Fantasy Booking: A Roster-Accurate InVasion Angle

This is a year long angle, starting the Raw before Wrestlemania 17 and ending at Wrestlemania 18. For up until November when Ric Flair joins, and then early 2002 when the nWo joins, the WCW roster is pretty depleted. They have a solid enough midcard but only 2 legitimate main eventers, DDP and Booker T. As far as I'm concerned, the first 6 months of this InVasion Angle is just buying time until Flair shows up, because around that time they also got Triple H back, the nWo joined in, and a few others return from injury, so then business can really pick up.

In order to give the WCW a fighting chance, I'm also going to defect a handful of guys from the WWF: The Big Show, Chris Jericho, Faarooq, Haku & Dean Malenko. Jericho and Big Show will be main eventers, Faarooq and Haku will be the new Doom, managed by Teddy Long, and Dean Malenko will top off the Cruiserweight Division.

Months 1-6

The Two Man Power Trip still form an alliance and they feud with The Brothers of Destruction, who they defeat at Backlash. Chris Jericho also finishes up his feud with William Regal, and Chris Benoit wins the Ultimate Submission Match against Kurt Angle. Backlash goes as planned with no WCW run ins. Also, the Shane vs Big Show angle and match do not happen.

Backlash 2001
Jerry Lynn d. Crash
Lita d. Molly Holly
X-Factor d. The Dudleys
Rhyno d. Raven - Hardcore Title
Chris Jericho d. William Regal
Chris Benoit d. Kurt Angle - Ultimate Submission
The Power Trip d. The Brothers of Destruction - Tag Team, IC and WWF Title, Winner Takes All

On a Raw before Judgement Day, there is a tag match between The Power Trip and Benoit & Jericho, because that match was amazing. The finish sees the first WCW run-in, as Mike Awesome hits Triple H with an Awesome Bomb through the announce table (injuring him like Y2J did in real life) and in the ring, Booker T hits Austin with a Scissors Kick to allow Jericho to pin Stone Cold and win the Tag Titles. (Having WCW debut by helping Benoit and Jericho also hints at one or both of them going back to WCW.

Judgement Day 2001
Raven d. Val Venis
The Holly Cousins d. Kaientai
William Regal d. Rikishi - WWF European Title
Edge & Christian d. Chris Jericho & Chris Benoit and The Dudleys - WWF Tag Team Titles
Chyna d. Lita - WWF Women's Title
Rhyno d. The Undertaker - WWF Hardcore Title
Chris Jericho d. Kurt Angle
Steve Austin d. Chris Benoit - WWF World Heavyweight Title

At Judgement Day, Benoit and Jericho defend their Tag Titles against Edge & Christian and The Dudleys in a glorified Handicap Match after a timely run-in from Hugh Morrus. Steve Austin defeats an exhausted Chris Benoit after a run in by Vince. Chris Jericho defeats Kurt Angle in a #1 Contender's Match, and Rhyno defeats Undertaker after interference from Edge & Christian, leading to a feud between Edge & Christian and The Brothers of Destruction going into King of the Ring.

Shane makes a challenge to Vince to let 4 WCW stars into the King of the Ring. If WWF wins, he'll sign WCW over to Vince and he can fold it, but if WCW wins, they get TV time and a share of the pay-per-views. Vince accepts. Shane also has his feud with Kurt Angle as in real life, as their Street Fight was a highlight of the real InVasion.

King of the Ring 2001
KOTR QF Mike Awesome d. Christian
KOTR QF WIlliam Regal d. Lance Storm
KOTR QF Kane d. Hugh Morrus
KOTR QF Booker T d. Raven
Kurt Angle d. Shane McMahon - Street Fight
KOTR SF William Regal d. Mike Awesome
KOTR SF Booker T d. Kane
Edge & Christian d. The Brothers of Destruction - WWF Tag Team Titles
Jazz d. Chyna -  WWF Women's Title
KOTR Finals: Booker T d. William Regal
Chris Jericho d. Steve Austin - WWF World Heavyweight Title

At King of the Ring, Kurt defeats Shane, and William Regal advances in the King of the Ring, often due to WWF and Vince interference. The finals to the King of the Ring are Booker T vs Regal, and Booker fights off all the interference all by himself to win clean, looking like a world-beating hero. In the main event, Vince tries to screw Jericho like he did Benoit last month, but Lance Storm superkicks Vince. Austin stuns Storm, but then DDP emerges from the crowd and nails Austin with a Diamond Cutter! Jericho then hits a Lionsault on Steve to win the WWF Title as he and the WCW stars celebrate in the ring. Shane comes to the ring and hugs Jericho, indicating that Chris Jericho has joined WCW.

WCW has won King of the Ring and taken the WWF Championship. They also finally get on TV besides run ins, and get a share of the PPVs, starting with The Great American Bash. Shane opens Raw with his champions, Booker T, O'Haire, Palumbo, Helms & Jericho. Y2J says that he was sick of constantly being screwed over by Vince, Austin and Triple H, comparing them to the old regime of WCW like Hogan, Nash and Bischoff. Shane says he's happy to have guys like Jericho and Booker T at the top, and invites anyone from WWF to join his regime. Dean Malenko comes out and says "when was the last time I was even on TV?" and agrees to join with the promise of a Cruiserweight Title shot. Shane agrees and signs him.

Kurt Angle comes out, and says that "The Great American Bash should be headlined by an American freakin' hero, Bucko!" and challenges Booker T for the WCW Title. Booker accepts and the match is set. On Smackdown, Mike Awesome wins the Hardcore Title from Rhyno. Vince sends Big Show to get it back but Awesome destroys him. Vince gets pissed and humiliates and fires Big Show.

The Great American Bash 2001
Chavo Guerero jr d. Scotty 2 Hotty
Sean O’Haire & Chuck Palumbo  d. The Mamalukes - WCW Tag Team Title
Lance Storm d. William Regal   - WWF European Title
Dean Malenko d. Billy Kidman - WCW Cruiserweight Title
Diamond Dallas Page d. Raven - WCW United States Title
Mike Awesome d. Test - WWF Hardcore Title
Chris Jericho d. Steve Austin - WWF World Heavyweight Title
Booker T d. Kurt Angle - WCW World Title

At The Great American Bash, Booker T defeats Kurt Angle clean to defend the WCW Title. Chris Jericho defeats Austin again after another overbooked schmohz where Vince sends in Test & Albert to kill Jericho, but then O'Haire & Palumbo run in for the save. DDP defeats Raven to win the vacant WCW US Title.

On the road to Summerslam, Booker T challenges The Rock, who returns from filming The Scorpion King to accept the challenge for the WCW Title. Steve Austin brutalizes Jericho and challenges him to a Last Man Standing Match at Summerslam to try and win the WWF Title back. Austin is 0-2 against Jericho, and agrees to a "Last Chance" stipulation, that if Jericho wins, Austin cannot challenge again as long as Jericho is champion. Rounding out the main card is Undertaker vs DDP in a #1 Contender's Match.

Summerslam 2001
O'Haire & Paulumbo d. Edge & Christian - WCW Tag Team Titles
Dean Malenko d. Shane Helms, Tajiri, Billy Kidman & TAKA Michinoku - WCW Cruiserweight Title
Rob Van Dam d. Jeff Hardy - Ladder Match, WWF Intercontinental Title
Lance Storm d. Matt Hardy - WWF "British Columbian Title" (European Title with Canadian stickers)
KroniK d. The APA* - Bar Room Brawl, WWF Tag Team Titles
*Faarooq turns on Bradshaw, then Meng puts Bradshaw in the Tongan Death Grip
Rhyno d. Mike Awesome - WWF Hardcore Title
Diamond Dallas Page d. The Undertaker
The Rock d. Booker T - WCW World Heavyweight Title
Chris Jericho d. Steve Austin - WWF World Heavyweight Title

At Summerslam, DDP beats Undertaker clean after countering a Tombstone into a Diamond Cutter. The Rock beats Booker T clean after a good, competitive match. After the match Booker shakes Rock's hand and hands him the title. In the main event, Jericho defeats Austin again after The Giant enters the ring and breaks Austin's neck like he did to Hogan. Jericho turns heel, Austin turns face, and The Giant joins WCW all in one night.

Months 6-12

In the build to Halloween Havoc, DDP uses his #1 Contendership to challenge The Rock, who accepts. Shane is pissed at how Jericho defended the belt, saying that "even Austin deserved better than that" and says that Jericho is going to defend his WWF Title against Kane in a Hell in a Cell Match. Vince also wants to punish The Giant, so he puts Giant in a Buried Alive Match against The Undertaker.

