The Stone Cold situation *is* a work

[Guest Redhawk]

This all seems a little too fishy to be for real. The WWE may pretend to ignore smarks, but this thing reeks of a elaborate "work the smarks" angle. Take a look:

 

In April, Austin throws a bitchfit about having to work with the nWo and being asked to job to Scott Hall at Wrestlemania. He stages Walkout No. 1, which I'll admit was probably a shoot. Still, the Internet is all over this type of news, especially since everyone predicted the nWo was bad for business in the first place. So while most smarks side with Austin on this one, the seed has been planted that he's not happy and capable of HBK-like antics.

 

In May, Austin is involved in a program with The Undertaker that produces a horrible match at Backlash. This match was so bad that I believe Austin dogged it on purpose. Because if you want to "turn heel" with the smarks, there's no better way to produce bad matches when we all know you could be so much better. And doing said matches with the Undertaker doesn't help, either.

 

So Austin is supposedly mad at the writers and so on. The WWE caves and "gives him what he wants," which is to work a program with Eddy Guerrero and Chris Benoit, the Internet's apparent Alpha and Omega. Again, this was all well-known around the Internet, and probably by design. Now the smarks are salivating at the coming Austin-Guerrero and Austin-Benoit matches, along with the former Radicals being moved to main event status AND the apparent formation of a new Four Horsemen.

 

Then Austin stages Walkout No. 2, which if you haven't noticed, has totally pissed off the smarks. Now Austin isn't just being an HBK, he's dicked over Eddy and Benoit and probably killed the Horsemen angle. Now the smarks are mostly against Austin.

 

And conviently, this WWE Confidential show just HAPPENED to debut JUST before all of this transpired. And in no time, they produce a whole show on the Austin situation. JR is "shooting" on the Ross Report about it, and even Michael Cole is in on it, acting like it's all real.

 

At this point, some questions should be asked: Why would the WWE allow Austin to bash the product on their own website? Why are they being so forthcoming and public about Walkout No. 2, whereas in the past this type of thing was covered up or ignored? Do we really know that this episode of Confidential wasn't planned already? Or that the whole show wasn't created just to fan the flames on stories like this?

 

To recap, it goes like this:

Slowly, Austin does things to turn off the smarks (having bad matches, being whiny, doing the WHAT? thing).

It all comes to a head when he screws over Benoit and Guerrero.

The WWE is a little too "honest" with all of this, putting together TV shows at the apparent last minute and so on.

 

Wouldn't this be a perfect set up for a comeback as a heel? Austin obviously had more fun playing the heel of 2001 than the babyface of 2002. But just doing a normal heel turn won't work with someone so adored by smarks and marks. With this whole walkout thing, the smarks are guarenteed to feel bitter towards Austin when he comes back, and JR and Cole can slowly train the marks to do the same.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

Why would the WWE allow Austin to bash the product on their own website?

For the same reason WCW let people get away with it. Because when the peasants are unhappy, they revolt. Austin didn't break kayfabe to bitch like WCW wrestlers did, but he took quick shots .

 

 

But it would be incredibly stupid to sacrifice what's left of your falling ratings in intentionally bad "11th hour draft" storylines. Even those who've watched wrestling for years were asking questions like "Is Flair still a heel? Did he turn face and I didn't know it?" Shows that bad can't come as a work, and if they are, then they are stupid, period.

[Guest HartFan86]

Very solid points, Redhawk. After reading this, I feel down deep it could be a workl.

[Guest claydude14]

why play to smarks? that doesn't make sense. but then again, all this hype about him leaving, it enlightens the marks and they think they are smarks for knowing why he left, thus they could be made at austin too. how many times did they say he let down the fans? i'd love to see an angle where he and bret come back together something

[Guest]

i'd love to see an angle where he and bret come back together something

That would be a VERY interesting development.  Especially with HBK back.  

 

Of course, if Brett comes back after all that, it's official: wrestling will forgive any sin.  They'll probably rehire Scott Alco Hall again next.

 

jester

[Guest tominator89]

The wrestling business is a business; albeit, a very unsual one. However, sometimes I think smarks dream up elaborate scenarios that they WISH would happen. I think it's just a case of a worker wanting to give in and go home instead of playing the companyman.

[Guest art_vandelay]

In May, Austin is involved in a program with The Undertaker that produces a horrible match at Backlash. This match was so bad that I believe Austin dogged it on purpose. Because if you want to "turn heel" with the smarks, there's no better way to produce bad matches when we all know you could be so much better. And doing said matches with the Undertaker doesn't help, either.

 

I don't recall this "angering" anybody.  It was all pretty much blamed on Undertaker.

 

Then Austin stages Walkout No. 2, which if you haven't noticed, has totally pissed off the smarks. Now Austin isn't just being an HBK, he's dicked over Eddy and Benoit and probably killed the Horsemen angle. Now the smarks are mostly against Austin.

