RavishingRickRudo 0 Report post Posted April 17, 2005 The Austin heel turn created a series of events which can ultimately be described as the downfall of the WWE. It was such poor judgement to turn Austin at that time (and in Texas!), and it really showed how out-of-touch the WWE was, even after the incredible build. Then to team him with HHH and Vince McMahon was a total "They're doing this just to do it, there's no other reason" kinda thing. It was a WCW move, which was fitting since Vince had just purchased them. However, I think the XFL failure probably hurt the company more than anything. The combination of the two was just devastating and they couldn't recover. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DeputyHawk Report post Posted April 17, 2005 In addition, getting this slightly back on topic, I don't think an HHH face turn would have done a single thing to stop that rot. The Two-Man Power Trip was running roughshod over the company - and there were NO credible faces to stop them. For two whole months after the biggest show in company history, all the fans had to cheer for were The Hardy Boyz getting routinely squashed while the played-out Taker-Kane combo made the save. Jericho-Benoit getting their (brief) big push was a breath of fresh but it was all too little too late. The more I think about this, what the HELL were they thinking turning Austin heel with the full knowledge Rock was leaving to film and the fans would literally be left with no one to cheer for? The WCW Invasion guys were originally booked as faces, right? Was HHH going to be their leader against Austin and his reign of terror? Did they think H could fill the face boots of both Austin AND Rock? I just DO NOT get the booking logic, any of it, between WM17 and SummerSlam. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carnival 0 Report post Posted April 17, 2005 I always heard that it was Austin who pushed for Jericho...could have been Rock though...who really knows? I liked the Heel Austin, but ya looking back it wasn't such a good idea. I think WWF had a super ego at this point. Vince thought they would be on top forever and that he could do anything he wanted to. It goes back to the old "we tell the people what to like" attitude. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
