What if Austin's career was ended in 1997?

[wildojinx]

Yeah, another What If. Let's say that after Summerslam 97, Austin's neck was too messed up to wrestle anymore, and he had to retire? What happens next? I can see them hastily turning Bret face, maybe either having a "what have I done?" moment, or one of the hart foundation members (or all of them) getting jealous of him and turning on Bret to challenge him for the belt. Plus, you've also got DX so Bret has plenty of people to feud with. As for Austin, they'd probably keep him around as an authority figure or commentator or something. However, this also likely means no boom period and WWF is still pretty much #2. It might even keep WCW alive (since WWF would never eclipse them in popularity).

[jason1980s]

I can't see WWF or WCW in general surviving if Austin hadn't been healthy in 1998 and early 1999. Wrestling was on the verge of becoming pop culture again and having a boom period that hadn't been seen since 1985. Without Austin none of that would have happened. There was a lot of great talent but no one was "THAT" major star that was needed to see things through.

[Can you afford to pay me, Gah]

Its a tough one to figure out because there was a lot that was linked to Austin. WWE would likely did everything to kept Bret instead of leading him walk. The Boom may have happened but later. because the Rock no doubt would still became big because his promos skills was untouchable. May taken longer because he wouldn't had Austin to feed off of that help make him, but he was for sure going to catch on. I feel the Rock may been push harder if times needed it. Would Bret in Austin role worked against McMahon? They could had still done the "screw job" but have Bret turn face and seek revenge on Vince may have worked enough to keep WWE afloat. Not sure if it would be as big of a hit as Austin vs. McMahon but Bret against Foley and so forth would still brought it match quality wise. Could be enough to fill the gap as they build up the Rock character.

[Mid-Carder]

I'd like to think the success of Hogan in WCW would have frightened them into putting all their efforts into someone, and trundled on until Rock catches on as a draw. As it were, the huge success of Austin gave Rock time to grow in confidence and experience and become a legitimate marquee star who eventually took over from him.

Bret and Shawn would certainly have been the top of the card for as long as possible

[dirtyoldman]

I remember writing an article about this very question years ago for another site (unfortunately the site lost all its info and that was the only one I couldn't get back for my book).

The wwf at the time did have DX, undertaker, Kane, Foley and the Rock so they weren't just a one man show with Austin.
From what I remember writing the Undertaker/Kane fued was kicking off so I pictured them main eventing Wrestlemania with Kane winning the rumble and taker beating Shawn michaels for the title (I justified Kane winning by comparing it to Yoko winning the rumble after debuting shortly).

Rock would be pushed into Austin's spot and I imagined the survivor series tournament for a vacant wwf would have HHH being the one who would turn on his DX comrades and join the corporation. Estentially bringing forward the Rock/HHH fued by a year or two.

My conclusion was that although it would take the wwf alot longer to regain their lead of WCW, the wwf was Vince's family company which he worked on 25 hours a day 8 days a week and would have struggled on to find a way to survive.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

Shawn jumps to WCW, sells belt for pills on his way out the door. Austin probably hangs around as an authority figure or outlaw or some kind.

[wildojinx]

On a happier note, this scenario likely keeps Owen and Bulldog alive. Bret wont let Owen do the Blazer stunt (and he likely wouldnt even be put in that role anyway), and Bulldog doesnt go to WCW and injure himself on the trap door. There's even the possibility that Austin, with a limited role, can do what he wished he could have done and, in his words, "tie up Pillman and throw him into rehab".

[rnrk supports BLM]

Vince still needs all the star power he can get and doesn't try to pressure Bret out. HBK and DX are transitioned into faces as fast as possible. The Mr. McMahon character still happens because it was always Vince's fantasy booking of himself; here it's DX as the rowdy raunchy antiheroes who become his main nemesis. There's a sincere push in late '97 to build Ken Shamrock into the next top headliner, but I don't think he really had the charisma for it to take; whether he wins the Rumble depends on how much confidence they have in him at that point. Mania 14 main event is Bret dropping the title to either Shawn or Shamrock. Tyson's still involved and they're still able to build it into a big deal. By mid-'98, Rock's been pegged as the obvious future of the company, and 'Mania 15 is his big coronation of winning the belt from an evil corporate champ (Shawn if he's still an active wrestler in this timeline, otherwise probably Undertaker or HHH).

