The Grimpact Zone: Rebooking WWE History

[Barry Poppins]

Grim Rebooks
The WWE Championship's
Entire History

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's another project from your boy, Grim. Here I take the liberty of rewriting much of the history of the WWE Championship, from it's beginnings in 1963 all the way until today. Through it, you'll find decisions you may either agree or disagree with, but in the end, I hope it becomes a more interesting experience for everybody. Without further ado, let us venture forth into Grim's Alternate WWE Universe.
​

Spoiler: WWE Championship Reigns

Buddy Rogers - 4/11/1963 - 5/17/1963 [36 Days]
Bruno Sammartino - 5/17/1963 - 1/18/1971 [2,803 Days]
Ivan Koloff - 1/18/1971 - 2/8/1971 [21 Days]
Pedro Morales - 2/8/1971 - 12/1/1973 [1,027 Days]
Stan Stasiak - 12/1/1973 - 12/10/1973 [9 Days]
Bruno Sammartino (2x) - 12/10/1973 - 4/30/1977 [1,237 Days]
Superstar Billy Graham - 4/30/1977 - 2/20/1978 [296 Days]
Bob Backlund - 2/20/1978 - 12/26/1983 [2,135 Days]
The Iron Sheik - 12/26/1983 - 1/23/1984 [28 Days]
Hulk Hogan - 1/23/1984 - 2/5/1988 [1,474 Days]
Andre The Giant - 2/5/1988 [<1 Day]
Vacant - 2/5/1988 - 3/27/1988
Randy Savage - 3/27/1988 - 8/29/1989 [521 Days]
Mr. Perfect - 8/29/1989 - 1/21/1990 [146 Days]
Hulk Hogan (2x) - 1/21/1990 - 4/1/1990 [70 Days]
The Ultimate Warrior - 4/1/1990 - 6/24/1990 [80 Days]
Rick Rude - 6/24/1990 - 8/27/1990 [64 Days]
The Ultimate Warrior (2x) - 8/27/1990 - 11/22/1990 [87 Days]
Earthquake - 11/22/1990 - 3/24/1991 [132 Days]
Hulk Hogan (3x) - 3/24/1991 - 8/26/1991 [155 Days]
Jake Roberts - 8/26/1991 - 11/27/1991 [93 Days]
Randy Savage (2x) - 11/27/1991 - 12/3/1991 [6 Days]
Jake Roberts (2x) - 12/3/1991 - 1/19/1992 [47 Days]
Hulk Hogan (4x) - 1/19/1992 - 4/5/1992 [77 Days]
Ric Flair - 4/5/1992 - 6/21/1992 [78 Days]
Randy Savage (3x) - 6/21/1992 - 8/29/1992 [70 Days]
Ric Flair (2x) - 8/29/1992 - 11/25/1992 [89 Days]
Randy Savage (4x) - 11/25/1992 - 1/24/1993 [61 Days]
Ric Flair (3x) - 1/24/1992 - 4/4/1993 [71 Days]
Hulk Hogan (5x) - 4/4/1993 - 6/13/1993 [71 Days]
Yokozuna - 6/13/1993 - 8/30/1993 [79 Days]
Lex Luger - 8/30/1993 - 1/22/1994 [146 Days]
Yokozuna (2x) - 1/22/1994 - 3/20/1994 [58 Days]
Bret Hart - 3/20/1994 - 8/29/1994 [163 Days]
Owen Hart - 8/29/1994 - 11/23/1994 [87 Days]
Bret Hart (2x) - 11/23/1994 - 1/22/1995 [61 Days]
Diesel - 1/22/1995 - 4/2/1995 [71 Days]
The Undertaker 4/2/1995 - 8/27/1995 [148 Days]
Razor Ramon - 8/27/1995 - 10/22/1995 [57 Days]
Bret Hart (3x) - 10/22/1995 - 12/17/1995 [57 Days]
British Bulldog - 12/17/1995 - 1/21/1996 [36 Days]
Bret Hart (4x) - 1/21/1996 - 3/31/1996 [71 Days]
Shawn Michaels - 3/31/1996 - 8/18/1996 [140 Days]
Vader - 8/18/1996 - 1/19/1997 [154 Days]
Shawn Michaels (2x) - 1/19/1997 - 2/16/1997 [28 Days]
Sycho Sid - 2/16/1997 - 3/23/1997 [35 Days]
The Undertaker (2x) - 3/23/1997 - 6/8/1997 [77 Days]
Bret Hart (5x) - 6/8/1997 - 11/9/1997 [154 Days]
Shawn Michaels (3x) - 11/9/1997 - Current

