliest out would be in September unless WCW and Hart attempt to void his contract (and this isn't going to happen). Hart was offered $300,000 as a guarantee to make the jump and had agreed to it until realizing his WWF contract had rolled over. I could be wrong, but my gut feeling is that Hart will get a big push and the WWF will attempt to keep him come the fall rather than be buried.

Wrestling Observer Newsletter, February 3, 1992

[Arrogance_Personified]

Shame that The Mountie was used as a transitional holder of the championship though, used to love his character & over the top heelish antics.

[4real]

May 19, 2018 15:56:53 GMT -5 lildude8218 said:

A correction from last week in regards to Bret Hart. The word we received at press time regarding Hart going to WCW was incorrect in that by the time we wrote it, the deal was temporarily dead. Hart is under contract to the WWF. His earliest out would be in September unless WCW and Hart attempt to void his contract (and this isn't going to happen). Hart was offered $300,000 as a guarantee to make the jump and had agreed to it until realizing his WWF contract had rolled over. I could be wrong, but my gut feeling is that Hart will get a big push and the WWF will attempt to keep him come the fall rather than be buried.

Wrestling Observer Newsletter, February 3, 1992

Bret will get a big push? Ha what does Meltzer know what a mark!

[auph10imitated]

Its quite suprising how many face vs face matches they had at PPVs in '92

Bret vs Piper
Savage vs Warrior
Bulldog vs Bret

[Cranjis McBasketball]

May 21, 2018 4:37:22 GMT -5 auph10imitated said:

Its quite suprising how many face vs face matches they had at PPVs in '92

Bret vs Piper
Savage vs Warrior
Bulldog vs Bret

They really didn’t have any heels. Flair never seemed to actually be wrestling, Jake was gone, Taker turned, Perfect wasn’t wrestling, Sid was gone.

Who the hell else was gonna challenge for titles?

[4real]

May 21, 2018 4:44:03 GMT -5 Cranjis McBasketball said:

May 21, 2018 4:37:22 GMT -5 auph10imitated said:

Its quite suprising how many face vs face matches they had at PPVs in '92

Bret vs Piper
Savage vs Warrior
Bulldog vs Bret

They really didn’t have any heels. Flair never seemed to actually be wrestling, Jake was gone, Taker turned, Perfect wasn’t wrestling, Sid was gone.

Who the hell else was gonna challenge for titles?

Well they had Kamala, Nailz, Papa Shango, Skinner & The Berzerker! Yeah

Other heels I can think of:

Mountie (gimic sort of done by 92 wasn't it?)
Repo Man (lower card)
Martel (Never pushed as a major threat)
HBK (not ready for main event)
DiBiase & IRS (tag team)
Beverlys
Nasty Boys
Razor Ramon (Didn't debut till late in the year).
Bigelow (again didn't return till late in the year)

Yeah they didn't have a lot of options, anyone I forgot?

[auph10imitated]

Yeah it was a difficult time for the heel side for sure.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

May 21, 2018 4:59:22 GMT -5 4real said:

May 21, 2018 4:44:03 GMT -5 Cranjis McBasketball said:

They really didn’t have any heels. Flair never seemed to actually be wrestling, Jake was gone, Taker turned, Perfect wasn’t wrestling, Sid was gone.

Who the hell else was gonna challenge for titles?

Well they had Kamala, Nailz, Papa Shango, Skinner & The Berzerker! Yeah

Other heels I can think of:

Mountie (gimic sort of done by 92 wasn't it?)
Repo Man (lower card)
Martel (Never pushed as a major threat)
HBK (not ready for main event)
DiBiase & IRS (tag team)
Beverlys
Nasty Boys
Razor Ramon (Didn't debut till late in the year).
Bigelow (again didn't return till late in the year)

Yeah they didn't have a lot of options, anyone I forgot?

In post Mania 92?? Ummmmm. Headshrinkers?

[Deleted]

May 19, 2018 15:56:53 GMT -5 lildude8218 said:

I could be wrong, but my gut feeling is that Hart will get a big push and the WWF will attempt to keep him come the fall rather than be buried.

He wasn't wrong about this part.

[Hit Girl]

Bret was a coward. A 104 degree fever is no excuse.

[Milkman Norm]

Barry Manilow was in town the next night and Jaques just had to go.

[Jumpin' Jesse Walsh]

May 21, 2018 10:47:58 GMT -5 Hit Girl said:

Bret was a coward. A 104 degree fever is no excuse.

I know, right? I’ve wrestled with a 113 degree temperature.

[Futureraven: Beelzebruv]

May 21, 2018 4:59:22 GMT -5 4real said:

May 21, 2018 4:44:03 GMT -5 Cranjis McBasketball said:

They really didn’t have any heels. Flair never seemed to actually be wrestling, Jake was gone, Taker turned, Perfect wasn’t wrestling, Sid was gone.

Who the hell else was gonna challenge for titles?

Well they had Kamala, Nailz, Papa Shango, Skinner & The Berzerker! Yeah

Other heels I can think of:

Mountie (gimic sort of done by 92 wasn't it?)
Repo Man (lower card)
Martel (Never pushed as a major threat)
HBK (not ready for main event)
DiBiase & IRS (tag team)
Beverlys
Nasty Boys
Razor Ramon (Didn't debut till late in the year).
Bigelow (again didn't return till late in the year)

Yeah they didn't have a lot of options, anyone I forgot?

Looking at it, Dibiase, Martel, Flair and HBK all had variations on the cocky heel types.

Imagine if they'd used that and Hogan going in a say, 6 month storyline.

Hogan's gone, all the top heels are super cocky, now they rule the place, Flair took back the title from Savage, Warrior deserted there's no hope.

Then Bret comes through as the guy who takes them down where the 1980s guys couldn't.

Might have given him a stronger start than a random win then facing everyone no matter their place on the card.

[Deleted]

May 21, 2018 4:59:22 GMT -5 4real said:

May 21, 2018 4:44:03 GMT -5 Cranjis McBasketball said:

They really didn’t have any heels. Flair never seemed to actually be wrestling, Jake was gone, Taker turned, Perfect wasn’t wrestling, Sid was gone.

Who the hell else was gonna challenge for titles?

Well they had Kamala, Nailz, Papa Shango, Skinner & The Berzerker! Yeah

Other heels I can think of:

Mountie (gimic sort of done by 92 wasn't it?)
Repo Man (lower card)
Martel (Never pushed as a major threat)
HBK (not ready for main event)
DiBiase & IRS (tag team)
Beverlys
Nasty Boys
Razor Ramon (Didn't debut till late in the year).
Bigelow (again didn't return till late in the year)

Repo was still a solid midcarder in early '92. As that year went on his status declined, but he started by working with DiBiase a bit and it was a while before that wore off.

Martel was never pushed as a major threat but was still treated quite well.

HBK spent '92 becoming a threat, IC title was on his waist in the fall. Even when he left in early '94 he had a good spot.

DiBiase & IRS could've been more of a stable than an actual tag team if they needed singles heels. That combo always made it seem like the tag ranks were horribly depleted......which, I guess, they kinda were?

Beverlys were an odd duo. Pushed to be bigger than they really were is the feel I got. When they became started jobbing a lot more it didn't seem like a demotion but more as the company realizing what they were best at...... sounds cruel, and I don't mean them disrespect, but I missed out on their initial TV appearances somehow and whenever I missed WWF TV time it seemed like stuff that happened there / people who debuted there was forever out of sync with me..

Nastys had a hot 1991 and never recovered after SSlam, they were midcarders with some good heat at best.