(reprise) In his current best seller, Ric Flair makes the boast that he could’ve filled Hulk Hogan’s shoes in 1984 and the WWF would’ve been every bit as successful as it was. People have often debated whether Hogan was the key to success or just the right man in the right place at the right time. Hogan believes only he could’ve done what he did, Vince thinks it was all down to his own genius. So, with this topic once more of current interest, I thought I’d make a list of ten men who were around at the time and could, in theory, have been chosen by Vince McMahon to be the figurehead of the new look WWF.

This week - two insane guys who would've made interesting champions...

Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka

Pros

He was the most popular man in the WWF in 1983. The fans saw him as the exciting alternative to the then champion Bob Backlund. While the latter represented bland amateur style wrestling, Snuka was a fiery and unpredictable islander.

His top tope splash was a revolutionary move for the era. While we may look at it today and scoff at how easily our ancestors were pleased it was something people had never seen before and - more importantly - it probably sold more tickets than today's infinitely more spectacular and dangerous high spots.

He had the best physique in the company. Snuka was seriously ripped. Far more defined than Hogan and he had a body which combined aesthetics and the image of power. He looked like a mythical warrior with his bulging muscles and leopard skin costumes.

He was unique. His look was unique, his connection with the fans was unique - so much so that, unlike Billy Graham a few years earlier, the fans successfully convinced McMahon to turn him baby face ahead of schedule.

Cons

It's the same old story - Snuka was a heavy drug user and it made him unreliable and uncontrolable. There is a reason he didn't have a match at the first Wrestlemania - McMahon didn't want anything screwing up his biggest ever show and Snuka was thought most likely to mess up.

With hindsight we can see how quickly he burned out. From becoming a superstar in 1982 he was done by 1985. He took drugs, burned bridges and got into trouble with the law.

His body may have been impressive but his face told the true story - Snuka was much older than people thought he was. Certainly not someone for the long term even if you didn't know how close he was to burn out by 1983.

He either couldn't talk or wouldn't talk because of his Islander gimmick. A champion needed to be able to talk people into buying tickets in an era where he rarely wrestled on television. Snuka got by as a heel by using managers and then as a face with brief interviews and Buddy Rogers as his adviser but he wasn't the kind of guy who could go on Letterman and sell Wrestlemania to the public.

Verdict – Obviously it wouldn't have worked with the knowledge we have now but at the time it would probably have seemed like a good idea. With less exposure of the top guys it would've been possible to hide Snuka's weaknesses and play up his strengths. But the pressures of being a centre of attention were too much for him and Hogan's insane schedule would probably have killed him. 5/10

"Rowdy" Roddy Piper

Pros

Piper was an awesomely charismatic performer. He had a presence about him that few had and could get everyone's attention without having to do anything.

Back then he would've been a great public relations man - he was funny and engaging and had the ability to look and sound like a "wrestler" or a "normal person" depending on what was needed (much as the Rock does today).

He was a fantastic promo guy and could draw just by talking. Unlike so many stars of that era Piper had so many gears when doing interviews. He could be slow and chilling, fast and manic, quick and funny. He was far less one-dimensional than Hogan.

He was a proven draw for Jim Crocket promotions and Vince obviously thought he could do the same for the WWF. Originally brought in to be Paul Orndorff's manager, Piper so impressed McMahon that he was promoted to a main event feud with Hogan.

Piper was one of the few performers who was equally successful and comfortable as a heel or a face. Though McMahon was obviously looking for a babyface champion, the idea that a heel turn could draw big money down the line would've been a big advantage.

Cons

Piper was small. Traditionally this was a good thing for a headliner (being smaller than your opponents to create the idea that you are fighting against the odds) but McMahon begged to differ.

Piper refused to job. McMahon naturally didn't want a champion who was doing jobs but he needed to be sure that, when the time came, his champion would do what McMahon felt was right for business. Piper wouldn't lose to Hulk Hogan when Hogan was at his peak of power. That says something about just how stubborn he was.

He wasn't American. He wasn't Scottish either despite the gimmick. In Reagan's America they wanted an all American hero to fight the country's enemies - the Russians, the Iranians and whoever else got in the way.

He wasn't much in the ring. That didn't really matter as neither was Hogan but if anything Piper was even less versatile than the Hulkster.

Verdict – Vince was bringing in anyone and everyone to wrestle for his company. From Bruno's green as grass son to aging legends who might get a brief nostalgia pop. He didn't bring Piper in to wrestle - he brought him to manage, talk and host an interview segment. This was fresh off Starrcade 83 where he worked the highest profile match of his career to date. Vince obviously didn't see anything in Piper until months later. It may well have been a successful move to put the belt on him and it would certainly have produced a very different WWF. Of all the people under consideration, Piper would be the one I wish would've been given the spot. It would've been wild. But it was never going to happen. 2/10

To be continued...