What If #5: Wrestlemania 1 flops

[Gertner]

In 1985 wrestling as we know it changed forever. Vince McMahon essentially staked his company on the success of Wrestlemania 1. Reportedly though, Turner paid in the 6 figures for Vince to leave his station, and this paid for Wrestlemania. Nonetheless, Wrestlemania changed the way companies made money.

What if Wrestlemania flops?
Does the WWF last?
Would PPV's rise to prominance be delayed?
Where would Vince have gone from there.

Discuss.

[DLVH84]

If WrestleMania had failed, WWF would've died within five years.

[BizarroKing]

We would be celebrating WCW Road Wild this sunday instead.

[Seth82]

well I think Jim Crockett Promotions would've lasted longer

they wouldn't have to compete with Vince and wouldn't went into debt over it

[DAMN iNATOR]

There's a very strong possibility, I feel, that had WrestleMania I not been a huge success that the industry could still be very much a regional territorial system with much more competition from many companies.

[RiX1024]

WWE would of been super fcked and JCP will sh!t on them.

[Loose Cannon]

So here's the thing about this one because it does come up a lot in the "What If" world. There is no way on God's green earth that Vince would of let this flop. Vince knew exactly what he was doing. Go back to 1984 and the WWF was Superhot already with the whole Rock/Wreslting thing. Remember, they aired two big shows on MTV prior to Wrestlemania and I believe those shows did 9's in the ratings.

Vince and his crew were fucking workers in a business aspect. And if you put the work in, the results will come. They busted thier asses getting this show together and Vince spent a ton of money on marketing to ensure a good number.

So with the WWF already being a hot commodity in entertaiment and with Vince's money and hard work ethic, to me, Wrestlemania 1 was never going to flop.

[Loose Cannon]

There's a very strong possibility, I feel, that had WrestleMania I not been a huge success that the industry could still be very much a regional territorial system with much more competition from many companies.

Again, like I said in a previous thread, there's no way I see the territory system surviving into 2000. Even with Vince out of the picture. To me, the territories were like the mom and pop stores. In today's economy, you don't see a lot of them anymore, do you? Just like they've been eaten up by larger companies, the same thing would of happened to the territorial companies.

Going national was always going to be the way to go with wrestling

[Xero]

The indies still exist and are regional for the most part. If there wasn't a national company I think they would have thrived well enough.

[The Pope]

Welcome to November to Remember!

[Loose Cannon]

yea, there's probably hundreds of Indy wrestling companies around the US. But to me, they are different then the territories. I mean, let's be honest, you have to really be a hardcore wrestling fan to want to go to an Indy show. Back then, going to the Sportitorium or to the Portland Memorial Coliseum was the thing to do on Friday/Sat night. People talked about wrestling and wrestling was actually a money maker.

I would love for it to be like that today. I would love to have one NWA Champion and him making stops in all the territories.

[Xero]

Assuming no one ever went national (which, as you said, was inevitable) I absolutely could see the territories thriving today. All anyone cares about today is WWE because WWE is the international company that everyone's heard of. Most probably don't know the indies even exist because of WWE.

Without a company going national the NWA concept could be huge today.

[RiX1024]

yeah and what if Mr T didn't turn up at Wrestlemania 1? would that make any difference for WWE after the event?

[Xero]

Lauper and Mr. T were more important for WrestleMania than Hogan was. Without them it would have bombed.

[Gertner]

The War to Settle the Score is highly under-rated in terms of importance in wrestling history.

[DAMN iNATOR]

Was that the sequel to The Brawl to End It All? :shifty:

EDIT: Holy shit it was. Was totally just fucking around, too. LOL.

[Providence Peep]

The War to Settle the Score is highly under-rated in terms of importance in wrestling history.

:yes: That was the first wrestling show I ever saw on TV. I wonder how many other people here ever saw it.

[Gertner]

If the War to Settle the Score isn't a success, than Wrestlemania doesn't happen.