Austin/wwf update.....

[Guest goodhelmet]

"As for Austin he can get on the ship or find another one."

 

This is a classic case of cutting off your nose to spite your face. Vince got rid of Nash and Hall (or let them leave, whatever) and it almost cost him his company. When you just let talent disappear it hurts your product and the main goal should be to make your product stronger. Austin jobbing to hall does not help this goal.

 

Austin is an integral part of the WWF and even in 2000, when Austin was gone, great matches carried the product to help fill the void that Austin's injury created. With Hogan and a half-ass HHH carrying the matches, the weak storylines AND weak wrestling could do more harm than good.

[Guest]

Maybe I'm the only person looking at it this way, but...

 

With the split coming, that means Austin might not have to work with these nWo dolts, and there will be no reason for him to be called selfish by these smarks who are saying that Austin just needs to do his job. I am in the argument of people that say that Austin has busted his ass off for the company, and that he (to quote Austin himself) "he doesn't deserve this!" (MY name is Stone Cold Steve Austin, and I don't deserve the reaction I'm hearin'!"..just one of his many personas besides "WHAT?!").

 

But I'm looking at it this way. Worst case scenario, Austin gets on bad terms with the WWF...And the next thing we know, Austin is all of a sudden working with another upstart wrestling promotion. Sound familiar? Next thing we know, this upstart promotion gets a huge boost from Austin and a large group of overlooked WWF prospects (Jerry Lynn, anyone?) and we have a Monday Night TV Deal.

 

Monday Night Wars Part 2, and maybe, JUST MAYBE, with some added competition, the WWF will get better. Or at least if they don't, at least there's an alternative to watch now.

 

But maybe I'm looking too far into the future...

[Guest goodhelmet]

yeah, IU thought the case would be closed once the split occurred because Austin would be in the group with out the NWO BUT the reports are he may be left off tv next week as well to send him a message.

If Austin did get shafted from the WWF, I think he would experience the same problem Hogan did in starting an organization, finding a channel that will fund wrestling and give it a reasonable timeslot.

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

Austin will settle down, because Vince won't cave in to whatever his demands are. Austin needs to grow up, he got away with not working with Jeff Jarrett but he won't get away with it this time.

[Guest goodhelmet]

"Austin will settle down, because Vince won't cave in to whatever his demands are. Austin needs to grow up, he got away with not working with Jeff Jarrett but he won't get away with it this time."

 

Actually, he probably will because Austin is actually justified in his actions. Then again, McMahon could toss Austin aside to send a message to the rest of the boys. Will Austin be cast out with little fanfare ala Foley or be the victim of another screwjob ala Montreal? It will be interesting to find out

[Guest Austin3164life]

If Austin somehow gets fired, or is screwed ala Montreal screwjob, then I'm not going to watch wrestling.  If you were Austin, do you honestly think you'd want to elevate a recovering alcoholic who's heat wont last more than a few months?  If Austin continued his feud with Booker T, and elevated him, I doubt he'd have a problem.  He may be a redneck, but his wrestling knowledge is very avid.  He jobbed to RVD on SD when RVD started becoming massivley popular.  He jobbed to Angle knowing that America had become more patriotic, he jobbed to Jericho the greatest honor ever knowing Jericho needed a huge elevation in his career.  All of a sudden, thesmarks guys get pissed when Austin doesn't job to Scott Hall, who is past his prime, and lost his chance to become huge.  Even with Austin's lack of appearance on television, his t-shirt still outsells everything else the WWF puts out.  If the WWF loses Austin now when they need him most, it's going to hurt them a lot.  I don't blame Austin for his lack of motivation, when you're referred to as the Greatest Champion ever, and you have a midcard match with Hall, who is trying to become a fluid wrestler again(I have no problem with Hall, by the way).  Austin is arguably the biggest asset to the WWF right now, and I'm not sure Vince wants to lose him......

[Guest Mystery Eskimo]

of course he dosn't. I think it shows how much power Austin has that he was able to alter the result of the WM match in the first place. He will get away with it this time, I think it will only be a problem if he consistently starts complaining about booking, which he won't - as has been said, he has no problem putting *appropriate* people over.

