Hey Folks, we are back once again with a ‘What If’ scenario for the ages.
So, hop in your DeLorean, jump in your hot-tub, find yourself a phone booth or break into Skynet’s HQ. Whatever you want to do to alter a timeline, and come with us on a journey through time and space.
If you got all five of those references (especially the last one), you are doing quarantine right.
This time we are asking the question, What If… The ‘Curtain Call’ Never Happened?
WWE Recently celebrate the 25th anniversary of Triple H’s debut. The “Cerebral Assassin” has had a prominent role in the company for a quarter of a century whether it be in the ring or as of late behind the scenes, and there’s no doubt that he is one of the biggest stars the company has seen.
The Game’s fingerprints are all over the history of WWE through the Attitude Era all the up to present day and beyond with NXT.
In all the history that Triple H has been involved in, the ‘curtain call’ seems somewhat insignificant, but the knock-on effect of four friends hugging it out in the ring and saying goodbye completely changed the trajectory of (arguably) one of WWE most important employees.
What was the ‘Curtain Call’?
For anyone that doesn’t know, in 1996 inside Madison Square Garden as part of The Kliq, (This is what the four men involved called themselves backstage) Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. Entered the ring after the show and the four would hug in front on the crowd.
What the issue? Well, this was seen as breaking kayfabe, as Hall and Michaels were faces whilst Triple H and Nash were heels.
No real action could be taken regarding this as Hall and Nash were both jumping ship to WCW, this coupled with Michaels being the WWF Champion and main star of the company. The repercussions fell on Triple H’s shoulders. He was only a year into his career and was not yet a significant player on the WWE (then WWF) landscape.
Could one simple kayfabe breaking hug really change that much in the wrestling world? We have The Wrestling Brain and Tybo Talks giving their thoughts below.
THE WRESTLING BRAIN
‘Before the curtain call, Triple H was (allegedly) going to win the King Of The Ring tournament, Instead, the eventual winner would be Stone Cold Steve Austin. Austin would not only go onto become one of the biggest stars of all-time following the King Of The Ring victory but play a leading role in the Attitude Era and WWF’s battle against WCW.
So, following his King Of The Ring win, Triple H’s stock continues to grow, as one of the top heels in WWF, he could’ve feuded with Kliq member Shawn Michaels around SummerSlam 1996 time for the WWF Championship, a whole six years prior to their actual SummerSlam 2002 clash. “The Game” perhaps would’ve had a run with the WWF Championship for a few months in 1996, and had feuds with the likes of Vader, Bret Hart and battles with The Undertaker.
However, could this have led to D-Generation X, never becoming a thing, if Triple H was a heel champion, whilst Shawn remained a face? Let’s imagine that for a second, a world without DX, one of the best stables in wrestling history, they defined what the Attitude Era was, and from it created new stars in Billy Gunn, Road Dogg and Chyna, and furthered the careers of Michaels and Triple H, and had some of the best and funniest segments during that time.
But also what would’ve become of Steve Austin who’s rise to stardom came from winning the King Of The Ring tournament, if he hadn’t have been in that position, would we have seen the Austin/McMahon feud, Austin Vs Bret Hart at Wrestlemania 13, Austin Vs Rock, the Pillman’s got a gun segment, iconic moments that are etched in WWF/WWE history.
Maybe just maybe, breaking kayfabe on this occasion was best for business, yes it did it mean that Triple H’s path to glory was halted, but it did derail towards the DX route, and Triple H 24 years on is one of the biggest stars to step foot inside a WWE ring. Most importantly though it led to the rise of the Rattlesnake Stone Cold Steve Austin, without his influence on the whole of wrestling, the landscape of the Monday Night Wars could have been completely different.’
TYBO TALKS
‘It’s funny looking back on something like this and seeing just how much Triple H has influenced the WWE in the last 25 year. There are so many iconic moments, matches, factions and brands that would not existed if Triple H wasn’t, well Triple H.
Looking back the curtain call does seem insignificant, but if Triple H was to win the King of the Ring in 1996 (back when it actually meant something, and was seen as a significant push) it is completely plausible that this could have pushed him directly into the WWF Championship picture with Shawn Michaels.
This in its self would mean (potentially) no Austin being the top star, no Austin vs McMahon, WWF not beating WCW, and no D-Generation X. All these events happened in less than 3 years, and over 20 years ago. There is then the longer-term effects on changing Triple H’s wrestling path.
If Triple H was a made star back in the late 1990s, he wouldn’t have needed a push in 1999, so he wouldn’t have been paired with Stephanie McMahon. I don’t need to explain just how much of a drastic effect this had on, not only the WWE but on Triple H’s and the McMahon’s personal life.
Finally, it’s worth noting that without Triple H being welcomed into the McMahon family, there may have never been an NXT.
It’s insane to think that by changing one simple event, that is somewhat forgotten about, let’s be honest the equivalent of a ‘curtain call’ could happen at any house shows these days and no one would really see the problem. Yet in 1996, when Kayfabe was alive and well, Triple H seemed to be getting punished and it ended up being the best thing that could have happened to him, not only professionally but personally too.’
What do you think? Do you think the ‘curtain call’ was a blessing in disguise for Triple H? Or do you think he would be in the same place he is now regardless? Let us know below or tweet @SLTDWrestling
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