How would they fare now? First edition | WrestleZone Forums

How would they fare now? First edition

Redrum

Pre-Show Stalwart
So i was thinking the other day about how would someone like Hart fare in today's WWE. Thought he and alot of the former stars and how they would work in today's WWE.

So here is the idea behind this thread. Assume the starts i list are in their prime and your choice of their former gimmicks or tweaked in a way but not to far from what they are known for. They are not formerly known so fans would be seeing these guys for the first time.

I will try and have a mix from guys who were at the top to those who were midcard guys as well as try and fit in one tag team at least. Also if said guy paved the way for his type or build of superstar then just assume someone else came along and paved the way but anyway here goes.

1: Macho Man Randy Savage
2: Curt Hennig
3: Steiner Brothers
4: Raven
5: Vader


I wont be limiting myself to just former WWE guys but this is asking how they would fare in todays WWE.
 
1 - Savage would still be a main event player as his promos and just all out manic style would still create a buzz today.
2 - Hennig would be a mid-card act. As Ziggler has shown having natural talent isn't enough and Curt lacked the part that would've made him a main event level wrestler....plus there are more good wrestlers around the WWE now then there was when he was in his prime so he wouldn't stand out as much...although Curt vs Ziggler would be a great match to watch.
3 - They wouldn't be a tag team as, with Scott's build & ability he'd be ear-marked for a main event push rather quickly. Otherwise they'd be a huge tag team that no-one really cares about because tag team wrestlings been neglected for far too long.
4 - He'd be jobbing or sacked. His character wouldn't work in PG and his back-stage attitude wouldn't last long.
5 - God knows to be honest. He was pretty much still good to go when he was in WWF before and they completely wasted him. I'd love to say he'd be winning that WWE title and being a major level heel but, I just can't tell.
 
1. Macho…… would have still turned out a main eventer a great one at that all around main event star past or present
2. Curt…… would be a midcard or introduced as a tag team with ziggler as the above poster stated the gimmick of being perfect or a show off just not enough in today
3. Steiner brothers…… Scott would be loved by vince so they wouldnt even have ended up a tag team
4. Raven……… his gimmick dont fit pg at all and isnt the best attitude so he wouldnt make try outs lol
5. Vader…… I say he would start out strong but end up as the long lost dinosaur in tons of funk
 
Macho Man Randy Savage - If Randy Savage came to WWE today with the same sort of style and character that made him a star in the 80s & 90s, I honestly believe the IWC would rip the guy to shreds. In spite of all the proclamations of how much better stars were back in the day, I believe a good portion of internet fans would absolutely despise Savage and wouldn't take him seriously no matter how good in the ring he was. They'd make fun of his voice, his promo style, his mannerisms, his ring gear, they'd probably criticize his overall look, etc. I'd have to agree with the ring gear, to be honest. The outfits he wore after becoming the Macho King made the guy look like he belonged more in a gay rodeo than a wrestling ring.

Curt Hennig - I think that Hennig would make it to the mid to upper mid-card level, but I don't think some people would buy him as a main eventer. I think that Hennig would be labeled as uncharismatic and having little personality by a lot of today's fans. To be fair, he wasn't a huge personality or anything as his greatest strengths always lay with his in-ring abilities. Hennig was okay on promos, but he never wowed anybody that I can recall. If he made it to the main event today, some would question the call based on a perceived lack of charisma.

Steiner Brothers - With tag team wrestling as a whole simply not being as important as it once was, whether it be WWE, TNA or wherever here in the states, I don't think the Steiners would have any problem making it to the top as a tag team. Again, however, they wouldn't get the universal acceptance that some seem to feel that stars from the days when they were growing up believe they would. Scott Steiner didn't really show any charisma or personality until he started the whole Big Poppa Pump gimmick and Rick Steiner never had any at all beyond barking like a dog. However, Steiner sacrificed wrestling ability and overall athleticism for muscle mass as Big Poppa Pump. Given his muscular physique, some would automatically give Scott Steiner the "you can't wrestle" treatment. A lot of smarks and net fans have something of a prejudice against big guys anyhow. As a tag team in wrestling today, however, I think they'd do just fine.

Raven - I've always felt that Raven was pretty overrated. Not that the guy couldn't cut promos, because he could, but I never saw him as this godlike figure on the mic that some do. Maybe it's because of the whole goth/emo stuff. You know, all the "I'm so dark, mysterious, brooding and troubled" stuff. Would he make it as a main eventer in WWE? I think it could be 50/50. I could see him as World Heavyweight Champion for a little while, but not as WWE Champion. I think Raven could find a pretty good level of success today, but he'd never be THE guy. He wouldn't come anywhere close to having that spot.

