Mythology: The Four Horsemen

[LimeFlavored]

By DJ “Lime Flavored” Allen

SIGNS OF APOCALYPSE

I put aside what I was originally working on because there has been a topic brought to my attention that I believe is worth discussing at length. That topic is about the legendary Four Horsemen.

Back in the day (Wednesday), there were four guys who were competing in the National Wrestling Alliance that wreaked havoc on a large number of opponents. They were Ric Flair, Arn and Ole Anderson, and Tully Blanchard. Their union, which was accompanied by a large number of championships, was heralded as being akin to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The Four Horsemen were born.

Everything started in 1986 and they were the longest lasting stable in professional wrestling history, seeing membership change with the times to include people like Sting, Lex Luger, Barry Windham, Sid Vicious, Paul Roma, Chris Benoit, Steve McMichael, and Brian Pillman. There have been some ambiguous people, and there have been some supporting cast members, but those who were listed were considered the main members and have always been tied to high profile positions within whatever company that they belonged.

In 2003, there was a strong possibility that there would be a Four Horsemen reformation with new members surrounding Ric Flair (who would have remained the only original member of the faction). That turned into Evolution and the Four Horsemen have remained a legendary and defunct group.

But can the Four Horsemen exist again?

Some of you have come into this expecting there to be a long explanation of what the Horsemen used to be, how they dominated the 80s and most of the 90s, and how the Four Horsemen should be remembered as the greatest stable of all time. That is not what I’m going to be talking about because, frankly, I don’t run a history class and everyone who watched the group knows how great they were, understands the history there, and those who didn’t see them can read about their exploits online. There are plenty of places for history; this column isn’t one of them.

What this column IS about is discussion about reforming the greatest stable in wrestling’s history. This column will discuss the two major options that I believe currently exist for the reformation of the greatest stable. If nothing else, I’m really hoping this topic gets people talking because my opinions are far from the only ones out there. Some want the stable to remain as is without bringing them back and tarnishing their great history. Others would love to see a reformation with new members doing the same thing that they used to, allowing professional wrestling to keep a link to the past that seems (ever increasingly) like is being ignored.

Let’s get to it, shall we? There are two major options for rebuilding this group and recreating the epic power that they used to be and those two options are tied to the two major sports entertainment organizations: WWE and TNA. Let me begin with the bigger of the two organizations (mainly because Vince McMahon holds the rights to the name).

Ric Flair is intrinsically tied to the stable and can obviously be brought back in to collect together the most dominant professional wrestlers in the WWE. This would put the retired Flair in the managerial role, leaving him as the link to “pass the torch” (See how I worked that into this column? Nifty, eh?) from the original group to the new group. So, who would be good candidates for this new group?

I am going to completely ignore brand separations for this reformation. If Vince McMahon was a smart man (still, though this is in serious doubt) he would move the correct people to a single brand to make this happen. That being said, I would consider there to be quite a few individuals worthy of consideration for the new Four Horsemen (of the WWE).

This list includes obvious choices like Triple H and Undertaker, both having a long tenure with the WWE and definitely enjoying being on the top for some time. I have to consider the next generation (Make it so.) of wrestlers that cannot possibly have a connection that far back. The people circling around the main event scene that would be good candidates include John Cena, Randy Orton, Batista, CM Punk, and Edge. Sure, I’m compiling a list of everyone who is sitting in the “World Championship” picture (for either the Red or Blue championships) and those are easy options. The Four Horsemen has always been on top of the game but the four men involved haven’t always been singles wrestlers, so my list has to be expanded to include some less likely individuals but still worthy individuals.

Chris Jericho, who is currently working with Big Show, is another singles name that has been enjoying a long tag team run as of late. Big Show could certainly join him, keeping the JeriShow tag team as a unit, which would leave the new Four Horsemen with a tag team in their tanks. What about the Hart Dynasty? Is there anyone out there that would like to see the crossing of two epic legacies as one unit? Mentioning legacies, how about Legacy themselves? DiBiase doesn’t really have any single link to the Four Horsemen, but Cody Rhodes does and their teaming has resulted in some high success for the two men. These expanded options are really as far as I’d like to go with this because the four men I’d choose are among them already.

