Guest Report post Posted March 23, 2002 Problems between Steve Austin and the WWF continue to grow and both sides are said to be very angry with the other. The situation is getting so tense that Austin may not even be on RAW or Smackdown this week despite the plan to split the WWF roster. Most figure that Austin would be the top star drafted by one of the brands, but he may not even be at the draft now. Steve Austin flew straight home to Texas following WrestleMania last Sunday and did not show up to RAW or Smackdown. WWF management is extremely upset with Austin for refusing to allow a run-in during his WrestleMania match with Scott Hall that was scheduled to be the basis for the "brand extension" announcement the next night on RAW. The WWF has gone as far as to tell WWF.com to not include Austin in any featured articles and new updates. We will have more on the Austin situation as it develops.... Credit: 1wrestling.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest WWF4Life Report post Posted March 23, 2002 Isn't it a bit suspicious that 1wrestling are 'scooping' all of these stories in the same week they were more or less singled out by the WWF as posting false information? To be honest, I don't believe anything on that website, especially if it's from Ryder. Austin will be on TV next week, no doubt about it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Tony149 Report post Posted March 23, 2002 Sometimes 1wrestling is right, sometimes they're wrong. I could see the WWF & Austin getting hot at each other. If for some reason Austin isn't on TV this week...then the problems he has with the WWF is probably bigger than people think. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Downhome Report post Posted March 23, 2002 Isn't it a bit suspicious that 1wrestling are 'scooping' all of these stories in the same week they were more or less singled out by the WWF as posting false information? To be honest, I don't believe anything on that website, especially if it's from Ryder. Austin will be on TV next week, no doubt about it. The WWF didn't complain about them reporting "false news" at all. Their entire thing was that they didn't appriciate ANYONE reporting stuff without the WWF's consent or without the WWF doing it in the first place. Stuff like the signings of Hall, Nash & Hogan, and the formation of the nWo, the split, and other stuff like that. The WWF simply doesn't want stories to "get out", and THAT is what the WWF was complaining about. By the way... ...what false stories are you exactly talking about over at 1wrestling? I seriously hope you aren't talking about the Brett Hart incident, as Brett himself just recently admitted that he WAS indeed in talks with the WWF to be a part of the Invasion angle. By the way, I'm not saying 1wrestling is ALWAYS right on what they report, because, let's get real here. NO ONE is always 100% right on everything. Things change and false information is reported sometime, that's just how Pro. Wrestling is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Austin3164life Report post Posted March 23, 2002 Somehow, this seems like the relationship Bret Hart and the WWF had after WM 12. It would be bad if Austin left for six months.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Some Guy Report post Posted March 23, 2002 Austin has no right to be pissed he has been on top for about 5 years and made millions of dollars. Seemingly all they asked him to do was work with Scott Hall, A former 4 IC champ, WCW US Champ, WCW TV champ, and many time WCW Tag champ, and then do a tainted job to the guy. I listed Hall's titles because that's what thecasual fans sees and knows, not that he is a recovering alcoholic. Austin intentionally screwed up the start of the most important angle of the year. He should realize that he is still an employee of the WWF and it's not the other way around. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mystery Eskimo Report post Posted March 23, 2002 I don't believe the situation is that bad, and I don't see the WWF being brave enough to embark on the split without Austin. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest teke184 Report post Posted March 23, 2002 Austin has a right to be pissed, as he carried the WWF last year almost singlehandedly after much of the upper card went down with injuries and The Rock was out for about 5 months to film Scorpion King. Considering the roster is about to split and The Rock is about to take ANOTHER sabbatical to make a film, the WWF needs Austin as much as ever. If Austin's demands turn out to be unreasonable, much in the vein of Undertaker squashing promising talents almost non-stop since losing to Austin at Judgment Day, then I'd say that the WWF is justified. However, I'd say that Austin is more concerned with the state of the WWF and its future, which is in younger guys like RVD and Edge rather than non-drawing hasbeens like Nash and Hall. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest muzanisa Report post Posted March 23, 2002 If he rubs up Vince the wrong way he'll be another Bret or Warrior. If Rock is taking more time off that just leaves the Undertaker, HHH, Hogan, Nash and Hall above the glass ceiling. Which should be more than enough to keep everyone down. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Mighty Damaramu Report post Posted March 23, 2002 I'm still behind Austin 100%. The guy carried the WWF on his back for the past year. Then these losers come in and suddenly Austin is stuck in the mid-card with the least-recognizable of the group. While Rock gets to fight for the title of "best ever" and HHH gets to win the undisputed title, despite being out for 8 months and not being worth a sh*t in the ring. Yeah I'd be pissed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted March 23, 2002 Austin has the WWF at a disadvantage that I don't know if everyone has considered. Rock is filming another movie this summer. So he'll be gone for several months. There is no way to tell if Hogan will still be over by then...and HHH isn't over now... So Austin is the only sure bet they have to carry the company by himself. