klunderbunker
Welcome to My (And Not Sly's) House
Late 96 was definitely the Attitude Era KB, Pillman's Got a Gun ring any bells? All the traditional faces started to change, HBK got an attitude, Bret started to get pissed off at the fans and the WWF, Sid you never knew what the fuck he was, face or heel but people seemed to love him. Russo booking = Attitude Era as far as I'm concerned.
Besides Austin was only one of many tweeners during the Attitude Era.
Always thought the gun was in 97. I was wrong there.
Still though, a lot of that was closer to Mania 13 and by that time Austin was getting pops just about every night. If nothing else it was the bare beginnings of the AE.