6 of The Most Memorable Feuds That Never Happened On WWF PPV (1987-1992)

[Superstar]

Hello all. As a fan who was around in the late 80s and early 90s I've got a lot of memories growing up of many different feuds. Among those were several memorable feuds/angles that happened yet they never actually made it to a pay per view event. In some cases it is understood why while in other cases I have no idea why they did not. Many of these feuds never really got a blowoff. In addition to naming the feud, I will name the PPV that could have realistically hosted the blowoff to the particular feud. There are a few names that will pop up more than once. So here they are starting from 6 on down.

#6 Tito Santana vs. Rick Martel - Wrestlemania VI

These two were part of a successful late 80s tag team known as Strike Force, which was a spinoff of the Can-Am Connection after Santana replaced Tom Zenk as Martel's partner. The team had was over with the crown and enjoyed a decent run as tag team champions in late 1987-early 88. The team split at Wrestlemania V in a match against the Brain Busters and began a feud that lasted for almost 2 years. This feud saw several tag team matches with them being on opposing sides and some singles matches at house shows.

Now to be fair, there was a match set up between the two at Summerslam 1990 but it was scrapped because Martel caught an injury before the event. However, I think that it would have made much more sense to set up a blowoff match for Santana and Martel at Wrestlemania VI, exactly on year after their split. It probably would have made more sense to let Martel go over

#5 Jake "The Snake" Roberts vs. Earthquake - Summerslam 1991

Who could forget about when Earthquake squashed Damien? I remember seeing that as a kid and being so shocked. It was a pretty good feud for both men to have at the time. Quake just finished his main event run with Hogan as a monster heel and this feud with Jake gave him more heat. However, his singles push was winding down and Jake was finishing up his face run to start the hottest heel turn of 91. It could have still worked if Jake went over early in the night but turned by the end at Macho's reception, aligning himself with The Undertaker

#4 Mr. Perfect vs. Ric Flair in a Loser Leaves Town Match - Wrestlemania IX

Perfect was fresh off of his face turn in late 1992 into 93 when he and Flair were in a heated feud. As many may know that Loser Leaves Town match did happen which Flair lost to go back to WCW. Knowing that I understand why the match happened a lot earlier. I just really wish that they would have saved it for Wrestlemania IX because I thought that the match and feud were of Wrestlemania caliber. Much better alternative to having Perfect job to Lex Luger in a pointless feud and a bad match.

#3 Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair - Wrestlemania VIII

Now I won't elaborate too much on this one. Most of us know about this already. The match was originally supposed to happen in the Main Event of WM8 and there are many stories to explain why it was switched around. They're all over the internet. I did happen to like how things actually turned out though as it I was happy that Savage was champ again.

#2 Jake "The Snake" Roberts vs. "Ravishing" Rick Rude - Summerslam 1988

I know. I know. They fought at Wrestlemania IV. But the difference here is that they were not feuding at that time. It was just a random match to fit into the tournament. By June or July of 88, the angle involving Jake's wife Cheryl had begun. That should have set up a match between the two in August. Didn't make much sense to have Rick Rude wrestling Junkyard Dog and not even having Jake on the card.

#1 The Ultimate Warrior vs. The Undertaker (Possibly introducing a Body Bag or Casket Match) - Summerslam 1991

I cannot for the life of me understand how the WWF missed the boat on this one. This was arguably one of the top 3 feuds of 91 and Taker's first big feud. Here are 2 very dark characters. Warrior was quite the force to be reckoned with at the time but he met his match in the Undertaker who was the unstoppable monster heel. Taker locked Warrior in a casket, which was an angle that was never seen before. They feuded from April to August with many vignettes being shown with Roberts initially training Warrior to face Taker before Roberts turns on Warrior to side with Taker. Many fans of the day still remember it to this day.
Taker would definitely go over as he is after Hogan and Warrior wasn't really worth protecting at that point. He could also still intervene in Savage & Liz's wedding reception later on. Warrior didn't need to be apart of the crappy main event tag match and it made no sense for Taker not to be on the card.

Honorable Mention: Roddy Piper vs. Ric Flair - Wrestlemania VIII

Savage vs. Flair could have easily been Piper vs. Flair at WM8. Since Flair came in 1991, besides Hogan he also had a heated feud with Piper until the feud was dropped right before Wrestlemania. This could have been an opportunity to give Piper the strap. Only thing is that much like Hogan, Piper was leaving after Wrestlemania 8. Like I said in number 3, I was satisfied with the way things turned out anyhow.

Let me know what you think. Agree, disagree, or name a few of your own.

[metfan51]

Nice read, I started wondering why Roberts and Rude never had that big match but I think there was always a feeling between Rude, Roberts and his wife that all three knew Rude and Roberts' wife were fooling around. Probably not worth the risk to throw those two in a match on live TV when things could explode.

[Shockage]

This was a fun to read piece Superstar. I fondly remember all of these feuds growing up, and wondered why they never ended on ppv.

Thinking back now, maybe the Rockers/Brainbusters should've met at WrestleMania V as they were in the middle of a feud, and have STrike Force split go ahead against the Twin Towers.

Demolition should've had a decisive match against the Powers of Pain as well without the inclusion of Mr. Fuji in the match. It seemed that the WWF were interested in protecting POP by having them barely sell to Demolition. In terms of losses, Barbs and Warlord had it pretty sweet with the WWF.

[Shockage]

Another feud just cvame to mind, Randy Savage/Honky Tonk Man. We find out years later that HTM didn't want to drop the IC belt to Macho Man. Fair enough, and also taking into consideration that there were only 2 ppvs in 1987.