Spoiler: 3+ Club

Hulk Hogan:

1/23/1984 - 2/5/1988 [1,474 Days]
1/21/1990 - 4/1/1990 [70 Days]
3/24/1991 - 8/26/1991 [155 Days]

(4 Years, 7 Months, 26 Days)

Randy Savage:

3/27/1988 - 8/29/1989 [521 Days]
11/27/1991 - 12/3/1991 [6 Days]
6/21/1992 - 8/29/1992 [70 Days]

(1 Year, 7 Months, 20 Days)

Ric Flair:

4/5/1992 - 6/21/1992 [78 Days]
8/29/1992 - 11/25/1992 [89 Days]
1/24/1992 - 4/4/1993 [71 Days]

(7 Months, 26 Days)

Bret Hart:

3/20/1994 - 8/29/1994 [163 Days]
11/23/1994 - 1/22/1995 [61 Days]
10/22/1995 - 12/17/1995 [57 Days]

(9 Months, 8 Days)

Spoiler: 4+ Club

Hulk Hogan:

1/23/1984 - 2/5/1988 [1,474 Days]
1/21/1990 - 4/1/1990 [70 Days]
3/24/1991 - 8/26/1991 [155 Days]

(4 Years, 10 Months, 11 Days)

Randy Savage:

3/27/1988 - 8/29/1989 [521 Days]
11/27/1991 - 12/3/1991 [6 Days]
6/21/1992 - 8/29/1992 [70 Days]
11/25/1992 - 1/24/1993 [61 Days]

(1 Year, 9 Months, 20 Days)

Bret Hart:

3/20/1994 - 8/29/1994 [163 Days]
11/23/1994 - 1/22/1995 [61 Days]
10/22/1995 - 12/17/1995 [57 Days]
1/21/1996 - 3/31/1996 [71 Days]

(11 Months, 18 Days)

Spoiler: 5+ Club

Hulk Hogan:

1/23/1984 - 2/5/1988 [1,474 Days]
1/21/1990 - 4/1/1990 [70 Days]
3/24/1991 - 8/26/1991 [155 Days]
1/19/1992 - 4/5/1992 [77 Days]
4/4/1993 - 6/13/1993 [71 Days]

(5 Years, 21 Days)

Bret Hart:

3/20/1994 - 8/29/1994 [163 Days]
11/23/1994 - 1/22/1995 [61 Days]
10/22/1995 - 12/17/1995 [57 Days]
1/21/1996 - 3/31/1996 [71 Days]
6/8/1997 - 11/9/1997 [154 Days]

(1 Year, 4 Months, 21 Days)

Spoiler: 500+ Club

Bruno Sammartino - 5/17/1963 - 1/18/1971 [2,803 Days]
Pedro Morales - 2/8/1971 - 12/1/1973 [1,027 Days]
Bruno Sammartino (2x) - 12/10/1973 - 4/30/1977 [1,237 Days]
Bob Backlund - 2/20/1978 - 12/26/1983 [2,135 Days]
Hulk Hogan - 1/23/1984 - 2/5/1988 [1,474 Days]
Randy Savage - 3/27/1988 - 8/29/1989 [521 Days]

 

[Comrade Khan]

 

[Chris]

Give me longer Mick Foley reigns

 

[OMB]

I am guessing no Jinder Mahal don't hinder jinder

 

[Barry Poppins]

Part One:
The More Things Change
The More They Stay The Same
(1963-1988)

As the title suggests, Part 1 may be the most boring episode in the series, especially considering nothing will change in this alternate universe. Every championship title change (save the unrecognized ones) from 1963-1988 will occur in this timeline. As such, I suppose I should run the title changes through everyone's minds quickly:

Buddy Rogers gains the "WWWF World Heavyweight Championship" on April 11, 1963 in a supposed Rio Tourney (somehow this won't be the first time Rio De Janeiro will come up in WWE).