Running with the Ric Flair returning to manage them angle, the WWE could see a new dominant stable form as he looks for the best candidates for the new Horsemen. His first choice would be Triple H, who obviously dominates the WWE and will be the solid headliner for the group (not only because the Horsemen need that one big headliner, but because Flair and H have a history together). The next man who should be chosen would be Edge because his newest persona is fairly akin to how the Horsemen should be perceived: evil and malevolent as well as devious. Then would come a tag team that will have lots of staying power and could reasonably be considered as ideal for the position: Legacy.

The first thing that people will mention is Legacy and Triple H being at odds for such a long time. For those with short memories, which fans are, we have short memories, as fans do, that short memories prevail, among fans. Did I mention we have short memories? Short memories are a large part of the WWE and sports entertainment and having those short memories has allowed guys to get together that had spent a long time at odds with each other. A car driven by someone Triple H hired supposedly hit Steve Austin but they were tag teaming together only a few months later. Would you forgive someone who tried to run you over? We forgive a lot for the sake of the storyline.

Triple H brings the dominance, Edge brings the devious nature, and Legacy brings the staying power potential for the new Four Horsemen. As long as Vince could leave them together, they would be able to dominate for almost a decade before worrying about membership changes.

Now I want to switch gears and head over to the TNA roster and evaluate their options. While TNA wouldn’t have a link with the legend Ric Flair, they DO have someone on their roster who was a Horsemen at one time and could certainly BE a guiding force for them.

The TNA usage of the Four Horsemen would be ideal because the Four Horsemen have never been in the WWE. TNA has the position of coming from the NWA (fairly recently) and thus would have a closer link to reforming the group as well as the smarts to leave that group as a solid unit for a long period of time. The options for talent involved, though, would be quite the eclectic mix of new stars and would certainly allow them more opportunity to dominate for a longer period of time than WWE tends to allow.

Instead of listing a bunch of potential superstars for the TNA Four Horsemen, I’m just going to name the members who I think would fit the best (and who I guaran-damn-tee will cause some discussion… if you smell what Lime is cooking).

The first choice is the obvious one, the easy one, and the one that makes the most sense. If this happens while he’s actively wrestling, then Sting must be a major part of the TNA Four Horsemen. He would be their link to the past and their guiding force until he is ready to hang up his boots. If this were to happen after he retires, he would fill the same role that Ric Flair would in my WWE scenario, that of manager. In either case, Sting is an obvious choice and for this column, Sting is an actively wrestling member of the group.

Next on my list is someone else I think would be a great fit for the Four Horsemen: Matt Morgan. The Blueprint has that big man stature as well as physical aggressiveness that the Four Horsemen often find in their members. Matt Morgan would be a great fit for the TNA Four Horsemen and I think that Sting would consider him as a valuable part of the team.

Unlike the WWE scenario, I am not bringing a tag team into the fold for the TNA scenario. Thus, I head to the third option for singles talent in my opinion being Eric Young. Young would have never been a choice before his turn as the leader of the World Elite and he certainly has shown a deviousness that could benefit the Four Horsemen. Along with his aggressive tendencies, Eric Young would be a perfect fit for the third slot.

Now comes the part where I blow the lid off of any preconceived notions. This is the one member possibility that when I say it will cause the biggest conversational part (in my humble opinion). The fourth member of the TNA Four Horsemen should be a first for the stable. That fourth member should be Tara. Yes, the TNA Knockout Tara. Since TNA has an active, thriving, and highly talented women’s division, Tara would be perfect for fitting into the role of a Horsemen simply because she is the best person for the job. The first woman Horsemen would definitely be controversial but I think that the controversy would serve the Horsemen rather than belittle them.

