What if Mark Jindrak had joined Evolution?

[The Scarred One]

Recently, I was browsing YouTube when I came across a preview clip of former WCW/WWE wrestler Mark Jindrak doing a shoot interview. In one of the snippets, he talked about how he was going to replace Batista as the fourth member of Evolution back in the summer of 2003.

Originally a loose alliance consisting of Triple H, Ric Flair, Randy Orton and Batista; Evolution officially formed in February 2003. The stable was modeled after the Four Horsemen and consisted of the past, present and future in its members. But freak injuries to both Orton and Batista put them on the shelf for some time, resulting in Evolution being put on hold for the time being.

Orton returned a couple of months later but Batista was still out with an injury. The WWE decided to go with the storyline of Evolution introducing a new member. The new member would eventually be revealed as Mark Jindrak. The WWE filmed vignettes involving Jindrak with the other members of Evolution, so it seemed like it was good to go. But something happened and the WWE pulled the plug on it, eventually waiting for Batista to come back and rejoin the group.

As for Jindrak, he was a young up-and-coming star back during the dying days of WCW. During that time, he was, along with the likes of Sean O'Haire and Chuck Palumbo, a member of the Natural Born Thrillers, a stable of young rookies similar to the Nexus. When WCW went out of business, Jindrak's contract was picked up along with several others. But instead of being featured during the WCW/ECW Invasion, he was relegated to the WWE's developmental territories.

He was called in the summer of 2003 to the RAW brand, where he formed a tag team with the late Lance Cade. The team didn't accomplish much as Jindrak was drafted to SmackDown the next year and adopted a narcissistic heel gimmick. The gimmick didn't last long and he aligned himself with Kurt Angle. Again, he didn't accomplish anything and he was drafted back to RAW in 2005, only to be released before making another debut. Jindrak has since gone on to become a major star down in Mexico, where he is known as Marco Corleone.

But you have to wonder with this information, how would things have fared for everyone involved if Mark Jindrak had joined Evolution? If Jindrak had the guidance of Triple H and Ric Flair, would he have had a better run in the WWE? How would it have affected Randy Orton and Batista and their rise to the top?

P.S. - If you happen across the clip on YouTube, check it out for the awesome Jim Cornette impression that he does.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

That's pretty interesting, I had no idea that Jindrak was being lined up to join Evolution. I definitely think he would have had a more successful WWE career had he been a member of the premier faction in the company.

I always thought Jindrak had alot of potential, he had a great look and an above-average moveset. I really liked his standing dropkick, which was awesome for a big man. I never really heard him talk on the mic though, so I cannot say what his promo skills are like, but being in a faction with the likes of HHH and Flair worked wonders for Randy Orton, and I would have expected Jindrak to have picked up on some of their tips and advice and become more than capable on the stick.

As Orton and Batista both recieved mega-pushes while in Evolution, it seems probable that Jindrak would have received the same, and won some championships in the WWE. However, I dont think he could have played the "Animal" role in the faction like Batista did. Big Dave is a much more imposing monster than Jindrak, so they would have needed to give him a slightly different role, but he definitely looked impressive, as his "Reflection Of Perfection" nickname shows.

I dont think Jindrak being the big man in the faction instead of Batista would have impacted Orton's rise to the top though. He was obviously headed for great things as "The Future" of the faction, and he would still have been the 1st one to get pushed to main event level. He was by far better than Batista in the ring, and is much better than Jindrak ever was.

However, I think it would have affected Batista's road to stardom, but I am not sure whether it would have helped or hindered him. I still think he would have got a push, simply from looking so muscular and knowing Vince's obsession with superhero-esque physiques, but I am not sure when it would have happened. Perhaps maybe even sooner than it did, as he could have been pushed as a face immediately and then gone up against Triple H at some point.

But, I dont think he would have had the same impact, as his slow face turn while in Evolution really was brilliantly done and seriously got him over with the fans. They loved when he won the Rumble and decided to face Triple H at WM.

I could easily have seen Jindrak being given the Batista Evolution push though, and becoming a big star in the WWE. As both Orton and Batista both got the rub from the faction, I would have expected nothing less from Jindrak. I bet he was pretty pissed off that the idea was scrapped when he saw Orton and Batista catapulted to superstardom, while he was fired, but as he is a big star in Mexico now I think he will have probably got over it.

