I don’t know where I read/heard this, but it’s my recollection. Michaels acted like a jerk when working for Rock’s dad in the late 80’s, perhaps even calling Rock’s mum something. Anyway, Rock offered Michaels out, even though he would have been about 14 at the time. IMHO Rock would’ve kicked his ass even then!

When Rock went to WWE Michael’s and HHH really got on his back and didnt want anyone else to put him over. From Bret’s book:

“He was shy around me, a nice, bright kid who was still innocent as far as wrestlers went…..I wanted to see this kid make it, and I told him i’d help him all I could. I watched him in the ring that night, wrestling under the ring name Rocky Maivia, and I remember coming back to the dressing room and saing to everyone, “Mark my words, three or four yeas down the road, that kid will be the franchise.” He already had the look and the skill. If he learned to talk, he could be great.

…I was slightly relieved to know I wasn’t the only one he [Shawn] feared. Poor Rocky Maivia was also being buried by Shawn and Hunter for supposedly not wanting to job, for not selling and for stealing their spots. Rocky was a good kid, and he tried to be polite and respectful, but he couldn’t get them to like him at all.

…I was slated by the booking committee to challenge Rocky Maivia for the Intercontinental title, and Hunter was insisting I beat him. I didn’t see any need for me to beat Rocky; it wouldn’t build any heat for my new heel turn, and would only undermine a real talent. I insisted on a DQ instead, which infuriated Hunter. He and Shawn disliked Rocky intensely and were too myopic to see that Rocky was destined to become one of the all-time great megastars in the history of the business, The Rock. Looking back, i’m gld i got to work with him at least once.”

And speaking of Flair, I always wondered how he would’ve been booked had he come to the WWF in ‘98.

Also, Austin-Goldberg would’ve been huge.

And for a Japanese match, Mutoh (circa ‘01) vs. Misawa.