 

But he left because he supposedly didn't want to lose to Lesnar.  If you're going to work the smarks, why not have him leave because he didn't want to job to someone we love, like Eddy?

 

At this point, some questions should be asked: Why would the WWE allow Austin to bash the product on their own website?

 

They didn't really let him, it is a live show.  I'd doubt the WWE thought too much of it anyway because it's only Byte This.

 

To recap, it goes like this:

Slowly, Austin does things to turn off the smarks (having bad matches, being whiny, doing the WHAT? thing).

It all comes to a head when he screws over Benoit and Guerrero.

The WWE is a little too "honest" with all of this, putting together TV shows at the apparent last minute and so on.

Wouldn't this be a perfect set up for a comeback as a heel? Austin obviously had more fun playing the heel of 2001 than the babyface of 2002. But just doing a normal heel turn won't work with someone so adored by smarks and marks. With this whole walkout thing, the smarks are guarenteed to feel bitter towards Austin when he comes back, and JR and Cole can slowly train the marks to do the same.

 

Bottom line, your theory gives the WWE too much credit.  Why focus all your creative juices to create such an elaborate scheme like this when they've got piss and vomit on their A-shows?

 

And while it would make a great heel comeback storyline, it would completely kill the credibility of the Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, and Confidential.

[Guest wolverine]

"And while it would make a great heel comeback storyline, it would completely kill the credibility of the Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, and Confidential."

 

I didn't know that any of the above HAD credibility.

[Guest evenflowDDT]

And conviently, this WWE Confidential show just HAPPENED to debut JUST before all of this transpired. And in no time, they produce a whole show on the Austin situation. JR is "shooting" on the Ross Report about it, and even Michael Cole is in on it, acting like it's all real.

You're trying WAY too hard on this one... the Confidential about Austin (which I might watch, but probably won't) is just a way for the WWE to try and cash in on him one last time and save their own ass.  It doesn't achieve much of an audience, but in this case, since I bet a lot of the marks aren't up on this stuff, it will be the WWE basically telling them what happened, and the marks will turn in because it's AUSTIN, DAMMIT!

[Guest]

As much as I would like to believe, Austin's not gonna come back. It's not a work. It can't be. This is too precise to be a work.

[Guest art_vandelay]

I didn't know that any of the above HAD credibility.

Yes, yes, the obvious joke.  If this does indeed end up being a work, just keep it in mind the next time you read the Ross Report, watch Confidential, or the next time Vince McMahon has any important announcements to make publically regarding anything.

[Guest El Satanico]

I think it could be a "work".

 

But the only problem with this, is that UNLESS it is the first step on a huge history making storyline it would all lead to...

 

ANOTHER GOD DAMN WRESTLER VS. VINCE STORYLINE!!!!!

[Guest Human Fly]

I still think it's a shoot. The whole interview had a Montreal type feel to it. I almost expected Vince to say: "I have no sympathy for Steve. Steve screwed Steve."

[Guest]

Um, it's pretty much cemented as a shoot now.

[Guest papacita]

I dunno. If it's a work, it's the greatest work in the history of wrestling. I wouldn't be surprised at all if it was a work, because yeah, WWE is advertising this Austin situation a little too much (advertised his negative comments on WWE.com, the unusually elaborite post on Austin's "release", the over-hype of Confidential, the "highlight package" type thing showing the events leading up to Austin's departure, and the very convenient timing on this Debra thing [if its true]). I really don't know what to make of it right now, so all I'll say that if it's real, BAD AUSTIN...if it's a work, Vince is my new Hero.

[Guest Vyce]

If this is a work, I will hunt Vince McMahon down, get him in private, and personally suck his cock.  Cause it will be the greatest work EVER CONSTRUCTED.  EVER.  

 

I mean, what with Austin smacking his wife around to give him that extra boost as a mega-heel?

 

Best work ever.

 

I'd like to belief that, cause the reality of it all is that it's an unbelievably ugly shoot that's just too depressing to deal with.

[Guest]

If this is a work, I will hunt Vince McMahon down, get him in private, and personally suck his cock.  Cause it will be the greatest work EVER CONSTRUCTED.  EVER.  

 

I mean, what with Austin smacking his wife around to give him that extra boost as a mega-heel?

 

Best work ever.

 

I'd like to belief that, cause the reality of it all is that it's an unbelievably ugly shoot that's just too depressing to deal with.

I believe he was talking about the "Austin walking out" & WWE response stuff being a "work" ...not Austin beating his wife.

[Guest]

They didn't really let him, it is a live show.  I'd doubt the WWE thought too much of it anyway because it's only Byte This.

 

 

Yeah, but Byte This tends to bend over backwards to cater to the Internet smarks sometimes. I specifically remember a time while HHH and Benoit were both out, around Survivor Series, when Kevin Kelly asked Vince who he is missing most on the roster. You know he was *thinking* "HHH" but he *said* "Chris Benoit" because he knew the smarks are going to be the only people listening to Byte This. Anywhere else he would have said "Triple H." This was their little way of appeasing the smarts.

