Posted on by bdamage1
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: Dustin Runnels Returns to the WWF in 1993
In 1993, the World Wrestling Federation was planning the return of Hulk Hogan, who had taken some time off to pursue other ventures in his career. As Wrestlemania 9 was fast approaching, Vince McMahon wanted someone new and different to face Hogan on the biggest stage. McMahon did not want someone already on the WWF’s active roster…he wanted a fresh face to challenge the Hulkster. Pat Patterson and Bruce Prichard started looking outside the promotion at wrestlers from other organizations.
Bruce Prichard recalled how when Dusty Rhodes was in the WWF, he had pleaded with Vince McMahon to book a match with him against Hulk Hogan. Unfortunately for Dusty, those pleas fell on deaf ears and a match between the two never happened. Patterson and Prichard were watching an episode of WCW Saturday Night and noticed Dustin Rhodes wrestling a match. Bruce Prichard immediately recalled how Dustin’s father had so desperately wanted a match with Hogan and asked Patterson his thoughts about bringing back Dustin to the WWF, who was previously with the company back in 1990. Patterson liked the idea and they both went back to Vince to pitch it to him.
Bruce Prichard used his Dusty Rhodes impression to try and sell the idea of Dustin vs Hulk at Wrestlemania 9. Surprisingly, McMahon liked Patterson and Prichard’s idea of bringing Dustin back. Vince then called up Hulk Hogan to sell him on the program with Dustin Runnels and told Bruce to sell it to Hogan the way Prichard sold it to him by doing his Dusty voice. Prichard felt that it would have been much easier if Vince talked to Hulk himself to get him onboard. Nevertheless, Prichard did his schtick and according to Prichard….Hulk Hogan responded by saying…‘you mean that skinny little kid with the buggy-whipped arms I see on TBS this past Saturday?’ Hulk basically wasn’t interested and with that, Vince McMahon already decided to go in a completely different direction. Prichard and Patterson knew that it wasn’t worth the battle with Hulk Hogan and moved on.
What if Hulk Hogan had agreed to work a program with Dustin Runnels? How different would Dustin’s career turn out?