Vader - Vader is probably the last truly great super heavyweight in pro wrestling. Would he be accepted wholeheartedly by fans today? Hell no. As I mentioned with Scott Steiner, a good number of internet fans go the "you can't wrestle" route with a LOT of wrestlers over the 230 pound mark. All in all, however, I think Vader would be a big success today as a monster heel. He was great in that role during the early to mid 90s especially. Some would write the guy off as just a big fat guy that that's not accurate. Sure he was over the 350 pound mark, but the guy was solid as a rock like Mark Henry. Vader's build is pretty common among powerlifters in which he didn't have a ton of definition but hitting him was like hitting a brick wall. Vader had the intimidating presence, the look and a substantial level of athleticism for someone of his size. Not too many 400 pound guys are capable of doing a moonsault. Give Vader a manager to do most of his talking for him, turn him loose on some top babyfaces and most fans would be very much behind him as a heel.
 
Macho Man: It's hard for me to believe he wouldn't do rather well in wrestling today. Assuming we start from the beginning of his career in WWF, like the poster said, which I am old to reember seeing him when he first started, from his first match you could see how athletic, big, and strong the Macho Man was. I would argue that next to Hogan, he is the most recognised wrestler in wrestling history. Who doesn;t know "Snap into a slim jim, oh yeah!" A man of his size and strength when he first broke into WWF, he was going to get pushed.

The Steiners: Again, if we start from when they first made a name for themselves back in the early 90s/ late 80's (Note: I have watched wrestling for over 30 continuous years, so times, dates, and specific PPV's, I don't remember the shows like y'all do, but I rmember the fueds because of the emotions they have invoked) Scott Steiner wasn't nearly as big as he is now. He was big, but not big papa pump big. So he didn't necesarily have the same look as most of you probably remember him having. At th same time, both of them were fantastic Wrestlers, so maybe they would have made it farther than I think they would have.
 
Macho Man is just what the WWE could use right now given that most guys give their promos in a very monotonous, it doesn't really matter tone of voice. He has a great name in Macho Man and would upstage many a superstar these days.

The Steiner's again would be a welcome addition to the tag team ranks. PTP, The Uso's, the shield, Los Matadores are adequate as tag teams for the moment, but I think we would all love to see some genuine ass kickers once again instead of comic book stereotypes.

Curt Hennig would be great as an antithesis to Daniel Bryan and CM Punk. These guys are all essentially the same size, vary only slightly in charisma, and of course wrestle similar styles. He would be partnered up with Randy Orton, Del Rio, or his look alike, Ziggler. Of course, By the time Hennig would have shown up this time around, there would have already been an entire stable (Spirit Squad) that looked and acted just like him. in a way.

Raven would be apart of some goofball stable and probably wouldn't be the Raven we know at all unless he was given his own storyline with a contrasting personality. Actually, a program with Cena would gauge his effectiveness perfectly.

Vader would rock the bells now as a face in a program with Ryback, Henry, or Brock. Or as a heel with Cena, Brodus Clay, or Big E. I am all for good big guy wrestlers and Vader was one of them.
 
Randy Savage: Regardless of the ridiculous outfits and the over-the-top promo style, Savage's talent and charisma would lead to a long stint as a main event superstar, be it as a face or a heel. He simply had the talent and the versatility to compete with virtually anyone in WWE today. His gimmick would be slightly outdated in the vein of the over-the-top 80's and 90's, but his pure wrestling ability and promo ability would help him overcome that. How would he fare with us, the IWC? Tough to say. I'm sure plenty of criticism would be leveled at him due to his look and ring gear, but would appreciate him nonetheless because of his talent. The greats have always been able to rise above gimmicks that don't fit the times, and Savage would certainly be able to do so.

Curt Hennig: I think WWE would likely introduce him using his "Perfect" vignettes, and he'ld be an immediate mid-carder upon entrance into the WWE. There was always something missing with Hennig that prevented him from rising to main event status, and I feel things would be no different today. He would be an occasional fill-in in the main event picture, but he wouldn't be a fixture there. Still, he'ld be the likely anchor of the mid-card and the guy they called upon to have great matches with top stars when needed. He wouldn't beat them often, but he'ld hold his own on a consistent basis and probably have a World Title reign or two under his belt when all is said and done. He'ld be an IWC darling that most would complain was underutilied because of his talent, although he rightfully isn't and wouldn't be a Main Event guy, which would undoubtedly irk many in the IWC.

The Steiner Brothers: In their prime, there were few better tag teams, and they would dominate the much weaker Tag Team division today. It's hard to envision them notdominating teams such as Los Matadores, The Usos and Tons of Funk, and some matches with The Real Americans could be a good bit of fun. They'ld stack up nicely with the Shield and the Rhodes as well, but they'ld likely be the standard bearers for the tag team division, which would lead to their breakup sooner rather than later. They'ld likely be spat upon by the IWC for monopolizing the division, which would probably lead to their breakup, with Scott's career taking off and Rick'd fading. Scott would be ideal as the arrogant, monster heel, or similarly as a babyface.

