|
Post by RowdyRobbyPiper on Nov 4, 2013 8:32:23 GMT -5
The very idea that they were going to stretch the Shawn/Bret storyline out for 3 years is such bullshit. The story was told and if it needed to be retold, it certainly didn't need to take place at Wrestlemania for an additional 2 years. On top of that, I would think it wouldn't make a lot of sense with WCW taking off so well, and that anyone with common sense would see that what they're doing isn't working. Not only that, but starting off a "best of 3 series" with a f***ing Ironman match is stupid as shit, that's what you would do for the third match, not the first. The title match wasn't what it could have been, simply because main event scene was stretched so thin. Still, WWF did the best they could with the available components. If anything, Shawn's legit or not injury saved us on what we may have gotten; 1. Shawn vs. Bret 2 for the WWF title- yawn 2. Shawn vs. Sid for the WWF title- again, they'd already done 2 matches in the last 4 months...no thanks 3. Shawn vs. Undertaker for the WWF title - Taker might not have had a Mania streak if this was the case 4. Bret or Shawn vs. Austin for the WWF title- they hadn't pulled the trigger on the Austin turn yet, so doing it with the title on the line would have subtracted from the moment So thankfully...anything that was "planned", didn't happen for the right reasons. Vince probably told Bret that with the idea that it will make him happy, but had no intention of ever delivering on it.In other words, just another day in the relationship between Bret Hart and Vincent Kennedy McMahon.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2013 8:40:18 GMT -5
I think I would have rather had Bret/Austin. There was more than enough of Bret/HBK the previous year.
|
|
Boo!
Dennis Stamp
Posts: 4,417
|
Post by Boo! on Nov 4, 2013 8:42:18 GMT -5
Maybe Austin vs Bret for the title would have come too soon for Austin. His popularity was building but I think people retrospectively massively overstate where it was in the spring of 1997. The reason why the title win at WM14 was such a huge moment because it was the culmination of a popularity crescendo - it struck the steaming hot iron at precisely the right time.
Making Austin the 'face' face of the company in early 1997 may have been too soon and by the time 1998 rolled around the fans may have been sick of someone who, whilst growing in support, was given the strap long before he was the most popular guy in the company. As it turned out he was given it in 1998 when he was more over than anyone, and by a long distance. The rest, is history.
Just look at the Raw from February 1997 where HBK forfeited the title. Austin's reaction then would place him nowhere near the top heels or faces in the company at that time. People HUGELY overstate Austin's popularity in early 1997. He didn't really start gradually becoming one of the top fan favourites until much later on in the year.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2013 11:33:31 GMT -5
.......no. It being 1997 ruined WM13's appeal.
|
|
|
Post by Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!! on Nov 4, 2013 12:13:14 GMT -5
in hindsight, much like the Hogan match, it's one of those situations where Shawn acting like a 5 year old worked out better for everyone.
|
|
mizerable
Fry's dog Seymour
You're the lowest on the totem pole here, Alva. The lowest.
Posts: 23,475
|
Post by mizerable on Nov 4, 2013 12:17:08 GMT -5
In other words, just another day in the relationship between Bret Hart and Vincent Kennedy McMahon. As well as about 95% of the rest of the roster. Vince was the originator of the "wait and see". Poor bastards.
|
|
|
Post by Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!! on Nov 4, 2013 12:17:25 GMT -5
For as much as the IC title means nothing now, The Sultan getting a shot at it at Wrestlemania doesn't exactly make it seem too credible back in the glory days, either. I'll be honest, for me the IC title's always meant a lot in and of itself, but it's not like Curtis Axel is the first awful IC champ. I think there have been more lousy IC champs than any other belt in WWE's history. hell, even the European Title has a less embarassing lineage. remember when in short order it was held by Val Venis, Road Dogg, Golddust and then Godfather in a space of like 4 months?
|
|