Can someone answer this for me

[Slam Master]

My question is, why did Steve Austin not want to job to HHH in 1999? I also heard he didn't want to job in other situations too. Did this cause any hard feelings with HHH? People say HBK and the Hitman were unprofessional about there job refusals, but Austin's had a few and no one says anything about that.

 

[Dave]

Yes it is probably true that Austin did not want to job to HHH but it has been mentioned plenty. In fact, more than a couple of people resent Austin for not being a team player so to speak. In my opinion, I would not like to job to people who at the time are not in the same leasgue as me and I say that as a Triple H mark. Austin could be as unprofessional as the next man but he got away with it because he was the face of the company. Much like Cena today.

 

[Cheech 72]

Austin did job to Triple in Hell in a Cell when it was a best of 3 falls match years ago in early 2000 era. I remember hearing that one of the reasons Austin took his "ball" and ran home with it was because of his injuries and he didn't want to job the the rookie Brock Lesnar. In Bret Hart's biography he stated that he would of jobbed to anyone but Michaels told him he wouldn't do the same for him so thats why he didn't want to lose the title to him. Who knows, lots of wrestlers have huge egos when it come to that shit. Long live Terry Funk!

 

[Slam Master]

Thats true. HBK, Bret Hart, and Stone Cold all had their reasons not to job; based off egos, resentment, pride, and what not. Michaels did it for Austin but wouldn't to Hart cus he felt Hart didn't support him, upset that he used his leverage against the WWF to sign the largest contract ever, when HBK was on top, was mean to him about his knee, talked behind his back, etc. Bret Hart felt HBK was unprofessional, this and that..

 

[RKOhead84]

thats funny this thread is out, earlier today I was watching the McMahon DVD and there was about a 10 mintue chapter on Austin taking his ball and going home. It even had a king of the ring qualifying match promo between him and brock lesnar. i think its total bullshit that he wouldn't do that. talk about a huge ego. if your serious about giving anything to the business, you job to whoever, as long as its not santino or goldust. i just think that someone like stone cold who IMO wasnt that great of a wrestler he just had the amazing marketing image (alas hogan and cena).
also this is competely off subject but i wanted to throw it out. i really think cena should turn heel. if vince is afraid of losing money, look what happened when wcw had hogan turned heel. after that i think they made a little bit of money with the group hogan formed. what were they called again? oh yead, the nWo.

 

[bulldog76]

From my understanding, Austin not wanting to job to HHH in 99 had more to do with respect to Foley than resentment towards HHH. HHH I don't think had any resentment. If there was any, it was minimal and lasted only breifly. I've read where HHH discussed this but didn't have any negative comments; at least publicly. HHH and Austin had their feuds. No it wasn't HIAC, but Austin did lose to the Game.

Much like HHH now, Austin was about timing. Austin claimed he didn't want to job to Lesnar or Big Show in 02 because there was no build up and he felt they were all missing out on opportunities to cash in on his loss and make a win over him more relevant. Much like losing to the new main-eventer (Benoit, Batista, and solidifying Cena) at WrestleMania gets the most out of a win over HHH, Austin wanted build up, advertisements and attention before he was going to fall. Top tier players should only be losing to only top tier players or only bring up a new guy when people are paying attention. It would not do any good for Edge to lose to Morrison at a house show or for Orton to lose an impromtu match to MVP on RAW. Advertise it. Build it. Make sure people are watching. Then pull the trigger.

Again, this is all from what I have read from varying sites and magazines. We will always only know what little information is presented to us.

 

[FlairFan2003]

Remember, as I said in previous posts regarding Hogan (and I'm no big Hogan fan) these guys are independent contractors, no health insurance, no retirement funds, no union to represent their interests. When a guy like Austin gets as huge as he was, and Austin was bigger in 98-2000 than anyone not named Hogan circa 1984-87, then you can understand why they are reluctant to get beat in high profile matches, possibly putting over the guy who could take your spot at No 1 in the company, and the paycheck that goes with it.

I'm not saying I agree with it, but it is understandable. I think you can mainatin your individual star power and still put over other talent from time to time. HBK had a horrible reputation when he rose to prominence as a singles wrestler in the mid to late 90's, but has been much less political since his comeback in 2002. He's put over Orton, HHH, Flair, Taker, and Jericho to name a few during that time, but has been able to protect his character and remain a top draw. Certainly HHH & Cena have put over top guys and maintained star power, just as Flair and Savage did a decade earlier. Hogan was legendary for his reluctance to put over anyone, but Hogan also was the guy who got fired from the WWF for taking a role in a film project (Rocky) and who had promoter Verne Gagne hold him up for an obscene % of his paycheck on the condition he let him be champ over Nick Bockwinkle. Wanna be the man, give me a cut of your pay - NO WAY

Too many times we've seen guys who made huge amounts of $$ for a company sent packing when it suited mgt, look at Flair in WCW, Hart in 1997 with WWF, Hogan & Savage with WWF in 94 & 95. Loyalty is hard to come by in this industry, a wrestler has to look out for No. 1.

I apptreciate the efforts that guys who were willing to give back some of what they got, they've showed class and a committment to the success of the product that is commendable and admirable from a fan standpoint. But I totally understand if an Austin or Hogan is less than willing to make someone else look good at their expense, here today gone tomorrow in this buisness.