Raven: He's been around recently, most so in TNA, where he was well received. Today, however, I don't see a good fit for Raven, as his role and like-character is currently being filled by Bray Wyatt. He was never a top guy, and floated around from organization to orgnization, and I could see similar happening here. He would be well-received by the IWC, no doubt, but his success, if any, would squarely come in the mid-card. There's no ECW for Raven to return to, and such, no place for him to be the guy.

Vader: He's a guy I could easily see being a top heel in the business right now. Provided his ego and attitude were in check, Vader would be in or near main event programs within 6 months of his arrival. He'ld get the Umaga treatment, I imagine, running over wrestler after wrestler on his way up the food chain until an inevitable collision with a John Cena or a Randy Orton, based on his alignment. There are several dream matchups outside of such, both with big men such as Ryback, Henry or Big Show, and smaller wrestlers looking to "overcome the odds" such as a CM Punk or a Daniel Bryan. All things considered, Vader may be the best fit today(he or Savage), and likely the best received by the IWC as well.
 
Savage: His intensity in the ring and in promos would win people over just as it did in the 80s. He would've been known for incredible programs with a more diverse group of wrestlers (imagine him against Cena, Punk, Michaels, Triple H, Undertaker), and much like Shawn Michaels, would be seen as a go-to main event guy who can deliver. He never would've had to divert much from his heel character because he wouldn't have had to change much to also be cheered as a face. Comparison: Shawn Michaels

Hennig: Hennig truly would've gotten his day in the sun. The cocky attitude, and ability as a wrestler, as well as the way that the World Title passed from wrestler to wrestler in the late 90s and 00s would've guaranteed that Hennig would've been a multi time world champ. Comparison: Jericho or Edge

The Steiners: They would've had a tougher time and primarily due to their wrestling style versus their tag team status. The suplex heavy, hard hitting moves would've been constrained today, and their moveset would've suffered as a result. Combined with the de-emphasis on tag teams, and Scott would've had to move to singles much quicker, maybe for good, maybe for bad. Either way, they would've suffered.

Raven: Mid-carder who could cut promos, but his gimmick was pretty tied to his time. Further, he was somewhat notorious for his opinions and would've likely run afoul of main eventers. I don't see him moving up or down from where he was at in the 90s.

Vader: A monster who would've suffered from the same problems as the Steiners. As soon as he injured someone in the ring, he would've been blackballed and/or his moveset restricted. He would've probably held the World title at some point, but he wouldn't have been nearly the monster that WCW turned him into. Good comparison: Umaga. That's the role Vader would've settled into.
 
Figure i will throw my two cents in now

Macho Man: I think with a few minor tweaks mostly to his ring gear he would be a sure thing when it comes to the main event. He was great in ring and his promos are better then really anyone in WWE now other then a few. Not saying he would be the guy but he would be at that next level for sure.

Mr Perfect: I agree he would prob still be a mid to upper mid card guy. Prob hold the tag titles a few times with the likes of Sandow and Ziggler. Multi time IC/US champ with maybe a WHC title reign or two. Maybe just maybe he would be given a WWE title reign as a transitional champ but that's about all.

The Steiners: Would be a great addition to a tag divison HHH wants to rebuild. They would be a mainstay at least until Vince and HHH decided to move Scott to singles comp but that would be a maybe four to five years into their run imo.

Raven: I think with some PG friendly adjustments he could be a solid mid card guy with a few high profile storylines. Prob hold a mid card title a few times and have one or two fueds with the WHC/WWE champ but never winning. All in all he would be in the midcard his entire career with a few memorable moments.

Vader: I think he could be a main event guy fairly quick maybe taking the WWE Title within a year. For a monster he could really move and that's a part i think some people who never watched him in is prime dont know. You look at him and figure ah he cant do much but he really could. Multi Time WHC and WWE champ maybe five+.
 
Randy Savage
In my personal belief I think that Savage would be just like Punk. He had the edgy-ness to his character whenever not many people did, he was something new, not just the same generic heel that we see a million times, or the same generic face we see all of the time. He added something to his character, whether he be face or heel, he played the part to the fullest & acted like it was his life, just like Punk (even-though it is his life).

Mr. Perfect
A main eventer & probably a 10 time Champion by now. He had the in ring skills, the mic work, the admiration from his peers, the back stage backing, the class, basically the entire package.

The Steiner Brothers
Basically I don't believe that they would be a tag team, Scott would be a main eventer & billed like Ryback, where as Rick would be a jobber or a low mid card superstar.

Raven
In today's WWE Raven would be a non existent character, reason being that his character was too edgy for today's TV. If Scott Levy was wrestling for the WWE now, he would be centered in NXT & probably never brought up to the main card, as in my opinion he was never that good of a wrestler.