 

[brochester8]

That's news to me and makes me wonder what he would be doing now if it was for that. I was a fan of his in WCW and enjoyed watching his ringwork. to me he's very talented. Now replacing Batista would of been interesting because where would BAtista be without Evolution. At the same time I think Batista would have made it anyways. However, Jingdrak had the looks and talent to make it also (much like Sean O'Haire) I think evolution would of made him and he would be feuding with top stars today if it would of happened.

 

[Whatsinaname696]

Had it happened he would have at least still been around and most likely be in mid to upper- mid card feuds. He has a decent amount of talent but his mic skills were/are lacking. If WWE had any real sense Sean would have been the replacement, tho, as he was a total package.... still don't know why they f'd him over, he was set to be a real STAR

 

[slimymeteor]

I don't think Mark Jindrak would really have had any further success with Evolution, other than maybe winning a tag title while in the group. The guy unfortunately had zero charisma. They tried different things and he got a fair chance to be noticed by the WWE audience and there just wasn't enough people that cared about the guy. Evolution wouldn't have helped; while it may have accelerated Batista and Orton into the main event, both performers would have still made there anyway. Jindrak may have had a good look but the charisma wasn't there and he's largely a forgettable wrestler. I forgot all about him until I saw this thread.

 

[FatGuyIan]

I will answer the question as honestly as I know how.

If Mark Jindrak has joined Evolution, 95% of the people who troll the IWC would have a clue who he is. If Jindrak had been in Evolution in place of Randy Orton, Orton still would have made it to the top based on his ability, agility and family connections and perhaps Mark Jindrak would be more than just a footnote and an obscure trivia answer regarding Evolution.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

I don't think Mark Jindrak would really have had any further success with Evolution, other than maybe winning a tag title while in the group. The guy unfortunately had zero charisma. Jindrak may have had a good look but the charisma wasn't there and he's largely a forgettable wrestler. I forgot all about him until I saw this thread.

Don't you think that being around world-class promo cutters like HHH and Ric Flair, and maybe being taken under their wing- would have helped Jindrak to improve his mic skills, crowd-working techniques and overall performance? Because I certainly do.

I cant remember MJ being given many chances to talk in his WWE career, and you don't get better without practice and its always easier to improve when you can learn and get advise from the best.

I think he could have gone a long way had he been given Orton's spot in the faction. Maybe not as far as Randy has, as Orton is top quality, but a much bigger star and IC/US title standard certainly.

 

[Trill Co$by]

Don't you think that being around world-class promo cutters like HHH and Ric Flair, and maybe being taken under their wing- would have helped Jindrak to improve his mic skills, crowd-working techniques and overall performance? Because I certainly do.

Not entirely. Some people just don't have what it takes to be natural on the stick or play to the crowd. Sure he's a huge part of AAA, but in all honsety, AAA isn't really WWE. And to go even further, without getting hatred, AAA's nothing but flips and high spots anyway.

Sure the guy would've been a decent world tag competitor for a bit, but after that, he would've been released anyway and Batista would've come back. So like slimmy said, he'd be back at square one and released anyway.

 

[Dagger Dias]

It would have been a terrible mistake if Jindrak had joined Evolution because Batista and Orton were far better fits. If Jindrak had replaced either one, it would have ruined the momentum of the group which was nearly flawless in their actual lineup. A leader, a mentor, a future star, and an enforcer. Where would Jindrak have fit in there? As the guy who sucks and gets future endeavoured after the group splits up? He was better off in the run he had, and Evolution were FAR better off without him.

 

[kcordloh]

It would have been a terrible mistake if Jindrak had joined Evolution because Batista and Orton were far better fits. If Jindrak had replaced either one, it would have ruined the momentum of the group which was nearly flawless in their actual lineup. A leader, a mentor, a future star, and an enforcer. Where would Jindrak have fit in there? As the guy who sucks and gets future endeavoured after the group splits up? He was better off in the run he had, and Evolution were FAR better off without him.

Dead on. I know I personally believe Batista was made by that faction, had he not been part of Evolution and gotten to be the one that destroyed HHH I do not believe for a second he would have gotten over to the level that he did.

Jindrak, he could have been something, but he was given pushes. Some lame, some decent, and he didn't click.

 

[vthokie8]

Jindrak never appealed to me. I don't think he would have fit in Batista's spot, because Batista was that "enforcer" of the group. Nobody else on the roster that that time fit that mold in my opinion maybe Matt Morgan, but he was way to inexperienced at the time. Jindrak was a good tag team guy, but he just didn't have that "it" I remember seeing him almost break his neck attempting a moonsault on Velocity and was turned off completely.