The cause (Austin No Shows, why? Flair sucks) and the effect (I want my show back) were on TV.
Hmmm...Explaination on TV...It's the catalyst for the main event...recent attempt to feed the public misleading information (ala HBK on Confidential)...
Guys, there is no way this thing is a work. The previous week, Austin was the focus of the show, pissing on Arn and winning the match against Flair. He won the right to have Flair as his servant. Don't you think the WWE intended to continue with that angle Monday? Do you think they would abandon the whole thing and piss off the fans just because they want to do some elaborate worked-shoot angle? I saw a lot of "HEY FLAIR CLEAN MY TOILET" signs at Raw. The fans (at least the casual fans) were all pumped about this and then...the WWE didn't deliver. When Flair said Austin wouldn't show, the fans almost revolted. I expected him to show up in his monster truck for the main event and order Flair to lie down for McMahon or something. I probably wasn't the only one. Austin's no-show was not a work. There is no way the reset button would be hit this hard with regards to the Flair/Austin/Benoit/Eddie storyline. They mentioned Austin's absence on Raw not because they are building some shoot angle, but because he really was gone and they had to explain to the fans why they wouldn't see Flair as his servant that night. When Hall was fired, Flair mentioned that on the air. Did that make IT a shoot?
(edited by Parts Unknown on 12.6.02 1159) YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME!?! - The immortal, chilling words of...The Shockmaster!
You see AWA, they had to explain Austin's absence somehow. Did Austin really walk out because he didn't like Flair, as was said on television? No. Like I said before, none of what we have heard online was on television. They didn't go out on RAW and say "Steve Austin doesn't like the creative direction of the company or his character, so he threw a hissy fit and stomred home without telling management this afternoon." The "If it's on TV..." theory does not apply here buddy.
EDIT: Parts Unknown used the perfect example above in the Scott Hall case. They mentioned his firing not because it was a work, but because they had to explain why he wouldn't be on TV anymore.
(edited by TheBucsFan on 12.6.02 1304) Mean Gene: "You know, I don't think it's a question - Goldberg, I don't think it's a question of who's next, I think it's a question of who's left?" Goldberg: "No, see, that's where you're wrong. It ain't who's left, it's - WHO'S NEXT?"
"Just how hardcore am I? Well this morning, I drank milk that was two days past the expiration!" -Norman Smiley
posted by SKLOKAZOID The difference between that and this is simply that the Austin/WWE scenario is show business, which is a different monster. If Austin continues to add fuel to the fire that's burning up WWE's success right now by going along with their poor writing, he takes responsibility for that failure, as if Austin suddenly turned away all of that business because he was simply there. Austin's drawing power is at stake and he doesn't want to put it on the line as long as there's no direction.
I don't buy that Austin has to take responsibility for the WWE's failure. If he writes his own material, and is coming up with his own segments, then yes, he has to take responsibility for it. But if he simply performs what they ask him to perform, his only responsibility is to perform to the best of his ability. As far as drawing power goes, I just don't think he's been hurt at all. You don't think the NWA-TNA would love to sign him to a contract.
I think saying Austin is responsible for the company's direction that would be like saying that Jennifer Anniston is responsible for the humor of Friends. It's just not the case. She only responsible for making the material given to her come to life to the best of her ability.
Professionalism is professionalism, there is a right way to do business in general. Granted, in the show business world, many times actors and athletes act like babies and in an unprofessional manner. But that doesn't make it right. Besides, how would the show work if ALL the wrestlers were doing their own thing, or walked out anytime they were asked to do something they didn't like? Didn't that kind of attitude contribute to the fall of WCW?
Originally posted by Parts UnknownWhen Hall was fired, Flair mentioned that on the air. Did that make IT a shoot?
(edited by Parts Unknown on 12.6.02 1159)
No, but they didn't use the on air excuse to have a high profile match, did they?
Remember, every time some one brings up the "Vinny Mac beat Ric in a 100% ownership match." There will always be a little nugget (not Owen) that goes, "oh yeah, because Ric made Austin leave."