Halloween Havoc 2001
Dean Malenko d. Chavo Guerrero jr. - WCW Cruiserweight Title
Ron Simmons (w. Meng & Teddy Long) d. Bradshaw
O'Haire & Paulumbo d. The Hardys - WCW Tag Team Titles
Lance Storm d. Edge - Saskatchewan Street Fight, WWF British Columbian Title
KroniK d. The Dudleys - WWF Tag Team Titles
Rob Van Dam d. Mike Awesome - Unify IC and Hardcore Title
The Giant d. The Undertaker
Diamond Dallas Page d. The Rock - WCW World Heavyweight Title
Chris Jericho d. Kane - Hell in a Cell, WWF World Heavyweight Title

At Halloween Havoc, in a classic main event, DDP beats the Rock clean with the Diamond Cutter to win the WCW Title. The Giant beats Undertaker in the Buried Alive after some WCW heels (Storm, Awesome & The Wall) run in and destroy and help bury Taker. Jericho defeats Kane in Hell in a Cell after The Giant rips the door off and Chokeslams Kane. After the match, Austin returns and raises hell, Stunning Jericho and chasing Giant off with a chair, but Giant never leaves his feet (and hasn't left his feet since coming back at Summerslam)

Survivor Series is set to be a big 5 on 5 main event, WCW vs WWF. On Team WCW it will be Booker T, DDP, The Giant, Lance Storm and Mike Awesome, and on the WWF side it will be Steve Austin, The Rock, Kurt Angle, Kane and Vince McMahon himself (filling in for the missing Undertaker). The only other main event caliber match on the card is Chris Jericho taking on Rob Van Dam in a Ladder Match.

Survivor Series 2001
Dean Malenko d. Chavo Guerrero jr. - WCW Cruiserweight Title
New Doom (w. Teddy Long) d. Bradshaw & Test
The Dudleys & Spike Dudley d. O'Haire & Paulumbo and Shawn Stasiak
KroniK d. Raven & Saturn - WWF Tag Team Titles
The Hardys & Kaientai d. Helms, Chavo, Malenko & Kidman
Chris Jericho d. Rob Van Dam - Ladder, WWF World Heavyweight Title
Team WCW d. Team WWF - Survivor Series Match

At Survivor Series, Jericho beats RVD after Van Dam takes a sick bump off the ladder. In the main event, Vince is eliminated first by a Diamond Cutter, then Awesome takes a Stunner, then Giant Chokeslams Kane. Austin hits Giant with several big chair shots on the outside and gets DQ'd, but Giant gets counted out. Angle makes Storm tap to the Ankle Lock, then Rock rolls up Booker T. It's now 2-1 in WWF's favor, but then "WOOOOO!" Ric Flair makes his return to WWF and comes to ringside, and this small distraction is enough for *BANG* DDP to hit Angle with a Diamond Cutter. Rock goes to sneak up on Page but Flair hits Rock with a low blow and DDP rolls Rock up for the win! The WCW guys return to the ring to celebrate with DDP and Flair.

Flair becomes a figurehead for WCW, and announces that he and Shane have put together an awesome card for Starrcade, featuring Steve Austin vs The Giant, Chris Jericho vs Booker T for the WWF Title, and DDP vs Kurt Angle for the WCW Title. The Rock comes out and challenges Flair to a match as revenge for screwing him at Survivor Series, and Flair accepts.

Starrcade 2001
Dean Malenko d. Jeff Hardy - WCW Cruiserweight Title
O'Haire & Paulumbo d. New Doom (w. Teddy Long) - WCW Tag Team Titles
Rob Van Dam d. Lance Storm - Unify European and IC Titles
The Dudley Boyz d. KroniK - WWF Tag Team Titles
Rhyno d. Mike Awesome - WWF Hardcore Title
The Rock d. Ric Flair
Steve Austin d. The Giant
Diamond Dallas Page d. Kurt Angle - WCW World Heavyweight Title
Chris Jericho d. Booker  T - WWF World Heavyweight Title

At Starrcade, The Rock beats Flair clean, DDP beats Kurt Angle and Austin defeats The Giant. In the WWF Title match, Jericho defeats Booker T, but after the match, Triple H returns and stares down Jericho.

The next night on Raw, Triple H declares that he will do what Austin, Rock, Undertaker and so many others have failed to do: beat Chris Jericho and take his title, and enters himself in the Royal Rumble. DDP is set to rematch The Rock for the WCW Title, and Stone Cold, fresh off his victory over The Giant, will wrestle Jericho for the WWF Title. (Yes, he lost the Last Chance Match, somehow Vince overrides that) During this month, vignettes for the nWo start airing.

Royal Rumble 2002
New Doom (w. Teddy Long) d. The Hardys
Jazz d. Trish Stratus
The Rock d. Diamond Dallas Page - WCW Title
Rob Vam Dam d. Matt Hardy - WWF Intercontinental Championship
Steve Austin d. Chris Jericho by DQ - WWF Title
Hulk Hogan (w. The nWo) wins The Royal Rumble

At the Royal Rumble, The Rock defeats DDP in the rematch, and Austin defeats Jericho but it's by DQ and he doesn't win the title. The Royal Rumble match is 50/50 WWF and WCW, and the final four are HHH, Angle, Booker T and The Giant, but then #30 comes out and it's... The entire nWo! Hogan, Hall, Nash, Hennig, Syxx and Bagwell all hit the ring and destroy everyone in the ring, and then every nWo member jumps over the top rope except for Hogan, who is declared the winner of the Royal Rumble in the biggest fuck-finish of all time!

Hogan announces on the next Raw that he is going to face WCW Champion The Rock at Wrestlemania. Because Chris Jericho doesn't have a challenger, Vince announces a Fatal Four Way at Superbrawl between Triple H, Booker T, Kurt Angle and The Giant, the 4 men screwed out of the Royal Rumble. Meanwhile, The nWo are running amok on TV, doing run ins and backstage attacks, so Vince tasks Kane and The Dudleys to deal with the nWo at Superbrawl. Flair says that he doesn't want The Rock as his champion going into Wrestlemania, and makes DDP vs Rock for Superbrawl with Flair himself as Guest Referee.

Superbrawl 2002
The Hardys d. Impact Players
Jazz d. Ivory - WWF Women's Title
The nWo d. Kane & The Dudleys
Curt Hennig d. Lance Storm - WCW United States Title
Rob Van Dam d. Christian - WWF Intercontinental Title
Triple H d. Booker T, Kurt Angle & The Giant - #1 Contender Fatal 4 Way
The Rock d. DDP - Special Referee Ric Flair, WCW World Heavyweight Title

At Superbrawl, Triple H wins the Fatal Four Way, and The Rock beats DDP after Vince evens the odds and attacks Flair. The nWo defeats Kane & The Dudleys based on the numbers game alone. It's 5 on 3 and the faces are overwhelmed. After the match, The nWo put The Dudleys through tables and are about to do the same to Kane when *GONG* The Undertaker, back in his Deadman persona, comes back, with Paul Bearer! Taker and Kane together chase off The nWo.

The build to Wrestlemania is pretty straightforward, as most of the main eventers have a clear opponent after Superbrawl. Jericho will face Triple H, Hogan will face The Rock, The Outsiders will face The Brothers of Destruction and Vince will face Flair. The rest of the card is more or less wrestling for the sake of wrestling, either for midcard titles or #1 contender matches for the future. Austin vs Booker T is a #1 contender match for the WWF Title, DDP vs Edge is a #1 Contender for the US Title.

Wrestlemania X8
Trish Stratus d. Lita, Jazz & Ivory - WWF Women's Title
Kurt Angle d. Curt Hennig - WCW United States Title
Rob Van Dam d. Lance Storm & Billy Gunn - WWF Intercontinental Title
Diamond Dallas Page d. Edge
The Hardys d. KroniK, The Dudleys & New Doom - WWF Tag Team Titles
Vince McMahon d. Ric Flair (w. Arn Anderson)
Brothers of Destruction (w. Paul Bearer) d. The Outsiders (w. Syxx)
Stone Cold Steve Austin d. Booker T
Triple H d. Chris Jericho - WWF Title
The Rock (c) d. Hollywood Hogan - WCW Title

My ideas for after the InVasion Angle include doing the brand split as in real life, with Triple H on Raw and The Rock on Smackdown. No use unifying the belts if they're just going to be split up again. Brock Lesnar debuts on Smackdown, goes undefeated for half a year and dethrones Rock in the summertime. Triple H has classics with the likes of Jericho in a rematch, Hogan, Angle, Perfect, RVD, Booker T and a returning Shawn Michaels, establishing himself as the Flair of his era whilst also turning heel midway through the year. I might go into this more in depth in another entry.

Fantasy Booking Short: Raw and Smackdown in 2005

This one is significantly shorter than the other Fantasy Bookings I've put out, more of an idea really. A timeline from WrestleMania 21 to WrestleMania 22

RAW

Batista and John Cena never switch brands, but Jericho goes to Smackdown, Angle stays on Smackdown, and Carlito comes to Raw. Batista spends the first bit of the year feuding with Triple H, then Christian, and finally Randy Orton. Around Summerslam, he enters a feud with Chris Benoit, who is trying to regain the title on the anniversary of the event he lost it. Batista and Benoit have a face vs face match, which Batista barely wins. Edge then cashes in his Money in the Bank, leaving Summerslam as World Champion. Edge and Batista feud through to Survivor Series, where they meet in a TLC Match and Batista wins the title back. At New Years Revloution, there is an Elimination Chamber between Batista, Carlito, Chris Masters, Edge, RVD and a surprise entrant, Mick Foley. It comes down to Batista, Edge and Mick, and Mick eliminates Edge with a roll up. Edge gets pissed and Spears Foley before leaving, allowing Batista to pick up the win.


