I think a more interesting thing to consider is, in a hypothetical scenario where Gotti and Gravano aren’t indicted in 1990, does Sammy make a move against Gotti?

His Star was rising. He was already Underboss. He also didn’t like John’s increasing courting of the press. He had good relationships with other key members of other families. He was a tremendous earner. He also had whacked out several rivals.

He and John were also innately cut from two different cloths. Sammy was white collar and had been a strong Castellano man, and was arguably more important in the Family than John was before Paul’s slaying. Certainly, Paul valued Sammy more.

Obviously making a move on John would require taking out Peter, Gene, and John Jr as well

But would he have done it? Would he have had support?

Remember, he had made the pact with DeCicco to give John a year before they clipped him. So the thought of clipping John and taking over HAD crossed Sammy’s mind before