Now, I'm not saying that it is a shoot or work...
But here IS what we do have...
Speculation that Austin is unhappy and walked out (this from all places...The Internet, the last bastion of reliable info)
And CRZ's #1 rule...
Pound for pound, CRZ's rule wins out over Internet Specualtion.
The reason given is that he was supposed to lose to Brock Lesner. Now to me this makes no sense. As someone has mentioned previously, Brock is currently in a feud with Buh-Buh Ray Dudley and then is being groomed to take on RVD next. Austin had the Rick Flair as a personal assistant storyline and then was getting ready to take on Eddie G and Chris Benoit.
It makes no sense that they would do what they did last week, and then throw in this swerve and totally abandon two storylines for a major star and an up and comer. I personally think that something had come up for Austin, and someone just made this up to stir things up.
Well this is the WWF, (I refuse to call it the WWE) and when was the last time they did anything that made sense.
Doing a Work-Shoot angle (i.e. Austin pulling a no-show and making a Owner vs. Owner match out of it)
or
Building up a new star in fueds with Buh-Buh Ray and RVD, just to dump those on a whim and put him in a fued with one of the most veteran and most popular guy on the roster?
or
A bunch of people ready to curcify Austin based on what they heard on "The Internet."
One of these kids is not like the other...One of these kids is not the same...
Quoth the Meltzer: "The plan as of today is for WWE Confidential on Saturday night to do a piece on Steve Austin walking out before the TV taping on Monday."
Finish Meltzer's sentence, Papercuts: "...which will no doubt lead to people talking about whether this is a work or not. I do not believe that is the case."
Now as far as I'm concerned, 1bob and the Torch can go to Hell for accurate NEWZ and reporting. But Meltzer's someone you can trust on these things, as proved in the past. And if he doesn't think it's a work, then that's enough for me.
Oh, and to counteract that "Nugget" theory, you could look at the Lawler/Heyman thing the same way. "Heyman's in the WWF...because Lawler got fired! Hey, that MUST have been a work!"
Originally posted by oldschoolheroBut Meltzer's someone you can trust on these things, as proved in the past. And if he doesn't think it's a work, then that's enough for me.
Meltzer has been worked before. It just...I don't know...something's not right about this whole situation. One of Meltzer's sources is Heyman. Vince knows this. And Meltzer's kept stuff quiet before (the SaraTaker stalker and the ECW invasion angle) in order to "protect" Paul -- keep in mind he said this stuff on his radio show.
With respect, I don't want to go round and round with you, OSH, because you obviously have your mind made up about which way it's going. I have a strong sense that it *might* be a work, yet I'm going to wait and see.
I'll briefly map out what *I* see going on.
Austin walks out on Raw for real the first time.
Nothing is said on T.V. about it.
He goes on an internet show that deals 50% in kayfabe/50% in "reality" (When it serves storylines) and "shoots." He isn't punished in the slightest. Vince has a reputation for punishing people for this type of breach.
A week later, an obviously desperate Vince is on the same show giving a "State of the WWF" painting a rosy picture in an effort to "work" the fans into thinking everything is better than it seems. He knows they need a big angle -- something to get fan interest back up.
Three days later Austin walks out -- one of their biggest stars -- and now they're doing a piece about it on a late night weekend show with minimal viewers that has contained 100% worked pieces on all three of its broadcasts.
They're treating this "crisis" awfully softball, if you ask me.
Originally posted by oldschoolhero"Heyman's in the WWF...because Lawler got fired! Hey, that MUST have been a work!" Stupid, isn't it?
I'm not backing up Threep's inane "nugget" theory or whatever. But counter to your point, Lawler came back to the WWF because Heyman was "fired" and it was a work.
Look how carefully Shawn Michael's "collapse" was built up, too. And it was a work.
I just hope that when Austin returns, the people who say this isn't really happening go "See! See! See! See! I t was a work! I told you! Ha! Ha!" when the WWF makes an angle out of it. This is really happening, and the WWF isn't planning this, but they will do they're best to cover it up by making an angle out of it on television.
