tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-200096632026-05-31T02:22:09.715-04:00Older than Twitter. Not quite as profitable. A pro wrestling counterfactual: What if the World Wrestling Federation was organized around workrate, around the idea that the pivotal word in the phrase "sports entertainment" is the first? Can one Ricky Steamboat pinfall put right what once went wrong? Go to the earliest archived post; scroll to December 19, 2005 "it begins" and you're ready to roll.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.comBlogger409125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-3884142973263963302025-12-19T05:14:00.293-05:002026-05-04T11:11:19.646-04:00

I was a teenaged Hulkamaniac.One of my earliest core memories is seeing Rocky in the drive in.  I was 5.  Fake fighting+drama really stuck in my brain.  That was 50 years ago. When I was a kid, I really liked going to the movies by myself, for a reason that made sense in my brain at the time, I'd always sit on the left side of the theater (in classrooms, when given the choice,

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-73857752486150175182025-12-01T00:57:00.001-05:002026-04-28T22:23:18.491-04:00

There is only one more new post left, it's December 19, the 20th anniversary of the first post of the Counterfactual.  However, it's possible that I add "non-canon" events to the existing compilation posts (in fact, I already have, Survivor Series 2024) and if I do that, they will be here, along with the AEW post; I don't currently plan to make any existing links beyond those "active" but if

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-16729767297768358852025-11-01T05:04:00.001-04:002026-04-28T17:54:16.807-04:00

76. Royal Rumble '06Undisputed Title: Rey Mysterio v. Psychosis v. Super CrazyWorldwide Titles: Chris Benoit v. Fit FinlayUnified Tag Title: Booker T/Bradshaw v. Chavo Guerrero/Shane HelmsKurt Angle v. Shawn MichaelsPaul London v. Brian Kendrick v. Jamie NobleRob Van Dam v. Kid KashHHH-M v. Shelton BenjaminDead Men Walking v. MnMEmpty Arena: Edge v. Matt Hardy77. Wrestlemania 22Undisputed Title:

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-45929749009884361902025-10-01T09:02:01.120-04:002026-04-27T11:03:38.762-04:00

1. Wrestlemania WWF Title Ricky Steamboat v. Barry WindhamIC Title: Dog Collar Match: Greg The Hammer Valentine v. Rowdy Roddy PiperTag Titles: Nikolai Volkoff/Iron Sheik v. Tito Santana/Brutus BeefcakeHulk Hogan (w/Mr T) v. Paul Orndorff (Guest Referee: Muhammad Ali)Mike Rotundo v. Matt BourneJunk Yard Dog v. SD JonesLegends: Andre the Giant v. David SammartinoKing Kong Bundy/Big John Studd v.

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-31205345973130156592025-09-01T01:00:00.003-04:002025-09-01T01:00:00.127-04:00

Through WWF 150 (Summer Slam 2024)1. Survivor Series 2010 Bryan Danielson d. Low Ki2. WM30 WWF Title: Claudio Castagnoli d. Bryan Danielson3. WM20 WWF Title: Chris Benoit d. Kurt Angle4. WM17 WWF Title: Kurt Angle d. Chris Benoit5. WM10 WWF Title: Owen Hart d. Bret Hart6. Royal Rumble 1996 WWF Title: Bret Hart d. Owen Hart7. Summer Slam 2013 WWF Title: Cage Match: Bryan Danielson d. Brock Lesnar8

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-22729153311799324472025-08-01T12:00:00.003-04:002025-11-01T05:06:01.931-04:00

The Build.Summer Slam comes to you from Cleveland.  (Dark: AJ Styles wins 20 man battle royal)Zayn/Walter is the main event - but you probably know that to get from here to WM41 would require someone else to be in the title picture, given the limited availability of those two guys.  Hence, Styles. Any of the important future acts to the promotion (Evans, Williams, for ex) are in

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-3659450944965905342025-07-01T14:39:00.134-04:002025-08-01T12:01:06.336-04:00

WM 40WWF 150 is coming next month from Cleveland.  Here's the card.WWF Title: Walter (w/Heyman) v. Sami ZaynDog Collar Match: Cody Rhodes v. CM Punk (w/Heyman)Number One Contender: Rhea Ripley (w/Defiance) v. Bayley (w/Belair)Solo Sikoa (w/Jimmy) v. LA KnightWWF 150 Cup Matches:Logan Paul (w/McAfee) v. Bron SteinerDrew McIntyre v. Damien Priest (w/Defiance)Winners MatchParejas Increibles:

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-12525744722170450442025-06-01T16:01:00.001-04:002025-06-01T16:01:00.222-04:00

Through WM 40, its a compilation of star ratings for 4 star+ matches on WWF PPV; where there are ties, I'm making a determination of likelihood of TV 4 star+ matches.  A hundred 3 star matches, while having value to a promotion, is not worth as much here as one 4 star match, thats the list.1. Shawn Michaels2. Bret Hart3. Chris Jericho4. AJ Styles5. Bryan Danielson6. Sami Zayn/El Generico7.

