5 little-known WWE booking decisions that almost happened

As wrestling fans have gained more and more access to behind-the-scenes rumors over the years, they’ve become more and more critical of booking decisions. In the WWE, fans often have a reaction ready for major calls like the Royal Rumble winner, world champions and Money in the Bank victors.

But some of the more interesting booking decisions might be the ones that were never made and the reasons why plans changed. Here are five of the most significant times that WWE writers changed course regarding the company’s superstars.

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Mark Jindrak in Evolution

Mark Jindrak has gone on to a career outside the WWE in recent years.

WWE fans know of Evolution as the stable consisting of Triple H, Batista, Randy Orton and Ric Flair. The group, which returned later without Flair, held multiple titles, including a period where they held all of RAW’s titles – the World Tag Team Championships, the Intercontinental title and the World Heavyweight Championship.

But the group very nearly had a different lineup. According to interviews with Triple H, Mark Jindrak – who currently wrestles as Marco Corleone in Mexico – was originally supposed to have Batista’s spot, but the WWE went a different direction. Jindrak has since said he wasn’t ready for such a high-profile gig, and it certainly would’ve changed the company.

Ohno in the Shield

Kassius Ohno was very nearly in one of the biggest factions in recent memory.

The Shield took the WWE by storm from the time Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns came to the main roster in November of 2012 until the group broke up in June 2014. Since the group broke up, Rollins and Reigns have held the world title, and Ambrose has won the Intercontinental title.

But the trio almost had a slightly different makeup. According to an interview with CM Punk, Kassius Ohno – also known as Chris Hero in other promotions – was his choice for the group, but Triple H elected to go with Reigns. These days, Hero is back on the indy circuit, while Reigns is WWE’s world champion.

Reigns beats Lesnar

Roman Reigns very nearly became World Heavyweight Champion at WrestleMania 31.

The ending of WrestleMania 31 was one of the more surprising and truly memorable finishes in the event’s storied history. With Roman Reigns battling WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar for the company’s top title, Seth Rollins ran down to cash in his Money in the Bank contract and take the belt.

But that wasn’t the original plan. Until sometime during the show, the finish – or at least the one most people had heard – was going to be a victory for Reigns. The change of plans was probably for the better, even if it reportedly upset Reigns’ family.

Hassan as World Champion

Muhammad Hassan was a young man when he hit the big time in WWE.

Very few characters have been as controversial yet, perhaps, progressive as the Muhammad Hassan character from 2004-05 in the WWE. Based on the xenophobia of Americans regarding people of Arabic descent following 9/11, the character was an easy heel that actually had some thought behind it.

Yet the character took a final turn when Hassan had masked men come out and attack the Undertaker during a Smackdown taping in July 2005. In the same week, the London bombings happened, and that started a spiral toward Hassan’s release from the company.

It was later revealed that Hassan was just a few weeks away from winning the World Heavyweight Championship from Batista at SummerSlam. At just 23, he would’ve been the youngest such champion in WWE history.

King Triple H in 1996

Triple H had some less than memorable gimmicks before he landed in D-Generation X.

By now, every wrestling fan has heard about the "Curtain Call” incident at Madison Square Garden, when Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Razor Ramon and Diesel gathered in the ring for a celebratory hug following a live event match involving Michaels and Diesel in May 1996. That broke kayfabe, since the men were on opposite sides of the face-heel booking.

Since Diesel and Ramon were headed to WCW and Michaels was the WWF Champion at the time, all the punishment fell on Triple H. WWE brass elected not to follow their plan of booking him as the King of the Ring winner the next month, an honor that instead went to Stone Cold Steve Austin. After defeating Jake “The Snake” Roberts in the finals, Austin debuted his “Austin 3:16” catchphrase, and his career took off from there.

But what would’ve happened if Triple H hadn’t been a part of the notorious “Curtain Call”?