The E finally announced that Stone Cold will be inducted into the HOF by the Boss, Vince McMahon. How does everyone feel about this? To me, it seems kind of odd, maybe even...I guess the word I’m looking for is wrong.
The past couple of HOF ceremonies, Vince was always conspicuous by his absence, as Gorilla Monsoon would say. Inductors were restricted to good friends, favorite opponents and in some cases, celebrities. I always got the feeling that Vince made himself invisible on purpose so that the ceremonies, for the most part, could be all about peers celebrating peers, i.e., the Boss shouldn’t be showing his mug.
I know Stone Cold is, like, the Biggest Superstar Ever, but he is not peerless. Having Vince induct Austin just kind of says that no one else is big enough to induct him. I realize you do need someone BIG to induct him. It may have been logistically impossible, but either Bret Hart or The Rock would have been an awesome (and maybe more appropriate) choice. I mean, Stone Cold practically made The Rock.
So, does this question have merit? Is it just a case of “better choices were not available to be there” or was it going to be Vince all along? And is Vince appropriate? I have no idea how seriously the wrestlers treat this ceremony, and whether they think about who the right person is to induct them.
As far as generating interest, Vince McMahon is the good choice. You'll asking the same thing... will Stone Cold give Vince one more stunner or not???????
First thing most people think of when they think of Austin is Austin vs. McMahon, so this would be his 'legendary' opponent inducting him. Only other person currently associated with the company who would make sense would be Ricky Steamboat, since he was a long time opponent who faced a young Steve Austin numerous times, but he is getting inducted on the same evening, and I doubt they want 2 Ricky Steamboat speeches.
Austin asked for Ross or Flair, but Vince wants to do it. I think Ross would be most appropriate, but Vince is the second best choice and it's a big statement on his part.
I think Vince is perfectly fine, as long as they don't do a stunner skit. I think that would cheapen the HOF induction. As far as who else would be good to induct Austin, there are a couple of choices but they each have different reasons for probably not doing it. The Rock would be my first pick, but his movie career probably leaves him with little time and he might still have some heat from others from the last time he was at the HOF. Jim Ross would definitely do it if he wasn't already doing the induction of Bill Watts. Another good choice would be Bret Hart, since it was his series of matches with Austin that got him pushed into superstardom, IMO. I just don't know how good his health is now to pull it off.
Seems logical to me. When I first heard Austin was going to be inducted I thought that Vince was going to do it. I don't have a problem with it. I seriously doubt a stunner skit is planned for it. It will ruin the whole ceremony.
Chuck Norris drives an ice cream truck covered in human skulls.
Vince is the ideal choice as Austin's greatest enemy (and best friend when they were both heels and Austin needed hugs from Vince. I'd like to see another hug.)
One thing's for sure: the three minute inductor time limit won't apply to Mr. McMahon. They won't be playing music and cutting off his speech.
Here are some more thoughts from a demented mind in Central Florida: Having been in the house at last year's Hall of Fame (and not far from a guy who was going unreasonably batshit for Rocky Johnson), I know how unruly the crowd can get at these things. I also can't help but wondering just how many "WHAT?"s VKM will be on the receiving end of at this year's HOF ceremonies. Right now, I'm going to put the over/under at 6.
Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen.
Why yes, I am both a musician and a lawyer. Thanks for asking. :)
Originally posted by FLRockAndLawI also can't help but wondering just how many "WHAT?"s VKM will be on the receiving end of at this year's HOF ceremonies. Right now, I'm going to put the over/under at 6.
That has been my biggest fear the moment I heard Austin was going into the HOF.
I can easily imagine the constant "WHAT"'s raining down from the audience and just ruining the McMahon/Austin speaches.
(edited by Kevintripod on 2.4.09 0831) The best part of waking up is not Folgers in your cup, but knowing that Chuck Norris didn't kill you in your sleep.
Originally posted by Mayhem let's face it, McMahon made the Stone Cold Steve Austin that we all love and know. I think it's only fitting that Vince does the induction.
Speak for yourself. I prefer Stone Cold pre-Vince McMahon feud. He was better in his early days as a heel, King of the Ring, his feud with Pillman, his feud with the Rock for the IC title and his feuds with Bret and Owen. Unless you mean that Vince made him because he brought him to the company and showcased him but Stone Cold getting over is still 99% because of Stone Cold.
For me the ideal candidate is Bret. That was his best feud in my opinion. Vince/Stone Cold led to some great interviews but almost every match that resulted from the feud sucked.
Originally posted by QuezzyVince/Stone Cold led to some great interviews but almost every match that resulted from the feud sucked.
What? I remember almost every big match that resulted from the feud being good to great because Austin had an incredible work ethic despite his injuries. They were all brawls, but those guys killed themselves to get over the brawls.
Austin vs. Foley, Unforgiven and Over the Edge 98 - two excellent matches
Austin vs. Kane, KOTR 98 and the night after - two impressive matches for Kane and a guy with a broken neck
Austin vs. Undertaker, SummerSlam 98, Fully Loaded 99 - both very good, again between a guy with a broken neck and a guy with a broken ankle
Austin vs. Vince, St. Valentine's Day Massacre - couldn't ask for a better match considering who was in it
Austin vs. Rock, night after Survivor Series 98, Wrestlemania, Backlash 99 - two very good and one great
The only true bomb that Austin had on PPV during that time was the Buried Alive match with Undertaker in December 98 when he had a staph infection and tore his oblique muscle in the first five minutes of the match.
The Rock, Bret Hart, and Vince McMahon are the choices that make the most sense to me. I suppose JR or Steamboat could have done it, too. The Rock would have been my #1 choice being that they were both at the top of their game at the same time and worked together a bunch.
The Rock could be busy, though, and Austin already inducted Bret, so it's weird to have the same two people involved in Austin's induction. Vince works.
But hey, Hulk Hogan was inducted by Sylvester Stallone.
And Austin/Vince did result in some great matches, as shown above.
Who else did Austin have epic feuds with? HHH? Undertaker? Hart? While I like McMahon doing the honours, I think that either of those three would have been a great choice.
OK, just to clarify some things: 1. I understand that this is a TV show and not to be taken seriously. I'm not asking for every minute thing to be explained. I just wish they could put some thought into some of the things that they televised.