WWE needs a new “babyface of the company” and it's looking like they may be lining up Cody. But all of us would agree they would've been completely justified punting on Cody if they could have gotten Rock vs. Roman.
What if they did something similar in the past?
Say, Hulk Hogan wants back after losing at Starrcade 1997?
Obviously with the benefit of hindsight it would have been insane to do this, but how do you think Vince would have handled this at the time?
Punt on Austin until Summerslam, and do HBK vs. Hogan?
Punt on HBK, and do Austin vs. Hogan?
Hogan vs. … someone else in the undercard (not going to work for me brother)?
What is the scenario, and in any instance would Vince have been justified in bringing in Hogan? Again, without the benefit of hindsight.
Hogan did want back in 1997. Vince was actively negotiating with him and Savage around the end of 1996 and it was considered a real possibility that WCW might cut ties with the Megapowers to save money. But I believe the Turner movie stuff was too rich for Vince to match and he declined.
I don’t know if the actual plan was ever concocted but I would guess heel Hogan against babyface Bret would have been the play because I could see Vince wanting Hulk to put Bret over in order show he would play ball.