At the Royal Rumble, Batista has one final match with Edge, with Mick as Special Referee. Mick catches Edge cheating and admonishes him, giving Batista the distraction to hit a Batista Bomb. The next night on Raw, Lita and Edge beat down Mick, and challenge him to a Hardcore Match at Wrestlemania, and after much provocation, Foley accepts. Shawn Michaels wins the Royal Rumble (he is still a heel from Summerslam 2005 on) and challenges Batista at Wrestlemania.

SmackDown

On Smackdown, Cena finishes up his feud with JBL after two PPV matches. By this point, Eddie Guerrero is finished with Rey Mysterio, and feuds with Cena up until Summerslam, when Cena wins. Cena is fed Big Show and some other monsters (Heidenreich, Mark Henry, Snitsky) and at Survivor Series he meets Kurt Angle (who won his feud against HBK). Cena wins again, beating Angle clean. At the Royabl Rumble, fresh off his Hell in a Cell with Randy Orton, Undertaker challenges Cena to a match, and Cena wins clean, and it looks like there is no stopping Cena. Hulk Hogan returns and challenges Cena to a match at Wrestlemania, and Cena accepts. Hogan and Cena team up for one night only at No Way Out to face the team of US Champion Booker T and Randy Orton, who have formed and alliance of sort, and the faces win.


Summerslam



Randy Orton defeats Undertaker



John Cena (c) defeats Eddie Guerrero – WWE Title



Hulk Hogan defeats Shawn Michaels



Batista (c) defeats Chris Benoit – World Heavyweight Title



Edge defeats Batista (c) – World Heavyweight Title

Survivor Series

Triple H defeats Ric Flair (Street Fight) (final chapter of Evolution)


Randy Orton defeats Undertaker (Casket)


John Cena (c) defeats Kurt Angle – WWE Title


Batista defeats Edge (c) (TLC) – World Heavyweight Title


Royal Rumble


Carlito defeats Shelton Benjamin (c) – Intercontinental Title


Batista defeats Edge (Mick Foley is Guest Referee) – World Heavyweight Title


John Cena (c) defeats The Undertaker – WWE Title


Shawn Michaels wins the Royal Rumble



Wrestlemania 22



Carlito (c) defeats Chris Benoit – Intercontinental Title


MNM (c) defeats Kane & Big Show (c) – Non-Title Interpromotional Match


RVD wins Money in the Bank
      > Other participants: Lashley, Benjamin, Triple H, Matt Hardy & Finlay


Edge defeats Mick Foley (Hardcore)


The Undertaker defeats Kurt Angle – The Streak


Rey Mysterio defeats Booker T (c), Randy Orton & Mark Henry – US Title


Batista (c) defeats Shawn Michaels – World Heavyweight Title


John Cena (c) defeats Hulk Hogan – WWE Title

Fantasy Booking: The Bullet Club Invades WWE

I doing these Fantasy Booking scenarios. They are a good way to pass time when I'm bored. Here is another one I neglected to put up earlier. I made this prior to Mania 32, so you can see where my predictions were right and wrong.

Timeline: Money in the Bank to Wrestlemania 32

Current Champions:

WWE: Seth Rollins (Heel) (cashed MITB at Mania 31)

US: Finn Balor (Face) (debuted to defeat Rusev night after Extreme Rules)

IC: Daniel Bryan (Face) (won ladder match at Mania)

Tag Team: The Usos (Face)

Diva’s: AJ Lee (Face)

Money in the Bank: TBD




Build to Money in the Bank

Rollins, who cashed in on Reigns at Wrestlemania, has been feuding with Reigns, and finally defeats him clean in a Last Man Standing Match at Payback, putting him off TV. Ambrose emerges, attacking Rollins, claiming he wants to prove he can beat Rollins (after failing many times in 2014), and they meet in a match at MITB.




In the mid-card, Rusev has been knocked down a peg by Balor, but has been strong since, beating Ryback and Erick Rowan. He qualifies for the MITB and looks like a heavy favourite. Other entrants include Adrian Neville, who recently debuted on Raw, Damien Sandow, who is a face version of the Intellectual Savior gimmick, Stardust, R-Truth, Tyson Kidd, and Dolph Ziggler, the other favourite to win.




Daniel Bryan has went through Barrett and Stardust while defending his IC Title, and is now up against Luke Harper. Bray Wyatt has been inactive in-ring since defeating The Undertaker, but continues to cut promos about biding his time for the establishment to crumble before he steps in to tear it down for good. The Usos are embroiled in a feud with The Ascension, and AJ faces the debuting Charlotte at MITB.




(Cena has been missing since Extreme Rules, where he was brutalized by Rusev in their final match)




Money in the Bank

AJ Lee © defeats Charlotte (Diva’s Title)

The Usos © defeat The Ascension (Tag Team Titles)

Daniel Bryan © defeats Luke Harper (IC Title)

Money in the Bank ends in a no-contest

> After a high spot leaves everyone down, the lights go out, and when they come back on the case is gone, and all the wrestlers look confused.

Finn Balor © defeats Bad News Barrett (US Title)

Seth Rollins © defeats Dean Ambrose (WWE Title) (No DQ)

> Rollins hits Ambrose with a cinder block




There is tension among the wrestlers as to who stole the MITB briefcase. Most of the locker room suspects that Rollins had J&J Security steal it so nobody could use it against Rollins, but they deny it. Ambrose continues to go after Rollins, challenging him to a match at MITB, but Rollins says that until the briefcase is found, he won’t accept a Title Match, instead offering a tag match for Battleground, pitting himself, Mercury, Noble and Harper against Ambrose and his partners. Ambrose accepts, and forms his team (Bryan, Neville, Ziggler & a surprise)




Balor and Stardust feud, having a psych-out battle by being creepier and creepier until finally Stardust is disturbed and afraid of Balor.




Finn Balor is set to go up against Stardust for the US Title, The Usos are set to rematch The Ascension, and The New Day take on Tyson Kidd & Cesaro. Charlotte, Emma and Paige set for a Contender’s match, and AJ Lee is set to face Naomi in a title match.




Wyatt’s promos continue to talk about the poison in the WWE, and it is hinted that he stole the case, or had it stolen.




Battleground

Charlotte defeats Paige and Emma

Kidd & Cesaro defeat The New Day

Finn Balor © defeats Stardust (US Title)

AJ Lee © defeats Naomi (Diva’s Title)

Team Dean defeats Team Seth (8 Man Tag, 1 Fall)

> Ambrose’s mystery partner is Roman Reigns (who has been out since Payback)

> Noble is taken out early, leaving Rollins, Harper and Mercury (Age of the Fall)

> Reigns pins Rollins




Reigns earns a title shot against Seth, but gives it to Dean, saying he earned it, and he wants to see this feud end like everyone else. Dean vs Seth is set for Summerslam, with Roman as the enforcer, to keep Mercury and Noble away.




Randy Orton challenges Balor for the title after hitting him with an RKO. He says it’s not personal, but he wants to be champion again at any cost. Balor accepts.




John Cena returns, and contemplates retirement, but he is called out by a debuting Kevin Owens, NXT Champion, who says that Cena can’t retire without a final match. (Trying to sound friendly, but then it turns sour) He wants to destroy Cena, and beat him into retirement. He then powerbombs Cena twice, leaving him motionless in the ring. The buildup to this match also plants the idea that Rusev did irreparable damage to Cena, and he’s not as strong as he was before. Owens vacates the NXT Title and starts doing promos on RAW. He doesn’t wrestle, but highlights of his destruction in NXT.




There is still unrest about the case, and Damien Sandow, the intellectual savior, tries to be a Sherlock Holmes, but somehow wrongfully deduces that HE was the one who stole it, and then The Bunny from Adam Rose’s Posse. Other wrestlers take it more seriously, especially Ziggler, who thinks that someone is ripping him off, and R-Truth, who thinks it is a conspiracy.




Summerslam

Rusev defeats Daniel Bryan © (IC Title)

Charlotte defeats AJ Lee © (Diva’s Title)

Finn Balor © defeats Randy Orton (US Title)

John Cena defeats Kevin Owens by DQ

> Owens hits 3 illegal Piledrivers, “breaking” Cena’s neck

The Usos © defeat Cesaro & Tyson Kidd (Tag Titles)

Dean Ambrose (w. Roman Reigns) defeats Seth Rollins © (WWE Title)

> Roman Fights off J&J, and stops Rollins from using Cinder blocks

> After the match, the lights go out, and you hear the sounds of gunshots, punctuated by pyro. Red lights turn on (like the one’s for Balor) and suddenly, 7 men hit the ring and beat down Ambrose and Reigns, before the lights come back on fully, and AJ Styles walks to the ring, holding the Money in the Bank Briefcase!

