Jericho needed it more than Angle did. Way more. Who knows where his career would've gone if he hadn't.

@Ore-Sama said:

Jericho needed it more than Angle did. Way more. Who knows where his career would've gone if he hadn't.

Spot-on. They built a new star that night, which is what everyone wants.

@Ore-Sama said:

Jericho needed it more than Angle did. Way more. Who knows where his career would've gone if he hadn't.

His career would have been relatively the same minus the one Wrestlemania main event he had at 18. He would go on to spend the majority of his career in the midcard anyhow. Let's not act like that three months of being world champion was some make-or-break moment of his career.

@Lockard The GOAT said:

@Ore-Sama said:

Jericho needed it more than Angle did. Way more. Who knows where his career would've gone if he hadn't.

His career would have been relatively the same minus the one Wrestlemania main event he had at 18. He would go on to spend the majority of his career in the midcard anyhow. Let's not act like that three months of being world champion was some make-or-break moment of his career.

Agreed.

But also, I think Austin was too obvious as was The Rock. Angle was a dark horse but I don't think anybody expected Jericho to walk out as Undisputed Champion so it was a bigger surprise.

I would’ve saved the unification tournament until WrestleMania 18, with HHH replacing Rock or Austin (whoever faces Hogan on the same card). HHH, Angle, Jericho and Rock or Austin.

What, in theory, should’ve been the biggest moment in wrestling history deserved to occur on the grandest stage. WWE did a similar thing in 2013 and that, too, was odd.

In that respect, HHH could face both Jericho and Angle. His history with both makes for a more compelling tournament.

Though, personally, I would’ve preferred Rock to win (with Austin facing Hogan). I’m not a huge Rock fan, however if there’s one blemish on his record, it’s the fact that he never walked out of WrestleMania as world champion, which is the greatest kayfabe achievement. WrestleMania 18 would’ve made amends for WrestleMania’s 15, 16 and 17.

@Lockard The GOAT said:

Think about it: Kurt Angle was getting a big push at that time, being the face of the WWF side during the Invasion angle until he turned heel and joined The Alliance, then betraying The Alliance three weeks later at Survivor Series, only to then revert back to being a heel again the next night by bragging that he single handily saved the WWF.

Would have it been more interesting to follow up on this push all the way till Wrestlemania by having him unify the championships instead of Jericho? He had history with HHH and Stephanie, so their feud leading into WM would have tied into history just as well as it did with Jericho. Being the WWF's first ever Olympic Gold Medalist as well as its first ever Undisputed Champion would have also been two cool things to boost about side by side.

Kurt Angle was already too big. He won the Olympic gold medal with a frikkin broken neck !

@NathanVersus said:

I would’ve saved the unification tournament until WrestleMania 18, with HHH replacing Rock or Austin (whoever faces Hogan on the same card). HHH, Angle, Jericho and Rock or Austin.

What, in theory, should’ve been the biggest moment in wrestling history deserved to occur on the grandest stage. WWE did a similar thing in 2013 and that, too, was odd.

In that respect, HHH could face both Jericho and Angle. His history with both makes for a more compelling tournament.

Though, personally, I would’ve preferred Rock to win (with Austin facing Hogan). I’m not a huge Rock fan, however if there’s one blemish on his record, it’s the fact that he never walked out of WrestleMania as world champion, which is the greatest kayfabe achievement. WrestleMania 18 would’ve made amends for WrestleMania’s 15, 16 and 17.

I definitely agree. Scenarios like those should be reserved for WrestleMania.

@NathanVersus said:

I would’ve saved the unification tournament until WrestleMania 18, with HHH replacing Rock or Austin (whoever faces Hogan on the same card). HHH, Angle, Jericho and Rock or Austin.

What, in theory, should’ve been the biggest moment in wrestling history deserved to occur on the grandest stage. WWE did a similar thing in 2013 and that, too, was odd.

In that respect, HHH could face both Jericho and Angle. His history with both makes for a more compelling tournament.

Though, personally, I would’ve preferred Rock to win (with Austin facing Hogan). I’m not a huge Rock fan, however if there’s one blemish on his record, it’s the fact that he never walked out of WrestleMania as world champion, which is the greatest kayfabe achievement. WrestleMania 18 would’ve made amends for WrestleMania’s 15, 16 and 17.

I like, I like, but... How would the winner of the Rumble factor into this situation?

Co-winners? It seems everyone hated the finish of the Rumble in 1994, however there have been, what, 30 Royal Rumbles? It stands to reason that some should have co-winners. If it lays the foundation for a solid storyline, what’s the harm? It could’ve served as the catalyst for the WrestleMania 18 tournament - one Rumble winner challenges for the WWF Championship, the other challenges for the WCW Championship, and the winners compete for the Undisputed Championship.

Alternatively, HHH could be screwed out of the Rumble win by Stephanie - say the Rumble boils down to HHH and Angle (or Jericho) as the final two competitors, and then Stephanie appears, turns on HHH and aligns herself with the other man. Angle being Angle wants to have two championship matches at WrestleMania 18, however HHH could compete in a match at No Way Out to earn a shot in the WrestleMania 18 tournament, place his career on the line.

Alternatively, the n.W.o. could debut at the Rumble, beat the snot out of everyone and leave the match without a winner. I appreciate a lot of people would feel cheated, however that’s some way for the n.W.o. to introduce themselves. I seem to recall Vince brought them in to destroy the WWF, and sabotaging the Road to WrestleMania is some start!

@NathanVersus said:

Co-winners? It seems everyone hated the finish of the Rumble in 1994, however there have been, what, 30 Royal Rumbles? It stands to reason that some should have co-winners. If it lays the foundation for a solid storyline, what’s the harm?

I don't think we will ever see another co-winner situation with the Royal Rumble. I think that was done for McMahon to make his decision on whether to go with Bret or Luger. The closest scenario would have been 2005 and I'm kind of confused as to why they didn't just go with the co-winning idea instead of restarting the match.