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Brian Damage
The ‘If Factor’ are a series of articles that takes a look at real scenarios in pro wrestling that at one point or another were suggested, planned, considered…but did not get the green light to continue. What would the landscape of professional wrestling look like if these ideas came to fruition?
The If: Davey Boy Smith Joins the nWo in 1996
In 1996, ‘The British Bulldog’ Davey Boy Smith became a free agent and was looking for a financial increase and a bigger push in his career. Vince McMahon promised him more money and a main event slot. The two parties agreed on terms of a new deal on a handshake. As time wore on, Smith was still without a new contract, so feelers were sent out to McMahon’s main rival WCW. Eric Bischoff was immediately interested in bringing in the Bulldog to his company.
Talks were serious enough, that Bischoff had planned on having Smith appear on the one year anniversary episode on Monday Nitro and join the New World Order as its official fourth member. While Davey Boy still had reservations about jumping ship to WCW, Hulk Hogan talked with Smith to assure him that the jump would be a great business move. Word got back to Vince McMahon that Davey Boy was speaking with his opposition and almost immediately drew up a contract that Smith did sign.
With Davey Boy Smith now off the market and Sean Waltman entangled with legal issues that was preventing his departure from the WWF…Eric Bischoff was left without a fourth member to debut for the nWo. The quick decision was made to have ‘The Giant’ Paul Wight to join the faction instead. According to Kevin Sullivan, who was a booker at the time, the Giant joining the nWo, threw a big wrench into that storylines plans. Sullivan was intending on just having ex WWF wrestlers a part of the nWo and the rash decision to have the Giant join, helped that faction change dramatically after that. What if Davey Boy Smith decided to join WCW and the nWo in 1996 instead of the Giant? Would the nWo with just former WWF stars worked better? Would it have been a much stronger faction and a little more exclusive?
To read other If Factor articles, click here.