[Guest Austin3164life]

Exactly my point.  He has put over the right workers right when they needed to be put over.  Triple H, Angle, RVD, and Jericho.  Not to mention he tapped to Benoit & Jericho, then Angle, while being pushed as a man who never tapped in his career.  Hogan's nostalgic presence can't last forever (WCW 1994-95, Hogan was booed).  His persona represents a very old era, and can't get over in the new millenium.  Austin's character is the epitome of a badass, and can be over anytime, as long as Austin's booked well.  If a screwjob happens to Austin, I think he and Bret (who were actually friends) would start their own fed.......

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

I see this as similar to WCW in 1991, with the Ric Flair problems.  Flair was the only one in the entire company that knew what the should be doing, and they railroaded him out of town.

 

There was a re-run in 1994 as well, although Flair stuck to WCW as a JTTS for some reason.  I imagine it is because Bischoff wouldn't let him out of his contract.

[Guest Mystery Eskimo]

Off topic, I really hope they let Flair have some booking input into "his" Raw. At least the man has some idea of wrestling history and significance, until S*******e.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

Agreed.  Ric Flair has booked during some of the best periods in wrestling history.  He is not an active wrestler anymore, so its not like he will put over himself, which was the main argument against him before.

[Guest]

<< He jobbed to RVD on SD when RVD started becoming massivley popular. >>

 

In a fluke when he got distracted by Angle's music playing, and he got the win back at No Mercy.

 

<< He jobbed to Angle knowing that America had become more patriotic >>

 

Again, a controversial decision since he had reached the ropes, and he regained the title a few weeks later.

 

<< he jobbed to Jericho the greatest honor ever knowing Jericho needed a huge elevation in his career. >>

 

Either you're referring to Vengeance(where it took Booker T's interference with the title belt to give Jericho the win) or the tag title match last May(where it was Triple H's errant sledgehammer shot that finished off Austin).

 

Just saying, is all.

[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

You know what would be glorious? If Austin's absense was simply due to the WWF giving him the week off, and all this bullshit was simply the WWF and Austin working the dirtsheets and 1wrestling in particular.

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

that would be glorious but how likely is that?

[Guest teke184]

For the WWF to be working the dirtsheets like that, it would imply that the WWF has been thinking at least two weeks or so in advance because that's when the stories of Vince-Austin arguments started.

 

Since the WWF doesn't even know what it will be booking from one week to the next, I SERIOUSLY doubt they're organized enough to pull something like this and have it work this well.

[Guest godthedog]

ok...i, for one, am not really buying this "austin & vince are furious at each other" story.  the ratings have been in such a slump that he put ric flair, kevin nash, scott hall & hulk hogan back on the roster, all on contracts of more than the main roster is getting, despite their having a combined age of over 180.  the message?  he wants to get the ratings up at all costs.  he doesn't care who he has to hire or whose dick he has to suck to get the ratings up.

 

if vince hired these people to get the ratings up, do you really think involve himself in a huge dispute with the number one man in the company?  vince doesn't want to lose any viewers right now.  do you think he would have the cajones to keep steve austin off television (or even fire him), if he brought in the NEW WORLD FREAKING ORDER to keep the ratings from dropping?  the company could survive without him, but come on: would you be willing to take that kind of ratings dive just to send a message to your (already disgruntled) locker room?

 

i'm betting that if austin was as unhappy with this angle as rumors have been saying, vince would give him whatever he wanted to keep him happy & motivated.  he'll be on television next week.

[Guest]

Austin works for the WWF. He is an employee. One that the WWF put over. Think Austin is the most popular wrestler in wrestling history? Ever think about why he is? Vince McMahon made him so. Plain and simple.

 

I would like to see any one of you walk into your place of employment, refuse to do your job, not show up for a week, and tell me if you still have a job left to return to. It is bogus.

 

This is absolutely ridiculous. I suppose using political clout with the company to keep another wrestler down is a heinous crime but using said clout to throw a tantrum and get your way is alright.

 

The WWF does not NEED Steve Austin. No one man can put himself above the business.

 

Would you like to know what I would do if I were Vince McMahon? Dig it:

 

I would fire Austin. Publically. Right in the middle of the ring during Raw. I would run him into the ground. I would do everything that I could to bury his name (the same name that I created). Not only would I be firing someone who DESERVES to be fired but I would also be making myself the most over and hated heel in the company. This would come in handy before my promo was over. Right before I had finished ranting my next big star would come out. It could be anyone that I chose. I will use Benoit for this example. Benoit comes out and I let him shoot. He can tell me about how I have degraded the value of wrestling as a sport. He can slam me again and again for using my company to put myself and my family over on national television at the expense of the wrestlers who deserve to be here. He could call me all kinds of names and then he would side with Austin by telling me that enough is enough. He is not going to sit idly by while I chase out the biggest name in the company to satisfy my already bloated ego. He would proceed to kick the crap out of me and then lock in the crossface.

