What If?: Owen Hart Had Lived

What If?: Owen Hart Had Lived
March 29, 2026
By Ryan Porzl

1999 was a big year in American Wrestling. The business was experiencing a boom period and wrestling was cool and part of pop culture again. The WWF was riding high and seemingly getting hotter especially with the debut of Smackdown. WCW would start it's downward spiral that eventually would culminate in the WWF purchasing them two years later. ECW was trying to survive with reports of checks bouncing and talent looking for greener pastures all the while seemingly getting the lifeline it needed when they struck a deal with TNN (now The Paramount Network) which ultimately didn't work. 1999 saw names like Jeff Jarrett, Paul Wight, The Dudley Boyz, and Chris Jericho make big jumps. Kurt Angle would make his first appearances for the WWF before officially debuting at Survivor Series 1999. "Macho Man" Randy Savage had his last big year in the business. 1999 also saw future superstars such as John Cena, Batista, Samoa Joe, and Trish Stratus begin their journey's in the business. Vince Russo went from head writer for the WWF to famously jumping to WCW. 1999 also saw the passing of legends including Rick Rude, Giant Baba, and Gorilla Monsoon to name some. 

However, in spite of all this and more, one event clearly outshined all of them and for the wrong reasons. That event occurred on May 23, 1999 when Owen Hart tragically fell to his death during the WWF's PPV Over The Edge while attempting a superhero like entrance from the rafters. The aftermath was huge. A man lost his life at the young age of 34 all the while leaving behind a young family and career that had yet to reach it's peak. The WWF lost a beloved member of their roster and were in an ugly scandal. A wife lost her husband while two children lost their father at young ages. Two parents not only had to bury a child but their youngest of twelve while not only a family, but one of wrestling's royal families, would fracture and be divided in the aftermath. Owen Hart's passing is unquestionably one of, if not, wrestling's biggest tragedy. Perhaps the only tragedies that come close or even beat it is the 1988 murder of Bruiser Brody and the 2007 Chris Benoit double murder-suicide. However, one definitely has to wonder "What If?"? What if Owen had lived and that accident never happened? Could he have reached his potential? What big matches could he have still had? In this article, we'll look at Owen leading up to 1999 as well some possible scenarios if he had lived.

Note: I don't own the photo. Credit to WWE

WWF Wrestlers Who Had a Bad 1996

WWF Wrestlers Who Had a Bad 1996
March 10, 2026
By Ryan Porzl

As I covered and is well known, 1995 was not a good year for the WWF. They reportedly lost money that year, business was down, creative was weak, some of their shows were among the worst in company history, and WCW began breathing down their neck with the debut of WCW Monday Nitro and the start of the Monday Night Wars. 1996, in some ways, was almost worse. The product would begin to turn around and it was certainly considered better but at the same time, WCW only got stronger and by the end of the year, there were legit fears on the WWF's future. However, the WWF itself wasn't the only thing to have a lousy 1996. In this article we'll look at ten wrestlers/teams who also had a bad year.

Note: I don't own any photos, credit to WWE or whomever own them.

ECW Guilty As Charged 2001: Where Are They Now?

ECW Guilty As Charged 2001: Where Are They Now?

February 23, 2026

By Ryan Porzl

Over the decades, there are many years that left an impression such as 1984 with Vince McMahon changing the course of American wrestling by beginning his conquest. 2001 was another year that will be remembered as it marked the end of the late 90s boom period in wrestling and closure of two of the three major promotions in American Wrestling in WCW and ECW. ECW formed in 1992 and in it's nine years of business was the underdog #3 that changed the industry and fought tooth and nail for success and sometimes just to survive. As 2001 began, ECW was on death's door with checks bouncing becoming a common occurrence while having lost their national TV deal with TNN. Before closing their doors, ECW would hold three shows in 2001. While the last two were live events, the first would be the promotion's final PPV in the 2001 Guilty As Charged. This January 7th marked 25 years since the event and having done a "Where Are They Now?" on ECW's First PPV in 2022, I decided to look at the participants of not only ECW's final PPV but their final televised show and a show that, to many, was their last memory of the land of Extreme.

Note: I don't own any pictures. Credit to WWE, Pro Wrestling Illustrated, TNA or whomever owns them.