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-16409486365638633092025-05-01T12:19:00.931-04:002026-05-30T08:31:09.754-04:00

This was unplanned; with the end coming (for me, hopefully not for AEW) I just decided to envelope them in.  (1) I'm using the same basic format, quarterly PPVs, in the case of AEW, that would mean Revolution, Double or Nothing, All Out (or All In), Full Gear. (2) Other than the one time I'm required to cheat (below) I'm not planning to, no titles held up, so far, no stables

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-72640622149262664352025-04-01T08:50:00.000-04:002025-04-01T08:50:47.934-04:00

The build.Wrestlemania 40 comes to you from Philadelphia.The announcers (analysts rotate throughout the broadcast) Michael Cole (8th PPV) Corey Graves (10th) Wade Barrett (10th) Steve Regal (29th)Music from the Rocky catalog plays for all the highlight packages, because of Philadelphia, and because of Rocky III and the Hulk Hogan/Eye of the Tiger of It All, and because a million years ago I

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-6926497684404798512025-03-01T15:49:00.307-05:002025-04-01T08:51:21.882-04:00

The RumbleWrestlemania 40 is next month in Philadelphia.  Brother v. Brother, Sister v. Sister.  Here's the card.WWF TITLE: CODY RHODES v. WALTER (w/Heyman)IC TITLE: LADDER MATCH: JEY USO v. JIMMY USOWWF TAG TITLES: KEVIN STEEN/SAMI ZAYN v. KINGS OF WRESTLING (JOHNNY GARGANO/TOMMASO CIAMPA)WOMENS TITLE: TRIPLE THREAT MATCH: ASUKA v. IYO SKY V. KAIRI SANEWOMENS TAG TITLES: BIANCA/

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-17708069050237839272025-02-01T20:32:00.987-05:002025-05-14T11:16:13.922-04:00

Through Royal Rumble 2024, 218 wrestlers have held WWF gold, there's a lumberjack match at WM40,  the gimmick is that its all former belt holders, 40 in total, 'cause its WM 40, and ideally all have a relationship that is being split up because they are on opposite sides of the lumberjack program (so, Scott supports one wrestler, Rick the other, that kind of a thing - the goal is 20 of those

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-2941076786865424472025-01-01T10:44:00.434-05:002025-01-01T10:44:00.228-05:00

The buildThe 35th Annual Royal Rumble comes live from Tampa.  It is the 148th PPV in WWF history.(Dark: Rey Mysterio d. Dragon Lee           Gargano/Ciampa d. Alexander/Tozawa (Tozawa injures ankle, Alexander helps him from ring)           Dark Ride Title: Ilja Dragunov d. Nathan Frazer)The announcers (the color commentators rotate)

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-61634684657113695932024-12-01T11:01:00.000-05:002024-12-01T11:01:13.655-05:00

Survivor Series19 years ago this month, I started publishing the Counterfactual; each December I write an anniversary comment as part of the build to the Rumble.  This is that.  As you likely know, I'm wrapping up the Counterfactual...for the most part.Here's the most part - last month was the last Survivor Series, this preview is for the last Rumble, Wrestlemania 40 is the final

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-23718906628601093942024-11-01T02:00:00.107-04:002024-11-01T02:00:00.120-04:00

The build(This is the final Survivor Series to get a write up in the Counterfactual; within the story, there is an understanding that there are changes coming to the WWF product, there's a merger pending, the McMahons are gone, so it's not quite that everyone knows "hey, this is the last one of these" but there is an undercurrent of wrapping up, of big change, of this being a moment)Survivor

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-7453831187981171202024-10-08T09:37:00.002-04:002024-11-01T10:47:10.575-04:00

Part 1A reminder:WWF Title: Cody Rhodes v Prince Devitt (if Devitt loses, he can never challenge for WWF Title again)IC Title: Tyler Black v. Drew McIntyre (w/Dunne/Bate)Women's Title: Asuka v. Iyo Sky (special guest referee: Kairi Sane)Women's Tag Title: Fight Forever (Flair/Lynch) v. Belair/BayleyFalls Count Anywhere: Randy Orton v. Damian PriestSurvivor Series (Number One Contender Tournament)

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-21145403444349874302024-09-01T17:29:00.107-04:002024-10-08T09:37:54.421-04:00