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest caboose Report post Posted March 24, 2002 austin may be the most important man for the wwf this coming summer, but that doesn't mean he should trow a tantrum and wreck the nWo angle which is on an iron lung right now. what has disgusted me most about austin recently is his complete no selling of nWo attacks especially when hall sells his stunner almost as ridiculously as the rock. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mystery Eskimo Report post Posted March 24, 2002 Austin's attitude hasn't been ideal, but I think I'd have been pretty pissed off about the nWo coming in as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest cobainwasmurdered Report post Posted March 24, 2002 austin keeps it up and vince WILL fire him no matter how bad it'll hurt the company. Vince is a dick but he's not fool enough to let a lockeroom cancer like that to grow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest reverse knife edge Report post Posted March 24, 2002 Austin has every right to be pissed. Hulk Hogan and The Rock wrestling for best ever? Austin was the guy who carried the WWF attitude banner and the company itself to first place in the late '90s. Any match that purports to feature the representatives of the two WWF glory eras would have to include Austin. Instead, he's stuck with Scott Hall in the middle of the card. Scott Hall can't carry Steve Austin's jock -as a worker, or as a draw. Sticking him in that matchup was a slap in the face. Two best wrestlers in the WWF right now? Austin and Kurt Angle. Where are they? Playing second and third fiddle to a bunch of worthless stiffs. Hate to see what they do with Chris Benoit when he comes back. He's probably destined for a heated feud with Goldust or the Godfather. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted March 24, 2002 Austin didn't want to work with Hogan. That's his fault. So they went with Rock. Austin HAD to participate so they threw him Hall (because he was willing to be made to look like a complete no talent), and to a lesser extent Nash. Austin helped ruin the whole angle by being selfish. What's the difference between this and UT and DDP? Nothing except three bigger stars and a bigger angle was getting hurt. While Austin was gone, HHH and Rock were carrying the show, yet Rock jobs to any and everyone without a complaint. And even though no one has any proof of it, HHH is blasted by some of the most idiotic and convoluted conspiracy thoeries I've ever seen. If you all can hate HHH based on rumor, why is Austin getting off the hook with proof of his unprofessional behavior? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mystery Eskimo Report post Posted March 24, 2002 I think we're all willing to give Austin a chance or two because he has worked hard, put on great matches and been a team player. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest goodhelmet Report post Posted March 24, 2002 In austin's defense, his booking has been horrible since the title unification. He has also had no problem jobbing to Angle, RVD, Jericho and HHH. I think Austin was completely justified in not jobbing to Hall since Hall was 1) a big ? going into the show justifying not giving Kevin Nash a match and 2) Hall has not done anything to deserve a push or a win over Austin. Also, from a storyline point, it would have made more sense for Vince to have interfered in the Taker-Flair match to progress the storylines. That's the writers fault for not creating good reasonable coherent storylines, not Austins. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest areacode212 Report post Posted March 24, 2002 Yep, I would be pissed if I were Austin as well. And I don't think he should bear the responsibility of "screwing up" the split angle by refusing the run-in at WrestleMania. Are they saying that the writers are so incompetent that they couldn't think of ANY other way to build up the roster split than by having Vince cause the Austin/Hall match to have a screwy ending? I think most of the people on this board could easily come up with some decent fantasy booking to build up to the split without using the Austin/Hall feud. This is so fucking typical of Vince. He would rather screw with an established and loyal (but stubborn) worker than think up of a way to compromise and work with them (somewhere, Bret is saying "I told you so"). Vince is telling WWF.com to pretend Austin doesn't exist? Austin came back from a fucking broken neck and worked his ass off for all of 2001 (and becoming considered Wrestler of the Year, along with Mutoh), despite the fact that he was the top star and didn't need to work that hard, despite being asked to turn heel and losing merchandise sales, despite a hand injury at KOTR, despite shitty writing and booking from Vince's crew, and this is the thanks he gets? Not getting mentioned on TV and being ignored by WWF.com? Yeah, he made a lot of money, but still...he should be treated with more respect. Nothing against Scott Hall (he's my favorite wrestler of all the nWo members), but he is easily the least recognizable of the group. Compared to Rock vs. Hogan, an Austin vs. Hall match looks like a Smackdown main event. Now I'm starting to know how Anglesault feels. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mystery Eskimo Report post Posted March 24, 2002 >>>He has also had no problem jobbing to Angle, RVD, Jericho and HHH. <<< Very true. He put over Angle brilliantly during the Invasion. I think he has a good wrestling knowledge and realised that putting over the nWo would prolong a doomed to failure angle. