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: Rikishi gets his own heel faction in 2000
In late 2000, the WWF had a “whodunnit” type of mystery involving a mysterious person running over top star Stone Cold Steve Austin. It would be revealed that the driver of the vehicle was none other than fan favorite Rikishi. The heel turn was known as for the infamous Rikishi promo ‘I did it for the Rock.’ The promo was meant to explain that Rikishi injured Steve Austin to protect Rock’s spot at the top of the card. In many ways, Rikishi’s promo and subsequent heel push weeks after fell flat.
Rikishi would physically assault Austin’s good friend Jim Ross to garner extra heel heat, but eventually Rikishi was destroyed by Austin in their match and subsequently killed off Rikishi’s big heel run. There were plans to further the angle and have Rikishi form an all Polynesian faction. Matthew Anoa’i and Edward Fatu were under a developmental deal with the company as The Island Boys. Plans were made to introduce the two as members of an unnamed “Nation of Domination” type group to align with Rikishi.
The plan supposedly included the Wild Samoans of Afa and Sika introducing Rikishi as the leader of the group…sorta like passing the torch to Rikishi. In a way, Rikishi would be what we now see in WWE as ‘The Tribal Chief.’ Of course, plans were scrapped once the angle did not really get over with fans and Matt Anoa’i and Eddie Fatu were repackaged as ‘Three Minute Warning’ instead….with Eddie later repackaged again as the Samoan Bulldozer Umaga. Would this all Samoan faction work in 2000? Do you think it could have elevated Rikishi as a top heel with the WWF?
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