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: New Jack Signs With WWE in 2004
In 2004, WWE ran a storyline where emerging superstar John Cena lost his United States title to Carlito. A twist to this story would be in the following weeks, Cena got stabbed while at a Boston nightclub. The pay off would reveal Carlito’s bodyguard named Jesus as the assailant. That was not the original idea for the story arc however.
WWE executive Bruce Prichard revealed that there was an idea for the company to bring in ECW gangsta New Jack to be the perpetrator in the stabbing of Cena. Prichard said that while the idea was floating around the creative table….ultimately all involved decided that New Jack was simply too unpredictable and too risky to move forward with. It was said that even New Jack’s former boss in Paul Heyman verbally opposed the idea of New Jack coming to the company and work with Cena based on past experiences while working for ECW.
What if WWE decided to give New Jack an opportunity? Would the stabbing angle have been more memorable? Would New Jack mess up his chance? Was it the right call by WWE creative?
To read other If Factor pieces, Please Click Here.