What If Owen Hart Became WWF Champion?
For a time in the mid-1990s, Owen Hart was the biggest heel in the company. Whether it was his ongoing program with Bret or becoming the King of the Ring that year, he was firing all cylinders. Of the many the notable missed opportunities of that era, Owen as WWF Champion springs to mind. What if instead of Bob Backlund winning the belt from the Hitman, it was the King of Harts? How would it affect the trajectory of the WWF Title picture heading into 1995?
Survivor Series 1994
Owen Hart defeated Bret Hart in a submission match to win the WWF Championship. Bret refused to submit to the Sharpshooter but passed out, reluctantly forcing a Hart family member by Bret’s side to throw the towel in the ring.
Royal Rumble 1995
Owen Hart (w/ Jim Cornette) (c) vs Diesel
After months of receiving the short end in his rivalry with his brother, Owen had the last laugh and brought home the gold. For years, he felt undervalued in his family tree. By winning King of the Ring combined with victories over Bret, the King of Harts managed to prove he is his own man and not a sidekick behind everyone around him. Just to ensure his enemies do not lay a hand on him, he forms a pact with Jim Cornette and Yokozuna as insurance policy, thus leading to the creation of Camp Cornette.
After defeating Jim Neidhart on an episode of Superstars, Big Daddy Cool Diesel declares himself as the number one contender for the WWF Title. Diesel has also gone through partnership issues with HBK for months. Growing tension leads to their alliance falling apart at Survivor Series. Diesel is disappointed to see Owen lose his morality by alienating the people he loves at the expense of being number one. He may not know him personally. But he knows how ugly things can get when miscommunication leads to poor judgment. Now the two superstars will battle for the covenant championship in a test of David vs. Goliath.
Winner & Still WWF Champion: Owen Hart (At some point, HBK interferes, laying Diesel out with Sweet Chin Music. Despite that, Big Daddy Cool barely kicks out at 2.9999 much to Owen’s surprise. The match ends with Diesel attempting a Snake Eyes but Owen reverses into a victory roll for the win).
Wrestlemania XI
WWF Championship No Holds Barred Match: Owen Hart (c) (w/ Jim Cornette) vs. Bret Hart
The feud rekindles. One year ago, two brothers battled at the same event with Owen coming out on top as the victor. Despite that, Bret went on to win the WWF Title later that night and celebrated. The Hitman’s reign on top lasted throughout the summer and fall of 1994 until succumbing defeat thanks to a strategic play by the King of Harts. Owen accomplished what he dreamt of without relying on his family. Meanwhile, Bret won the Royal Rumble in two straight years to earn a WWF title shot at Wrestlemania. He is disappointed yet not surprised to see Owen stoop so low to climb his way up the ranks in the company. Owen says he has a new family with Jim Cornette’s camp and is given the amount of attention he feels he deserves. Once more, the Harts will square off at the 11^(th) annual Mania event held at the backyard of the company’s headquarters: Stamford, CT. No Disqualification, anything goes.
Winner & STILL WWF Champion: Owen Hart (After a ref bump, Bret fights off interference from Mr. Fuji & Yokozuna. Suddenly, Hakushi makes his presence known, attacking the Hitman as the King of Harts finishes him off with a Spinning Wheel Kick for the win)
In Your House I: A Dark Homecoming
WWF Championship Match:
The Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer) vs. Owen Hart (w/ Jim Cornette) (c)
The King of Harts survived Wrestlemania, defeating his brother Bret two years in a row. As WWF Champion, Owen claims to be the best pure athlete in the company and that there is no one in the locker room superior to him. Owen’s statement is put to the test when he is confronted by a Deadman from Death Valley in the Undertaker. Manager Paul Bearer points out that Owen talks a lot of trash with such bravado. Yet he and Taker begin to wonder if the Kings of Harts is truly a credible fighting champion had it not been for people fighting his battles. With the World Wrestling Federation announced to expand on its PPV calendar entitled In Your House, the inaugural show in May would be subtitled A Dark Homecoming, solidifying the main event between Owen Hart defending his World Championship against The Undertaker.
