10 Biggest "What If" Scenarios In WWE History

9. What If Hall & Nash Had Never Left?

shawn michaels wcw
WWE.com

The Monday Night Wars officially started with WCW Nitro’s debut in September 1995, but things didn’t really kick into gear until Scott Hall & Kevin Nash’s defection. As two of WWE’s biggest stars and future main event staples, Hall & Nash were a huge coup for WCW. They came over in 1996, the New World Order formed, and WCW trashed WWE in the ratings war for 84 consecutive weeks.

Hall & Nash’s arrival had a transformative effect on WCW’s fortunes, and the NWO lives on as one of the most influential angles in pro-wrestling history. Eric Bischoff & co. would eventually run the story into the ground, but without it, it’s hard to imagine them even making it through the nineties. The stable provided a perfect vehicle for Hulk Hogan’s game-changing heel turn, and from the moment they first hijacked Nitro, the NWO’s antics were “must see” television.

Had Hall & Nash stayed with WWE, WCW would’ve been without two vital pieces during their peak years. The angle was conceived by Bischoff after seeing a similar story take place in Japan, but he needed a set of outsiders to stage the invasion, and Hall & Nash were vital. Without the NWO, WCW probably struggle throughout the Monday Night Wars, and meet an early grave towards the end of the decade.

Business would likely take a big hit in general, though. Nash’s WWE Title reign was a complete disaster, and without the NWO, WWE may never have felt the need to switch to edgier programming through the Attitude Era. McMahon’s company would’ve stayed their course, and the current ratings crisis would’ve likely kicked-in far earlier.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.