Guest Austin3164life Report post Posted June 15, 2002 Just wanted to ask you guys something. If Austin's apparent departure from the WWE due to major heat between himself and Vince/Management is really 100% shoot (which I believe it is), could it surpass the Montreal Screwjob in terms of controversiality? True, Austin is leaving after months of frustration with his direction (and not wanting to be in the same arena with the Clique), and Bret was pushed out because he refused to job the title. Sure, the Montreal Screwjob is the most talked about and controversial event in wrestling history, but could the Austin vs. Vince/Management surpass it? Or would it take an on-air screwjob (it could happen on Confidential) to make it that realistic and surreal?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted June 15, 2002 hmmm...I don't think the Austin thing could be as controversial as the Montreal thing...because unlike Bret, Austin got out on his own terms. I don't think that any amount of words is going to be enough for it to surpass the way Bret was treated on ppv. But...unless someone of Austin's ability to draw emerges tomorrow...I know which one will be the most costly to the company. Rock can draw...but hes got another movie to make. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest chirs3 Report post Posted June 15, 2002 Bonus points for using controversiality correctly. It will be remembered, but I don't think it'll surpass Montreal on the controversiality scale. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Austin3164life Report post Posted June 15, 2002 Yeah, I guess Austin left on his own terms, unlike being surprised by Vince and being totally screwed on national television (ppv). This incident could be more costly, since Austin has been Vince's most profitable character. We'll see if they trash Austin's legacy on Confidential (or if they play it smart and honor his deeds)...... Either way, it may not exceed the Montreal Screwjob in controversiality, but this could be the event that ends Attitude and begins a new era..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted June 15, 2002 that sounds great..but last I checked they've been filling the roster with old guys...not pushing new ones. and the glass ceiling not only remains intact...its gotten thicker. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted June 15, 2002 If Rumors are right? Aren't they planning to have Flair as the #1 Babyface on RAW? I hate when wrestlers change back and forth between Heel and Babyface all the damn time, but they have to push Benoit and Eddie as faces now. Have them help Booker against the nWo. At least for now. I don't have a clue where to add Brock in there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest evenflowDDT Report post Posted June 15, 2002 I honestly don't think Flair was ever over as a heel this time anyway. In regards to Austin Leaving vs. Montreal, there's no way the two could even compare. One is an employee acting unprofessionally and spontaneously leaving his job without warning because of his own personal distaste for his position and the product (Austin), and the other is an employee who has distaste for his position and the product, and has given his two weeks notice, but on his last night to shine is embarrassed by having his position ripped from him and delivered to an up and coming employee in front of his family and friends without him being aware of it. Time will tell though, if Austin is as bitter and as much of a punk about his little shindig as Bret is about Montreal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted June 15, 2002 The only way the Austin situation would be more controversial than the Bret one is if Vince screws Austin on television or ppv like he did Bret, therefore robbing Austin of a chance to truly leave on his own terms. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest AM The Kid Report post Posted June 16, 2002 No, nothing will ever be more controversial than Hart/Mcmahon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted June 16, 2002 I dont think this is as big as Montreal. But it will be something fans will remember for awhile though. Its something I wont forget for a long while. June 10th, 2002 the end of SCSA. Never could of imagined this being the end. I always thought austin would have at least another 2 years ahead of him but its over. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted June 16, 2002 News Flash for all the folks who say this'll never be as big as Montreal: It's getting damn close. If we find out about any other Austin incidents, there'll be no question. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jobber of the Week Report post Posted June 16, 2002 No, nothing will ever be more controversial than Hart/Mcmahon. Except that Vince keeps trying to contact Bret, and supposedly even once offered the tape collection Bret's been wanting in exchange for an appearance. Bret's always just said he's been busy and moved on. I don't think either man respects the other, but when you consider what's been happening in the past six months in terms of arrivals (Flair, Hogan, others you thought would never be on the WWF again) it's possible we'll get to see Bret one last time on a "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine" deal. I don't think the actual event will generate nearly as much buzz as Montreal, however I do think Steve is more of a loose cannon than Bret is. The next few months reports out of Steve's private life may be interesting indeed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted June 16, 2002 Something I think is SO ironic about this, is that it's Austin vs. Vince, jsut like in the storylines, but we know what the true difference is between reality and wrestling now... In storylines, if you piss off the owner, he'll try to make life hell for you while you kick his ass over and over and over again. In real life, you give the owner the middle finger and he'll give you a pink slip. I guess Austin was living his character this time, wasn't he? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Austin3164life Report post Posted June 16, 2002 I don't know about you guys, but now, not only is this becoming a controversial issue, but we have the alleged assault from Steve to his wife Debra. Whether or not it's true, it's sure stirring up the internet quite a bit. I'm suprised regular journalism hasn't picked up on it yet. I don't know if it will surpass the Montreal incident, but it's getting close, like someone said before...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest AM The Kid Report post Posted June 16, 2002 I take it back...it's getting close. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted June 16, 2002 Montreal was five years ago. It's had time to acquire a mystique, an aura, and have us spin urban legends about it. And it makes a great historical device, as it really does stand as a clear demarcation of end of one era, start of another. Austin's walkout just happened one week ago. We won't really be able to compare them until a few years from now, when time and imagination have added extra layers to this as well. It's hard to believe that anything could top "Montreal" but you never really can know for sure with Wrestling. In 2006 we may be looking back on this as the time when Austin's personal and professional life began to fall apart. Or, we could still be gleefully cheering on a comeback tour of Steve Austin as he stunners a bunch of people in the ring, barely remembering an interesting backstage incident that led to Austin being absent for a few months, probably not even remembering how big a deal we all thought it was those first couple of weeks because everything was patched up in plenty of time for Austin vs Hogan at Summerslam. Sure, that doesn't seem too realistic or likely now, but a week ago, option #1 wouldn't have sounded realistic either. This could surpass Montreal in some ways. Montreal will always mean more to me because A) it happened before our eyes, and B) I was always a bigger Bret Hart fan than a Steve Austin fan. But I've been in the minority many times before among other wrestling fans. Wouldn't be surprised to end up there again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest pappajacks Report post Posted June 16, 2002 The biggest irony in all of this is that the Austin situation does in some sort involve Montreal. Austin walked out for the first time the day after WM, in Montreal. The day before at WM, Austin refused to job to Hall. Did Austin fear of another screwjob the next night in Montreal for not jobbing to Hall the previous night? It would have made good controversy for the WWF and set up another Austin/McMahon feud. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