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted March 24, 2002 Well, if Austin hadn't been allowed to make the NWO look like idiots, perhaps there would have been more heat on Hall (who has alot of it now) and the match in general. And many make it seem as if Austin is the only one who makes sacrifices for that company. Everyone in the WWF has to go out and bust their ass in one way or another and take one for the team. Look at the Rock. He's booked to lose on many occasions, he's always getting his ass kicked when some mid-card heel needs a rub, he was booed against Hogan despite being the face, yet he didn't refuse to join with Hogan in fear of being overshadowed. He know's what's best for the company. Austin has to remember that the WWF's strongest consistent ratings were AFTER he was sidelined. They don't really need him. Besides, if Hogan is not fucked up by the WWF, they won't need Austin anymore. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest goodhelmet Report post Posted March 24, 2002 "Everyone in the WWF has to go out and bust their ass in one way or another and take one for the team. " Not Kevin Nash "Look at the Rock. He's booked to lose on many occasions, he's always getting his ass kicked when some mid-card heel needs a rub, he was booed against Hogan despite being the face, yet he didn't refuse to join with Hogan in fear of being overshadowed. He know's what's best for the company." Rock also didn't have to experience Hogan in WCW where upon Hogan's return, Austin (the next big thing) was unceremoniously dumped. Austin has had more than enough reason to be suspicious of working with Hogan or Nash and Hall. And if Vince has proven one thing in the past, company loyalty doesn't mean shit so why should Austin have to 'take one for the team' so to speak? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted March 24, 2002 Nash has already taken one by being one of Austin's whipping boys in the early days of the NWO. It was kind of stupid of him to complain about Rock weakening his character when Austin had beat him to it after a 330 pound Nash was taken down by a slow-mo net shot. And just because some fill that Vince doesn't appreciate loyalty (Billy Gunn?) then Austin should just make his own rules. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest areacode212 Report post Posted March 24, 2002 Rock also didn't have to experience Hogan in WCW where upon Hogan's return, Austin (the next big thing) was unceremoniously dumped. Austin has had more than enough reason to be suspicious of working with Hogan or Nash and Hall. And if Vince has proven one thing in the past, company loyalty doesn't mean shit so why should Austin have to 'take one for the team' so to speak? Yeah, good point. What did Hogan ever do for Austin in WCW? Not a thing. Austin ended up dropping the US title in a pathetic 27-second match to "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, who (surprise!) was one of Hogan's buddies that he brought in. Why should Austin have done a thing for Hogan? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest reverse knife edge Report post Posted March 24, 2002 "Besides, if Hogan is not fucked up by the WWF, they won't need Austin anymore." Yeah, the WWF should put their eggs in the basket of an egomaniacal, manipulative 50 year old. I'm not gonna deny the great reaction he's been getting since Wrestlemania. But I am gonna deny that this little nostalgia trip is anything to base long term strategy on. If I remember correctly, WWF fans were sick to death of Hogan in 1992. WCW fans were booing him out of the arena in 1995. We're talking about the guy who held down Sting, Austin and Foley so he could push Duggan, Tenta and Bootyman. But now in 2002 he's suddenly the savior? How soon we forget. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest goodhelmet Report post Posted March 24, 2002 "And just because some fill that Vince doesn't appreciate loyalty (Billy Gunn?) then Austin should just make his own rules." No Austin shouldn't make his own rules but when Vince is threw with him, Austin will have to continue his career with the name he built. It's the same reason I agreed Hogan should never have put over Jarrett or Kidman. The same reason Jarrett deserved a big payday to put over Chyna since his contract was up. The same reason Flair refused to put over Lex Luger in 1998. Sometimes, right is right but wrong is jobbing to an unworthy opponent. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest areacode212 Report post Posted March 24, 2002 And just because some fill that Vince doesn't appreciate loyalty (Billy Gunn?) then Austin should just make his own rules. Are you honestly comparing Billy Gunn to Steve Austin? Tell me you didn't just say that. Austin had many ****+ matches, helped bring the WWF mainstream, made a ton of money for Vince and carried the company when Rock was out. Billy Gunn couldn't even carry the Smoking Gunns. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted March 24, 2002 You can turn anything marketable into money, including Nostalgia. VW Beetle anyone? If Hogan is booked right, the fans will love Hogan again. As for Austin he can get on the ship or find another one. As long as the Rock, Hogan and to a lesser extent a bad-ass tweener HHH, the WWF doesn't really need Austin. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted March 24, 2002 And just because some fill that Vince doesn't appreciate loyalty (Billy Gunn?) then Austin should just make his own rules. Are you honestly comparing Billy Gunn to Steve Austin? Tell me you didn't just say that. Austin had many ****+ matches, helped bring the WWF mainstream, made a ton of money for Vince and carried the company when Rock was out. Billy Gunn couldn't even carry the Smoking Gunns. I'm not comparing Austin to Gunn? Where the #### did you get that from? Turn your smark mode off for a minute and comprehend. The Billy Gunn was thrown in there to show that if you hang around long enough that Vince may find it in his heart to give you a push or three whether anyone feels you deserve it or not. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mystery Eskimo Report post Posted March 24, 2002 Hogan's popularity will not last - nostalgia can only keep him over for a while. How can you say the WWF doesn't need Austin, one of its best workers and most over face? Ridiculous. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
