Austin's backstage antics...

[Guest AlwaysPissedOff]

"Pretty much all of last years product sucked ass and I don't remember Austin taking an ethical stand against the WWF producing bad product.I guess as long as Austin is the star it doesn't matter how shitty the product is."

 

Right, Big Poppa Smurf; the Invasion angle - as huge an angle as we'll ever get - was screwed up big time.  Austin was the featured wrestler in this botched angle, as we know.  However, I also read of no complaints from him during this time, probably because he was getting anywhere from 30 - 40 minutes of screen time each show.  (He also was making the entire Alliance group look like a bunch of cowering bitches - something he tried to replicate with the nWo, somewhat less successfully).  Where was his concern for the product and the other wrestlers then?

Well, the Alliance were already looking like cowering bitches long before Austin joined them, so blame that one on the booking team.

[Guest Maurizio C... Version 2]

Perfect Bo's post made me think about this Austin and Hall situation...

 

Ok, I drink. For the past few weeks I've been getting drunk any night. I usually pck a few beers, get drunk in some pub, come home with taxi and go to sleep so my mom (who knows my problem, she ain't an idiot) doesn't see me.

 

The differencies between me and Hall:

 

Me - I work at a mcdonald and gets paid little more than 900 a month to cook shitty hamburgers and get generally treated like shit by some 23 years old asshole.

 

Hall - he's a fucking millionaire. he doesn't *need* a job.

 

Me - I got no wife, no girlfriend, no son. i'm a lonely bitch. So much that a few weeks back I made some blood analysis because it was believed I had cancer. The tought of finally closing with this fucking *life* of mine were pretty good, but no (another story)...

 

Hall - he's been married and got children. he had a wife who loved him and protected him in front of the medias until the day she exploded and had to say "fuck you" to him and his friends, nash and ddp, for pushing scott's return on nitro.

 

Me - I choose to drink because that makes me feel good, because that renders me almost unconscious at times so even if I put a gun to my head I'd probably shoot without thinking = good. I'm not asking for anyone's help. Hell, I'm demanding to die before reaching 30, with a diseased liver, happy and drunk with some crack bitch on my lap, fucking me for money.

 

Hall - he's got a problem, too bad he's in an enviroment where drinking on the job is not so good for you and your co-workers. he wanna wrestle? then quit drinking. Too bad h tried for over 5 years now and he's still in the same place (remember the smackdown incident?).

 

have I made myself clear?

[Guest godthedog]

"Pretty much all of last years product sucked ass and I don't remember Austin taking an ethical stand against the WWF producing bad product.I guess as long as Austin is the star it doesn't matter how shitty the product is."

 

Right, Big Poppa Smurf; the Invasion angle - as huge an angle as we'll ever get - was screwed up big time.  Austin was the featured wrestler in this botched angle, as we know.  However, I also read of no complaints from him during this time, probably because he was getting anywhere from 30 - 40 minutes of screen time each show.  (He also was making the entire Alliance group look like a bunch of cowering bitches - something he tried to replicate with the nWo, somewhat less successfully).  Where was his concern for the product and the other wrestlers then?

 

i don't think this argument really works.  yes, the alliance angle was blown, but the television was still at least relatively entertaining & the wrestling was still good.  i don't think there's a single person on this board who would prefer to watch the 2002 crap to the 2001 crap.  even though i bitched about the quality last year, it never entered my mind to stop watching wrestling; two weeks ago i was ready to stop watching it altogether.  the in-ring product SUCKS now, mostly thanks to trips and the new world older.  the out of ring product is flat-out boring now, also mostly thanks to trips and the new world older.  

 

last year, they were also pushing some new people: stasiak, storm, rob van dam, kanyon, booker t, etc.  the only talent being built up now is lesnar & rob van dam (& even his push is debatable).

 

so the comparison to 2001 and 2002 doesn't work.

[Guest mastermind]

Not to sound mean or anything, but Hall didn't look all drunk and out of it at WrestleMania to me. All this explanation stuff about drinking still doesn't excuse Austin no-showing tv and house shows. Please he aint doing this for the other wrestlers. Give me a break. I drink heavy myself at times, so it's not like I'm ignorant to the state of drinking. Hall seemed very in touch with his match with Austin. I never heard this from people like Meltzer and if he reported it than I stand corrected(not about Austin no-showing though). It seems like the 13 year old sources are responsible for this "news item". I will ask this question again. If the nWo don't come in then how does the wwf do the split and what are the matches for WrestleMania.

No one has come up with a better scenario to get people talking about the wwf because people did start talking with the mention of the nWo. The reason some things didn't rise at the mere mention of their name is that the wwf is predictable with the formula. They already told fans the group would show up at the ppv, why bother tune in to the product if it didn't appeal to you in the first place with the current roster?

 

Maybe we have non-sensical storylines because of situations like this we don't know. The wwf was stale admit it. Take away Hall and Nash from RAW and the wwf is in trouble in terms of fan appeal with only Austin. Of course who the hell knows if Austin is even going to show up tonight. The insiders on sports radio couldn't even confirm it. I admit I don't understand the wwf's reasoning on splitting the way they did, but we shall see. I wouldn't even be so on this topic if it wasn't for the hypcorisy really. Why doesn't Austin sit on the meetings like Triple H? If he then isn't allowed to and he walked off to send a message I would completely understand he is doing this for the other wrestlers and the company's direction. This other stuff though is ego because he's changing up storylines to fit his way AND no showing. How is that helping anything?

