Hulk Hogan got his start in AWA in the early 1980s. In December 1983, Vince McMahon signed him away to WWF as part of his national expansion and talent raids on other companies. Hogan would headline the first Wrestlemania and for better or worse Hulkamania ran wild for years. AWA was defunct before the decade was over. But what if Hogan never left?
With that in mind, here are starting points for an alternate wrestling universe starting in 1985 for AWA, WWF, and the future WCW. Run them all together, just pick one and use the MultiFed plugin to manage talent, or something else of your own devising.
Circuit: American Wrestling Association (AWA)
Home Base: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Region: Midwest, mostly Chicago to Minnesota
Starting Point: January 1985
Background: Hulk Hogan nearly left for the WWF in late 1983, but Verne Gagne decieded Hogan had too much star potential to be let go. Hogan now has a sizeable salary and a solid status at the top of the card. AWA has prospered as a result. There are several young wrestlers in the promotion with a great deal of promise.
WRESTLERS
Jimmy Garvin
Greg Gagne
Nick Bockwinkel
Hulk Hogan
Jumbo Tsuruta
Rick Martel
Stan Hansen
Jerry Blackwell
"Mr. Electricity" Steve Regal
Scott Hall
"Jumping" Jim Brunzell
Baby Bull (Vader)
Brutus Beefcake
Boris Zukhov
Col. DeBeers
Larry Zbyszko
Brad Rheingans
TAG TEAMS
The Road Warriors
The Crusher & Baron von Raschke
The High Flyers (Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell)
The Hennigs (Larry "The Axe" & "Cool" Curt)
The Nasty Boys (Jerry Sags & Brian Knobbs)
NON-WRESTLING TALENT
Verne Gagne (president)
SIGNINGS LATER IN YEAR
Midnight Rockers (Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty)
TITLES
AWA World Heavyweight Title
AWA World Tag Team Titles
AWA World Light Heavyweight Title
Circuit: World Wrestling Federation (WWF)
Home Base: New York City
Region: New York, New England, & Canada
Starting Point: January 1985
Background: Vince McMahon dreams of dominating the American wrestling scene. The first Wrestlemania is just around the corner, but without Hulk Hogan.
WRESTLERS
Sgt. Slaughter
Tony Atlas
Rocky Johnson
Mad Dog Vachon
David Sammartino w/ Bruno Sammartino
Big John Studd
George "The Animal" Steele w/ Mr. Fuji
Don Muraco
Andre the Giant
The Iron Sheik
Tito Santana
King Kong Bundy
The Junkyard Dog
Nikolai Voloff
Ricky Steamboat
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
Paul Orndorff
Pedro Morales
Bob Orton
Jimmy Snuka
Steve Lombardi
Salvatore Bellomo
TAG TEAMS
The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart) w/ Jimmy Hart
The Fabulous Rougeaus (Jacques & Raymond)
The North-South Connection (Dick Murdoch & Adrian Adonis)
The U.S. Express (Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo)
The British Bulldogs (Davie Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid)
NON-WRESTLING TALENT
Gene Okerlund
Bobby Heenan
Vince McMahon
Freddie Blassie
Capt. Lou Albano
SIGNINGS LATER IN YEAR
Randy Savage
Larry Poffo
TITLES
WWF World Heavyweight Championship
WWF World Tag Team Championship
WWF Intercontinental Championship
Circuit: Jim Crockett Promotions / National Wrestling Alliance / World Championship Wrestling (NWA/WCW)
Home Bases: Atlanta, Georgia & Charlotte, North Carolina
Region: Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, & Virginia
Starting Point: March 1985
Background: Jim Crocket Promotions has just regained the TBS wrestling timeslot from Vince McMahon. Their weekly Saturday night show airs "World Championship Wrestling". They are the strongest NWA territory with the most visibility.
NWA/WCW
Ivan Koloff
Nikita Koloff
Krusher Kruschev
Ric Flair
Tully Blanchard
Manny Fernandez
Dick Slater
Ron Bass
Dusty Rhodes
Black Bart
Magnum TA
Buddy Landel
Terry Taylor
Wahoo McDaniel
The Barbarian
Billy Graham
TAG TEAMS
The Rock n Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson)
The Minnesota Wrecking Crew (Arn & Ole Anderson)
The Midnight Express (Dennis Condrey & Bobby Eaton) w/ Jim Cornette
NON-WRESTLING TALENT
J.J. Dillon
TITLES
NWA World Heavyweight Championship
NWA World Tag Team championship
NWA United States Heavyweight Championship
NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship
NWA World TV Championship