The recent post to the blog about Austins heel run got me wondering...the night after Wrestlemania the fans were DYING to see HHH turn face. My question is what if he did? That means no two man power trip which means that the Austin/HHH vs Beniot/Jericho match never happens, which means that Hunter doesn't tear his quad, which means no need to rush the invasion because you still have one of your top stars, (maybe two although Beniot was probably headed for neck surgery either way.) And instead of the invasion you have Hunter and Austin batting all summer which means that when Hogan and Flair were brought in the company is in an entirely different place. Call me a Triple H mark if you must but I really wish he had hit Stone Cold with the sledgehammer that night
Honestly, I think it would have created a few more interesting match-ups, but I think the InVasion would have happened as it did, with Triple H leading the WWE side of things. Plus, Hogan & Flair would have probably been brought in the same way, as they both came at a time when Triple H was back.
Face HHH still tears his quad, IMO. It was an injury waiting to happen.
ReplyDeleteTriple H was actually SUPPOSED to turn face, leading to a match with Austin at Summerslam. His torn quad changed that plan.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how turning face keeps hunter from tearing his quad. And the whole 'hhh should've turned face' premise is just an admission that Jericho and the child murderer had no business being the top babyfaces.
ReplyDeleteI don't see how that was the plan. He had JUST created the heel tandem with Austin. How was be gonna have a run with that, turn face AND have a buildup for a match with Austin by Summerslam?
ReplyDeleteI don't buy it.
I'm still reveling in the fact you're a Caliber fan. I knew I'd turn you.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Jericho had business being a top star. Had they gone with his original idea for teaming up with Steph, and not made him such a minor player in that angle, he would have done damn well.
This was 2001. There was no such thing as a slow build at the time.
ReplyDeleteThat was a year later. And he still couldn't hold his own at WRESTLMANIA.
ReplyDeleteThe only reason he couldn't hold his own was because he was being under-cut. They made Steph the focus of the entire thing. Plus, Jericho was her bitch for no reason. Had he been fucking her it would have worked a hell of a lot better.
ReplyDeleteHe could've been fucking Vince and his match still would've been overshadowed by Rock/Hogan. He was never close to that level.
ReplyDeleteWell, nobody was close to that level on that show. Everyone knows that Rock v Hogan should have gone on last.
ReplyDeleteSo Jericho should never have been the top babyface.
ReplyDeleteWell, It's more that Rock/Hogan was a legends match, but neither of them were going to carry the company and everyone knew it. So was Rock a bigger star at that exact moment? Yes. Would he have a sustained ride at the top if he came back? Probably not.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I get that the specific "Austin/HHH VS Benoit/Jericho" doesn't happen, but it's not like he tore his quad on some crazy move. Could have happened in any match.
ReplyDeleteI dunno, it kinda makes sense. Even in the match where he tore his quad, if you remember, the finish came when HHH hit Austin with the sledgehammer by accident. With the Invasion happening soon, I don't really see how they could have continued the two man power trip much longer anyway. I would guess HHH would have taken Angle's place in the eventual story (up til the Angle heel turn, anyway).
ReplyDeleteHe so should've. The pop when he won the belt in April says it all
ReplyDeleteYeah that pop would've carried the company for years! LOL!
ReplyDeleteI dunno man, I remember when Triple H was face as the DX guy, and I look back on it now and have no idea how I thought that dude was 'cool'
ReplyDeleteYeah, I remember when I was 14 and thought DX was the coolest, funniest thing on Earth. Looking back, I can't stand DX, knowing what pricks Shawn & Hunter truly were. Then they truly became the antithesis of cool during the two reunion tours. Man, that shit was embarrassing.
ReplyDeleteNot saying it wouldn't have worked eventually, but Summerslam would have been way too soon.
ReplyDeleteThat's a bit of a difference and unheard of circumstance, though. HHH/Austin was just another feud; not an angle featuring companies invading. Big difference.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I mean I don't hate either of them really, I just think Trips is a bit Dorky is all.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I know people love him but his qualifications and expectations as a "top face" were always overrated and overblown.
ReplyDeleteDuring the last couple of shows before his injury, there was a clear rift forming between Austin and HHH. Austin would go off and do his own plans while making thinly veiled threats towards 'aitch.
ReplyDeleteThe team was already showing cracks before they lost the belts, as Austin was under the belief he was competing with Triple H for Vince's attention. They kept it going after KOTR, subbing Angle in... and wouldn't you know it? Those two met for the WWF Title at Summerslam.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't matter. We'd still all hate him, right guys?
ReplyDeleteJericho was still in screechy idiot heel mode. No way he's taken seriously.
ReplyDelete