Austin/Michaels in 1997

[Australian Pride 0]

Does anyone knwo what was going to happen between these two in 1997?

 

They were tag champs, but wrestled at King of the Ring in a no-contest. Soon after that, Bret Hart gave HBK a backstage bashing, so HBK took off for a few months.

 

So where was the Michaels/Austin thing leading? I assume they originally had HBK in mind to be in Team USA at Canadian Stampede, which would of had him on the same side as Austin, but surely they had some sort of match planned between the two to blow off the tension. Anyone know?

[Precious Roy 0]

My guess is it was leading exactly where they ended up, an Austin/Michaels feud for Mania 98, the simply lost out on the middle portion, which would have no doubt seen Austin somewhat involved in HBK's gradual heel turn. They definitely had a breakup of the team planned, though I rather liked Foley filling in for HBK and think HBK's time off was a blessing in disguise.

 

And that KOTR match was really, really good, one of the rare times where I think a non-finish was the best finish.

[cawthon777 0]

They were tag champs, but wrestled at King of the Ring in a no-contest. Soon after that, Bret Hart gave HBK a backstage bashing, so HBK took off for a few months.

 

So where was the Michaels/Austin thing leading? I assume they originally had HBK in mind to be in Team USA at Canadian Stampede, which would of had him on the same side as Austin, but surely they had some sort of match planned between the two to blow off the tension. Anyone know?

Shawn was only gone for 4 weeks.

 

I really don't think anything further between the two was planned. To have another match where one of them actually lies down for the other wouldn't have been a good idea at that point.

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

My guess is it was leading exactly where they ended up, an Austin/Michaels feud for Mania 98, the simply lost out on the middle portion, which would have no doubt seen Austin somewhat involved in HBK's gradual heel turn. They definitely had a breakup of the team planned, though I rather liked Foley filling in for HBK and think HBK's time off was a blessing in disguise.

 

And that KOTR match was really, really good, one of the rare times where I think a non-finish was the best finish.

Austin/Hart was the planned Mania XIV match. Not Shawn/Austin.

 

The idea was HBK/HHH with HHH taking over and going full heel with Shawn back to the babyface.

 

Then montreal happened.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

The original plan was Hart / Michaels for KOTR, but Bret was injured so Austin took his place.

[Guest LooneyTune]

Was Bret really injured, or was that kayfabed?

[Precious Roy 0]

He was really injured, and Bret was never going to make it to Mania XIV. The tentative plan may have been Bret/Austin but I really doubt Vince was banking on that match happening.

[Precious Roy 0]

The original plan was Hart / Michaels for KOTR, but Bret was injured so Austin took his place.

The "10 minute challenge"? I'm kind of glad that match never happened.

[reign 0]

Man I wish I had all those Raws to watch over again as I think that that was the best period of time storyline and wrestling wise in the WWE...does anybody know around that time if Raw was the only thing worth watching during the H.F/Austin/Michaels feud or did any thing good happen on the secondary shows...I thnk maybe Superstars or Shotgun Saturday Night...can't wait for that era to start when 24/7 comes on...

[cawthon777 0]

Superstars stopped airing new matches in March 97.

 

I remember Shotgun having some decent matches. Owen vs. Goldust, etc.

[Steve J. Rogers 0]

Does anyone knwo what was going to happen between these two in 1997?

 

They were tag champs, but wrestled at King of the Ring in a no-contest. Soon after that, Bret Hart gave HBK a backstage bashing, so HBK took off for a few months.

 

So where was the Michaels/Austin thing leading? I assume they originally had HBK in mind to be in Team USA at Canadian Stampede, which would of had him on the same side as Austin, but surely they had some sort of match planned between the two to blow off the tension. Anyone know?

Just to add, I think the whole point was to show how much a "lone wolf" the Stone Cold character was.

 

Here is a face that not only "refues" to receive help from a face who is a former champ, fellow Texan, and also has an "The enemy of my enemy" thing going for him but actually can't stand the guy and would rather fight him than be partners with him

 

Steve

[Precious Roy 0]

Oh yeah, that period was the greatest stuff the "Stone Cold" character did, and totally set the stage for everything that followed. The entire character was realized in 97, and everything until his heel turn was basically coasting off of that.

[Austin3164life 0]

After KOTR 1997, there weren't any plans for Austin to face Michaels any time soon, since they wanted to build up Austin to face Bret at 'Mania 14, but then Montreal happened, and it ended up with Michaels.