NWA Clash of the Champions I Review

NWA Clash of the Champions I Review
March 22, 2014 (Edited February 1, 2026)
By Ryan Porzl

Event: Clash of the Champions I
Tagline: None
Date: March 27, 1988
Location: Greensboro, North Carolina
Live or Tape: Live
Arena: Greensboro Coliseum
Attendance: 6,000
Announcers: Tony Schiavone and Jim Ross
Interviewers: Bob Caudle
Other: None
Broadcast: TBS

WWF Wrestlers Who Had a Good/Great 1995

WWF Wrestlers Who Had a Good/Great 1995
December 31, 2025
By Ryan Porzl

In my last article, I talked about 1995 and how miserable it was especially for the WWF. In many ways, it was the worst year the WWF had in the 1990s and many wrestlers had a terrible year. However, despite 1995 being a nightmare for many, did anyone salvage the year and have a good one? Well, surprisingly, yes. In fact, I've been able to find some names of talent who actually not only had a good year but some would see 1995 as the year they took that next step and for two guys, it was easily the best and biggest year of their careers. In this article, we'll look at the fortunate ones in an unfortunate year for many.

Note: I don't own any photos. Credit to WWE or whomever owns them.

WWF Wrestlers Who Had a Bad 1995

WWF Wrestlers Who Had a Bad 1995
December 17, 2025
By Ryan Porzl

Anybody who knows wrestling history knows 1995 was not the best year for the WWF. In fact, many would consider it one of the worse in the promotion's 70 year history. It's not hard to understand why with an outdated approach to wrestling, bad booking, lackluster events, and cartoonish gimmicks, 1995 didn't have much to look forward to. Unfortunately, there were several wrestlers who really had a worse year than others and we'll take a look at them. 

Two years ago, I did a list similar to this regarding 1998 and have been thinking of doing it with other years as maybe a series.

Note: I don't own any pictures. Credit to WWE.

Change

Change

July 11, 2013

By Ryan Porzl

WWF Saturday Night's Main Event XV Review

WWF Saturday Night's Main Event XV Review
February 13, 2014 (Edited: November 7, 2025)
By Ryan Porzl

Event: Saturday Night's Main Event XV
Tagline: None
Date: March 12, 1988
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Live or Tape: Taped (March 7, 1988)
Arena: Nashville Municipal Auditorium
Attendance: 10,000
Announcers: Vince McMahon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura
Interviewers: “Mean” Gene Okerlund and Jesse “The Body” Ventura
Other: None
Broadcast: NBC

Wrestlers and Personalities Who Had The Worst Attitudes And Did Damage To Their Careers

Wrestlers and Personalities Who Had The Worst Attitudes And Did Damage To Their Careers

November 1, 2025

By Ryan Porzl

Professional Wrestling is truly an interesting business with interesting people. There are plenty of wrestlers who can be cool to deal with. There are certainly plenty of wrestlers who know how to play the game to advance their careers. Then there are wrestlers who are their own worst enemy. Talent who could've went even farther than they did only to damage their careers due to their behavior. In this article, we'll look at wrestlers and personalities who wrecked their careers and/or did damage to it with their attitudes and being headaches. I will point out this won't feature wrestlers with addiction issues so no Scott Hall or Jake Roberts.

Note: Credit to WWE, AEW, or whomever owns the photos.

Debunking Bret Hart's Lies and Smears on Hulk Hogan and Exposing the Hypocrisies of the Hitman

Debunking Bret Hart's Lies and Smears on Hulk Hogan and the Hypocrisies of the Hitman