 

Bingo. I have solved all of my problems at once. I have fired an employee who no longer deserves to work for me. I have run his name into the ground as best I can, taking back what is rightfully mine (Vince made Stone Cold what he was. No matter how good Austin may have been he never could have reached the heights he had without Vince. Look at RVD if you want proof). I will have created my next huge star (Siding with Austin and siding against Vince are the two quickest ways to become popular faces and Benoit would have accomplished both in one night) and set an example for every other one of my employees.

 

Then, just to be an arrogant prick (which Vince deserves to be if he wants to) I would call Austin personally and wish him the best of luck with his continued career and toss in a Hogan analogy just to ice the cake. Austin would be nothing without the WWF. What would he do without a WCW to jump to? Start his own promotion. Good luck with that.

 

I honestly like Austin. I think he is a great wrestler. But he is way out of line. Anyone who has to break their back to make a living without being appreciated for their efforts should be pissed with the man right now though.

 

Get back in there and do your #### job.

[Guest godthedog]

firing austin for not sucking it up for the company while paying kevin nash 6 figures to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING just seems kind of self-defeating to me.  when vince signed the new world older, he gave the inmates the key to the asylum.  he said to the locker room "i don't care how much of a prima donna you are, as long as you make me money."

 

if austin really is acting like a bitch, i think he SHOULD just shut up & take one for the company.  however, vince doesn't have any real justification, moral or practical, to fire him.  i know i'd probably stop watching wrestling if he wasn't on it, as he's the only top guy who can ALWAYS be relied on to entertain me.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Hey Logan, would you fire HHH if he was burying people?

 

If HHH was actually in the back, using his power to keep people down...would you fire him?

 

Oh...wait...he's fucking your daughter...

 

I guess some double standards are acceptable...

 

...if anyone actually beleives HHH has the power to do that...

 

...which I of course...don't

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

i just want to say that if Hall had refused to job to austin we'd be all over him.

 

carry on.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Well...Hall and Nash have been backstage problems in the past...so FIRE THEM

 

We all know that something is up with HHH...FIRE HIM

 

Hogan has refused to put people over...FIRE HIM

 

Austin has to go...FIRE HIM

 

Flair wouldn't put over Luger...FIRE HIM

 

Rock takes off too much time to make movies...FIRE HIM

 

I don't like the way Angle has been looking at me lately...FIRE HIM

 

Jericho couldn't carry HHH...FIRE HIM

 

Too many of them internet types like Benoit...FIRE HIM

 

Booker T is getting face pops as a heel...FIRE HIM

 

Taker is teh backstage leader...FIRE HIM

 

*****What you have just witnessed is what happens when you overact to a situation...also known as the only way that RVD gets elavated.

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

lol

[Guest Dangerous A]

Right now, Vince is all about the ratings. Why do you think his daughter and other people the "smarks" don't want to see are all over tv. 2 weeks ago on Meltzer's site, he had ratings numbers as to which superstars were garnering viewers and which would lose viewers. Now I know his numbers won't be all that accurate, but Meltzer has no life and thus has time to do these things. Steph gets quite a number of fans when she is on tv. I think the wwf doesn't listen for the pops and what the arena atmoshere is like when someone comes out, they just care about the rating. Case in point(don't bite my head off, bps) RVD. RVD gets raucous reactions from crowds night in and night out. According to Meltzer's numbers, RVD pushes viewers away. See, they only care about the ratings.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

I'm not going to bite your head off...

 

but I will say this about those ratings breakdowns he does...

 

When you look at Raw and Smackdown #s every week...you see a pattern.

 

THe opening 20 minute interview has viewers...the end of hour one/top of hour 2 go up again...and the ratings ALWAYS go up for the overrun (regardless of what is on it.)

 

20 minute promo ends...people turn during the commercials...having checked in to see what was going down tonight.

 

After the break...RVD';s music hits so he can curtain jerk and Meltzers #'s blame him for all the people lost during the break.

