Scott Hall and Kevin Nash both handed in their notice within two weeks of each other in February and March of 1996. What followed would be the start of a storyline that would not only launch WCW to an unimaginable height but would also be the catalyst for the biggest boom period in North American wrestling history. The two men played invading forces, being pitched as representing the WWF (even if not in name). How would that have translated if Shawn had have moved across too?
On Jim Ross’ podcast, Michaels talked about the very topic – saying that it was very much under consideration at one stage, although the timeline seems to place these thoughts at much later than when Hall and Nash moved over (Shawn talked about wanting to be with his friends) – it seems like these comments were in relation to the end of 1997 and early 1998.
Some of the drawbacks Shawn talks about being talked to about by Vince were certainly very true. Shawn, certainly in 1996 onwards, enjoyed a lot of freedom to be the #1 guy, and got the perks that came with that. It’s also true that Shawn was almost universally viewed a dickhead, a status that only stood in part because of the power-base the Kliq had gathered and then when Shawn was champion after Hall and Nash departed. Reacting to Shawn’s antics just wasn’t worth it for anyone that wanted to remain employed.
Shawn joining WCW, be it in 1996 or 1997 would’ve jumped across into a sea of sharks. How well Hall and Nash would’ve been able to protect him is questionable, but only his likely high pay cheque would’ve given him some protection about falling too far down the card. It is, however, unquestionable that Shawn would’ve butted heads with some of the establishment (certainly with Hogan – who he clashed with in 2005), but likely other members of WCW’s old guard who wanted to protect the status quo. This all assumes Shawn doesn’t come into the WCW locker-room and immediately rub people up the wrong way, something that in the mid to late nineties would’ve been a very solid bet.
From an on-screen perspective, it’s hard to imagine how well a Shawn Michaels character would’ve fit in amongst the NWO. Given the “reality” behind the NWO storyline would Shawn have been an inevitable fit in the group? Decking Shawn out in black and white, and sticking him in part of an increasingly swelling group of talent seems arguably the worst use of him.
The other thing Shawn had going against him was his size. He’s not as short as people might think, but in comparison to some of the behemoths in WCW at the time (both in terms of height and muscle mass) Shawn may have really struggled to gain credibility amongst a new audience base – particularly around a time where Goldberg was on the rise.
It also bears saying that if Shawn Michaels joins WCW mid-to-late 1996, that might have been it for the WWF. While there were certainly new stars emerging, it cannot be understated how much of the WWF's business around that time rested on Shawn Michaels' shoulders. When house show business rebounded at the end of 1995 and into early 1996, the only real change was the return and rise of Michaels - now firmly a main eventer. How the WWF would've fared withouth Michaels in mid-1996 (not to mention the momentum of Michaels on Nitro with everyone else) is anybody's guess, but the answer could've been very bad.
As it was, Shawn never moved. He even talks about the idea of WCW wanting to bring him in after his back injury (late 1998 was probably around the start where WCW started pissing money for the sake of it). By that time it likely would’ve been too late, not only for Shawn to play any major in ring role, but being on the role may have prevented Shawn from going through his transformation away from the ring. A fork in the road not worth thinking about.