 

When they put their minds to it, they can get us. They know what and who we like. Sometimes I think that they know more about us than give them credit for....

[Guest]

At this point, if you think that all this is a work, then you are giving the wwe's writers WAY too much credit; all the proof you need is in the past year's storylines...those morons couldn't work their way out of a paper bag! However, if it is a work, then yeah, I think Vince would deserve a blow job...just not from me....Here, you do it...I'll hold 'im down.

[Guest Slapnuts00]

this couldn't be a work, and here's why. The whole domestic abuse situation is obviously very real. The report says that Austin hit her after an argument...on Saturday night. Gee, what do you think they were arguing about? Could it be his situation in the WWE? And remember Saturday was the night Confidential aired, and if it is a real situation, don't you think Austin was watching it, and hearing what Vince and JR had to say about him. I'm sure he was pissed, causing the argument, and he violently took it out on Debra. Therefore there's no way any of this was a storyline. Unfortunately, the walk out, and the WWE's response to it on Saturday was too much for Steve to handle, and he snapped.

[Guest]

If no one say anything about Austin or badmouths him tonight on Raw and Thursday on Smackdown!, then this is defintly a shoot since the WWE policy is that once a wrestler is gone, to never speak about him again (Hogan, Savage, Luger)

[Guest Redhawk]

I haven't heard too much about this domestic violence thing, but after watching RAW, I am even more sure that this is a work.

 

For one, why was Vince on Confidential talking about how he wouldn't want Austin back, but then on RAW he's like, "I hope he comes back."

 

And again, why would they talk about him coming back so much if he wasn't?

[Guest]

For one, why was Vince on Confidential talking about how he wouldn't want Austin back, but then on RAW he's like, "I hope he comes back."

 

There is a reason. In everyone that had Starpower in the WWF leaves..

Hogan, Savage, Nash n Hall, Bret Hart...

McMahon has a way of trying to get "closure" Meaning to burn the bridge with the fans.

With hogan and Savage and the Outsiders he Humiliated them

Hulkster Nacho man,  Hell Showster.. the Outsiders with

Nash and Hall II

Bret Hart, it was the Absolute power on World Wide TV to "Screw" Him out of the title via the Montreal Survivor Series.

yea screw someone who was walking away with the World title. uh huh poor bret

 

Anyway.

This Past Raw was the WWE and Mcmahon's Way of Closure in the Austin situation. First that tribute by McMahon in the ring that the crowd wouldn't know if it was Work or shoot, because they are so use to booing him. Once the temperature of the crowd was taken, and it was a mixed reaction. then came the references of Austin's leaving by Eddie Guerrero and Benoit and Flair. Then the whole Garea McMahon spoof like Austin was coming. And Finally the Rock came out.

And Rock's Speech was probably the Best proof of it being all Real. Because he wasn't talking like a Employee of Mcmahon reading off something written for him, or something all Insulting.. he only mention Austin's Name once, BUT the whole speech was about him leaving. He was speaking like a Man Who loves being where he is, and for a Roster that loves being where they are. And the disgust that is evident for one of their top stars to Just Walk away without word or reason.

 

Its a little late for wishful thinking here.

Unless you need Austin Signed with NWA TNA or him Arrested for beating Debra..AGAIN and watch his Case on Court TV just to Come to the realization that this isn't a work, nor a wrestling shoot. Austin left.. thats Real Life. What the WWE did on Raw and Confidential is called Damage control.. the Damage being their top draw their top star just said FUCK YOU to the WWE to the wrestlers and to every Fan that was there chanting his name.

[Guest]

If no one say anything about Austin or badmouths him tonight on Raw and Thursday on Smackdown!, then this is defintly a shoot since the WWE policy is that once a wrestler is gone, to never speak about him again (Hogan, Savage, Luger)

I used to think this too. But that was when they had competition. WWE is the only game in town now, they can talk about whoever they please and not have to worry about getting "beaten" in the ratings by another wrestling show.

 

Nope, anything they say now is all damage control. And it's working too. Did you see the "Why Austin Why?" signs at RAW? Did you hear the boos his name was receiving after Vince had made his "farewell" with the beer & all that.. ? Damage control to make Austin look like the bad guy (which he is, only in part) and it's working.

[Guest]

Anybody else see that "Unemployed 3:16" sign in the crowd on Raw?

[Guest Cataclysm911]

It's like I've said all along, if this entire angle is just an attempt to swerve the internet fans, which we have been told that our opinion doesn't matter time after time, then Vince & company are wasting their time.

 

Now that Paul Heyman is supposedly writing some material, it does seem believable. Heyman knows the value of the internet fan. That is one reason why the ECW crowd was great all the time, smart fans make better fans.