What unlikely event had to occur in order for the Nika rebellion to become as serious as it did?

The Nika revolt was started because justinian raised the taxes for building project and war funding, he had no allegiance with a fiction (greens or blues), he collected taxes in brutal way, and people are being killed and places are burned down. Then in 532 riot and fire destroyed Constantinople. Justinian wanted to run away and start a new life but Theodora convinced him that it was better to die an emperor and stay living and have no one know who you are. So he stayed and rebuild many building including the Hagia Sophie.