Bruno Sammartino immediately defeats Buddy Rogers in 48 god-forsaken seconds in Madison Square Garden on May 17, 1963. He would hold on to the championship for over seven years.

Ivan Koloff Defeats Bruno Sammartino on January 18th, 1971, and then immediately goes to lose to Pedro Morales on February 8th of the same year.

Pedro Morales would hold onto the "WWWF Heavyweight Championship" from February 8th, 1971 until December 1st, 1973; in which he'd lose to, of all people, Stan "The Man" Stasiak.

Stan Stasiak, the ultimate transitional champion, would only hold onto the belt for nine days. Big Bruno would get a second title reign of terror on December 10th, 1973.

Bruno's second reign of terror would thankfully end on April 30th, 1977, to the one, the only, Superstar Billy Graham. The man of the hour, the tower of power, the taste that's too sweet to be sour, the reflection of perfection himself would hold onto the "WWF Heavyweight Championship" until finally losing to the greatest, most boring wrestling personality of the 1980's-Bob Backlund-on February 20th, 1980.

Backlund will hold onto the title until he loses the infamous match against The Iron Sheik on December 26th, 1983. Shieky-baby would get stuck in traffic, or something, and Hulk Hogan would find the title out on the road, I think, on January 23rd, 1984.

Hogan's 1st reign, and by far his longest, would end on February 5th, 1988, to Andre The Giant; Andre would immediately pull a derp move and vacate the title on literally the same night.

It is here that the timelines will finally split and things begin to veer wildly off-course. But... that's for Part 2. Tune in next time to see the new timeline of 1988-1990.
​

Spoiler: WWE Championship Reigns

Buddy Rogers - 4/11/1963 - 5/17/1963 [36 Days]
Bruno Sammartino - 5/17/1963 - 1/18/1971 [2,803 Days]
Ivan Koloff - 1/18/1971 - 2/8/1971 [21 Days]
Pedro Morales - 2/8/1971 - 12/1/1973 [1,027 Days]
Stan Stasiak - 12/1/1973 - 12/10/1973 [9 Days]
Bruno Sammartino (2x) - 12/10/1973 - 4/30/1977 [1,237 Days]
Superstar Billy Graham - 4/30/1977 - 2/20/1978 [296 Days]
Bob Backlund - 2/20/1978 - 12/26/1983 [2,135 Days]
The Iron Sheik - 12/26/1983 - 1/23/1984 [28 Days]
Hulk Hogan - 1/23/1984 - 2/5/1988 [1,474 Days]
Andre The Giant - 2/5/1988 [<1 Day]

 

[Chris]

I actually really like the original history, just alternating between short heel transitional champions before giving another Face the strap for years solid system Vincent

 

[Cwalker]

I’m a fan as long as Roman gets the 69 year title reign he deserves

 

[Barry Poppins]

Part 2:
The Hulkamania Era
(1988-1990)​

It begins. The timelines have officially split. We are in the "Grim Zone" of WWE History, where reality and fiction converge into a monstrous abomination. It all begins at WrestleMania IV, where in an astounding set of events (much akin to real life), Macho Man Randy Savage wins the "WWF Championship" on March 27th, 1988. Much in line with real life, Macho and Hogan would team up and become the Mega Powers.

However, a major difference is that, while their team would fall apart at the Royal Rumble 1989 (which would see Mr. Perfect win the Royal Rumble-be sure to wait for him down the line), Macho Man would actually shock the entire world and surprise everyone by BEATING HOGAN at WrestleMania V. Yes, you read that right, in the "Grim Zone", Randy Savage defeats Hulk Hogan definitively. Hogan, so distraught by this loss, goes on hiatus for a time (mostly to film No Holds Barred). This leads into the very next feud for Randy Savage...

Remember the 1989 Royal Rumble winner, Mr. Perfect? Oh yeah. Despite Hogan/Savage being the Main Event of WM V, Mr. Perfect had been complaining to President Jack Tunney for months that since Perfect had beaten *both* Hogan and Savage by outlasting the both of them in the Rumble, he's entitled to a title shot at Randy Savage.