Winner & STILL WWF Champion: Owen Hart (Finish has Taker going for a Chokeslam, but Owen blindsides him with ashes from his urn, laying him out with a Spinning Wheel Kick while the referee is distracted by the brawl between Cornette & Bearer at ring side)
King of the Ring 1995
Camp Cornette (Owen Hart, Yokozuna, & Hakushi) (w/ Jim Cornette) vs. Bret Hart & The Allied Powers
At Wrestlemania, Bret had the WWF Title match won but he was caught off guard by recently recruited Camp Cornette member Hakushi who robbed him of the championship. Despite the interference, The Hitman exacted his revenge against the Japanese wrestler at the inaugural IYH. The former WWF Champion vows another opportunity at the gold that has been stolen from him not once, but twice. On Raw, a tag team match between the Allied Powers of Lex Luger & British Bulldog and Hakushi & Yokozuna ended in DQ when Owen clubbed Davey with his title belt. A 3-on-2 beatdown ensued in the ring until Bret Hart arrived to make the save. Bret and Bulldog pity their brother-in-law for his attitude and the way he has disparaged his family. Meanwhile, Luger is reminded of last year when he and Bret co-won the Rumble yet failed to capture the World Championship. He envies Bret as the fans have gravitated towards the Hitman over him and now is more eager than ever to capture the gold he feels he rightfully deserves. Tensions boiled over the next several weeks, allowing Camp Cornette to up one over them at every confrontation. The Six-Man Tag Team Match would be announced as the KOTR’s main event. Can Bret & The Allied Powers coexist?
Winners: Bret Hart, The British Bulldog, & Lex Luger (Bulldog pins Owen with the Running Powerslam)
In Your House II: Music City Madness
WWF Championship Match:
Owen Hart (w/ Jim Cornette) (c) vs. The British Bulldog
At King of the Ring, Davey Boy Smith did the unthinkable when he pinned the King of Harts in a Six-Man Tag Team Match. Having achieved such a feat, the Bulldog feels deserving of a shot at the World Wrestling Federation Title. Jim Cornette brushes it off, thinking Davey got lucky to have caught Owen off at the worst time. The King of Harts interrupts Jim, expressing interest in facing Davey given their technically sound athleticism. Owen would love to give his brother-in-law an opportunity to demonstrate his in-ring prowess while continuing to live up to his nickname. The match is signed for the July In Your House event when Owen Hart defends the WWF Championship against The British Bulldog.
Winner & STILL WWF Champion: Owen Hart (Prior to the match, Luger insists on accompanying Davey at ring side to counteract Cornette, but Davey declines, insists this is a personal family matter. Despite the Bulldog’s efforts, Owen comes out on top when Bulldog submits to the Sharpshooter)
Summerslam 1995
WWF Championship I Quit! Match: Owen Hart (w/ Jim Cornette) (c) vs. Bret Hart
The showdown between siblings looms once again. Owen’s jealousy of Bret’s success led to him turning on the Hitman and his family, forging a path that saw him winning the King of the Ring and eventually the WWF Title. Any time they fought, nine times out of ten Owen would find a way to come out on top as the better man in the match. Bret reminds him that all the victories he had over him involved underhanded tactics whether it was a roll up victory using rope leverage or outside interference. Owen displays his confidence and decides he wants to do something more than just pinning or submitting his brother. He wants to humiliate him in a way that will have him walk away from wrestling forever. Bret approves of the idea. He says if Owen thinks he is the better man, how about stepping foot in the ring one more time? No pin falls and no submissions. The only way to win the match is by letting your opponent shout the 2 phrases: I Quit! Owen agrees under one condition that if Bret loses, he will never receive another shot at the title as long as the King of Harts is still WWF Champion.
Winner & NEW WWF Champion: Bret Hart (Bret applies the Sharpshooter on Owen while tucking his opponent’s legs with a leather strap, enough pressure for the King of Harts to utter the 2 words on the microphone)