Confidential doing a story on Austin

[Guest converge241]

they are doing a story on Austin leaving

 

-- from Wrestling Observer

[Guest Big McLargeHuge]

Wow. All I can really say.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

Then it's official.

 

Work.

[Guest Just call me Dan]

Yeah, definetly a work.

 

Maybe Gene will have an exclusive interview in which Austin bashes the writing and explains that he didn't want to work with Brock Lesnar because [kayfabe] He's a big overrated peice of shit, and if I see him on the street you can bet Ol' Stone Cold will stomp a mudhole What?!? I said stomp a mudhole in his yellow carcass. [/kayfabe]

[Guest]

In light of this latest news, I definitely think this is a work. Or if not that, simply the WWF cashing in on a bad situation while they can.

 

If it is a work, I somehow think it's be WWF's way to get the old anti-hero Austin back again, not all this What? shit, but 1996-1997 Austin.

 

Somehow reeks of Brian Gerwitz's version of Crash TV.

[Guest dreamer420]

unless it will be their way to say fuck you austin the wwe goes one.

[Guest Ash Ketchum]

If it's a work... I hope they don't make it obvious to the non-Internet group.

[Guest Just call me Dan]

I believe this will even be our only hints this Saturday.

 

This is cut and dry Austin is gone or this will finally be a true holy shit moment NO ONE knows about that will shock us ALL.

[Guest]

No matter what the outcome, either a hearty Fuck You to Austin, or a massive work that had everyone fooled, one thing is for near-certain. And that one thing, will be that the Wweee will shill Confidential heavily on Smackdown.

[Guest]

From Wrestlingnewsworld.com:

 

The current plan for this week's WWE Confidential show is to center it around the Steve Austin situation from this past Monday night in Atlanta.

 

For those in the dark, Steve Austin walked out of RAW and flew home after being unhappy with the direction of his character on that show, and altogether in recent months.

 

They plan on airing a lot of behind the scenes material about Steve Austin being unhappy with the writing team lately, which lead many to believe this whole thing is a work. While it could be, that particular reason would not confirm anything.

 

As of right now, mostly everyone in WWE sides with management in the Austin/management dispute, if that's what you want to call it, but this particular show could change all of that if history is any proof. Generally, WWE buries people involved with situations like this - however that may not be the case with someone the likes of Steve Austin.

 

 

They're making it sound like a work.

[Guest Shaved Bear]

And that one thing, will be that the Wweee will shill Confidential heavily on Smackdown.

safe bet

[Guest]

I don't think it's a work. They were advertising the fact that Flair would be Austin's bitch on Raw, but instead came up with the shitty storyline of Vince vs. Flair. Again. I truly don't think they would just leave the Horsemen/Austin angle in the middle of it. They need to have some sort of explanation for Austin just disappearing as well.

[Guest Sakura]

Wow, WWE really IS turning into WCW. A storyline about how the product is bad. That is SURE to bring in the ratings. Maybe next we can have a Jericho vs. HHH shoot match where they Irish whip each other.

[Guest RetroRob215]

I don't think it is a work.  I think the WWE is going to try to get some good out of a bad situation.  When SD! was taped, did the WWE even know they were going to do a Austin segment on Confidential?  This Saturday should kick ass, Austin AND Heenan.  I actually can't wait to review the show.

[Guest MarvinisaLunatic]

You all should just remember me and what I said about this being a work and an angle leading up to Lesnar Austin at Survivor Series.

[Guest Vyce]

Maybe I'm being naive, but I just don't see this as a work.

 

2 reasons:  

 

1.  Even if it is, it's INCREDIBLY inside.  I mean, to the "casual fan", the "average fan", they most likely know NOTHING about Austin's displeasure with the product, his strike, any of this.  It just seems like a long, and obscure, way to go to create a new storyline.  If it's a work, it's booking for the smart fan, and I just don't see that happening.

2.  I don't give the creative team that much credit.  They're functionally retarded.  Cause if it's a work, it's a pretty slick one, and I just don't think anyone on the creative team has it in them to write an angle this compelling.

 

So, we'll find out on Saturday.  It'll be one of two things - a total work by Austin, or the beginning of the huge smear campaign to bury Austin so deep he reaches China (or Chyna, one of the two).

 

My personal belief on the matter is that this Saturday we see Steve get the Hart treatment.

[Guest]

Definitely a work. If it's on TAPED television, then it's a work. If Austin "leaving" was a shoot, then why would they want to give publicity to someone who won't be around anymore? Normally they would just drop it and never mention him again (except in passing.. at least for a while).

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

You don't sabotage your own product to make a story that only caters to the people who follow behind the scenes stories. Austin walking out wasn't a work. I'm not even sure that this interview will take place.

 

How much do you want to bet that they bring out a midget Austin to do the interview?