Now, Savage, who has since ditched Miss Elizabeth and now has Sensational Sherri in his corner, is not having any of it, because, no disrespect intended, but Perfect hasn't done anything else to prove himself. Jack Tunney, however, acquiesces and the setting for SummerSlam 1989 is a fever pitched and very rare "Heel vs. Heel" match: Randy Savage w/ Sensational Sherri vs. Mr. Perfect w/ Bobby Heenan.

Macho Man Randy Savage's year and 5 month reign would officially end at the hands of Mr. Perfect (whom was the de facto "heel" of the match, thanks to Bobby Heenan cutting some absolutely blustering promos on Savage in the build-up). It was official, Bobby Heenan would finally manage a World Champion. Mr. Perfect would continue to fight against Savage (who's essentially a tweener at this point) throughout the fall, each time with increasing success. That is, until Savage does the unthinkable...

The Mega Powers re-unite for one night only at Survivor Series 1989, in a match pitting the Mega Powers (Savage, Hogan, Jake Roberts, Roddy Piper, and Dusty Rhodes against the Perfect Team (Mr. Perfect, Rick Rude, Andre The Giant, Arn Anderson, and Tully Blanchard). In the match, Hogan would turn out to be the last member of the Mega Powers as Savage would be the last member of his team eliminated after Perfect and Arn Anderson double teamed him to oblivion. Despite the odds, Hogan would pull out the victory at the Survivor Series, giving him a date against Mr. Perfect at the Royal Rumble 1990 for the WWF Championship.

In a grueling match, Hulk Hogan, began his second championship reign by defeating Mr. Perfect for the title. Hogan retained the title at the next month's Saturday Night's Main Event against Perfect. With that out of the way, Hogan would face arguably the biggest challenge of his career to-date.

The Ultimate Warrior, WWF's next biggest star behind Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan, had won the 1990 Royal Rumble, and thanks to a new stipulation by President Jack Tunney after Mr. Perfects protestations last year, the Royal Rumble winner now gets to face the WWF Champion at WrestleMania in the main event. Hogan and Warrior was a collision that was bound to happen; it was merely unavoidable. And it's here, that I actually intend to keep the decision the same as real-life. The Ultimate Warrior would prevail over Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania VI, marking the beginning of the second phase of the "Hulkamania Era"; where titles will begin to change hand far more often than ever before...
​

Spoiler: WWE Championship Reigns

Buddy Rogers - 4/11/1963 - 5/17/1963 [36 Days]
Bruno Sammartino - 5/17/1963 - 1/18/1971 [2,803 Days]
Ivan Koloff - 1/18/1971 - 2/8/1971 [21 Days]
Pedro Morales - 2/8/1971 - 12/1/1973 [1,027 Days]
Stan Stasiak - 12/1/1973 - 12/10/1973 [9 Days]
Bruno Sammartino (2x) - 12/10/1973 - 4/30/1977 [1,237 Days]
Superstar Billy Graham - 4/30/1977 - 2/20/1978 [296 Days]
Bob Backlund - 2/20/1978 - 12/26/1983 [2,135 Days]
The Iron Sheik - 12/26/1983 - 1/23/1984 [28 Days]
Hulk Hogan - 1/23/1984 - 2/5/1988 [1,474 Days]
Andre The Giant - 2/5/1988 [<1 Day]
Vacant - 2/5/1988 - 3/27/1988
Randy Savage - 3/27/1988 - 8/29/1989 [521 Days]
Mr. Perfect - 8/29/1989 - 1/21/1990 [146 Days]
Hulk Hogan (2x) - 1/21/1990 - 4/1/1990 [70 Days]

 

[OMB]

Perfect getting a reign

 

[Roy Mustang]

Mr Perfect getting a reign . GIVE THE TITLE TO GOLDUST

 

[Chris]

Oh yeah I'm satisfied with this already

 

[Barry Poppins]

Part 3:
The Hulkamania Era
(1990-1992)

We continue our adventure into the "Grim Zone" in the year of 1990. The Ultimate Warrior had just won the title off of Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania VI. In the real world, The Ultimate Warrior would hold onto the title all the way until the Royal Rumble the next year before losing to Sgt. Slaughter. Here, Slaughter will never even be in the picture. Instead, the timeline of 1990 will come under a completely different setting. While defending the belt here and there at random house shows, Warrior's first real challenge would come at the new WWF Pay-Per-View: King of the Ring 1990.