AJ Styles (w. his group) defeat Dean Ambrose © (WWE Title)

> After the match, AJ announces that The Bullet Club is here, and introduces the other men (Tonga, The Young Bucks, Doc Gallows, Kenny Omega, Karl Anderson) and says that they are going to take over.




On Raw, there is still no Authority (they left after HHH lost to Sting) so The Bullet Club start ruining matches until Vince returns, and puts them all in matches at Night of Champions, with contracts on the line, but also some titles. Ambrose is livid, and tries to go after AJ Styles but gets assaulted by the Bullet Club.




Kevin Owens brags about ending John Cena’s career, and then says he is going to do the same to anyone who crosses him. Orton calls him out, saying he’s never liked Cena but has always respected his accomplishments. He challenges Owens to a match, which Owens accepts, saying he will cripple Orton.




The Young Bucks challenge The Usos, Anderson, Tonga and Gallows get the New Day, Omega feuds with Ziggler and Styles faces Ambrose. Bryan challenges Balor for the US Title, and Finn accepts, they even team up a few times on RAW




Wyatt starts claiming that he was right, the world is crumbling, and he will return soon to finish the job. This is the last we see of him for months




Night of Champions

Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson & Tama Tonga defeats The New Day

Charlotte © defeats Emma (Diva’s Title)

Kenny Omega defeats Dolph Ziggler by Countout

> Styles talks to Ziggler backstage and reminds him that WWE doesn’t appreciate him, and that they don’t deserve him. Ziggler contemplates, and then willingly abandons his match

The Young Bucks defeat The Usos © (Tag Titles)

Finn Balor © defeats Daniel Bryan (US Title)

> The Bullet Club interferes, costing Bryan the title

> Finn looks confused, and then checks on Daniel

Kevin Owens defeats Randy Orton

AJ Styles © defeats Dean Ambrose (WWE Title)

> The Bullet Club surround the ring, but Roman tries and fight them. Ambrose suicide dives onto them, but seemingly injures himself, allowing AJ to hit him with the Styles Clash for the win. Dean is off TV.




Over the next few weeks, Bullet Club runs amok with interference, ruining matches left and right. Ziggler refuses to compete, but won’t join the Bullet Club either. Bryan calls out Balor, and says that he knows Balor is a former Bullet Club member and that he believes they are in cahoots, before challenging AJ Styles, which Styles accepts. Balor remains quiet.




Rusev starts showing signs of a face turn by fighting Bullet Club members, especially Gallows. Kenny Omega challenges the much larger Rusev to a title match at HIAC, which Rusev accepts (Rusev drops the USA Bashing for now, and is a man of few words).




Kevin Owens brags about beating both Orton and Cena, and issues an open challenge for Hell in a Cell. Brock Lesnar returns, and accepts his challenge.




Hell in a Cell

The Young Bucks © defeat the Ascension (Tag Titles)

Rusev © defeats Kenny Omega (IC Title)

> After the match, The Bullet Club beats Rusev down until Jack Swagger of all people, makes the save

Dolph Ziggler defeats Seth Rollins

> Double Turn: The Bullet Club come and beat Rollins down. Rollins fights valiantly, but Ziggler coldly hits the Zig Zag for the win, and does the Bullet Club sign, turning heel and joining the faction

Kevin Owens defeats Brock Lesnar (Hell in a Cell)

> Owens wins after a Powerbomb on the steps, and a Package Piledriver on a chair

Charlotte © defeats Nikki Bella (Diva’s Title)

AJ Styles © defeats Daniel Bryan (WWE Title) (Hell in a Cell)

> First, the Bullet Club arrive to destroy Bryan

> Then Balor makes the save, taking out all members, but he is pissed at Bryan still, so he leaves, letting Styles pick up the win.




Bryan tries to rally the troops for Survivor Series, in an attempt to take out The Bullet Club. He is able to get a team of Rusev, Reigns, and Swagger, but nobody else has the morale to fight The Bullet Club, leaving the (extra large) Survivor Series match at 7-on-4. (Styles, Bucks, Tonga, Anderson, Gallows, & Ziggler) Kenny Omega is off TV for a bit, selling the Rusev match.




Finn Balor is gone, with the US Title, and takes a hiatus similar to what Sting did in 1997.




Kevin Owens is on fire, and believes himself to be the best wrestler ever. He is set to challenge AJ Styles, but John Cena returns in a neck brace, saying that although he is injured, he still won that match. Owens challenges him to a rematch at Survivor Series, and Cena accepts.




Survivor Series

The Usos defeat The Ascension (#1 Contender’s Match)

Charlotte © defeats Brie Bella (Diva’s Title)

Bayley defeats Sasha Banks (WWE Contract Match)

Kevin Owens defeats John Cena by Referee Stoppage

> Owens hits a Powerbomb on the ramp, and Cena is counted out

Team Bullet Club defeats Team Bryan

> Bryan’s team fights back, evening the match up at 1-1, Reigns vs Styles, but Styles wins after a chair is passed to him by Ziggler.




Styles comes out bragging that he has now defeated Ambrose, Bryan and Reigns in main events, and says that The Bullet Club is here to stay. Backstage, Vince can’t rally the wrestlers to fight for him anymore, so he asks Triple H for help, and Hunter says that he has someone he has faith in. AJ awaits his challenge and is met by a debuting Sami Zayn (Back in NXT, Hideo Itami is NXT Champion). AJ laughs off the challenge, but Sami goes after him. When the Bullet Club start attacking. The lights go out and Finn Balor returns, fighting off the faction, and Zayn gets the win, winning the WWE Title in his first match!




A TLC match is made for the PPV, where it will be Zayn vs Bryan vs Styles vs Balor for the WWE Title. Other matches include Ziggler, Anderson & Omega vs Swagger, Rusev & Cesaro, and Tama Tonga vs Roman Reigns. Bayley also makes the most of her WWE contract by challenging Charlotte for the Diva’s Title in a Ladder Match.




Tables, Ladders & Chairs

The Young Bucks © defeat The Usos (Tag Titles) (Ladder)

Roman Reigns defeats Tama Tonga (Chairs)

Bayley defeats Charlotte © (Diva’s Title) (Ladder)

The Bullet Club defeats Rusev, Swagger & Cesaro (Elimination Table)

Doc Gallows defeats Ryback

AJ Styles defeats Bryan, Balor and Zayn © (WWE Title) (TLC)

> The Bullet Club interferes, causing Balor, Bryan and Zayn to fight them off

> Roman Reigns runs in but is beaten down

> Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose return from injury, separately, to fight them off

> Although Styles wins, the former Shield members clear the ring and stand tall.




The Shield stay separate for now, taking on Bullet Club members in singles matches and teaming with guys like Bryan, Balor and Zayn. Zayn uses his rematch clause for a match at the Royal Rumble, which Styles accepts.




Ambrose, Rollins, Reigns, Ziggler, Balor, Owens, and Anderson enter the Royal Rumble as heavy favourites.




The Diva’s have a mini-Royal Rumble for a spot at Mania




Royal Rumble

The Young Bucks © defeat Los Matadores (Tag Titles)

Bayley © defeats Alicia Fox (Diva’s Title)

Charlotte wins the Diva’s Royal Rumble

Rusev © defeats Tama Tonga (IC Title)

Kevin Owens wins The Royal Rumble

> Final 6: Owens, Bryan, Balor, Reigns, Anderson

> Owens eliminates all five of the Final 6, one at a time, last eliminating Bryan

Sami Zayn defeats AJ Styles © (WWE Title)

> First, The Bullet Club interferes

> Then, The Shield, back in their old attire and music, fight the Club off




The buildup to Fastlane involves AJ wanting his rematch, and calls it a Last Chance match, in that after this there will be no more rematches. In order to make it “fair”, Zayn has The Shield in his corner, and Styles has 3 members of the Bullet Club in his corner.




Daniel Bryan, still chasing his big Wrestlemania moment, challenges Kevin Owens for his spot, and offers to put his career on the line if he loses. Owens reminds him of Cena and Lesnar, and says that careers are always on the line in a Kevin Owens fight. Cena politics his way into a special referee position.




Fastlane

The Bellas defeat Paige & AJ Lee

The Young Bucks © defeat Cesaro & Tyson Kidd (Tag Titles)

Bayley © defeats Naomi (Diva’s Title)

Kevin Owens defeats Daniel Bryan (Title shot vs career)

> Owens hits repeated neckbreakers to Bryan, prompting Cena to stop the match.

> Bryan is hurt, but mad that Cena stopped it. He pushes Cena on his way back

Sami Zayn © (w. The Shield defeats AJ Styles (w. Anderson & Tonga) (WWE Title)

> There is brawling on the outside, more Club members interfere, but Balor cuts them off, evening the odds.