[Guest godthedog]

i don't think it's a work, i think it's vince jumping on a situation & using it to his advantage (like survivor series).  if the wwF was smart (which they aren't), this is what i'd like to see them do:

 

play up on confidential how they don't know if austin's ever coming back.

 

spread net rumors the next week that austin & vince had a meeting which ended with austin quitting.  the following week confirm it on 'raw' that austin is gone forever (something similar to post-survivor series 'raw').

 

let it die, then have austin run in on the main event at vengeance.

 

they could go anywhere from there, & i don't think there's any way austin would say no to that angle.  he'd get a month off & be the center of the company when he came back, plus it would be something new and different.

[Guest]

Until I actually see something on Confidential that screams "Work!" I'm going to believe this stuff is all pretty legit.  So they are going to talk about the Austin situation on Saturday.  Fine.  I haven't seen any promises of interviews with Austin himself.  They can do the whole thing with interviews of other people involved, plus clips of Austin.  They don't need an actual interview with him.

 

As for why they would talk about this situation on Confidential, well, there are two reasons...

 

1.  Confidential has gotten off to a pretty strong start ratings-wise compared to what Excess was doing (or not doing, as the case may be) and I think they are looking for ways to continue that.  This would do just fine.

 

2.  Austin is arguably the biggest star in the history of the company (look at the money he's drawn and merchandise sold).  He just won a match last week that made Ric Flair his personal assistant.  There was a storyline in the making there.  It wouldn't be fair to the fans (especially casual fans that don't read the Internet news) to just have Austin disappear for good with no explanation.

[Guest scratch]

If it's a work, then they are really getting desperate for ratings.  However, if it is real , then who wants to bet that Austin shows up in the NWA real soon to take over and be their leader?

 

--Scratch

[Guest AnnieEclectic]

Scratch:

 

Austin and the NWA TNA won't happen, not with Jeff Jarrett running it. Ever.

 

-Annie

[Guest red_file]

The only thing I want to know is: where does this leave Heenan on the show?  I would guess in a similar situation to the HBK/Bulldog show; but I was really hoping for a Heenan-centered show.

[Guest Risk]

Don't worry.  I'm sure Heenan will get enough time.

[Guest red_file]

Don't worry.  I'm sure Heenan will get enough time.

Alas, Heenan can never get enough time in my book.

[Guest alfdogg]

 

j/k, just wanted to post that pic.

[Guest Austin3164life]

They're probably trying to make this whole thing sound like a work, to try not to piss off fans that Austin is quitting/being released.  The only reason I think Austin is doing the right thing is because the entire direction of the company (as well as his career booking) is going in the shithole.  And for those that think that Brock Lesnar should go over Austin this soon in his career, to that I say a defiant "bullshit".  Brock Lesnar has been active on WWE tv for a few months now I believe.  Austin is one of the biggest legends ever.  In no way does that qualify Brock to not only be in the Main Event with Austin, but to go over him?  I don't understand how people are seeing this as politicking.  Brock Lesnar is no where near Austin's level.  Austin is NOT trying to degrade or trash Lesnar in the midcard.  Steve's obviously trying to look after his own interests.  He's also trying to send a huge "fuck you" message to the absolutely horrendous booking/writing team.  Even though this entire board pretty much hates Austin now, I'm still with him because it's about time Vince wakes up and realizes who the REAL problem is.  The Clique.  HBK's solid interview aside, we really do not need the Clique class of 2002 running amuck in the WWE.  Bottom line, this is a message to all those who thought the nWo's arrival would be good.  FUCK YOU........

[Guest Austin3164life]

Sorry, I haven't ranted in a long time.  I just had to get that out......

 

Confidential should be a very interesting and "controversial" show.  I'll definitely be watching.  If Austin is truly leaving, then all I have to say is thanks for the great career, Steve.....

[Guest scratch]

Scratch:

 

Austin and the NWA TNA won't happen, not with Jeff Jarrett running it. Ever.

 

-Annie

 

Annie, stranger things have happened.  Don't forget that Jerry Jarrett has a LOT of money saved up over the years and Austin is star power, something that they desperately need.  I mean, I don't buy Shamrock or Hall as credible main eventers for the long run.  If they were to pick up Austin, they'd have someone to battle Jarrett and I'm sure Jeff wouldn't mind having Austin give his fed some credibility.

 

--Scratch

[Guest art_vandelay]

You don't sabotage your own product to make a story that only caters to the people who follow behind the scenes stories. Austin walking out wasn't a work. I'm not even sure that this interview will take place.

Exactly.  Would they take their top guy off of their top show just do get a ratings boost on a show that only receives 1.x ratings?  They're airing this on Confidential because it wouldn't receive enough viewers to have a big enough effect on the main programs/storylines.  They know the only people who already know of this shit and would be willing to tune in on Saturday nights are us.  Now, if they continue to talk about it on Raw or SmackDown!, that'd be different.  But until then, I absolutely believe this is legit.