10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (Dec 13)

3. The Orange Balloon Idea At Survivor Series '99

Tazz Survivor Series 1999
WWE

Debuting as a Kurt Angle-mauling suplex machine at Royal Rumble 2000 in Madison Square Garden wasn't a bad spot for Tazz. He came across as a total beast against Kurt, ended the Olympian's undefeated streak and seemed all set for a hot run (one that'd ultimately fail). That wasn't the original plan for the former ECW Champ.

He almost debuted at Survivor Series 1999. Well, sort of.

Bruce Prichard told on his podcast that one idea kicked around for the 'Who ran over Stone Cold?' angle involved Tazz. After Steve Austin had been mowed down and everyone rushed to his aid, the camera would pan in on a seemingly innocuous car in the background. Suddenly, the trunk would pop open and some orange balloons with '13' on them would float out.

No, the WWF weren't pre-empting Bill Skarsgård's run at Pennywise in IT, they were hoping to create intrigue for Tazz's imminent debut. Vince McMahon wasn't a fan of the pitch though, so it was cancelled and one hopeful writer was left more deflated than those balloons.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.