"Ravishing" Rick Rude had fast begun to approach the #1 contender spot ever since the Survivor Series. Rude and Warrior indeed had history together, as the famously battled for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania V. At King of the Ring, it would be no different in the everlasting battle between the Ravishing One and the Ultimate One.

In a shocking series of events however, only 84 days into his reign, The Ultimate Warrior LOSES the WWF Championship to Rick Rude, the second time in less than a year that manager Bobby Heenan would manage a world champion. Despite the loss, Warrior would bounce back and would win back the title at SummerSlam in a steel cage match, the ultimate end to Rude and Warrior's feud (as Rude would leave for WCW shortly afterwards). However, trouble is brewing in the WWF...

Also at SummerSlam, a *huge* shocking event occurred when Earthquake, the 1990 King of the Ring, not only defeated former WWF Champion Hulk Hogan, but may have retired him! The beating on the Hulkster was so vicious that Hogan is now considering retirement due to his injuries. The Ultimate Warrior's new challenge for the 1990 Survivor Series has been set... Earthquake.

For the second time in 1990, The Ultimate Warrior would relinquish the WWF Championship after a short title reign, this time to Earthquake! Earthquake would, now with the WWF Championship, begin a series of open challenges where he'd go and face anyone who'd be willing to take him one-on-one for the Championship; among the names would be: Jim Duggan, Jake Roberts, Big Bossman, Dusty Rhodes, and Brutus Beefcake. Earthquake would also retain the WWF Championship against The Ultimate Warrior at Royal Rumble 1991, thanks in part to some interference from Randy Savage (still a tweener the last year 1/2).

The biggest news coming out of the Royal Rumble, however, was the return of HULK HOGAN after being gone from the WWE for over 8 months. Not only did Hogan return at the Royal Rumble... Hogan *won* the Royal Rumble match, making him eligible to face, yes, Earthquake at WrestleMania VII.

Hulk Hogan would finally overcome his demons and defeat the dreaded Earthquake at WrestleMania once and for all, proving to all that Hulkamania isn't dead just yet. Hogan also became the very first member of what would become known as the "3+ Club", a group of individuals with at least three WWF Championship wins to their name. With the WWF Championship back around the waist of Hulk Hogan, WWF saw record business between April and July as Hogan would defend the title against Earthquake in several rematches. But another name was hiding in the grass for his chance to strike...

Jake Roberts had slowly been driven mad as time went on in the WWF, and by Mid-1991, he had become an even darker version of himself. By August, he set his sights on Hulk Hogan and the coveted WWF Championship. At SummerSlam, Jake Roberts would decimate Hogan, not fairly, but with the use of his viper, and a knocked out ref. Roberts had done it, he became the WWF Champion. Unfortunately for Roberts, Hogan was not the only major star that he'd been intimidating and messing with.

Macho Man Randy Savage, who had been retired since WrestleMania VII (thanks to the Ultimate Warrior), had been the victim of much of Roberts' scathing promos and vitriol. It went so far as a snake bit Savage on live television. Savage demanded his reinstatement by President Jack Tunney, and Roberts gave Savage an out: At Survivor Series 1991, should Roberts beat Savage, Savage will forever be banned from the WWF.

Randy Savage defied all odds in the end to reclaim the WWF Championship for the second time in his illustrious career. But it came at a cost, as he was attacked after the match by Roberts, and Miss Elizabeth was viciously attacked, setting Savage off. It would be his undoing as in the rematch at This Tuesday in Texas. Roberts would in fact win back the title little over a week later at the PPV; however, Hulk Hogan made his return, pissed off and attacking Jake Roberts for screwing him at SummerSlam.

Hulk Hogan would win the WWF Championship title for the fourth time (becoming the first man to enter the "4+ Club"). Jake Roberts would fade out of the WWF with a bang as he would lose a Loser Leaves Town match against Savage at WrestleMania VIII. For Hulk Hogan though, he would come face to face with "the *real* World's Champion."

Ever since November 1991, "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair had claimed to be the real world's champion, carrying and parading around the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (this time with the NWA's permission). In the 1992 Royal Rumble, however, Flair would cement himself as a legitimate contender by winning the Royal Rumble from the #3 spot; which at that point was the earliest spot a contender had won. So the stage was set for the main event of WrestleMania VIII: Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair for the WWF Championship.

