What would have happened if Bret Hart was the leader of the original nWo?

[Ben Rodrigues]

As I understand it Bret Hart was originally intended to be the 3rd man in the original formation of the New World Order. Then when he wasn’t signed, they considered Luger until Hogan sought after the position – and I guess the rest is history.

My question is – what would have happened if Bret did actually jump ship at that time? Would it have been as big a hit? Would it have fizzled out, due to political issues? i.e. Hogan wanting to put himself over at the expense of the nWo. And for the hell of it – what if they went with Luger?

[Dave Youell]

Honestly.

I don't think it would of had the same impact.

Regardless of when Bret came into WCW there's no way they'd use him as a heel at first, he'd be waaaay to over, so to turn heel straight away and have him lead the NwO IMO wouldn't of had enough of my personal interest, plus he just came off leading the heart foundation, so he'd got the the leader of one heel group to another.

The reason Hogan worked is everyone knew him as a face, for decades he'd been a face, so when a face comes down to save they day they asume he will as he's Hogan, that's what he does.

The turn from Hogan was great because it had never been done before, people know what Bret's heel stick was like, but Hogan, never!

[Ben Rodrigues]

Wait, I just wrote an entire reply agreeing with you... but at the time of the nWo formation - wasn't Bret Hart coming off a loss to Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 12 and not yet into his heel stint until the following year? In fact - I don't believe Hart was on TV until Survivor Series 1996 against Steve Austin.

They never saw Hogan as a heel, at the same time - they never saw main event Bret Hart as a heel either.

[Rammsteinmad]

If it was Luger it woulda ended up being another going-nowhere stable. Nothing against the man, but he never had that huge status of peope like Hogan and Hart.

[Impeccable]

I'm going to have to agree here.

Honestly, anyone but Hogan would have had a lukewarm reaction and the nWo would have fizzled out quicker than it did.

I still get gooesbumps everytime I see that coffee cup hit Mean Gene in the nose...