October 11, 2025

By Ryan Porzl

Bret "The Hitman" Hart is many things and two of which is he's a man of many words and very opiniated. It's no secret Bret has given his 2 cents over the decades and has made no bones about the people he can't stand from Goldberg to Triple H who he believes done him wrong. However, one of the biggest targets of his complaints is Hulk Hogan. Bret and Hogan were no strangers to each other mostly working for the WWF and WCW at similar times. They teamed up and even occasionally faced each other. However, Bret's hatred for the Hulkster stems back to Hogan not losing to him when Bret thought he should've in 1993. It's haunted Bret for over 30 years and it's festered into Bret giving cheap shots and attacking Hogan in various ways, even resorting to lying about Hogan. Even after Hogan's passing on July 24, 2025 at the age of 71, Bret has not taking his foot off the gas and continues to attack him even now at a time when Hogan can no longer defend himself. Even worse, because Bret is loved by many and because many in the Internet Wrestling Community despise Hogan and others soured due to his sex tape controversy, many have just accepted Bret's comments regardless of whether they were true or not. As a Hulkamaniac and as someone who's tired of the Hulkster being treated as a punching bag, I decided to write this article debunking Bret's lies regarding Hogan and we'll even pull the curtain back on Bret's shady history and expose the fact he's not the generous professional he makes himself out to be but rather could be as, if not more, selfish than Hogan was.

WWF The Main Event I Review

WWF The Main Event I Review
February 3, 2014 (Edited October 1, 2025)
By Ryan Porzl

Event: The Main Event I
Tagline: None
Date: February 5,1988
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Live or Tape: Live
Arena: Market Square Arena
Attendance: Unknown
Announcers: Vince McMahon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura
Interviewers: “Mean” Gene Okerlund
Other: None
Broadcast: NBC

WWF Royal Rumble 1988 Review

WWF Royal Rumble 1988 Review
January 25, 2014 (Edited September 17, 2025)
By Ryan Porzl

Event: Royal Rumble 1988
Tagline: None
Date: January 24,1988
Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Live or Tape: Live
Arena: Copps Coliseum
Attendance: 18,000
Announcers: Vince McMahon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura
Interviewers: “Mean” Gene Okerlund and Craig DeGeorge
Other: Jack Tunney (WWF President)
Broadcast: USA Network

NWA Bunkhouse Stampede 1988 Review

NWA Bunkhouse Stampede 1988 Review
March 17, 2014 (Edited July 11, 2025)
By Ryan Porzl

DVD Cover

Event: Bunkhouse Stampede 1988
Tagline: None
Date: January 24, 1988
Location: Uniondale, New York
Live or Tape: Live
Arena: Nassau Coliseum
Attendance: 6,000
Announcers: Bob Caudle and Jim Ross
Interviewers: None
Other: Jim Crockett (NWA President)
Broadcast: Pay-Per-View

Most Notable Late Bloomers in Wrestling

Most Notable Late Bloomers in Wrestling

June 21, 2025

By Ryan Porzl

When it comes to professional wrestling, many all time greats achieve their peak or debut at different points. There are wrestlers like Kerry Von Erich, Yokozuna, and The Rock who make it to the top of the mountain or their peak in their 20s. Most do it in their 30s. However, there are wrestlers who take the long road to the top. Wrestlers who either debut much later than normal like in their 30s or hit their peak much later like their 40s. In this article, we'll look at the most notable late bloomers in wrestling. This list will include wrestlers who either turned pro in their 30s or later and/or hit their peak in their late 30s/40s when most begin to exit their prime.

I don't own any photos. Credit to WWE, All Japan, Pro Wrestling NOAH, or whomever owns them.

A Look At Promotions WWE Has Partnered With Before

A Look At Promotions WWE Has Partnered With Before
June 3, 2025

By Ryan Porzl

For decades, the WWE was known for many things and one was "an island to themselves". From the time Vince bought the WWE in 1982 till he sold it to Endeavor in 2023, the WWE usually was a promotion that many looked as one that kept to itself while being in it's own bubble. Since Endeavor took over, we've seen a more open door policy with WWE having partnerships with TNA, AAA, GCW, and NOAH. However, Endeavor/TKO's ownership is actually not the first time the WWE worked with other promotions. In fact, Vince would actually form partnerships with various promotions over the decades. In this article, we'll take a look at the promotions that WWE had partnerships with in the past.

Note: I don't own any pictures. Credit to WWE, New Japan, All Japan, Ohio Valley Wrestling, IWA Puerto Rico, and whomever owns the pictures.