Overall, it takes longer for WWF to come out ahead, but they're still winning the Monday Night Wars, if only because WCW implodes of its own volition.

[Toilet Paper Roll]

Feb 2, 2021 16:36:41 GMT -5 jason1980s said:

I can't see WWF or WCW in general surviving if Austin hadn't been healthy in 1998 and early 1999. Wrestling was on the verge of becoming pop culture again and having a boom period that hadn't been seen since 1985. Without Austin none of that would have happened. There was a lot of great talent but no one was "THAT" major star that was needed to see things through.

Sounds extreme but you may be right.   WCW continues a downward trajectory and WWE needs to keep spinning their wheels and going nowhere

[Mozenrath]

They probably throw Rock and Triple H into the main event too soon. They maybe tolerate Ahmed Johnson for a little while longer. Maybe they stick it out with Vader, too.

Kane, Mankind, and Undertaker probably are leaned on even harder. Both companies definitely take a huge blow, though.

[Lupin the Third]

Feb 2, 2021 18:19:17 GMT -5 wildojinx said:

On a happier note, this scenario likely keeps Owen and Bulldog alive. Bret wont let Owen do the Blazer stunt (and he likely wouldnt even be put in that role anyway), and Bulldog doesnt go to WCW and injure himself on the trap door. There's even the possibility that Austin, with a limited role, can do what he wished he could have done and, in his words, "tie up Pillman and throw him into rehab".

Problem with that end piece is Pillman died two months after Austin was injured. And from what Austin has said, Pillman died from a atherosclerotic heart disease, which was undetected at the time of his death.

[Deleted]

.....well, I'm sure Vince woulda let Owen go with Bret toward the end of the year.

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

Feb 2, 2021 22:51:28 GMT -5 Lupin the Third said:

Feb 2, 2021 18:19:17 GMT -5 wildojinx said:

On a happier note, this scenario likely keeps Owen and Bulldog alive. Bret wont let Owen do the Blazer stunt (and he likely wouldnt even be put in that role anyway), and Bulldog doesnt go to WCW and injure himself on the trap door. There's even the possibility that Austin, with a limited role, can do what he wished he could have done and, in his words, "tie up Pillman and throw him into rehab".

Problem with that end piece is Pillman died two months after Austin was injured. And from what Austin has said, Pillman died from a atherosclerotic heart disease, which was undetected at the time of his death.

In regards to Pillman, I could see them having Pillman turn on the Harts to defend his former friend, as he is the closest guy to Austin in terms of edginess. But obviously, it wouldn't last very long as there is little chance of him surviving 1997 in the condition he was in.

[hassanchop]

Could there be a possibility Austin could make a comeback in 2001?

[fw91]

Would American Badass taker happen sooner or perhaps Rock never goes corporate and stays face in fall of 98

[Hobby Drifter]

WWF folds
WCW implodes as before

Paul Heyman’s ECW becomes the template for American pro-wrestling going forward.

[hassanchop]

Maybe Taker sticks to being Ministry Taker and Crush does the American Badass thing.

[koreycaskets]

Re sign Hogan like the rumor has been for years in 97 I believe ?

[Nickybojelais]

I think it makes for some fascinating knock on effects.

I think Owen becomes a legit main eventer
Vince pays Bret to stay due to him needing a main eventer
Ric Flair comes back to the WWF in 1998
Rock & Triple H pushes begin sooner (possibly to their detriment)

[bob]

Rock doesn't rise to the to main event, or gets there much later

-- he and Austin raised each other up the card

HHH gets a main event push sooner --

this means the McMahon-Helmsley era never happened, which means they weren't around each other a lot, which means Trips never marries Steph which has a ton of implications

Mr. McMahon never happens --

Vince doesn't force Bret out the door so Montreal never happens, but he also doesn't offer Bret that crazy 20 year deal

and because that never happens Bret, Owen, The British Bulldog and The Anvil never leave for WCW

and because The Hart Foundation stays around, they convince Owen not to do the stunt which killed him

Vince probably goes hard after Ric Flair in 1998 and gets him because he needs a star