Nikita turning face

Scott- with Uncle Ivan passing (RIP) I got to thinking about Nikita’s initial face turn in 86. It’s common belief that Magnum’s accident basically necessitated the turn. If you buy the flair- ron garvin scenario at Starrcade, don’t you kinda have to turn Nikita anyway? Ivan costs him the US title (probably back to magnum so he can feud with Jimmy Garvin for reasons) and boom instant face turn, setting Nikita up for Flair?

Just a (rather convoluted) thought…

​The turn was coming either way, but the Magnum accident definitely accelerated it. But really, people were treating him as the babyface for a while before the turn before he was such a dominant heel who rarely sold. ​