Wrestling WI: Paul Orndorff accidentally ends Hogan's career?

PoD: July 19th, 1986

After double-crossing Hogan and clotheslining him, Paul Orndorff sets Hulk Hogan up for his piledriver. However, during the process, something goes wrong, and Orndorff accidentally injures Hogan in similar kind of way that Owen Hart would hurt Steve Austin over 11 years later. However, unlike Austin, Hogan's injury is enough to end his career (though he still recovers his ability to walk).

Effects, anyone? Who becomes the standard-bearer of WWF now that Hogan's gone? (On a side note, Orndorff suffered his neck injury that shortened his career during his feud with Hogan, and this is butterflied away ITTL, probably. And, yes, this was inspired by Rise of the Dragon to some degree.)
 
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They could put the belt on Orndorff to keep kayfabe and sell him as a threat to wrestlers. As to who replaces Hogan, Jake Roberts seems a viable option (he was immensely popular). I just don't see Vince pushing Steamboat, Warrior isn't ready, heel Piper would be fun but Vince wouldn't build his company around a heel of that type, and the time isn't right for Savage.
 
Something similar happened to one of my biddies younger brother in high school. He had the match on points & was working on the pin. His opponent got ahold of his leg and twisted the bad knee into a severe injury. This eliminated him from the state competition & the Jr Olympics roster. Plus a overnight in the hospital. The dick head did not realize five of the eight brothers were at the match, plus a couple close friends. We caught up with him in the parking lot. The look of sheer terror on his face was so satisfying. His 'friends' or whatever they were stood back & saw nothing.

I doubt Orndorff gets treatment like that, but he may not win any friends with that event.
 
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