Do you ever wonder what would happen if every time somebody got successful that the business is just handed to them? Ever wonder what it would be like to be the top man and then to suddenly fall from grace? How would you deal with being the top man in the show and then suddenly being the most underused man in the show? How would you feel about having to go from main events to opening the shows?
Corner to Corner
Hello again everyone and welcome back to Corner to Corner! I want to give you all an apology for my absense within the past few days. Its good to be back and in the driver seat. So, without further ado, OFF WE GO!
WHAT?!
I read the Stone Cold interview and that's the first thing I said. WHAT?!? Apparently, I was incorrect in my orignal assessment of the Austin Theory. I missed the part where Steve Austin starts believing his own HYPE. Before you go after me in emails, please give me a moment to fully state my case. I'm not going to say that Austin isn't a top draw or anything. I won't say that he couldn't do the job in the ring either. Steve Austin was enertaining to me right up until he left the WWE in June of 2002. I have no problem giving him credit for shouldering a lot of weight in the WWE during the Attitude Era and helping the WWE become the ONLY major promotion on world wide television. No, Steve Austin definitely deserves every ounce of credit for being the top notch performer that he is.
That is, however, where it ends. I don't understand the mentality that these successful wrestlers get when they suddenly become unhappy with their respected companies. For WCW, it was Nash, Goldberg, and Hogan. For WWE, it was Michaels, Hart, Helmsley, and NOW Steve Austin. These guys all, at one point or another, used politics as their excuses for not doing the right things.
It's fine to say that you've done a lot for WWE. In fact, most if not all will agree with you Mr. Austin. Quite honestly, you did so much that I'd have to do a separate column just to list your contributions. The problem Mr. Austin, is that you still WORK FOR VINCE MCMAHON AND WWE. You are not YOUR OWN BOSS. You work for him and therefore, when you're told that you're going to face Brock Lesnar on RAW, you put your ass in that ring and you do your job. I will go ahead and agree with something Bret Hart said awhile back. Wrestlers are treated similar to circus animals. They're trained to do what they're told. Of course, what Bret left out is that these guys that are getting treated like circus animals are making A LOT of money by the time they reach the WWE's main tier.
I'm so sick of seeing people piss and moan because they have to do their jobs. Just what is the deal with that anyway? Folks, I'm sure that most of us have jobs and do what our bosses tell us. That's life. And when we go to heaven? We're still doing what someone else, albeit God, wants us to do. The bottom line, to borrow a phrase, is that from cradle to grave and even the afterlife, we're doing what someone else wants. We are just that type of people. So why can't these successful types just accept that they have to answer to someone? What is the problem with just doing your damn job?
Of course, he talks about Wrestlemania X8 and the match with Scott Hall. Austin insinuated that Hall should not have been at Wrestlemania after only being in the company for three months. Let me offer a correction real quick. Hall had only been BACK in the company for three months. He had been down in WCW prior to that and in WWE PRIOR to his WCW STINT. The bottom line on that is that Hall had already BEEN to Wrestlemania while Steve Austin was still wrestling for WCW as Stunning Steve. You remember that Mr. Austin, WCW was where you were at one point. Of course Austin stated that he had no problem with Hall. I should hope not, since you did in fact get your way at Wrestlemania X8.
He then goes on to complain about having to wrestle Brock Lesnar at RAW. You know, whether he had a point or not about the buildup, that is all secondary. Whether you're HHH, Steve Austin, or Jeff Hardy, you should have one thing in mind when you're in the WWE. You work for Vince and when he sets up a match and tells you to compete, you do what your boss says. How is this any different from the local McDonalds employee who has to man the deep fryer because his manager tells him to? Do not attempt to debate with me that since Austin made Vince so much money he should get special treatment. The deal on that is simple, whether you make a dime or a dollar, everyone in the back should be treated equal and should all do what their boss says. That's how a damn job works.
As far as him being burnt out, I'd imagine he was. For all intents and purposes, he worked BEYOND overtime in HHH and Rock's absense. He put on stellar performances with Kurt Angle, Booker T, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, and even the Hardyz. He had every right to get some time off after Wrestlemania. I will not argue the fact that he needed a break.
Nobody will argue that point because I think it speaks for itself. We can always pull out the videos and chart just how much the man wrestled. The point of my concern, however is his attitude in general. I'm not worried about how much money he made the company. I can respect him for wanting to be careful in the ring following his injuries. I am just trying to figure out how he suddenly feels that the business is in the wrong hands. Hey man, from the fan's perspective, the business is in the same hands it was in before you left. You can't give the business to the boys because the boys seem to be lazy. And don't tell me to step in the ring. I don't have to be a pro to tell you that these guys who are getting on the microphone SUCK. You got Jeff Hardy who sounds like a puberty stricken teen claiming he's going to kick somebody's ass? How the hell does that work? We got Test reading off cue cards because it when it seems he's supposed to adlib he freezes like a deer in the headlights. You look at Triple H now and even he is slacking in his promos. Not only does he ignore the fact that he's a damn heel, but he also tries to be funny too damn much. When I want comedy, I watch Goldust. When I want something credible in the way of a promo or a match I should be comfortable watching Triple H and Chris Jericho. I should be able to count on the top guys to come out and do their damn jobs. Instead, we get these guys who want to complain and do nothing to solve the problems.
The only thing I got from Steve Austin's interview was angry. I got angry because I saw apparently wrestling hasn't learned from it's history. It happened to Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and even Hulk Hogan. When you get too big for your britches, somebody will always be happy to slap you back into place. Whether it's by a screwjob, a suspension, or just plain refusing to have you work, there is always payment for the sin of forgetting who made who. And who really pays for this? We, the fans, do. We pay for it because we lose our stars and we get stuck with people like Helmsley running the show. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
That's what I got for now...See ya Saturday. Thanks for reading.
--Stan Grubb--
