After months of negotiations, the WWE and Steve Austin have been unable to come to terms on a new contract and as a result have mutually agreed to part company.
Both parties have left the door open to work together again in the future and the WWE wishes Steve the very best in his future endeavors."
Too bad, I say. I know the Sheriff stuff wasn't great, but he still had something to contribute I think.
"Self-esteem is for everybody, Self-esteem is for everyone, You can dream and be anybody, But, self-esteem is how you get it done."
Although a lot of the Austin marks out there will be pissed off, this is probably the best move they can make in the long run... it cuts down on the authority figures on TV, Austin just stunning people and drinking beer got stale quick and didn't help anybody get over, and it opens up some TV time for somebody else. I guess the big downfall of this is that they have been making a TON of merchandise for him, so that could cause some minor drop in sales, but nothing really noticeable.
Originally posted by Hurrikane757k I guess the big downfall of this is that they have been making a TON of merchandise for him, so that could cause some minor drop in sales, but nothing really noticeable.
Ever see what MOST people are wearing at a live show?
-- Asteroid Boy
Wiener of the day: 23.7.02, 3.12.03
"In addition, my tickets weren’t really what you’d expect from the webmaster of the internet’s largest independent pro-wrestling website." - Widro
"My brother saw the Undertaker walking through an airport." - Rex "Was he no-selling?" - Me
That's a shame. The guy did so much for the company as a wrestler...but at least I won't have to sit through another beer-bash (damn Lillian Garcia for not wearing tops that go see through when drenched in beer...).
My only hope is that if he breaks into movies, he does well. I'd hate to see the guy have to come back and wrestle to make ends meet...
I like Austin a lot, but I feel this is the best thing right now. Like Hurricane said: It cuts down on the authority figures. Of course, they've now introduced Johnny Nitro as a somewhat of an authority figure (although, an incompetant one), so I guess this doesn't help too much. But I like Johnny, so I won't complain.
And for any of the huge Austin fans out there who are devastated by the news, I guarantee you that the man will be back with the WWE at some point.
The answer to WWE's financial problems...
Never 'Wiener of the Day', and is actually quite bitter about it.
Originally posted by Hurrikane757k I guess the big downfall of this is that they have been making a TON of merchandise for him, so that could cause some minor drop in sales, but nothing really noticeable.
Ever see what MOST people are wearing at a live show?
Regular clothes, but I do see your point. Although if WWE would put half of the effort making good merchandise for someone like Guerrero, then it wouldn't be too big of a problem... although this does hurt the redneck demographic bigtime
I'm sure he'll be back in a few months. I didn't mind Austin in the Sherrif role, it always got the crowd going and seemed to add importance to some things. Like when he announced the Three Way for WrestleMania, I think if it were Bischoff doing that, the crowd would have groaned but by having Austin do it, they ate it up.
There's only so much you can do with a non-wrestler even if he's still pulling in lots of money on merchandise.
The major problem with Austin, IMO, is that he would overshadow the other wrestlers. Even if he wasn't giving them the Stunner, he still overshadowed most guys on the show because probably 90% of them don't have his charisma, presence and mic skills. That's why I think him doing a month or two at a time as a "guest star" would be the best for both parties. When you've got a big match or a big show, bring him back to add importance to it.
EDIT: The reason Austin's merchandise is better is because he's the one who comes up with most of it. That was one of the big hang-ups in the negotiations. Austin wants to start branching out with his ideas and not having to go through WWE for everything.
As much as I luv Beer Bash with WWE gals in wet t-shirts (well stope me look at Lilian Garcia chin) it got stale real fast and he brought nothing to the show. Sad end to a great WWE career. Should have retired and not came back now.
Like what fuelinjected said, it'd be great to have Austin come back 3 or 4 times a year to set up major programs like Rocky and Foley do. But that's only if he can wrestle again.
If not, then I'd say there's no point in having Austin back ever again. All he does is overshadow the whole roster without making any of them look good. Who's the last guy that Austin gave a rub to? The last one I can think of is Kane. While he was partly effective in making Kane somewhat badass, all it eventually led to was a squash by Undertaker.
In the past VKM and company have made the mistake of mentioning Austin after he quit/left the company. This time WWE should go cold turkey and never mention the man again. And if he ever does come back, the roof will blow off the joint.
