You got me, Austin, Sable, Triple H and Foley completely slipped my mind. However their impact around that time are negligible. Foley made an impact as his feud with the Undertaker was the catalyst for the Dead Man to change his wrestling style. But HHH didn't make an impact until very late in 1997 and Austin, despite cutting one of the most famous promos in history in mid 1996, was then promptly not used productively until December of that year.

HHH wrestling Ultimate Warrior at Mania wasn't a huge honor? Look up the list of people Warrior beat at Mania, almost everyone, if not everyone one of them are HOF members or future members. Austin feuded with Bret in November 1996. So how was he not used before December? He feuded with Jake Roberts, a guy only a couple years out of feuding with the top stars, for most of the time between that.

The rest didn't make much of an impact. Goldust would've been more groundbreaking if, y'know, people were actually watching WWE at the time. Kane not Isaac Yankem made an impact two years later and Vader didn't achieve a thing in WWE.

Goldust faced Piper at WM12 if I remember correctly, defeated Ahmed Johnson during a time when it looked like Johnson was unstoppable. Johnson headlined a ppv within 2 months of dropping the title to Goldust.

Yankem was a huge factor in the Lawler/Hart feud. It also proved to management he had the skills necessary to perform at the highest levels. Sunny was a huge success. #1 on AOL's search list for months at a time. Also gave management faith that there was interest in women in wrestling.

Coming in as a new star doesn't mean a thing, its when you make your mark that counts. It was 1998 when the cream of that era started to make a lasting impact. Do you think Austin would've been paired with a character or worker like Waylon Mercy for his first feud as WWF Champion?

1998 might have been when they started getting title runs, but 97 was when the best of that era stood out. Austin won the RR in January 97, lost in the main event of the next ppv, then had the classic I quit match at WM13. He then went on to wrestle Taker for the title, wrestle Michaels, represent USA i the 5 on 5 match in July, and suffered the setback in August that ultimately ended his career a few years later.

97 also has HHH debuting Chyna, winning KOTR, facing Foley at Summerslam, and founding DX.

No, but you have to do something in a few years that makes an impact. Honestly, do you see Mercy as a Triple H, somebody who would eventually come good, or a Henry Godwin type? Obviously you have the benefit of hindsight, but I believe somebody did say he was 43 at the time of his debut.

Spivy was a solid worker. Do I think he could have been HHH? No. Do I think he could have helped the weakened main event scene in 95-96. No doubt. Bulldog got 2 title shots in back to back months, are you telling me HBK vs Spivy for one of them wouldn't have been more entertaining?

How many people in WWE from 1993-1996 made their debut, faced a world champion or an important roster member like The Undertaker almost immediately and had longevity?

Not many, but to say it cannot be done is fallacy. I've never once stated he would have been a huge star, although I do believe, especially considering the weak main event scene the following year, that he could have been a quality hand. We had Psycho Sid as champ in 96 for christsake.

Because its a strange gimmick match, not for quality, surely!

Actually it is a very underrated match. Good execution all around. At least a 2 1/4 star mach if not 2 1/2. If you haven't seen it, I would strongly recommend it. It's quality is a large reason why HHH was originally picked to win KOTR 96 and Hank went on to be a tag champ. Solid, solid work from both guys.

No, but when did he make his impact? Two years later when he helped form D-X?

Match with Warrior, MSG incident, feuded with Mero over the IC title (pretty good program), managed by Perfect, debuted Chyna, another Mania match, KOTR, feuded with Foley, Cage match at Summerslam. Had HHH not already made his mark, his involvement with DX wouldn't have been possible.

Waylon Mercy, based on character and age, wouldn't have been given an opportunity to keep plugging away until he was in his mid 40's to make it. Not by me anyway. He was what he was. One of those short lived characters that WWF frequently bought in at the time. He could've just as easily been The Goon or T.L. Hopper as far as I'm concerned.

He had a better chance than Hopper or the Goon. His gimmick actually was interesting. Could he have been a solid hand until 97-98. Probably. Barry Windam was of similar age when he debuted as the Stalker, older as a Blackjack, etc. You don't have to be main eventing ppvs and holding titles to be deserving of a roster spot. Think of Finley the last couple years of his active career. Or think of Henry/Truth now. Both are around the age he was then, and they are just now being pushed in top level programs. Spivy was 10 times the wrestler either of them are. Lawler was his age when he was feuding with Bret, it transitioned well into a spot announcing, no reason why Spivy couldn't have done something similar.

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