The Wrestlemania card is basically set. Owens and Zayn pick up where they left off in NXT, and The Bullet Club feud with The Shield and Finn Balor. Daniel Bryan challenges John Cena to a match, and the Diva’s Match is put in a significant spot. Undertaker and Sting quickly put together a feud, and an Andre Memorial Battle Royal is held.




A stipulation is added to the Shield vs Bullet Club match that makes it a “Loser Leaves Town” match, it is also No Disqualification. Certain faces start backing The Shield, telling them they hope they kick the Bullet Club’s asses out of the WWE. This match main events over the WWE Title, with the match billed as having higher stakes.




Wrestlemania 32

Baron Corbin debuts to win the Battle Royal

Bayley © defeats Charlotte (Diva’s Title) (⅔ Falls)

Undertaker defeats Sting

Daniel Bryan defeats John Cena

Sami Zayn © defeats Kevin Owens (WWE Title)

> After the match, Bray Wyatt appears on the tron, and says that it is time he returned. He walks out and stares down Zayn after his celebration, setting up Zayn’s first feud after Wrestlemania

The Shield defeats The Bullet Club (Styles & The Young Bucks) (No DQ)

> The other Bullet Club members interfere

> Finn Balor interferes (with a full entrance and new body paint)

> Match simply continues as a 4-on-7, until Ziggler hits a Zig Zag on Styles

> Ziggler turns face, 5-6, much more even

> Ambrose pins Styles for the win and all the faces come out to celebrate




*Despite the Loser Leaves Town stipulation, The Young Bucks stick around as Tag Team Champions, and AJ Styles and Gallows are rehired soon after. Tonga & Anderson go down to NXT.

Fantasy Booking: Bret Hart stays in WWF after Montreal

Booking Bret Hart if he stayed in WWF 1997-2000


For the purpose of this storyline, The Montreal Screwjob was a work. (However, for roster consistency purposes, Bulldog and Anvil still leave for WCW) Bret is off TV for a bit and Vince plays the evil chairman. Bret skips DX: In Your House and the Royal Rumble while Vince continues to iterate to the fans that “Bret Screwed Bret”. Austin wins the Royal Rumble, and No Way Out of Texas is business as usual, until the finish.



No Way Out of Texas

Main Event: Steve Austin, Owen Hart, Cactus Jack & Chainsaw Charlie vs The Outlaws, HHH & Savio Vega



During the wild 8 Man Tag, Michaels comes down and superkicks Austin. Bret then comes from the crowd and blasts HBK, knocking him over the guard rail. Bret chases him as Owen submits Savio with the Sharpshooter for the win.



The next week on Raw, Bret essentially holds the WWF hostage, interfering in matches and refusing to leave the ring until he gets a title shot. Austin, a former rival of Bret, says that he won the Royal Rumble, and won’t be replaced, but he respects the hell out of Bret, and they share a dislike for Vince McMahon and Shawn Michaels. He proposes a Triple Threat for Wrestlemania, and Bret says he is okay with that. Vince disagrees, but says he is a “fair man”. He says that if Austin and Bret can beat all of Los Boricuas in a Handicap Match, he will add Bret to the match. They succeed, and the Mania Main Event is made a 3 Way.



(Aside from Bret’s involvement in storylines, it is assumed that everything else stays the same.)



Wrestlemania XIV

Main Event: Shawn Michaels vs Steve Austin vs Bret Hart (Mike Tyson as Special Referee)



The match is a competitive three way dance, and all of the wrestlers get their big spots and near falls. The crowd response for Bret and Austin is about split, but Austin looks strong. The finish involves Bret getting Superkicked and falling through the ropes. Shawn then goes to kick Austin, but gets caught and hit with the Stunner for the win. The Tyson stuff plays out as usual and there is a shot of Bret nodding respectfully to Austin from the ramp before walking away.



The next night on Raw, Austin comes out to celebrate but Bret interrupts him, congratulating him while also challenging for the WWF Title at Unforgiven. Austin seems poised to accept, but Vince says that Bret has to earn his spot. Cactus Jack does his turn and becomes Dude Love again. He beats Bret on Raw to earn a shot, while injuring him with a chair in the process (Dude needs to look strong for Austin).



Things go as planned until Over the Edge ‘98, where Bret Hart runs in to assist in the finish, evening the odds for Austin by taking out Patterson and Brisco (He essentially replaces Undertaker). Austin gets the win over Dude and Bret leaves the ring to let him celebrate.



The King of the Ring is the next major Pay Per View. The build has clearly been for either Kane, Undertaker or Hart as Austin’s next challenger, but Bret is snubbed. Kane gets the shot after interference from a returning Mankind. Mankind and Undertaker feud, and Kane and Austin feud. Bret comes to the ring and complains, Vince offers him a spot in the King of the Ring. Bret Hart gets Marc Mero in the opener and beats him, and then beats Jeff Jarrett.



King of the Ring

At the PPV, Bret is paired up against Ken Shamrock, they have a competitive match, but The Rock interferes with the Nation, destroying both men, causing a No Contest. Both Shamrock and Hart complain, and the finals are made a Triple Threat. In this match, The Rock wins by pinning Shamrock. Many members of the Nation interfere, and The Godfather seems to single out Bret Hart.



On Raw the next night, Bret Hart challenges The Rock to a match at Fully Loaded. He doesn’t give a damn if the title is on the line or not, he is looking for a fight. Vince comes out to remind Bret that he hasn’t won a major match since coming back. Vince again says he is going to make Bret work for his spot. Bret starts tearing through guys aggressively, particularly D’Lo Brown and The Godfather. He sometimes even loses by DQ when he gets too rough and starts using chairs. Generally, he comes off as a whiner as opposed to the tough guy Austin (who is still embroiled in a feud with Taker, Kane and Mankind). Finally, Bret beats Triple H in a ⅔ Falls Match to earn his shot at The Rock, who has been bad-mouthing every challenger for the belt, including Shamrock, Bret and Helmsley. (Despite Bret’s claim that it’s not about the title, this is an IC Title match)



Fully Loaded

Bret finally gets his one-on-one match with The Rock. Triple H and Ken Shamrock, despite their personal opinion of Bret Hart, decide to come to ringside to keep The Nation at bay. The match is competitive, but Bret clearly has the advantage over his less-experienced opponent. Vince gets personally involved and costs Bret the match, screwing him out of a title yet again.



Bret starts to get pissed off. He challenges Vince to a 1 on 1 match on Raw. Vince ends up accepting a 3-on-1 in which The Stooges back him up. Bret loses by DQ when Vince refuses to enter the ring. Bret loses his temper and chairs Vince. With Vince out, Linda McMahon emerges as a face authority figure, and she proposes Austin vs Hart at Summerslam. (Undertaker is demoted to a rematch with Mankind, which Kane interferes, setting up the Taker heel turn/Brothers of Destruction a bit early).



Bret’s promotion of the match revolves around his bragging that Austin has never beaten him 1-on-1 (now coming off as both a whiner and a braggart). He also throws some jabs at Austin being a drunk and an alcoholic. Bret is not a full heel, but is certainly making it clear that he doesn’t like Austin.



Summerslam

Main Event: Bret Hart vs Steve Austin

No Shenanigans, no screwing, Austin straight up pins Bret clean after a Stunner. After the match, Bret reluctantly shakes Austin’s hand, but also trashes an announce table in a fit of anger.



The next night on Raw, Bret has a match with Val Venis. The match is billed as an eliminator for the European Title but Bret is disqualified after beating down Venis and holding the Figure Four around the ringpost for too long, injuring Val. Bret leaves, saying nothing. (The Val-Dustin Rhodes feud is omitted completely)



The next week, he explains that he is disgusted with everything about the WWF, from its corrupt CEO, to its alcoholic Champion, to the porn stars, pimps and garbage wrestlers that plague the roster. He name-drops Val Venis, The Godfather and Sable, and then claims that he is going to “clean up” the WWF. Edge comes out to defend Sable’s honor, but Bret destroys him, making him tap to the Sharpshooter.



Over the next few weeks, he seems to target The Godfather, and challenges him to a match at Breakdown: In Your House, but demands that none of his “hos” show up.



Breakdown: In Your House

Bret Hart faces of with The Godfather. Mid-way through the match, the Ho Train arrives. Bret goes out to confront them, and discovers Sable hiding among them. She nails Bret with a kick to the groin, and then throws him into the ring. Godfather goes for the Pimp Drop but Hart reverses and rolls out of the ring. Sable goes after him and Bret pushes her down. Godfather comes out and Bret nails him with a chair, ending the match in a DQ. (so he is also a hypocrite, because he criticized Hardcore wrestlers but used a chair) He then hits him in the leg with the chair and sets him up for the Figure Four around the ring post, but Val Venis returns to make the save.



