If X-Pac stayed in WWE fully since 2002 how would he do?

[The Rick Jericho]

We've been celebrating a bunch of 20 year anniversaries in 2022 for superstar. What if X-Pac had stayed clean off the drugs and was with WWE the last 20 years?

How would his character evolve during the different generations of WWE TV since 2002?

2002: By the end, probably takes Hurricane's spot and tags with Kane to win the Tag Titles.

2003-2006: Goes to Smackdown and anchors the crusierweight division with Rey Mysterio.

2006-2008: DX reunion of course with HHH and HBK

2008-2010: X-Pac solo run in the IC title division

2010-2016: During the PG era I say he goes back to the 1-2-3 Kid and puts on bangers with everyone from Cena, Orton, Batista, Lesnar, Styles, KO, Jericho, etc..

2016-Current: Part-time who comes back for special feuds. Or Royal Rumble surprise entrant.

[BorneAgain]

I'd like to believe X-Pac would have been very unselfish and been dedicated to putting over a lot of the younger talent post 2002, however..


...he got everything he ever wanted and he (may) never have given that back.

[XIII]

I cannot imagine a world where XPac was here for the last 20 years straight. I like Xpac and he’s a good wrestler but dude was big stale by 2002 I can’t imagine what he’d have been like for the last 20 years.

But if he did stay…there would have been even more DX reunions probably

[kingoftheindies]

hard to say, by Waltman's own admission he was in a BAD way even back in 2002 and it took him years to clean up. They probably would have made DX a trio if they felt they could count on him.

[The Rick Jericho]

Jan 7, 2023 16:07:12 GMT -5 XIII said:

I cannot imagine a world where XPac was here for the last 20 years straight. I like Xpac and he’s a good wrestler but dude was big stale by 2002 I can’t imagine what he’d have been like for the last 20 years.

But if he did stay…there would have been even more DX reunions probably

I think he would bust out the 1-2-3 gimmick for a few years to freshen himself up. Plus he could perhaps work NXT and put on bangers with new talent. A guy like X-Pac would've benefitted so much if he was around the last 10 years and clean and off the drugs.

It would've made his legacy even bigger too, if he was still active today and was the last 10 years. A shame the drugs all got to him as he was only in his 30s when he washed out of WWE.

[ThankGodForSidJustice]

I really don't see how X-Pac would've fit in after 2002. I'm sure they still would've kep him in a decent spot because of his connections and the fact that he was pretty respected backstage. However in all honesty it was really time for him to go. He was super stale and fans were sick of him to the point that he got a negative phrase named after him with X-Pac heat, the roster had past him by, and even his in ring work which had always been his strong suit had fallen off a good bit.

Of course if it was now a days they would keep around for twenty years no problem ala Dolph Ziggler where he would keep being the same guy the entire time. However back then they weren't as prone to keeping guys around long past their expiration date when they didn't serve a purpose to the roster anymore.

[Instant Classic]

He’d have been great on Smackdown 2002-2004.

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

X-Pac was criminally stale by the time we got to 2002 and had been for about two years. He either needed a drastic character overhaul or to leave for several years, and it was the latter we got.

[CMWaters]

See, this just makes me wonder: would he be able to go for a short bit one last time?

He might make a fun Rumble surprise this year if he can.

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

Jan 7, 2023 20:26:47 GMT -5 CMWaters said:

See, this just makes me wonder: would he be able to go for a short bit one last time?

He might make a fun Rumble surprise this year if he can.

I mean, he worked a handful of matches for GCW in 2022, though he did tear his bicep and had surgery after his Spring Break match with Joey Janela. If he's healed, I don't see why not.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

It's weird to think about but we have runs like this now with the likes of Ziggler and Natalya.

[Fade]

I mean, and I f***ing loved X-Pac, he’d mainly be in the background/a jobber. To me, the closest example that reminds me of Waltman is Ziggler - just a dude spinning his wheels but they keep him around cause he’s good 🤷

I will say though that pac is a perfect example of “..if that dude would have showed up 15 years afterwards..” He would have been a king.

[Deleted]

I've always really liked him, dudes matches were frenetic and entertaining

if he was on SD i bet he would've won the usa/ic title a shitload of times