Stone Cold- Overrated Due to The Austin-McMahon Feud?

[silrock316]

Originally Posted by The D-Man

The problem is that many fans are either ignorant or don't remember Austin before he broke his neck in 1997. The momentum of Austin's fanbase came after he already established himself by winning the KOTR and by feuding with Bret Hart. No one seems to look back further into his career to see that he was actually one of the better technical wrestlers of the 1990's.

The persona that started him in the WWE, The Ringmaster, was based on the fact that he was Ted DiBiase's protege largely due to his in-ring technical prowess. Once he realized that the Ringmaster gimmick was going nowhere and he decided to start acting like himself (with the volume turned up), the audience started to relate to his rebellious character. Then came Wrestlemania 13 and his classic match with Bret Hart that truly put him on everyone's radar. Just five months later he broke his neck at Summerslam against Owen Hart and his wrestling style would be forced to change forever just to keep him working without killing himself.

By that time, Austin didn't need to be a technical, in-ring master. Thankfully, he already had the fans by the balls.

Exactly, it just gets so frustrating when I hear people talking about Austin's fued with Vince being the only true fued he has had. Hell, even that fued you touched on with Owen was a great fued. Austin then went on to fued with The Rock while he was IC champ and propelled the Rock to midcard level. This is a frustrating topic to me because as you said ignorance or lack of knowledge propel people to say things without fact behind it.

[pessimism101]

I know full well that Austin was a good wrestler prior to the Austin-McMahon feud. I'm saying I lost respect for him a as a wrestler because of the feud because it limited what he did in the ring.

I will also NEVER forgive Austin for the whole "What?" thing....

[GameOver]

Originally Posted by silrock316

The only reason you think, and maybe I shouldn't say you personally but most people tuned into to watch wrestling during that fued. Folks who weren't 80's wrestling fans that is. Therefore you probably or they probably don't remember Hart/Austin. Which to me is his best fued.

You all must understand this... Austin 316, the king of the ring speech, put Austin over and then it was extremely elevated with Hart/Austin. The McMahon fued was just the tip of the iceberg.

For those of you who think Austin only had a few moves, go get some stunning steve matches on video and THEN TELL US longtime Austin fans he only has a few moves. His character was a BRAWLER why would you see figure four leglocks and hurricanranas etc. etc.?

I actually think Austin/The Rock was the better fued.
Austin vs McMahon wasn't a fued over titles or even between the two in matches, though they did wrestle which wasn't any good, it was Austin vs the entire WWE heel base and even faces aswell thats the difference, that no matter what Vince threw at him he overcame it in the end.

Austin/The Rock, Austin/Triple H, Austin/Taker, Austin/HBK, Austin/Hart were all wrestling based fueds over titles for the most part

Austin would also be remembered for his many catchphrases and the beer salutes/baths

Which still would've happened if he'd never fueded with the boss.

Something else to note most of the other top stars have fueded with Vince aswell, but never to the same level and length that Austin did

[666_The_Game_666]

Depends Austin was a rising star in 1996 with Austin 3:16 and i think that his 97 feud with Bret and the Hart Foundation put Austin over as a face. The McMahon feud was just something that pushed Austin to the point of the top guy in the company