Yet again, Bret Hart comes out to complain, and Sable, Venis and Godfather come out to shut him up. Bret challenges them to a Six Man Intergender match at Judgement Day. They accept, and are then ambushed by Jeff Jarrett and Owen Hart, who side with Bret Hart (along with Debra McMichael as their valet). In the build to their match, Bret’s stable defeats The Oddities in various Single and Tag matches, only occasionally losing by DQ when Bret loses his temper (usually at Sable, who sometimes valets for The Oddities)



Judgement Day: In Your House

The Six-Man is a pretty straight-forward affair. Sable rarely gets involved, and when she does, it is usually just to give one of Team Hart a stiff slap (although she does hit a Sable Bomb on both Debra and Owen). The match ends when Sable is the legal participant. Owen and Jarrett isolate the others and Bret submits Sable with the Sharpshooter (picking up his 1st PPV win since The Screwjob in the most heelish of ways)



Bret continues to pick up Singles wins against Godfather and Val Venis, while also stretching out to take on Oddity members, Gangrel, and feuding with Goldust, who Bret considers a “vile, transvestite freak.” During their feud, their respective heritage is brought up as the sons of Stu Hart and Dusty Rhodes respectfully. This is Bret’s ticket out of the “clean up” angle, and into serious competition. They put together two Survivor Series teams. Team Bret has Bret, Owen, Double J, and Ken Shamrock, and Goldust’s team has Goldust, Venis, Godfather and Al Snow. (The Deadly Games Tournament gets shuffled around a bit but still has the key matches and the same finish, leading to a Rock/Mankind feud.)



Survivor Series

Team Bret vs Team Goldust is pretty standard as far as Elimination Matches go, rather back and forth. Bret and Owen are the sole survivors, and Bret submits Goldust for the finish.



Bret’s team splits up a bit, as Owen and Jeff go to the Tag Team Division. Bret, now with two (count ‘em, two!) victories in a row, he believes he should be next in line for a title shot, but he is in an awkward position, as he is both a heel and anti-Vince, and thus can’t feud with Austin, Rock or Mankind at the moment. He forces his way into the main card by calling out Triple H and DX (still well within his gimmick of self righteous cleaner of WWF) and challenges him to a match at Capital Carnage. (Owen and Jarrett also challenge The Outlaws on the same card). Hunter and Bret go back and forth in promos, and Bret also takes on Chyna in some matches on Raw, either winning clean or losing by DQ due to aggressive behavior, prompting HHH to save his enforcer/girlfriend.



Capital Carnage

Bret Hart and Triple H have a competitive match. Chyna gets on the apron and Bret pushes her off into the guard rail. While the ref checks on her, Hunter hits Bret with the ring bell, and pins him for the win.



Their feud continues to a Steel Cage Match at Rock Bottom.



Rock Bottom: In Your House

Bret escapes the cage after a tough fight. Chyna throws in a chair for Hunter but Bret gets it and hits a Piledriver to Hunter on it.



Bret qualifies for the Royal Rumble by defeating Steve Blackman, but has little in-ring action until the PPV, instead opting for promos and interviews to get his point across that he is going to win.



Royal Rumble

After Vince and Austin brawl to the back, Bret enters at #4, and proceeds to throw out Golga and the next few men, which are all former rivals (Venis, Godfather, some more Oddities). After every elimination, Bret grabs a microphone and starts insulting the people he is tossing, calling them freaks, hypocrites, and “Degenerates”. Cue Triple H. They brawl, and then get lost in the shuffle for a bit. When Austin returns, Bret tosses Hunter, leaving Bret, Austin and Vince as the final three. Bret is the last man eliminated before it is down to Vince and Austin again. Vince wins with an assist from The Rock.



While Rock and Mankind trade the titles, Bret quietly continues his crusade, taking on the filthiest the WWF has to offer. He sits out St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, but gets directly involved in Rock and Mankind’s Ladder Match, taking out Mankind. He says that although he doesn’t like The Rock, the biggest injustice possible is having that garbage wrestling freak as champion. He challenges Mankind to a Hardcore Match at Wrestlemania, which Mankind accepts



Wrestlemania XV

This match is reminiscent of Foley’s match in ECW with Tommy Dreamer. Despite being a Hardcore Match, Bret wrestles Foley, using drop-toe holds and headlock takeovers. When Mankind finally does get Hardcore, it is certain to get a huge pop from the crowd. Weapons are slowly introduced. First a chair, then a table, and then tacks are placed on the table. It is Mankind who takes the big bump though, as he is suplexed through the table. He comes back with a Socko Claw out of nowhere to put Bret away for good.



After Wrestlemania, they meet again at Backlash in a Boiler Room Brawl. Along the way, Bret starts beating wrestlers in the Hardcore Division, including Hardcore Holly, Al Snow and Steve Blackman, but he beats them all cleanly with no weapons, drawing the ire of fans who paid to see a Hardcore Match.



Backlash

Mankind and Bret Hart have a barn-burner of a Boiler Room Brawl. Bret actually fights a brawling, hardcore style in this match, and eventually wins after incapacitating Mankind with a lead pipe-assisted Sharpshooter.



Over The Edge 1999 is a tough scenario to book, because it is such a shitty situation, that I wish hadn’t happened. Assuming Owen’s fall and death are inevitable, Bret wouldn’t compete that night. Like in WCW, I’m taking him off TV for a few months. Undertaker wins the title, “it was McMahon all along, Austin!” and all of that still happened. This layoff is also the perfect opportunity to turn Bret face again.



Fully Loaded

Main Event: Steve Austin vs Undertaker (First Blood)

The match goes as planned, but Bret Hart makes his return (as a face) to fight off the Corporate Ministry. Austin makes Taker bleed to win the title and send Vince away from the WWF. Bret shakes Austin’s hand and leaves him to celebrate.



The next night on Raw, Bret cuts a promo similar to his one on WCW, where he thanks the fans for their support of the Hart Family. He then announces his intention to challenge Steve Austin for the WWF Title. Shane cuts him down, and tries to say that Triple H is next in line. Bret feuds with the Corporate Ministry for a bit, reconciles with Mankind, and has some matches with The Mean Street Posse. Through swerves and happenstance, the main event of Summerslam becomes a Fatal Four Way between Austin, Hunter, Bret and Mankind, with Jesse Ventura as the referee.



Summerslam

Main Event: Bret Hart vs Stone Cold vs Triple H vs Mankind.

The match is similar to how the 3 Way went in real life, but Bret takes some of Mankind’s spots. In the end, Bret pins Hunter as Jesse Ventura makes the count, making Bret a 6-time WWF Champion.



The next night on Raw, Bret thanks all of his fans, and dedicates his win to Owen and the Hart Family. Shane makes him defend the title that night against Shane himself in a Ladder Match, which Bret wins despite Posse interference, when The British Bulldog returns to save him. They shake hands and celebrate the victory, and then agree to a WWF Title Match at Rebellion in England. In the meantime, they also team up to face some heel tag teams like The Mean Street Posse and Edge & Christian.



Rebellion

Main Event: Bret Hart vs British Bulldog

Despite normally wrestling in jeans, Bulldog comes out for this match in his classic long Union Jack tights. They have a match similar to the Summerslam ‘92 match, except the finish is reversed and Bret goes over. After the match, a group of heels (HHH, Shane, The Posse and The Stooges) hit the ring, but are fought off by Bret and Bulldog. After the match they both celebrate as Bret’s music plays.



Bret and Bulldog split up for a bit (This match/alliance was really only to pander to UK fans in time for Rebellion) and Bret returns to his feud with Triple H. The main event is packed right now with top stars in Bret, HHH, Rock, Big Show, Austin and sometimes Mankind, so guys get lost in the shuffle a bit. I propose that Austin gets run over at No Mercy, (only 1 month earlier than he would have normally) leaving Triple H as the replacement.



No Mercy

Main Event: Bret Hart vs Triple H

This match is a similar brawl to what Hunter and Austin had in real life. The finish is the same too. The Rock comes down with a sledge hammer to nail The Game, but misses and hits Bret. HHH gets the pin and wins the WWF Title.



Bret Hart sells the sledgehammer attack as a severe concussion, and is off TV until a surprise appearance at the Royal Rumble. While he is out, Triple H forms an alliance with Stephanie McMahon and Shane. Vince is destroyed by Triple H and taken off TV. Triple H is set to defend the WWF Championship against Cactus Jack at the Rumble.



Royal Rumble

Bret Hart is a surprise entrant, and is battling furiously, temporarily allied with The Rock to take on and eliminate McMahon-Helmsley stooges, such as D-X and The Boss Man. The final four entrants are Bret, Rock, Big Show, and X-Pac. X-Pac is quickly eliminated and Bret and Rock team up to eliminate The Giant. Finally, Rock and Bret are alone, and have a 15 minute battle before The Rock finally tosses Bret (similar to Undertaker-Shawn Michaels in 2007) After Rock wins, Bret re-enters the ring to shake Rocks hand, and walks away.