Remember, just because something is used in storylines to work a crowd doesn't mean it is untrue.
Mean Gene: "You know, I don't think it's a question - Goldberg, I don't think it's a question of who's next, I think it's a question of who's left?" Goldberg: "No, see, that's where you're wrong. It ain't who's left, it's - WHO'S NEXT?"
"Just how hardcore am I? Well this morning, I drank milk that was two days past the expiration!" -Norman Smiley
I can see where your suspicions lie, Papercuts. Were this WCW circa 2000, it would surely be a work. But this has never been the WWE's style, and I don't think they'd start now-especially in the middle of an angle which up until this week was the centrepiece of Raw. If it had been under different circumstances by suspicions would have been aroused (ie. Austin opening the show each week, or moving further and further down the card) but considering he has just now been made the centre of Raw in a fresh new program, I find the whole work theory a little hard to swallow.
I would have to subscribe to Bucs' theory-the fed's been handed a lemon, and they're (trying to) make lemonade.
theres an inteligent man...austin sucks so bad...i hope they fire him and when he comes back he can fight on velocity against the gobbely gooker 2002 and job to him..... kurt angle is god by the way...
If Bret Hart made a return and immediately came out on RAW in search of revenge from Vince McMahon, does that make the Montreal happenings any less real?
Mean Gene: "You know, I don't think it's a question - Goldberg, I don't think it's a question of who's next, I think it's a question of who's left?" Goldberg: "No, see, that's where you're wrong. It ain't who's left, it's - WHO'S NEXT?"
"Just how hardcore am I? Well this morning, I drank milk that was two days past the expiration!" -Norman Smiley
The problem is, we will never know the full truth.. Imo they were planning on doing the whole 100% owner thing anyways..(didnt vince say they would do something big for raw? austin vs lesnar isnt that big imo) but probably with Austin doing a run in or being involved somehow..
But due to Austin's shennanigans things have to be changed. And yeah they keep the door open..obviously. They did it last time when he 'walked out' after WM with that 'Austin has it in his contract that if we would split he cannot be drafted' BS..I mean..come on!!
I personally believe he is acting like a jack-ass, hurting the company more than helping them find a new course.. No matter if he has the right to walk or not, this is bad for business..everyone's business.
"...And I use that to fuck them some place fairly uncomfortable." "What, like the back of a volkswagen ?" -Mallrats
"Did you ever know that you're a JAAAAAACK AAAAAASSSS? The biggest one I have ever SEEEEEEEN?" - Chris Jericho to Austin last year. I now agree with him.
(edited by Parts Unknown on 13.6.02 0945) YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME!?! - The immortal, chilling words of...The Shockmaster!
Originally posted by Papercuts!Quoth the Meltzer: "The plan as of today is for WWE Confidential on Saturday night to do a piece on Steve Austin walking out before the TV taping on Monday."
Now it's on TV.
Now...what story do you think WWE will construct for *why* Austin walked out? Will they mention the planned match with Lesnar? Will they tie it somehow to the stip match with Flair from the week before? Or will they go off on some wild new tangent?
Steph
I'm going twenty-four hours a day...I can't seem to stop - "Turn Up The Radio", Autograph
Originally posted by StephanieNow...what story do you think WWE will construct for *why* Austin walked out? Will they mention the planned match with Lesnar? Will they tie it somehow to the stip match with Flair from the week before? Or will they go off on some wild new tangent?
Steph
I'm going to go for the longshot here and say "kidnapped by space aliens". Then whoever it is that's writing the puke/piss segments can do a whole series of segments with wrestlers crying about Austin getting anally probed, and begging for his safe return.
Kansas-born and deeply ashamed The last living La Parka Marka: HE raised the briefcase!
This isn't entirely unlike all of the old blues musicians who got paid paltry sums by recording studios who proceeded to make millions of dollars off their work. From what I can see, none of them ever successfully recuperated any of them money.