There you have it, my two scenarios for rebuilding the Four Horsemen. Certainly, if Vince hasn’t created it himself he has a tendency of crapping all over something great (see: n.W.o.). TNA, not owning the rights to the name (because I’m almost positive that Vince would sue if someone put the two words Four and Horsemen together in a sports entertainment setting), would most likely have to modify the name to use it. In one of the eFeds that I participated in, I was involved in the Apocalypse Horsemen (it was a group of four but we didn’t want to tread on the actual Horsemen because they were still around then) and everyone knew what we meant. Hell, you don’t even have to use the word “Horsemen” in the title because that would eliminate any chance Vince could sue… but if TNA could use the name, I think they should use it without worry.

Since this was all about the Horsemen, though, I think the name Four Horsemen should go to the group regardless of what company uses it.

LESSONS FROM MYTHOLOGY

I was working on something a little different before the discussion came up about the Horsemen. Not just in topic but in format, too. I’m still hoping to finish that one and put it up but I wanted to comment on this while the topic was still fresh in my mind.

The Four Horsemen hold a special place in my heart (and I’m sure the hearts of many others). While their creation and existence has long outlasted anything else out there (DX, n.W.o., Uncle Joe in bed), they are probably the only faction in professional wrestling history that would be considered to exist without containing any of the original members. The Biblical Four Horsemen are iconic and so were the NWA/WCW Four Horsemen. Anyone belonging to the group should be considered as such, too, even if they have to “rebuild the image” for the current generation.

Sorry, Joe, I wanted to make a funny to someone whom I know would understand it was a joke.

With any luck, the Four Horsemen will be a consideration for a new group of superstars. Yes, I am dead serious about my TNA version because I think that if there is an active women’s division then the women should be represented. Does Tara have to remain in the group long term? Not necessarily, nor do I think a woman has to have a constant presence, but including them in the reformation would open the door for future options.

The Four Horsemen were a force to be reckoned with and were a major heel force. Sure, TNA and WWE try to redo that great achievement with their own creations (Main Event Mafia, for example) but they always fall short. Part of the reason for that is they want the group to ramp up, be dominant, then feud amongst themselves. Why not let groups remain as a unit without the in fighting and break up that follows? Build the force not just a storyline.

Think on it.

[Uncle Joe]

Good idea, but I personally think that those two (Hunter and Taker) are so above a stable at this point that it would just be better off just doing what they do now. Also, they need to be able to book a stable properly before trying it again, as good as Evolution was, fuck them.


Also, that joke was kind of gay, but hey, you tried

[Super Chrisss]

I don't see any chance in hell of either Vince or the Dix doing a new "Four Horsemen". If they do try something of a nature, they certainly will not go under that term. I mean, Evolution, Legacy, and The Hart Dynasty aren't horrible names are they?

You made some logical fantasy booking, but I don't see it ever happening. One can always dream though...

[Benjamin Button]

Being a diehard Four Horsemen fan, I appreciated this column.

I like the TNA version better than your WWE version. The WWE version sounds like Evolution marrying Legacy with Edge being held down by HHH.

The TNA was well put together, and I like how you explained how they could go around using the Horsemen name.

It was better than most fantasy booking columns.

[Phoenix Rising]

I didn't start watching wrestling until after the Horseman, so I'm not about to agree or disagree with you. However, I would've liked to see why you chose Tara as a member of the Horsemen, besides saying that TNA has a thriving Knockouts Division.

Good stuff though. Thumbs up.

[MissouriDragon]

Some of you have come into this expecting there to be a long explanation of what the Horsemen used to be, how they dominated the 80s and most of the 90s, and how the Four Horsemen should be remembered as the greatest stable of all time. That is not what I’m going to be talking about because, frankly, I don’t run a history class and everyone who watched the group knows how great they were, understands the history there, and those who didn’t see them can read about their exploits online. There are plenty of places for history; this column isn’t one of them.

What a dickheaded way to put it. That's right about where I stopped reading. From the looks of the feedback thread, it turns into fantasy booking after that, so probably better that I did.

[FreekyDeeky]

This was a good view on something that the WWE probably won't ever follow on, specially as Vince didn't think of the idea. Also HHH and Edge would never work together as Edge would have no time to shine in the group even though he'd be the obvious star.

Good read though LimeFlavoured looking forward to the next one

[FutureDonkey]

Now this is something I can dig, man! Definitely not Fantasy Booking for Dummies.


