Current wrestlers and the NWA Title

[tomservo23]

If you took anybody out of the WWE's current roster, and transported them back to the heyday of NWA, in the 60's, 70's, or 80's, would any of them be worthy of the NWA World Championship?

I was racking my brain, and the only ones I could definitely say were Triple H, Randy Orton (I don't like him, but I think his skills and look would translate), and the Undertaker.

Any thoughts?

And I mean this seriously. Paul London, for all his skills, would not be a serious answer, for example.

["Hollywood" Cactus Matt]

Ric Flair

[Ass Dan]

cactusmatt said:

Ric Flair

Well, that was quick.

[Dr. T is an alien]

phenom said:

cactusmatt said:

Ric Flair

Well, that was quick.

It was a simple answer as well. Kudos to him.

My list of potential NWA champs would be:

Edge
Matt Hardy
MVP
Lashley
HHH
Finlay
Punk
Orton

[tomservo23]

cactusmatt said:

Ric Flair

Really? If you took Flair today, right now, and brought him back to 1977, the past version of him would laugh at today's version, so I honestly don't think so. Would create an interesting rift in time and space, though.

[tomservo23]

Punk would be an interesting one, but I don't know. Lashley and MVP, while they may have been a huge star in almost any promotion, I don't think they would be THE champ, because they're black. It's bullcrap, but you have to look at the times back then.

[Spankymac is sick of the swiss]

tomservo23 said:

Punk would be an interesting one, but I don't know. Lashley and MVP, while they may have been a huge star in almost any promotion, I don't think they would be THE champ, because they're black. It's bullcrap, but you have to look at the times back then.

I dunno. Look at guys like Butch Reed, JYD, Thunderbolt Patterson, Ernie Ladd, Bobo Brazil, and Sweet Daddy Siki. They were all black, and were hugely successful wherever they went back then. Admittedly, they were probably the exceptions rather than the rule, but the point is still there.

[rko]

i know jbl isn't really a current wrestler, but i think he would be the champ, seeing how he is a big, wide bellied texan

[cpbuff22]

Shawn Michaels now would be a good NWA Champion then. Would love a Sting vs Flair vs HBK match for the NWA Championship.

[CJ Denton is Egon]

tomservo23 said:

cactusmatt said:

Ric Flair

Really? If you took Flair today, right now, and brought him back to 1977, the past version of him would laugh at today's version, so I honestly don't think so. Would create an interesting rift in time and space, though.

I foresee two possibilities. One: coming face-to-face with himself 30 years older would put him into shock, and he'd simply pass out. Or, two: the encounter could create a time paradox, the result of which could cause a chain reaction that would unravel the very fabric of the space-time continuum and destroy the entire universe!



Granted that's a worst case scenario.

[Joker]

Big Daddy V would be feasible ... back then big men like him with some talent got put over huge as the main threat to titles.

[tomservo23]

chuckymac314 said:

tomservo23 said:

Punk would be an interesting one, but I don't know. Lashley and MVP, while they may have been a huge star in almost any promotion, I don't think they would be THE champ, because they're black. It's bullcrap, but you have to look at the times back then.

I dunno. Look at guys like Butch Reed, JYD, Thunderbolt Patterson, Ernie Ladd, Bobo Brazil, and Sweet Daddy Siki. They were all black, and were hugely successful wherever they went back then. Admittedly, they were probably the exceptions rather than the rule, but the point is still there.

Junkyard Dog was a huge star, but never given the NWA Title. MVP and Lashley would've been the same. It's the glass ceiling effect. Racism sucks, but it's a part of the sport's history unfortunately.

[bitteroldman]

The NWA World Champion in that era was expected to move among the territories and put the local challenger over. In a lot of ways, it was a glorified jobber role (without actually losing the match). You need someone who could work face or heel and someone who could really talk. Not an unbeatable monster. Also, someone who could handle himself if the challenger decided to shoot.

Michaels was mentioned earlier, and if he could deal with putting guys over on a regular basis it would be a good choice.

He's no longer in WWE, but I do think that Kurt Angle would have made a great NWA champion in that era.

[Arturo Classico]

What about Bryan Danielson? Or if you're talking WWE wrestlers, Matt Hardy or CM Punk.

[-Lithium-]

dentonjc said:

tomservo23 said:

Really? If you took Flair today, right now, and brought him back to 1977, the past version of him would laugh at today's version, so I honestly don't think so. Would create an interesting rift in time and space, though.

I foresee two possibilities. One: coming face-to-face with himself 30 years older would put him into shock, and he'd start bleeding.

Fixed...

[Mozenrath]

Edge is a maybe.

Cena, probably.

Batista? No clue.

Kennedy? Maybe.

[molson5]

The NWA never went the foreign heel route for a champ, but Umaga would have gotten 1,000,000 title shots (would probably never get the gold though).

[Deleted]

dentonjc said:

tomservo23 said:

Really? If you took Flair today, right now, and brought him back to 1977, the past version of him would laugh at today's version, so I honestly don't think so. Would create an interesting rift in time and space, though.

I foresee two possibilities. One: coming face-to-face with himself 30 years older would put him into shock, and he'd simply pass out. Or, two: the encounter could create a time paradox, the result of which could cause a chain reaction that would unravel the very fabric of the space-time continuum and destroy the entire universe!



Granted that's a worst case scenario.

whoa... this is heavy

[tomservo23]

Even if it destroyed the universe, I would still pay to see young Flair get out-dirtied by old Flair.

[Captain Wonderful]

phenom said:

cactusmatt said:

Ric Flair

Well, that was quick.

That's what she said.