Don’t worry this isn’t another Montreal Screwjob question!

Hey Scott, like I mention this is not about the Montreal Screwjob. But let’s say it doesn’t happen. We were getting Hart/Austin 2 for the title at Mania 14 correct? So does Mike Tyson still comes in? Or was he in negotiations anyway long before we were told in TV in early 98? Or was he coming in but doing something instead of a run in with Austin? Like feud with Shamrock, remember they teased THAT in 97.


Thanks!

​I guess technically we haven’t had a Montreal question on the new blog yet anyway.

So yeah, Bret v. Austin was basically set in stone months in advance, but Tyson’s involvement went through all kinds of wacky permutations before they settled on what they went with. And yes, they were negotiating with him for months before, and were actually in a bidding war with WCW over him. I imagine they could still slot him in as the referee of Bret-Austin OK enough, but I feel like he probably would have ended up doing something more directly with Shawn Michaels because I can’t see Bret wanting Tyson muddying up his match. So maybe Bret v. Austin for the title and D-X v. Tyson and some other sizable star as a co-main? Clearly Undertaker v. Kane was happening no matter what. Maybe Tyson & Mero as a team, which puts Sable in a big spot as a bonus?

At any rate, the official signing and announcement didn’t come until after Montreal, when Vince was crying poor and all, so by the time they knew they had him for sure they had already figured him on refereeing in some form anyway. ​