[Goldie79]

Great read there Superstar

Another one could be Demolition and LOD... at Summerslam 1990.
Though the Harts won the tag titles from Demolition.... and i Love the Harts, it would have meant more to the LOD/Demolition fued had LOD beaten 'the imposters' for the tag titles.

Though it was never showcased on TV at the time that Demolition were carbon copies of LOD, created by the WWE when they couldn't sign the originals.... more knowledgable fans who read the magazines etc, and were aware of LOD from the NWA & AWA would have been clued up on this.

As soon as Vince signed the originals... Demolitions days were numbered.
LOD squashed Demolition in a series of matches, and the leather clad boys disbanded soon afterwards.
However the fued could have kickstarted with a LOD win at Summerslam for the titles.... and then run the inevitable series of squash matches

[WWE Gary]

WWE have dropped the ball and missed out on what could have been awesome fueds all through the years ...not just from 87 to 92 . They did it with so many potential great storylines which would have led to great matches on major PPVs .

Definitely agree Warrior and Taker should have been more than just house show entertainment . Here's a few others .
His could happen

Hulk Hogan v Bret Hart .... Never happened because of the Hulkster's ego unfortunately .
Lex Luger v Bret Hart ........could have happened when Lex was the All American or even when he was heel Narcissist.
Ravishing Rick Rude v Mr Perfect .....one of these guys cud have turned face ...would have led to some great matches .
Ultimate Warrior v Sid Justice .....unfortunatley Sid left the company before this cud happen
Goldberg v Austin ......injuries and egos could never have let that happen but would have a real crowd pleaser


Sure there are lots more .....cant think of any off the top of my head though .

[Superstar]

That's possible. But they did wrestle at a Saturday Night's Main Event as well as some house shows later that fall. So I don't see why they couldn't have gone with a match at SS88.

[Superstar]

Demolition should've had a decisive match against the Powers of Pain as well without the inclusion of Mr. Fuji in the match. It seemed that the WWF were interested in protecting POP by having them barely sell to Demolition. In terms of losses, Barbs and Warlord had it pretty sweet with the WWF.

Yeah Demolition should have went over POP. They ended up not doing anything with that team in the long run anyway.

[Superstar]

Another feud just cvame to mind, Randy Savage/Honky Tonk Man. We find out years later that HTM didn't want to drop the IC belt to Macho Man. Fair enough, and also taking into consideration that there were only 2 ppvs in 1987.

Yeah I agree that's another good one. That feud must lasted for 6 months and was supposed to be blown off at WM4 but we all know what happened. But I actually liked things the way they turned out even though I think that the actual tournament could have been booked better.

[Superstar]

Yeah that would have worked too. Too bad that Ax couldn't stay until WM7. That would also have been a perfect time for LOD to not only squash Demoliton but send them for packing because the team was finished after that.

[Superstar]

Hulk Hogan v Bret Hart .... Never happened because of the Hulkster's ego unfortunately .
Lex Luger v Bret Hart ........could have happened when Lex was the All American or even when he was heel Narcissist.
Ravishing Rick Rude v Mr Perfect .....one of these guys cud have turned face ...would have led to some great matches .
Ultimate Warrior v Sid Justice .....unfortunatley Sid left the company before this cud happen
Goldberg v Austin ......injuries and egos could never have let that happen but would have a real crowd pleaser

Bret Hart and "The Narcissist" Lex Luger would have been a good one if they continued. That could have been has last opponent at King of the Ring 93. Warrior/Sid also had a lot of potential to be grand, likely happening at Summerslam 92. I always wondered what would have happened with that feud.

The thing with the other 3 is that they were more dream matches and never actually happened. This thread is geared more toward feuds that were already taking place but never had a blow off or happened on PPV. As we know Hogan/Hitman was supposed to happen at SS 93 and it would have been huge. The feud just never happened because of Hogan's ego and he left before any angles could be done involving the two.

[Shockage]

I remember the '88 Muraco/Valentine feud that begun over Valentine attacking Muraco's manager Superstar Billy Graham. That feud was never resolved as Muraco was part of a mass exodus of releases in later that year. Maybe Muraco/Valentine could've happened at SummerSlam '88. Superstar wasn't managing anymore, but he was still visible being the colour commentator for that event. Instead we got Muraco/Bravo, somewhat of a rematch from their WRestleMania IV tourney match.

[Superstar]

I remember the '88 Muraco/Valentine feud that begun over Valentine attacking Muraco's manager Superstar Billy Graham. That feud was never resolved as Muraco was part of a mass exodus of releases in later that year. Maybe Muraco/Valentine could've happened at SummerSlam '88. Superstar wasn't managing anymore, but he was still visible being the colour commentator for that event. Instead we got Muraco/Bravo, somewhat of a rematch from their WRestleMania IV tourney match.

It was Butch Reed and One Man Gang that attacked Superstar Billy Graham

[Shockage]

I think that was the '87 attack that knocked SBG out of the Survivor Series main event and Muraco filled in. The Valentine on SBG attack took place a year later. I remember even Ventura (notorious heel) was outraged at the attack when he was on commentary. Anyway, doctors told SBG that he couldn't manage anymore which is what led him to colour commentary before leaving the WWF.

[Superstar]

Oh wow. I have no memory of that one. I guess that explains why The Superstar did commentary

[Shockage]

Here you go, 1988 was a great year for heels generating heat. I love the rawness of the shots and SBG selling like crazy.

[Superstar]

Wow thanks for posting Shockage. This is great stuff. My question now is why didn't this match happen at Summerslam 88 instead of Muraco vs. Bravo? This can be added to the list as well.