REWRITE History: HBK doesnt get injured at RR98

His drug/personal/backstage problems would prevent him from working a full schedule, thus making him a part-timer.

He and HHH have a falling out for Shawn "dropping the ball". Shawn disappears for a couple of weeks after "quitting" while HHH forms the new DX. Shawn returns during the Austin-Vince match to join up with Vince.

Unforgiven '98: beats Austin by DQ

Over the Edge '98: loses to Austin in a No-DQ match

Starts talking shit about Mike Tyson, cutting strictly promos up until Summerslam.

Summerslam '98: faces Mike Tyson

Gets knocked the fuck out by Iron Mike again, disappears again. Is named Commissioner and Vince expects him to be the "Corporate Commissioner" but swerves and rejoins DX. Then he costs X-Pac the WWF Title vs. The Rock.

Rock Bottom '98: beats X-Pac

Eventually, HBK has had enough of Vince and the Corporation and rejoins DX again, but this time for real. DX is fighting The Corporation, while Shawn counters Vinnie Mac's attempts to screw over Austin. He and HHH fall again, this time they agree to a match at Mania to see who is the better man.

Wrestlemania 15: loses to HHH after The Corporation helps HHH

During a back and forth match, The Corporation come down to attack both men, it seems. While Shawn has his back turned, HHH hits low blow or a chair shot, followed by a Pedigree for the win. HHH and The Corporation beat Shawn into a bloody mess after the match.

I guess he could face The Rock in '99 or '00, but nonetheless Shawn will be a part-timer.

There's two sides here. What I would do and what I believe may have actually happened.

What I would do:

HBK drops the title to Austin, but the feud continues with the storyline that was used with Foley as Dude Love. HBK is Vince Mcmahon's chosen one and he tries to "Free Hall and Nash" just as HHH did. He ends up feuding with Rock and turns babyface when Vince finds his new chosen one in Dude Love.

HBK vs Rock at SummerSlam where we get something similar to the WM X ladder match, but this time HBK wins the match at MSG.

Rock goes on to win the title at Survivor Series in a rematch against HBK, but Vince screws HBK this time.

HBK enters the Rumble and is screwed out of it just like Austin with Vince winning.

HBK vs. HHH at WM 15 when HHH turns on DX for The Corporation.

From there anyone's guess.

In reality?

There would be some real power plays backstage to keep his spot. It would have been epic imo.

I only see him staying a year or so. The Kliq had such a strong hold from 1995-1997, because they were the the best in the company. When a group like that comes together and it's already the bulk of your main event and upper midcard scene you're put in a hard place. The roster was smaller than today's roster and really the only thing you really had outside of the Kliq was Undertaker and Bret. So when the Kliq has an issue (or starts an issue) with a Chris Candido or Dean Douglass. Well, do you really think Dead Douglass is going to main eventing your show in a year?

By '98 though, you have more leverage. The Outsiders are gone. And you're really just looking at HBK and Hunter with a returning Sean Waltman, but outside of that you've got Austin, Undertaker, Mick Foley, Owen Hart and this Rocky Miavia guy who's rapidly getting over by the day. You've just brought in Kane who's a complete success and Jeff Jarrett seems like a good acquisition at the time. Suddenly, you don't have to rely on Shawn so much.

Shawn wants to dominate the main event scene still? No, you're not budging and you're going with Steve Austin and that feud can only go so long. So after maybe 2 more matches with Austin and you're out of the title picture. You want to bury the Rock? Absolutely not, he's getting over like wildfire.

You've already been feuding with Undertaker since Summerslam, that's gotta stop sometime. At some point the HBK vs HHH feud just would've had to happen between Summerslam and Wrestlemania and after that I just don't think Shawn had his mind right.

I don't see Shawn going to WCW, but I see him saying "fuck this" and going home. Sadly enough, I think he would've spiraled out of control with drugs and he probably would've overdosed in 2000. It's very grim, but a lot of people think Shawn would've be around anymore without that injury.