 

If RVD were on during one of the high points of the arc...he would have a +# next to his name.

 

That's why guys that always open the show with the interview...appear at the crucial hour switch in the middle...and the guys who end the show always have the positive #s.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Just to sum up that last post...

 

I think it would be more telling (and fair) if someone did a ratings breakdown to see how individual wrestlers fare in the different spots on the card.

 

For example...it is entirely possible that RVD is always on Raw right after the 20 minute interview...because he loses LESS viewers than anyone else.

 

You're always going to lose viewers after the opening of the show.  Perhaps RVD doesn't lose as many as most...so that's his position.

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

ratings breakdowns mean less than shit

[Guest Dangerous A]

This is very true. In the ratings game, it is all about placement. With the split, I am interested to see where a lot of the talent who were not in favorable rating positions before end up in the next several weeks.

[Guest]

"Hey Logan, would you fire HHH if he was burying people?

 

If HHH was actually in the back, using his power to keep people down...would you fire him?

 

Oh...wait...he's fucking your daughter...

 

I guess some double standards are acceptable...

 

...if anyone actually beleives HHH has the power to do that...

 

...which I of course...don't"

 

I am going to attempt to give you my opinion on this matter, but first I must say that this situation is a bit different from the current Austin situation. Triple H has not pulled a no show.

Austin has. That would be an issue for me if you were my employee.

 

If Triple H were keeping younger talent down by influencing the booking team to place them in mid-card matches when it is obvious that they should not be main eventers I would not fire him. I would lose a TON of respect for the man, I would be extremely disappointed, and I would probably no longer be a mark for him, but if he were my employee, I would not fire him. Corporate backstabbing goes on in other businesses everyday. It comes with the territory. That does not make it right, but it is a part of the business and doing so does not go against any kind of corporate policy (that I know of). He would be a scumbag, but he would be an employed scumbag. Honestly though, I see a lot of people accusing him of this, but does he really do it? He did not job a lot for a while there, but at the time I always assumed it was because they were trying to make him a credible champion and push him into the upper echelon. And he always makes his opponents look good during matches. At least in my opinion he does. I may be wrong though. I may consider myself a smark but I am definitely not an insider. I get all of my information from you guys (internet fans and writers). If he really does keep people down just let me know (factually) and a lot of my viewpoints about the man will change.

 

However, if he was keeping someone down by REFUSING to work with someone because that person was beneath him, and then took an unannounced sabbatical, yes, I would fire him. That is inexcusable, especially considering the fact that the only reason this other person is beneath him is because I put him where he is in the first place.

 

As for your second post, I see your point. I was over-reacting a bit. I still consider myself to be emotionally attached to wrestling in an extreme manner. It kind of got under my skin that I see so many people bashing my favorite wrestler, but nobody really says anything when Austin does something like this, which seems to be concrete news. My apologies for blowing things a bit out of proportion. What did you think of my idea though? WOuld it have worked?

[Guest Nater]

Ok, the targets of the NWO were the two biggest guys in the view of the public. Rock and Austin, you can debate that Undertaker or Angle etc are more popular sure.. but still Rock and Austin are pillars regardless.

 

Now why pick these two guys? Well I'm sure they agreed to it, if you want to elevate Hall you can pit him against the big boys straight off or just throw him at Kane, Show, RVD and work him up from there since he is a regular midcarder anyhow.

 

Hogan vs. Rock was a good choice because Hogan cant really "pass the torch" to Austin since he's likewise pretty aged. Rock can surely do what Hogan did 15 years from now and probably be on Hogan's level too

 

So.. back to Austin. Considering Hogan's match and Nash's "condition" Hall was the remander and I'm sure with Austins pull he could have just as easily said no to dealing with the NWO angle, although his innevitable run-ins would come around at some point.

 

Austin, if in the pickle that he is in, could have just as easily not been there if he said "no" .. wtg redneck

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Eh...it wasn't directed at you so much as something I thought was funny.

 

Truth be told...a lot of my posts are just that.

 

Your idea would be a great angle...and I think that it would work (its reminicsent of Owen returning to Raw after the screwjob...which worked very well until HBK refused to work with Owen).

 

The question is will you get more money out of the angle then you will from having lost Austin for the last few years he is able to wrestle.

 

I don't think you would...if only because Austin is the only person who you can trust to draw while the Rock is out making movies.