The next week, Bret comes out and is contemplating retirement, and thanks all of the fans who supported him. Suddenly, Kurt Angle comes out and, in an overbearing and condescending manner, congratulates Bret on a long career, and says he picked the perfect time to retire so that he wouldn’t have to ever wrestle the Olympic Hero. Bret take exception to this and challenges Kurt to a match at No Way Out. Kurt blows off the challenge, insisting that he has more important issues to deal with, such as the Intercontinental Championship. Bret finally goads Kurt by saying that if Kurt doesn’t want a match, he’ll find a worthy opponent like Tazz (who beat Angle at the Rumble). Tazz comes out to accept.



No Way Out

Bret Hart vs Tazz is a technical match with lots of unique suplexes and submissions. At one point, Tazz gets a Tazzmission on Bret, and Bret does the Hart-Piper Sleeper Spot, but Tazz gets back to his feet, just when Bret is about to pass out. Angle enters the ring and hooks both men for a simultaneous Olympic Slam, taking both men out. (Angle won the IC Title earlier)



In the buildup to Wrestlemania, Bret, Kurt and Tazz get set for a Triple Threat for the Intercontinental Title. All men also agree that the match should be Submissions Only, and Bret decrees that if he loses, he will retire.



Wrestlemania 2000

Bret Hart vs Tazz vs Kurt Angle - Intercontinental Title Submission Elimination Match

This match is a solid technical affair, all three men get their big spots in early, and Tazz goes apeshit, hitting suplex after suplex on Hart and Angle. He locks in the Tazzmission on Hart, but Angle does a German Suplex to both men at the same time, and transitions directly into an Ankle Lock on Tazz, who taps out. Bret and Angle go hard for 15 minutes, and the finish is Bret countering the Olympic Slam into a school-boy, and then turning the school-boy into a Sharpshooter in the centre of the ring. Angle reverses the Sharpshooter into an Ankle Lock and Bret taps out. Kurt wins the match, looking very strong, and Bret leaves after a tough match. He shakes Kurt’s hand and walks off into the sunset. (Kurt probably doesn’t turn face, but what the hell, Triple H shook Sting’s hand!)



Bret probably returns for non-wrestling appearances as a commissioner or a special ref for a few years, and has a Legend’s contract, but he will never wrestle again. (I’m assuming that his wrestling career has to end in 2000, and his 2002 stroke is inevitable, so he won’t be back for The Invasion or return to face Shawn Michaels when he returns.)

Fantasy Match 3: Mankind vs Bray Wyatt

Hell in a Cell Match

Mankind vs Bray Wyatt (with Rowan and Harper)

 “Philadelphia… We’re here.”

Bray Wyatt’s music hits, and he makes his way through the black arena towards the ominous cell, with Rowan and Harper in tow. Fans’ cell phones, Wyatt’s “fireflies” light the otherwise pitch black arena. Sitting down in his rocking chair, Wyatt contemplates for a minute how to start the match, before beginning a perilous climb to the top of the cage, much to the excitement of the crowd, who know that this isn’t going to be a normal cage match.

“What!?” Jerry Lawler exclaims, “Is he really going to start this match on top of the cell?”

“I’ve never seen this before!” Michael Cole has obviously seen this before, at least twice, but he’s being fed the line to make this moment sound more special, as if it needed it.

A brooding violin piece, and dim blue lighting, accompanies Mankind’s entrance. The man born Mick Foley bared little resemblance to the stand-up comedian and author, with a disfiguring leather mask and a white T-shirt which bore blood stains from a previous encounter. He comes chair in hand, prepared for another violent encounter inside The Devil’s Playground, a land he is well acquainted with.

The lights come back on, and Bray Wyatt is on his knees on top of the cell, beckoning to his deranged opponent to join him. He doesn’t have to ask twice. Mankind holds the chair as if he is going to toss it up the cell, but he smells a rat. He turns and strikes a sneaking Erick Rowan on the head, busting his bald head open. He then catches Harper in the gut, and then the back with the steel folding chair, before making his ascent, ensuring that this will be a one on one encounter.

Bray is waiting for him on top of the cell, and nails Foley with right hands, before pulling him by the hair to the center of the cell. Mankind fights back with a left to the body, and wraps Wyatt up for a snap suplex on top of the cage. The two big men sink the roof in, but do not collapse it. Mick Foley picks Bray up, signalling for a Double-Arm DDT, but The Wyatt Family Patriarch fights his way out of it, instead hitting the veteran Foley with a back body drop on the cell. The cage comes dangerously close to breaking but again holds. Mick is silently thanking WWE for making a sturdier cell than the old one.

Harper and Rowan get back to their feet, and Harper throws a chair up to Wyatt, before the two family members begin to climb up too. Wyatt nails Mankind on the back with the chair, multiple times, as Jim Ross laments at the violence.

“Good God, King. How many of these chair shots can Mankind take?”

By now, The Wyatts have climbed to the top, and all 3 members of The Wyatt Family begin stomping Mankind, and taking turns hitting him with the chair. Beaten down, Mick gets back to his feet, he hits Bray with a low blow, and DDTs Rowan and harper at the same time. He picks up the chair, but Bray kicks him in the gut, and viciously tosses him from the roof of the cell, crashing violently through the Spanish announce table below!

Photo Courtesy of Photobucket

“GOOD GOD KING! IT’S HAPPENING AGAIN! IT’S HAPPENING AGAIN!”

Jim Ross loses it, while Lawler and Cole are speechless. Even Bray and his lackeys are in disbelief. Doctors and trainers begin coming out, trying to care for Mick Foley, who hasn’t moved an inch since the fall. Even Vince and Hunter come out, worried that the match may be over before it begins. They get Mick onto a stretcher and up the ramp.

The Wyatts descend the cage, and circle the incapacitated Foley, preparing to finish him off. Bray gets him off the gurney and into the cell. Rowan and Harper are about to join him, when Edge comes out of the crowd brandishing a chair. He takes out Rowan and Harper, but Wyatt hits Sister Abigail, a spinning reverse STO on him, injuring the once-broken neck of Edge.

EMTs get Edge out of the ring, and referees lock the cage, leaving only Mankind, Bray Wyatt and Earl Hebner in the ring. Finally the bell sounds.

Bray drags Mankind to the corner, and runs from across the ring, crushing Foley beneath his weight with an avalanche-like body splash. Mankind crumbles, and roles under the ropes, trying to get to his feet on the apron. Bray come running again for a shoulder block, but Mankind collapses and Wyatt stumbles over the top rope, colliding with the unforgiving cell.

Photo Courtesy of oocities

The deranged Mankind gets to his feet finally, and smashes Wyatt’s face into the cell, before hitting him with several big right hands. Wyatt falls to the thinly padded floor, and Mankind picks up the top section of the steel steps. Brandishing them as a battering ram, Mankind crashes the steps into Wyatt’s head and shoulders, whilst also pushing one side of him into the cell. Foley drops the steps and hits a seated Wyatt with a running knee to the face (a move Mankind learned from Cactus Jack, who was obviously watching this match on the WWE Network for just $9.99)

Mankind continued to pummel Bray Wyatt with punches, before slamming his head into the ring post and rolling him into the ring. Mick needs to lean on the ring apron to stand, but is able to mount a solid offence. He rolls into the ring himself, and sets up Bray in the Tree of Woe, hanging him upside down in the turnbuckle. Mankind gets a running start and drives Wyatt with a signature Mankind elbow drop, before going for the cover.

1...2…
Wyatt kicks out, barely staying down for the two count, and Mankind shouts his disapproval whilst ripping clumps of hair from his own head. Again, he rolls from the ring, lifting the apron to look for a weapon. He pulls a table from underneath the ring, and slides it into the squared circle.

Foley takes some time getting into the ring, and by the time he gets through the ropes, Wyatt is already up and blindsides Mankind with a shoulder block, dropping Mick. Wyatt then sets up the table, and lifts Mick Foley. He hits Mick Foley with a bodyslam and runs for a seated senton, but Mankind rolls out of the way, and Wyatt crashes to the mat. Mankind rolls over and lifts Wyatt up, nailing him with a Pulling Piledriver. Foley again went for the pin.

1...2…
Again, Bray Wyatt kicked out. Mick slapped himself in the face, both to get his blood pumping and to punish himself for not finishing his opponent.

Cole was bewildered, “What is it going to take to put Bray Wyatt away?”

Mankind reached into his tights, and pulled out Mr. Socko, signalling for the Mandible Claw. He went for it but Wyatt caught his hand, picking Foley up for the Uranage out of nowhere, driving Foley through the wooden table. Wyatt laughed, kneeling over his fallen opponent.

He contemplated going for the pin, before picking his fallen enemy back up, waltzing Mankind to the centre of the ring in a dance-like motion. He leans down to kiss Mankind on the forehead, but the wily veteran shoves his fingers into Wyatt’s mouth!

“The Mandible Claw! He’s got it King! Bah Gawd! Foley has a chance!” Jim Ross went nuts, cheering on the masked lunatic as he shoved Mr. Socko down Bray’s throat. Bray went down as his Wyatt brothers shook the cage door, trying to rip it off, but it was no use. Wyatt was trapped in the grip of Mankind. He faded fast, dropping like a sack of potatoes to the canvas. Referee Earl Hebner had no choice but to call the match, as Wyatt had nothing left.

