5 little-known WWE booking decisions that almost happened

Batista’s booking as the winner of the Royal Rumble in 2014 was widely criticized.

As wrestling fans have gained more and more access to behind-the-scenes rumors over the years, they’ve become more and more critical of booking decisions. In the WWE, fans often have a reaction ready for major calls like the Royal Rumble winner, world champions and Money in the Bank victors.

But some of the more interesting booking decisions might be the ones that were never made and the reasons why plans changed. Here are five of the most significant times that WWE writers changed course regarding the company’s superstars.

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Mark Jindrak in Evolution

Mark Jindrak has gone on to a career outside the WWE in recent years.

WWE fans know of Evolution as the stable consisting of Triple H, Batista, Randy Orton and Ric Flair. The group, which returned later without Flair, held multiple titles, including a period where they held all of RAW’s titles – the World Tag Team Championships, the Intercontinental title and the World Heavyweight Championship.

But the group very nearly had a different lineup. According to interviews with Triple H, Mark Jindrak – who currently wrestles as Marco Corleone in Mexico – was originally supposed to have Batista’s spot, but the WWE went a different direction. Jindrak has since said he wasn’t ready for such a high-profile gig, and it certainly would’ve changed the company.