Summer SlamSurvivor Series 2023 is coming November from Chicago.  Here's the card.WWF Title: Cody Rhodes v Prince Devitt (if Devitt loses, he can never challenge for WWF Title again)IC Title: Tyler Black v. Drew McIntyre (w/Dunne/Bate)Women's Title: Asuka v. Iyo Sky (special guest referee: Kairi Sane)Women's Tag Title: Fight Forever (Flair/Lynch) v. Belair/BayleyFalls Count Anywhere: Randy

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-44350942845140755202024-08-01T10:54:00.002-04:002024-09-02T17:33:38.348-04:00

The build.Summer Slam 2023, the 37th Summer Slam and 146th WWF PPV is from Detroit.(Dark: Steen/Zayn d. The Culture (Hayes/Williams)           Gargano d. Garza           Dark Ride Title: Steiner d. Dragunov (switch)Bron Steiner becomes the 17th Dark Ride Wrestling champion in Detroit - the PPV proper opens immediately after the match,

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-16477910947602325682024-07-01T09:53:00.001-04:002024-08-01T10:55:03.642-04:00

Part 1 is here.Here was part 1, set up last monthWWF Title: Cody Rhodes v. Prince DevittIC Title: Logan Paul v. Tyler BlackTag Titles: Dangerous Alliance (Walter/Lesnar) v. Triple Crown (Styles/Nakamura)Womens Title: Ronda Rousey v. AsukaCharlotte Flair v. Bianca BelairAnd here's the rest of the card.Roman Reigns v. Chad GableUnion of Crowns (McIntyre/Dunne w/Bate) v. Sheamus/

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-44163778133734993452024-06-01T13:23:00.047-04:002024-07-01T09:54:15.849-04:00

Wrestlemania 39.Summer Slam 2023 will come to you from Detroit in August - it's a 12 match card, here are the 4 title matches, +1.WWF Title: Cody Rhodes v. Prince DevittIC Title: Logan Paul v. Tyler BlackTag Titles: Dangerous Alliance (Walter/Lesnar) v. Triple Crown (Styles/Nakamura)Womens Title: Ronda Rousey v. AsukaCharlotte Flair v. Bianca BelairSome announcing Changes as the new WWF season

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-2649126198102871052024-05-01T09:02:00.000-04:002024-05-01T09:02:31.407-04:00

Here's every 4 1/2 star+ WWF PPV match, not ranked, year after year. I'd like to get 10 matches each year, so I'll add my NWA/ECW/TNA matches as needed.   Past that, I'll go IRL and those matches will be italicized.  For your tape trading and whatnot.  Okay, 10 matches a year.  Here we go. 1986AJPW New Years Wars Super Battle: Tenryu/Jumbo d. Choshu/YatsuCWF

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-36294064761070101452024-04-01T09:22:00.001-04:002024-06-02T12:55:42.808-04:00

The BuildWrestlemania 39 comes to you from Los Angeles.  It is the 145th WWF PPV(Dark: Nakamura/Styles d. Riddle/Knight            McDonagh d. Dunne/Alexander            Dark Ride Title: Dragunov d. Dragon Lee)The opening package is every wrestler who left the previous 38 Manias as a champion, lot of pinfalls, holding of belts,

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-45368089265957500192024-03-01T10:55:00.001-05:002024-04-01T09:23:34.340-04:00

Part 1(I don't want to say it's unprecedented, but it's super, super rare - between writing Part 1 and writing Part 2, my planned finish in a prominent match has changed; I had already written down in longhand the results of the PPV and something IRL in real time has caused me to flip....a lot of future booking.  A lot.)In Part 1 we set up the 5 title matches:WWF TITLE: ROMAN REIGNS v. CODY

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-64017062911006520692024-02-01T10:46:00.000-05:002024-02-01T10:46:18.476-05:00

RumbleWrestlemania 39 is in Los Angeles in April; 12 match card, here, we'll cover the 5 title bouts.WWF TITLE: ROMAN REIGNS v. CODY RHODESIC TITLE:       PRINCE DEVITT v. RICOCHETTAG TITLES: NO DQ:  DANGEROUS ALLIANCE (WALTER/LESNAR w/Heyman) v. HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE (MCINTYRE/GABLE w. Lashley)WOMENS TITLE: BIANCA BELAIR v. RONDA ROUSEY (w/Heyman)WOMENS TAG TITLES: FIGHT

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20009663.post-1349087071610415052024-01-01T10:59:00.160-05:002025-09-08T18:31:29.555-04:00

The build.The 34th annual Royal Rumble comes to you from St Louis.  It is the 144th WWF PPV.Your announcers are Michael Cole (3rd PPV) Corey Graves (5th) Wade Barrett (5th).  Your ring announcer is Jeremy Borash.(Dark Matches: Dark Ride Title: Dragon Lee d. Axiom                          JD McDonaugh d. Tyler Bate&

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482891070201124196noreply@blogger.com1