Suggestion for Austin's Return

[Guest Jack Potts]

The deteriorated condition of Stone Cold Steve Austin's neck has led to speculation that he may return in a non-wrestling role as a babyface or "rogue" commissioner. I think a better solution would be to have him return in a way that would slowly, and dramatically, evolve his character, and build up a new wrestler in the process. In his Raw magazine interview, Austin said he would'nt mind helping wrestler's learn how to get over or cut promos once he was unable to deliver in the ring. Now it's time to deliver on this statement.

 

Here's the plan:

 

In real life, Vince McMahon should give Austin carte blanche to pick any young indy wrestler that he believes in enough to work with. The kid would be given a contract with WWE.

 

In the storyline, we see the indy wrestler in Heat matches for a few weeks, as the "local" jobber of the week. Surprisingly, however, he manages to squeak by with clean wins against the low tier, but nonetheless, established WWE Superstars.

 

The third or fourth week, the wrestler makes his debut on Raw. Stone Cold makes an unannounced appearance in the audience to watch his match, and the announcers make a big fuss about SCSA returning. When Terri goes to interview him backstage, he blows her off, but later we see backstage footage of SCSA complimenting the indy wrestler.

 

In short, SCSA sees a spark in this kid that he appreciates, and offers to show him the ropes and how to succeed in the business. The kid's a naive, young babyface, and heartily accepts the offer to be mentored by one of his heroes.

 

Now we get to see the ruthless, tough, dark side of Stone Cold in a new context. The same attitude that served him so well in the ring is an incredible asset in the board room, as we see backstage vignettes of him manipulating Vince or Bischoff and one-upping them to negotiate contracts or matches for his charge, and playing up the clever, heel manager role at ringside. At first the kid doesn't know what to make of the heel tactics, but he soon catches on and slowly becomes a darker character, too, under Austin's influence. Maybe in an allusion to the DeBiase/Ringmaster era of Austin's career, at one point of the storyline, Austin could give the kid the Smoking Skull belt, because he's coming along so well.

 

Eventually, it would become evident to the kid and the audience that Austin, though still tough, has been thoroughly co-opted by the system, and the kid is now the iconoclastic, anti-hero whose disgusted by what his mentor has become. Effectively, this would turn Austin into the Vince character, who represents the establishment and the place the kid in the Austin role.

 

I figure the whole thing could play out over 6 months to a year, with the payoff being a match between the two, with Austin putting the kid over. Now bear in mind, the idea is not to recreate Stone Cold, but to emulate the spirit of what made the McMahon/SCSA feud so memorable without rehashing it in another tired commissioner/GM vs. Austin scenario.

 

As with any WWE plan, the only impediments to its success are egos.

 

Let me know what you think. Thanks!

[Guest Plushy Al Logan]

Sounds like it works, but what happens to the new guy after Austin is gone?

 

Every Rose Has It's Thorn!

[Guest Jack Potts]

Hopefully, if Austin puts him over strongly enough, he will be in a position to fued with any of the upper-mid carders in his climb toward the top. However, having vanquished the old gunfighter, he's now the guy with a target on his back, among new guys and even older guys who only dreamed of putting an end to Stone Cold.

 

You could set up an primary storyline of the kid feuding with an upper level tweener or a face Jericho, based on mutual, but grudging, respect. The subplot that could play out at the same time would be McMahon attempting to court the young wrestler, because he now recognizes his value, since the kid did the one thing he never could: destroy Stone Cold for good.

 

His primary,"grudging respect" feud would evolve into one where both wrestlers develop a genuine friendship and full blown admiration for one another. When his new-found friend and ally is taken out as a message to get with the program, the kid could take on the heel GM/McMahon to exact revenge for the attack. However, in this fight against the system, he should be booked as vulnerable, in the face of such hellacious odds. He would not win the fight without help. That would make the villain's comeuppance sweeter and build someone else, in the process. Also, they could become a short-lived, but fresh tag team to go for the only mid-level belts left in the WWE.

 

I envisage him as a tough, clever, maybe even amoral guy, but not an invulnerable loner, like Austin. He wouldn't be above forging alliances to further his own ends. That's what led to the stagnation of Austin's character, in some ways. He was established as a lone wolf, anti-hero, and there are only so many ways a single man can buck the system before he needs some help. Some challenges are more than one man can handle alone.

[Guest netslob]

i got an idea, have a group of blonde women beat the shit out of HIM for a change.

[Guest Coffey]

If the kid in training is American Dragon, I'm all for this.

[Guest Jack Potts]

As long as it's a new face who's good in the ring and behind the mic, I think the idea could work.

 

I think Doug Basham could fit this role nicely, too. He's already with OVW, he's got a look that's distinctly different from Stone Cold, and I liked his work when I saw it on one of the B-shows several months ago. Great ring skills.

 

He's not the youngest of indy wrestlers, but I think that would add to the hungry and eager aspect of the character that would emphasize his desire to succeed.

[Guest RenegadeX28]

I like that idea...too bad...like many other great ideas.........we will never see it.......