“He did it! Mankind put Bray Wyatt away!” Michael Cole was in shock.

“Mrs. Foley’s Baby Boy has done it!” Jim Ross cheered gleefully, as Mick Foley, battered and cruised, stood tall over the patriarch of The Wyatt Family, finally down for good.

Howard Finkel called it. “Here is your winner… Mankind!”

Mankind stumbled to his feet, victorious, as EMTs entered the Cell to pull Bray Wyatt away.

Best Wrestling Matches by Wrestler

The guideline for this was as follows:

• I couldn't use a match more than once (For instance Bret Hart and Steve Austin can't both have the I Quit Match)
• There has to be a top 5, plus as many honorable mentions as I want
• Only televised or pay per view matches
• one on one matches only

Hulk Hogan’s Best Matches

1. vs Ric Flair (Steel Cage) Halloween Havoc ‘94
2. vs The Rock Wrestlemania 18
3. vs Ultimate Warrior Wrestlemania 6
4. vs Harley Race (Texas Death Match) MSG ‘87
5. vs Sting Bound for Glory ‘11

*Honorable Mentions: vs McMahon (WM 19) vs HBK (SS ‘05) vs Andre (WM 3)*

The Rock’s Best Matches

1. vs Stone Cold Wrestlemania 17
2. vs Kurt Angle No Mercy 2000
3. vs Triple H Backlash 2000
4. vs Mankind (I Quit) Royal Rumble ‘99
5. vs John Cena Wrestlemania 28

*Honorable Mentions: vs CM Punk (RR ‘13) vs Lesnar (SS ‘02) vs Jericho (RR ‘02)*

Stone Cold’s Best Matches

1. vs Bret Hart (I Quit) Wrestlemania 13
2. vs Kurt Angle Summerslam ‘01
3. vs Dude Love Over The Edge ‘98
4. vs The Rock Wrestlemania 19
5. vs Triple H (3 Stages of Hell) No Way Out ‘01

*Honorable Mentions: vs Undertaker (SS ‘98) vs Kane (KOTR ‘98)*

John Cena’s Best Matches

1. vs CM Punk Raw ‘13
2. vs Brock Lesnar Extreme Rules ‘12
3. vs Umaga (Last Man Standing) Royal Rumble ‘07
4. vs Edge (TLC) Unforgiven ‘06
5. vs Shawn Michaels Raw ‘07

*Honorable Mentions: vs Lashley (GAB ‘07) vs Orton (SS ‘07, HIAC ‘09) vs Edge (SS ‘06) vs Rock (WM 29) vs JBL (JD ‘05) vs Bryan (SS ‘13) vs Wyatt (PB ‘14) vs Ryback (ER ‘13)*

Undertaker’s Best Matches

1. vs Shawn Michaels Wrestlemania 26
2. vs Bret Hart Summerslam ‘97
3. vs Triple H (Hell in a Cell) Wrestlemania 28
4. vs Shawn Michaels (Hell in a Cell) Bad Blood ‘97
5. vs Edge Wrestlemania 24

*Honorable Mentions: vs Batista (WM 23) vs Orton (WM 21) vs Mankind (KOTR ‘98) vs Punk (WM 29) vs Lesnar (NM ‘03)*

Bret Hart’s Best Matches

vs Shawn Michaels (Iron Man) Wrestlemania 12
vs Roddy Piper Wrestlemania 8
vs Owen Hart Wrestlemania 10
vs Hakushi In Your House 1
vs British Bulldog Summerslam ‘93

*Honorable Mentions: vs Benoit (Nitro) vs Austin (SS ‘96) vs Bulldog (IYH 5) vs Lafitte (IYH 3) vs Owen (SS ‘95) vs Perfect (KOTR ‘93)*

Triple H’s Best Matches

vs Cactus Jack (Hell in a Cell) No Way Out 2000
vs The Rock (Iron Man) Judgement Day 2000
vs Shawn Michaels Summerslam ‘02
vs Randy Orton (Last Man Standing) Raw ‘08
vs Chris Jericho (Last Man Standing) Fully Loaded 2000

*Honorable Mentions: vs Undertaker (WM 27) vs Rock (SS ‘98) vs Benoit (NM 2000) vs Mankind (SS ‘97) vs Bryan (WM 30) vs Lesnar (ER ‘13)*

Ric Flair’s Best Matches

vs Terry Funk (I Quit) Clash of the Champions IX
vs Ricky Steamboat (⅔ Falls Match) Clash of the Champions VI
vs Vader Starrcade 1993
vs Shawn Michaels Wrestlemania 24
vs Sting Clash of the Champions I

*Honorable Mentions: vs Edge (TLC Raw) vs Vince (RR ‘02)*

Wrestlemania 31, Adjusted Predictions

This Wrestlemania Season has been a chaotic one, with a few unexpected turns. Daniel Bryan lost his title and has sat out most of the year with an injury, Alberto Del Rio got released, Roman Reigns got injured, Brock Lesnar squashed John Cena, and The Shield separated. We have still yet to see the debut of Sting, and NXT signed the best independent wrestlers (outside of AJ Styles). On top of all this, Cesaro and ZIggler have seemed to reverse positions, with Cesaro losing every week and Ziggler primed to be a top guy.

Wrestlemania 30 was huge, and had many marquee matchups. With the excess of talent there will definitely be more big matchups than filler this year as well. I will give Wrestlemania 31 8 Matches, including the Pre-Show and the Andre The Giant Battle Royal.

Pre-Show
Tag Team Titles: The Usos vs The Ascension vs GoldStar vs The Dudleys (Elimination Tables)
This one is kind of out there, but it would be a great way to get fans excited early. There are rumors that The Dudleys are coming to WWE, and even if they debut before Mania, this would be a great way to utilize them. If I were to book this, it would come down to The Dudleyz (as faces of course) and The Ascension (as heels), with The Ascension getting the final fall.

*On a side note, if I was fantasy booking a Dudleys return, it wouldn't be in the tag team division. It would be Bully Ray taking on John Cena in the main event, and D-Von either as a stooge or not there at all, but since this is WWE, they likely won't recognize Ray's potential as a top heel, and will pair him with D-Von again.*

Undercard:
John Cena vs Rusev (with Lana)
Rusev should remain undefeated until Wrestlemania, and then defeat Cena in a huge match. Please don't let Cena win this one, he already killed Bray Wyatt's momentum last year, and Bray didn't recover until Hell in a Cell.

*The fantasy would of course be Kurt Angle vs Rusev, but that is a long shot*

Diva's Title: Natalya (w. The Hart Family) vs Charlotte (w. Ric Flair)
Nobody cares about the Diva's Match at these events. Creating a family feud storyline around the match would give it some more attention. It also doesn't hurt that Charlotte and Nattie are two of the best wrestlers on the roster at the moment.

Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Another 30 Man Battle Royal to try and push a midcard star. I have 3 predictions for the winner:

1. Dolph Ziggler
2. Sheamus
3. Baron Corbin (if he is brought up by then)

Main Events:
Daniel Bryan vs Bad News Barrett
This storyline goes back to the Royal Rumble, where both men return, Bryan officially and Barrett unofficially. Bryan comes back and is a house of fire, eliminating guys left and right, but then Bad News comes out unannounced and eliminates him, delivering the bad news that he won't be in the main event of Wrestlemania. (This is the best way to get Barrett heel heat on his return, and also leaves Bryan looking strong despite losing the Royal Rumble). Barrett continues to attack Bryan, and constantly costs him shots at entering the WWE Title match (teasing a repeat of last year). Finally, Bryan agrees to face Bad News at Wrestlemania.

*My other thought for this match is a similar scenario, but with Bray Wyatt instead of Bad News Barrett*

Dean Ambrose vs Seth Rollins
I predict that, after Hell in a Cell's finish, Ambrose will feud with Bray until about TLC or the Royal Rumble. In the Rumble match, Ambrose and Rollins start fighting again, and then reignite their feud going into Wrestlemania. In a match that has been almost a year in the making, Dean finally gets his clean finish on Rollins.

The Rock vs Triple H (with Stephanie McMahon)
Will this match happen? Who knows? It was heavily teased a little while back, and neither man has a logical Mania feud unless the want to follow through on The Rock facing Rusev, which I doubt. It is hard to see Triple H going over in this match. He is 1-4 in his last 5 matches, whereas The Rock is 4-1 in his last 5.

WWE Title: Brock Lesnar (with Paul Heyman) vs Roman Reigns
This seems to be the match they are building to. Roman probably comes back for Survivor Series to be on Team Cena, and then wins the Royal Rumble. At the Rumble, Lesnar defeats Cena for a third and final time. FInally, at Wrestlemania, Roman Reigns is the guy to beat Lesnar, ending The Beast's title reign and increasing his own Wrestlemania Streak to 3-0.