10 MORE Huge "What If" Scenarios In WWE History
5. What If The Curtain Call Never Happened?
Madison Square Garden staged one of wrestling's most notorious kayfabe-breaking moments in 1996. In an event now known as the 'Curtain Call,' Kliq members Shawn Michaels, Scott Hall, Triple H, and Kevin Nash embraced at a house show's conclusion, much to everyone's surprise. They were allies behind the scenes, and with their friends about to jump ship to WCW, Hunter and HBK wanted to give their buddies a big send off.
The problem was that Triple H and Nash were heels at the time, while Hall and Michaels played babyface. Thus, Vince McMahon was furious. The quartet had broken character, and while the Chairman couldn't do anything to the outgoing Outsiders (and wouldn't punish HBK), 'The Game' wasn't so lucky.
Hunter was originally booked to win King Of The Ring 1996 prior to the event, but this was taken from him. Steve Austin won the tournament instead, resulting in the memorable 'Austin 3:16' promo that kickstarted his 'Stone Cold' character, creating the mega-push that made him WWE's biggest star during their most successful period. It's a big leap, but without Austin, there's no Attitude Era, and without the Curtain Call, the 'Texas Rattlesnake' may never have been elevated in the first place.