'Big Van' Vader
This guy would probably be used like Tensai & Brodus Clay if he was around today, he had so much talent for being so big, although the WWE (NOW) don't like to focus on guys who look too much over weight as their motto is that if you are fat you are going to be future en-devoured or told to drop some pounds or put in a ridiculous costume & gimmick and told to dance around like a buffoon.
 
Macho man is the only guy that would be miserable now, cause his gimmick wouldn't be happening. cause wwe is against macho men see daniel bryan wwe more wants losers that eat vegies.
 
I'm going to work a little differently here.

Vader: one of 2 things would happen with him. Either he'd become a 3rd member of ton's a funk, or he'd go the mark henry route and be a guy you would get solid matches out of for his size, but never be fully commited to as a main eventer and eventually just used as filler when other people failed or injured. His size and athleticism would make him a believable threat and could go from mid card to main event in a relatively short time with some squashed against faces, and then hold a title for a while then loose to one of main faces and be slowly shifted back to top level of the mid card.

Raven: if raven debuted today with his gimmick, it would be seen as a rip off of the wyatt family and bray wyatt. Comparisons between the two would constantly be harped on and would diminish both raven and bray as indiciduals and their followers as a whole. Raven however has the in ring ability that wyatt/husky lacks and there's something about him that can connect to fans on a level wyatt only dreams off. one of them would outlast the other, and the husky one would be a faded memory soon after raven's debut.

Steiners: Steiners are hard to pigeon whole, because realistically and I'm sure it's not just in my mind, there are 2 Scott Steiners. There is the tagteam specialist, athletic, powerful and extremely solid technical wrestler that won multiple belts with Rick, and then there's the stero---Genetic Freak Big Poppa syrin---Pump Scott Steiner. As the original version of the team, before the roids and workouts ruined his health and diminished his skill set, the pair could have brought some life into a stagnant tag division, but with the current attitude in the E towards tag teams, it wouldn't have lasted and they would have been split within a 2 year window of their debut.
As the ster--genetic Freak, Scott might have done a shortish run similar to those of Ryback's and Tensai's main event, but he too as a singles star would be in the type of role as big show/henry. too big to really be mid card, but also so big that can't have as champs for long periods as eventually people wouldn't buy into any of the smaller guys on the roster ever beating them if they got on a serious role.

Curt Hening--athletically gifted but not overly engaging on the mic, coming in the current product as he was during his hey days of the late 80's could find him some success at the level of ic/us champ, but would never be a main eventer. As he was then, he'd be one of those guys who seemed like he would fit in that main event, but there would always be something slightly missing that would prevent him from becoming a permanent fixture as one of leads. He'd flirt with and have shots, might even win a title or two, but there would always be something holding him back. I see him settling into a role similar to Christian. Popular with the fans, solid worker able to work multiple styles and with a variety of opponents, but just not quite enough to become that next level star.

Savage-i'm not sure what to put for savage. was he good in the ring? sure, with the right people and as long as he was in charge of plotting out the entire match ahead of time. but in today's E were so much of the action is dictated by crowd reaction and the written of other people instead of the wrestlers themselves I don't know if he would be able to tolerate having to let others have so much control over his matches. he was a notorius control freak and even as early as say 1988-89 it was known that he and steamboat had preplanned every single move and spot in the match and practiced them compulsively until randy was satisfied that ricky wasn't going to screw it up, since his ego wouldn't even let him consider that he might be the one to screw up the preplanned steps and spots.
He had the talent and skills to excel in any era and against most competitors, but he needed to be the one dictating the pace and flow of the match, and struggled when he was in with someone of equal skill and knowledge that wouldn't just back down from the legend of randy and let him run things. Not technically as talented as others, relying more on a rigid set of moves and counters, he excelled within those confines but was never an innovator in the ring. In some ways in todays open faced world, he'd likely be compared a lot to cena, really charismatic presence, good mic skills and able to draw fan attention, but the without the cushion of time to enhance and embelish memories, he'd likely be derided for a limited move-set. Not to say he didn't know more moves then he used, but like cena, he had a smallish core group of moves that he used repeatedly in his matches and rarely varied from them unless against an opponent that forced him to adapt. On sheer personality he'd rise to the top, but he'd be treated by the icw like cena, and dissed about his version of cena's 'five moves of doom' and 'super'cena hate mongering.
 
Macho - Too talented in every aspect to not be a top guy. Not the main guy, but a top player.

Mr. Perfect - I think his gimmick works today. A few reasons he wasn't a top guy - Hogan being amazing and Hennig was never going to be a good face.

Steiners - Tag division doesn't matter, so I have no idea why they're on this list.

Raven - Creepy guy who could work. But, with his drug problems WWE wouldn't deal with his shit.

Vader - Fantastic worker who would absolutely be a main event heel. No question.
 

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