Now here's my counter offer to your counter offer. Go fuck yourself.
Not to start something, but... I just checked wwe.com and don't see it there. I noticed the Torch had it, but then it's not on the website at all. Maybe my computer's just being screwy (which is very possible), but I don't see it on there right now..
Originally posted by CANADIAN BULLDOGNot to start something, but... I just checked wwe.com and don't see it there. I noticed the Torch had it, but then it's not on the website at all. Maybe my computer's just being screwy (which is very possible), but I don't see it on there right now..
Originally posted by CANADIAN BULLDOGNot to start something, but... I just checked wwe.com and don't see it there. I noticed the Torch had it, but then it's not on the website at all. Maybe my computer's just being screwy (which is very possible), but I don't see it on there right now..
Yeah, I saw the link... but I mean on the main wwe.com page... it's not there... or even on the headlines page. Isn't that a little weird? As in, maybe they're holding off on the announcement or something?
Originally posted by CANADIAN BULLDOGNot to start something, but... I just checked wwe.com and don't see it there. I noticed the Torch had it, but then it's not on the website at all. Maybe my computer's just being screwy (which is very possible), but I don't see it on there right now..
Yeah, I saw the link... but I mean on the main wwe.com page... it's not there... or even on the headlines page. Isn't that a little weird? As in, maybe they're holding off on the announcement or something?
Wait for the page to completely load up and there's a picture of Austin in the top right corner. It says "Stone Cold Update".
That's SO weird... I still don't even on see it. But like I said, I'm on a weird, loaner laptop from my company, so maybe its not loading everything onto the page... oh, well. I'll take everyone's word for it.
Originally posted by Jonny_EnglishThat's a shame. The guy did so much for the company as a wrestler...but at least I won't have to sit through another beer-bash (damn Lillian Garcia for not wearing tops that go see through when drenched in beer...).
My only hope is that if he breaks into movies, he does well. I'd hate to see the guy have to come back and wrestle to make ends meet...
(edited by Jonny_English on 16.4.04 1537)
I don't think Austin needs to do anything to "make ends meet" now. He made a hell of a lot of money during his peak.
I agree that this is the best thing that Austin could do right now. He was getting stale and if he comes back, it'll be like the Rock. He'll get a huge reaction and people will ready for him again.
I agree that this is the best thing that Austin could do right now. He was getting stale and if he comes back, it'll be like the Rock. He'll get a huge reaction and people will ready for him again.
True, and it's not as if the WWE won't be able to continue selling his merchandise in the meantime - so if Austin pulls a "Rocky" deal and appears every now and again, that would make it seem really special and important, and would probably be enough to keep driving the merchandise sales somewhat.
What's more, WWE is just beginning to tap some VERY lucrative merchandise opportunities . . .so . . . a dip in the Austin merch numbers isn't that big a deal, I believe.
Originally posted by CANADIAN BULLDOGThat's SO weird... I still don't even on see it. But like I said, I'm on a weird, loaner laptop from my company, so maybe its not loading everything onto the page... oh, well. I'll take everyone's word for it.
(edited by CANADIAN BULLDOG on 16.4.04 1638)
The picture is not a jpeg, it's actually a flash thing, do you have shockwave installed?
Remember a while back when they were running those promos with individual wrestlers waxing philosophic about the biz with that Creed tune playing in the background. In Austin's particular promo he said something to the effect that if the day ever came when he wasn't physically capable of performing in the ring then he would hang it up and let someone else do it. I think that day has come for Austin.
Still, I have to wonder just how much his recent legal troubles precipitated this news.
So sayeth Randy Stilton, the real Stinky Cheese Man!
(I'm told that, in the UK, my name is actually hilarious.)
It is expected that Steve Austin will be joining Bill Goldberg with Pride's Hustle series. Austin and Pride have been negotiating for a while and earlier this week were very close to a deal. Pride has pro wrestling events on 5/8, and again in July. It is not confirmed yet if Austin will make the 5/8 date but that was being talked about.
I don't think they'll be over here (tomk's last visit: 19.10.2 - Schneider: never), so head over there (board.deathvalleydriver.com). Or read on for blatant thievery...THERE YOU HAVE IT. I worked 60 too PAS:
Thread rated: 4.81
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