[Guest Maurizio C... Version 2]

Vince has a history on not giving a damn about his own wrestlers, even main eventers (Bret, Foley, Shawn, Owen) so I guess Austin is just protecting himself since Vince and the writers just don't give a fuck as long as money pours in.

[Guest El Psycho Diablo]

*My spelling isn't the best. Lack of sleep over several days will do that.*

 

I hate to break it to anyone who thinks so, but Austin is not some sort of noble hero for doing this. I'm tired of this sick little "..oh, it's okay, because it's Austin.." crap. It's not right, no matter WHO is pulling it. It's okay for Stone Cold to cry like a baby, ruin a major angle (or two), and sit his ass at home because he dosen't like the nWo?

 

Oh hell no.

 

Just because Austin is a good worker dosen't mean he should get a special exemption for this. Personally, I could care less.

 

What does he have to cry about?

 

He's been the focus of the promotion almost every time he wasn't injured (since like what, 1998?). He's had his nose stuck in every major angle, or it was based around him. People keep spouting about how Austin saved the company. He sure didn't do it singlehandedly. If not Austin, Vince would have just found another star willing to work a program with him. McMahon is the reason Austin got as big as he is now.

 

He's a multi-time world champion, including most of 2001, which honestly, he did not deserve. He was also the 'leader' of the WCW/ECW invasion, despite being WWF for the last so many years, and blaming WCW for 'screwing him over'. He's got a multi million dollar contract, and his merchandise has always sold well.

 

And now he's bitching because he's not main event at WM? I guess he didn't like the fact that it didn't focus solely on him this year. Boo hoo. Everybody and their brother knew last year Austin would walk out of Wrestlemania the champion. It was -that- obvious. Austin has always gotten a rediculous ammount of airtime. Promos, promos, promos, and more promos. I don't guess we remember at the invasion, when he was out there for 40 minutes a week. How many backstage segments had Austin's face plastered in them. How many members of the alliance he humiliated without them ever getting payback. I don't guess we remember his one night return as Superman when he singlehandedly destroyed the Alliance, for no explainable reason.

 

How about his numerous Royal Rumble wins? Wrestlemania wins?

 

Oh, that dosen't matter, because he's being screwed over.

 

He isn't the single focus of our TV. Waah, waah, waah.

 

People blame Triple H for politics, and holding people down.

 

Austin is not the 'lone young superstar' being held down here. He's an established main eventer, playing politics, and trying to hold his spot.

 

Perhaps it's time we realized Stone Cold isn't the perfect superstar. He's got just as much an ego as the people he said would start trouble..

 

..the nWo.

 

We saw how that angle turned out, didn't we?

[Guest mastermind]

Vince has a history on not giving a damn about his own wrestlers, even main eventers (Bret, Foley, Shawn, Owen) so I guess Austin is just protecting himself since Vince and the writers just don't give a fuck as long as money pours in.

Yep, Bret Hart really was in the right about the direction of the wwf in 1997 that the wwf went broke in 1998. If it was up to him he probably would still have the belt carrying it around having buried Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin in the process proclaiming to be an 80's good guy. He still goes around bragging about Austin not beating him. I guess those two wins against Austin he was looking out for the business. I guess Vince wasn't loyal to Bret by giving him TWO wins against Austin. Why was Austin jobbing out every damn week to people like Savio Vega in 1996 when he was obviously over? I'm a Bret mark, but I think some forget that in 1997 the internet was calling Bret Hart a bore with his 5 moves of doom. I don't even want to rag on the man as he's been through a lot. His stubborness caused his screwjob in Montreal plain and simple. He didn't want to job to Vince's champion. Of course Vince is going to have the don't give a damn attitude.

 

Shawn Michaels? Hell, another guy I'm a mark for, but this guy didn't even want to job to Austin with a horrible back. He might be walking around the wwf with the strap if he could allow it. I want the man back as any fan, but I can see how this guy is a pain in the ass. Again, reason for Vince having a don't give a damn attitude to Shawn.

 

Well, no one knows what Foley's reasons are. I really can't say anything negative on this man as he put people over willingly knowing his position unlike Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels which makes him different. However, if Foley's plans were to appear on television to promote more books I'm for one glad the wwf put a nix to that idea. I guess some forget how Foley's usefulness was dying a slow death with his silly plugs every other damn show. His commissioner role was also gold turned to crud with his magical papers.

 

There is no excuse with Owen. Vince was a jackass for continuing the show I agree. A man just friggin DIED. How could you just have people perform in the ring he just died in? The wrestlers themselves should be ashamed, but who am I to judge? Where was Mr. Righteous Steve Austin in that scenario? Yeah, looking out for the other wrestlers and the business. Oh, he was in the main event championship match.

[Guest Maurizio C... Version 2]

I just guess Austin doesn't wanna finish like Jimmy Snuka or Harley Race: former main eventers turned into sideshow acts by Vince.