Post by Jindrak Mark on Apr 12, 2022 17:59:49 GMT -5
I’ve always thought this was one of the most interesting butterfly effect moments in wrestling. If that match goes ahead when does HBK return to the ring? Does HHH stay face for longer and we don’t get the reign of terror as we know it? What does Nash do if he doesn’t get hurt and miss all that time? How long does the NWO continue to exist in WWE? Does Evolution still happen?
The original plan for Summerslam was HHH v Nash (the NWO including Michaels had been trying to recruit HHH and he presumably would have turned them down, leading to that match). Nash tears his quad in July though and they have to change plans so it’s interesting that HBK’s in-ring return after 4 and a half years came together relatively quickly and was a back-up plan.
Even if Nash doesn’t get hurt and the original match goes ahead it was surely just delaying the inevitable and Michaels was still going to lace up the boots again before too long. With their history HHH made the most sense as his return match so I think that still ends up being his first match back but it happens later at either Survivor Series in MSG or Wrestlemania 19.
There’s no way Michaels would have been a heel for his return match though. They’d somehow have to get from face HHH v heel NWO to heel HHH v face HBK so maybe HHH takes control of the NWO at some point and kicks Michaels out like he did with DX in 98. It’s interesting to think that perhaps the original plan for a HHH led stable was him leading the NWO instead of creating Evolution. If that was the plan then it’s a blessing it disguise it never came to be because the NWO name/gimmick had been poisoned (with a LETHAL DOSE) by this point and I find it hard to picture the whole thing working as well with Batista and Orton standing behind HHH wearing NWO shirts for 2 years. Flair joining the NWO would just have been wrong too and without Evolution maybe he never gets that career resurgence. The Evolution name was just too perfect and they needed the clean slate. It’s weird to think though what would have happened if they went with the NWO name and it was a bust. Orton probably still eventually reaches the heights he did some other way but Batista without that very specific Evolution run may not have ended well for him.
TL;DR: Without Nash tearing his quad we don't get one of the greatest matches of all-time in HHH v HBK (not on that show anyway). The NWO may have been milked for years longer. The reign of terror would have been different, if it happened at all. Batista might never become the 1B to Cena's 1A.
The original plan for Summerslam was HHH v Nash (the NWO including Michaels had been trying to recruit HHH and he presumably would have turned them down, leading to that match). Nash tears his quad in July though and they have to change plans so it’s interesting that HBK’s in-ring return after 4 and a half years came together relatively quickly and was a back-up plan.
Even if Nash doesn’t get hurt and the original match goes ahead it was surely just delaying the inevitable and Michaels was still going to lace up the boots again before too long. With their history HHH made the most sense as his return match so I think that still ends up being his first match back but it happens later at either Survivor Series in MSG or Wrestlemania 19.
There’s no way Michaels would have been a heel for his return match though. They’d somehow have to get from face HHH v heel NWO to heel HHH v face HBK so maybe HHH takes control of the NWO at some point and kicks Michaels out like he did with DX in 98. It’s interesting to think that perhaps the original plan for a HHH led stable was him leading the NWO instead of creating Evolution. If that was the plan then it’s a blessing it disguise it never came to be because the NWO name/gimmick had been poisoned (with a LETHAL DOSE) by this point and I find it hard to picture the whole thing working as well with Batista and Orton standing behind HHH wearing NWO shirts for 2 years. Flair joining the NWO would just have been wrong too and without Evolution maybe he never gets that career resurgence. The Evolution name was just too perfect and they needed the clean slate. It’s weird to think though what would have happened if they went with the NWO name and it was a bust. Orton probably still eventually reaches the heights he did some other way but Batista without that very specific Evolution run may not have ended well for him.
TL;DR: Without Nash tearing his quad we don't get one of the greatest matches of all-time in HHH v HBK (not on that show anyway). The NWO may have been milked for years longer. The reign of terror would have been different, if it happened at all. Batista might never become the 1B to Cena's 1A.