WWF Saturday Night's Main Event XIV Review

WWF Saturday Night's Main Event XIV Review
January 29, 2014 (Edited May 27, 2025)
By Ryan Porzl

Event: Saturday Night's Main Event XIV
Tagline: None
Date: January 2, 1988
Location: Landover, Maryland
Live or Tape: Tape (Taped December 7, 1987)
Arena: Capital Center
Attendance: 13,000
Announcers: Vince McMahon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura
Interviewers: “Mean” Gene Okerlund and Jesse “The Body” Ventura
Other: None
Broadcast: NBC

WWF Saturday Night's Main Event XIII Review

WWF Saturday Night's Main Event XIII Review

December 16, 2013 (edited May 7, 2025)
By Ryan Porzl

Event: Saturday Night's Main Event XIII
Tagline: None
Date: November 28, 1987
Location: Seattle, Washington
Live or Tape: Tape (Taped November 11, 1987)
Arena: Seattle Center Coliseum
Attendance: 16,000
Announcers: Vince McMahon & Jesse “The Body” Ventura
Interviewers: “Mean” Gene Okerlund
Other: None
Broadcast: NBC

Paul Heyman's Biggest ECW Fumbles

Paul Heyman's Biggest ECW Fumbles

April 30, 2025

By Ryan Porzl

For over 40 years, one of wrestling's more colorful and famous individuals is Paul Heyman. Heyman has done a bit of everything in wrestling from managing to commentating to promoting to booking. He spent the last 40 year on and off as a manager under his own name and as Paul E. Dangerously where he managed some of the biggest names in the business. Modern day fans mostly know Heyman for his associations with acts like Brock Lesnar, CM Punk, and Roman Reigns. However, Heyman will likely be remembered by many for his time in ECW. Originally coming in as a manager, Heyman eventually became the promotion's booker and eventual owner. Heyman's time running ECW was largely praised making his share of stars and legends to his ability to come up with great storylines to his ability to get the best out of his talents. However, while Heyman had his successes with ECW, he was far from perfect. Even someone as praised as Heyman has made his share of bad mistakes from lackluster decisions to flat out bone headed and stupid ones. Here now, we'll look at the biggest fumbles Heyman made in ECW.

Note: I don't own any pictures. Credit to WWE or whomever owns them.

A Look At All Japan Pro Wrestling's 1999

A Look At All Japan Pro Wrestling's 1999

April 11, 2025

By Ryan Porzl

Anyone who is an expert on wrestling history knows All Japan Pro Wrestling and that it's one of wrestling's greatest promotions. Having it's first show on October 21, 1972, the promotion was founded by one of Japan's greatest legends in Shohei "Giant" Baba and as of writing, has lasted over 52 years making it one of wrestling's long running promotions. In fact, with the exception of promotions such as the WWE, the Mexican based CMLL, and fellow Japanese promotion New Japan, almost no promotion has lasted as long as the house that Baba built. However, it hasn't always been smooth sailing to say the least. With a promotion that's been around for more than half a century, it has experienced many highs and triumphs to hosting legendary shows featuring many of the greatest wrestlers and greatest matches the sport as ever had. At the same time, the promotion has seen it's shares of setbacks and turmoil, specifically three exoduses which either damaged or damn near killed the promotion. Obviously, when it comes to the latter, people look at the year 2000 as that was the year everything hit the fan when top star Mitsuharu Misawa left All Japan and took almost everyone from talent to crew with him as well as their main Television time slot to start Pro Wrestling NOAH. However, as fascinating as 2000 is, we're going to take a look at the previous year. 1999 was almost as big and tumultuous as 2000. The year featured some changes with some young talent beginning to get opportunities while established names would sort of take a step back. Backstage, the promotion's founder and patriarch would pass away, one of the all time greats bid farewell to the ring as well as the promotion, and two important figures would start a power struggle that led to the eventual NOAH exodus.

Note: I don't own the picture. Credit to All Japan

Wrestling Legends Who Debuted in the WWE Before You Remember

Wrestling Legends Who Debuted in the WWE Before You Remember

March 22, 2025

By Ryan Porzl

The WWE obviously has had it's share of legends come through their doors over the last 70 years. Many of which became legends or saw their legendary careers enhanced by the WWE. However, what some may not know is many legends in the WWE actually would debut a lot earlier for the promotion before their legendary runs. In some cases, they first arrived when they were rookies paying their dues. In this article, we'll take a look at some WWE legends who debuted and worked for the promotion before you probably thought they did.

I don't own any photos, I found them on Google. Credit to WWE or whomever owns them.

Credit to Cagematch for dates.