Ric Flair would defy all expectations by defeating the Immortal One at the Showcase of the Immortals. The future looked to be bright for the entirety of the WWF with all the incredible storytelling surrounding the WWF Championship that had been following for the last two years. However, the end of a golden age was coming. Hulkamania was dying (as far as the WWF was concerned), and it appeared time to begin building some new stars up along the way.

Next Time:

Part 4:
The Death of Hulkamania
(1992-1993)
​

Spoiler: WWE Championship Reigns

Buddy Rogers - 4/11/1963 - 5/17/1963 [36 Days]
Bruno Sammartino - 5/17/1963 - 1/18/1971 [2,803 Days]
Ivan Koloff - 1/18/1971 - 2/8/1971 [21 Days]
Pedro Morales - 2/8/1971 - 12/1/1973 [1,027 Days]
Stan Stasiak - 12/1/1973 - 12/10/1973 [9 Days]
Bruno Sammartino (2x) - 12/10/1973 - 4/30/1977 [1,237 Days]
Superstar Billy Graham - 4/30/1977 - 2/20/1978 [296 Days]
Bob Backlund - 2/20/1978 - 12/26/1983 [2,135 Days]
The Iron Sheik - 12/26/1983 - 1/23/1984 [28 Days]
Hulk Hogan - 1/23/1984 - 2/5/1988 [1,474 Days]
Andre The Giant - 2/5/1988 [<1 Day]
Vacant - 2/5/1988 - 3/27/1988
Randy Savage - 3/27/1988 - 8/29/1989 [521 Days]
Mr. Perfect - 8/29/1989 - 1/21/1990 [146 Days]
Hulk Hogan (2x) - 1/21/1990 - 4/1/1990 [70 Days]
The Ultimate Warrior - 4/1/1990 - 6/24/1990 [80 Days]
Rick Rude - 6/24/1990 - 8/27/1990 [64 Days]
The Ultimate Warrior (2x) - 8/27/1990 - 11/22/1990 [87 Days]
Earthquake - 11/22/1990 - 3/24/1991 [132 Days]
Hulk Hogan (3x) - 3/24/1991 - 8/26/1991 [155 Days]
Jake Roberts - 8/26/1991 - 11/27/1991 [93 Days]
Randy Savage (2x) - 11/27/1991 - 12/3/1991 [6 Days]
Jake Roberts (2x) - 12/3/1991 - 1/19/1992 [47 Days]
Hulk Hogan (4x) - 1/19/1992 - 4/5/1992 [77 Days]

Spoiler: 3+ Club

Hulk Hogan:

1/23/1984 - 2/5/1988 [1,474 Days]
1/21/1990 - 4/1/1990 [70 Days]
3/24/1991 - 8/26/1991 [155 Days]
(4 Years, 7 Months, 26 Days)

Spoiler: 4+ Club

Hulk Hogan:

1/23/1984 - 2/5/1988 [1,474 Days]
1/21/1990 - 4/1/1990 [70 Days]
3/24/1991 - 8/26/1991 [155 Days]
1/19/1992 - 4/5/1992 [77 Days]
(4 Years, 10 Months, 11 Days)

Spoiler: 500+ Club

Bruno Sammartino - 5/17/1963 - 1/18/1971 [2,803 Days]
Pedro Morales - 2/8/1971 - 12/1/1973 [1,027 Days]
Bruno Sammartino (2x) - 12/10/1973 - 4/30/1977 [1,237 Days]
Bob Backlund - 2/20/1978 - 12/26/1983 [2,135 Days]
Hulk Hogan - 1/23/1984 - 2/5/1988 [1,474 Days]
Randy Savage - 3/27/1988 - 8/29/1989 [521 Days]

 

[Ricky Smarks]

Buddy Rogers gains the "WWWF World Heavyweight Championship" on April 11, 1963 in a supposed Rio Tourney (somehow this won't be the first time Rio De Janeiro will come up in WWE).

Retconning the WWWF Championship inauguration away from my birthday on April 25th is so not tight.

 

[Ricky Smarks]

Earthquake got a title run?

 

[Hoss]

Damn a Mr. Perfect WWE Title run, who saw it coming?