Firstly, I enjoyed this column immensly because I feel like you are coming out of your shell are just more open; heck, you even tried to make a joke (yes, it was bad). The point is that I felt like someone was talking to me as I read it, which is always something I look for and want out of any columnist. A wooden voice is a weak voice.


Secondly, I think you seriously need to rethink what you said about your proposed WWE Four Horsemen. The concept is awesome, I think, but you must realize that there is no fucking way (I hope) that Trips is going to gun it out for another decade. The guy will be Sting's age by then; besides, why would he really want to do that. And Edge, well he's falling apart and getting torn up and he's only in his mid-thirties, I just can't see him wrestling for that much longer, unless he drasticly changes things up; which may make a boring Edge.


Nonetheless, I love the concept. Personally I'm cool with those two in the group for maybe two years, but after that you need someone like Orton or, better yet a heel John Cena to take the leadership reigns; to replace Edge, I suppose the other choice could be CM Punk, as they, unfortunately, appear to be turning him into an Edge clone. While I do like the new and improved Legacy, I say that right in the beginning you have JeriShow instead, with them eventually giving way to either the Harts or Legacy.


Thought-provoking as usual, Limey. Keep it up!

[LimeFlavored]

Uncle Joe: Hunter and Taker above a stable? Even Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan weren't above a stable at any point and they were bigger than either of those two. Hunter and Undertaker would put the stable from being a run of the mill group of dudes into a powerhouse that cannot be ignored. Four Horsemen need the latter.

Super Chrisss: I'd say that TNA couldn't use it for sure and this was admission, in a sense, that no one will touch the legacy of the Horsemen...

Benjamin Button: Thank you! I also like the TNA version better...

Phoenix Rising: I chose Tara because she's one of the better talented Knockouts in the division. Angelina Love would have been my first choice but, as she is having visa issues, her future with American wrestling is in doubt.

MissouriDragon: Dickheaded? I'm a little confused. I get some complaints about writing history lessons and the one time I don't someone calls me a dickhead.

FreekyDeeky: I think Vince taints everything he touches that he didn't create, whether or not he means to. Look at ECW. Look at WCW. Look at the n.W.o. Vince doesn't understand things.

FutureDonkey: Triple H not being included in the Horsemen would be a big mistake if the WWE went with it. Flair was easily the biggest name in WCW or NWA at the time and without him, it wouldn't have lasted as long as it did. Edge and Trips can coexist.

[XanMan]

This was pretty cool. To me, the perfect Horsemen in the WWE would be:

Chris Jericho
Cody Rhodes
The Miz & Jack Swagger

In TNA, I really hate the idea of Sting leading the stable that he fought for so long, though, yes, he was briefly a member.

How about a stable of "upstart" Horsemen, instead:

AJ Styles
Matt Morgan
The Motor City Machineguns

[LimeFlavored]

I don't like Jack Swagger as a member, his start with the WWE as the lisper really killed his image in my head... he still strikes me as a moron character.

As for the TNA version, I'm not sure about the MCMG, but I'd be willing to give them a shot... plus, I like the upstart idea, I was just trying to tie them into the past.

[XanMan]

Actually, maybe Beer Money would fit better.

[The Maz]

Hey Lime, this is the first time I am reading one of your columns apart from skimming by your first effort to check out the controversy.

I have to say, it was very well written and the discussion was certainly interesting. I think that if Vince has not reincarnated them until now, he is highly unlikely to ever do so. As a kid growing up in the UK, we had limited WCW exposure but something about the horsemen always had me interested. I am not sure it would be right to bring them back now but if they did in the WWE, I think Jericho would be the perfect choice to head the group. If he could get the right balance between his current hypocrite sycophant calling character and Y2J, it could work to perfection. As for the others, it is a tough call. Rhodes and DiBiase could both fit the bill, but they are clearly going to turn on each other sooner rather than later. They could clean up McIntyre if they are intent on pushing him and I think that even Ziggler could fit the bill quite nicely with a little character tweak.

Interesting, thought provoking read here.