Quote:
|
Originally Posted by PWI
Q - On one of the Bruce Prichard podcasts, they discuss that The Outsiders were pushing hard for Bret Hart to be the 3rd member of the NWO as opposed to Hulk Hogan. I think Prichard said his deal was ending in that time frame. So it makes some sense. Do you know how close Hart was to leaving at that time and imagine how different the wrestling landscape would’ve been. Would Hogan of ever turned heel? What would’ve happened instead of the Montreal Screwjob? So many ripple effects.
A - That story is 100% accurate. If you are an Elite member, you can read the complete details in the Wrestling Lariat archives. In the summer/fall if 1996, Bret Hart's deal was expiring and WCW was making a heavy play for him. In the end, he decided to stay with WWF and was signed to what was supposed to be a 20 year deal that would see him close his career with the company and then move into a behind the scenes role. A year later, in September of 1997, the company was losing so much money that Vince McMahon told Bret Hart he could no longer afford the deal and offered him the chance to go negotiate with WCW and see if he could still get the big money offer. Hart actually got more and made arrangements to leave. However, Hart's WWF deal stipulated that he had creative control over how he was used the last 30 days of his run and due to his personal issues with Shawn Michaels, was not going to put Michaels over for the belt and felt that losing the belt in Canada wasn't proper either. So, WWE went with the screwjob....and the rest was history.
|
Bret as the mystery third member would have been very interesting but also would have lacked that mega shock moment Hogan created with his sudden heel turn.
At least Bret's WCW career would likely have been a lot better than WCW dropping the ball big time with him post-Screwjob.