when would the fans turn on stone cold.

[dirtyoldman]

It happened to Hogan. The biggest star of the 80s but when the earlynineties rolled round the boos began and then mid pre nwo he was quite unpopular.

Happened to thw Rock, round the time he left to make movies and Cena gets booed quite a bit after winning the big one.

Never happened to Austin despite the heel turn. Guess in comparison, Austin had quite a short run at the top, the fans never getting time to tire of him.
But do you think if he had gone on for longer, how long begore he got the Hogan treatment, if ever?

[Jacy Jayne Atomic Dog AMV]

When they finally learned how to do a sexy dance like he wanted

[The Yes Man]

Honestly Austin is pretty much bulletproof to me.

["Cane Dewey" Johnson]

Some time in 2001. A babyface Austin leading the company in 2001 would have been incredibly boring, especially if all other things remain equal (the Rock leaves for Hollywood for a spell, Triple H gets injured, the InVasion happens).

The heel turn gave Austin a whole new set of opponents and helped WWE book the rest of the year. You don't get any of that if Austin doesn't turn.

And Austin's turn freshened up the character. Sometimes it's good to give the fans not what they want, or what they think they want, but what they need. A babyface Austin who in 2001 still stuns Vince McMahon, swills beer, and flips people off would have put people off by June. The Attitude Era probably would have fizzled out faster had Austin not turned, because the Austin of 1998 wouldn't have been able to sustain in 2001.

[auph10imitated]

Hogan was doing the same gimmick in the WWF and WCW for 12 years before his heel turn, If we count from babyface Austin of 1997 to 2002 when he stopped wrestling full time thats 5,and even though Austin's era was a faster pace I think you would have gotten another 5 years at least out of him before anyone would ever get bored (if he was used correctly)

[Gerard Gerard]

Give the guy credit for wanting to get out in front of his act ever potentially getting stale, it's virtually unknown for a top act to wanna reinvent the wheel while the car's still going. Gee whizz, though, probably called it a good year premature. Even in the midst of Austin battering Lita, people would still soil their panties whenever the glass shattered. Thinking of how much dough was left in the table in 2001 in Austin is unreal. Hell, even after the Alliance dreck, his return to facedom could've been uber-business if it was played right, but no, because f*** money.

[Push R Truth]

I honestly believe the timing of Austin's injuries (even going back to Owen Hart) and his walkouts gave his career a longer life. If his push and shtick would have been a 100% unbroken streak it would have gotten unbearable.

The injury from Owen made the fans "hungry" for his return and that was a major factor in his explosion. That's a rare thing these days when the WWE treats it's wrestlers like a constant all you can eat buffet that you end up getting sick of eating the same thing over and over long before you are actually full.


And I'm a big Stone Cold fan. But a couple solid years of his stuff would have gotten stale as shit, as with anything.

[Mid-Carder]

Although I enjoyed his work as a heel in 2001, I adamantly maintain that it was the worst business decision they ever made and that they have never recovered.

[BorneAgain]

Might be bad memory on my part, but I recall Rock getting more cheers than Austin leading up the eventually non-existent triple threat at Survivor Series 1999.

That time off for his neck surgery pretty much prevented Austin from ever getting stale in the eyes of the fans, because he simply wasn't around long enough for anyone to get sick of him. Rock completely dominating the scene once Austin was gone during that period meant he was much more susceptible to live audiences getting bored of his babyface stuff which ended up happening a bit in the build up to Wrestlemania XVII.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

I wouldn't have ever considered turning him, unless he was getting Reigns-level negative reactions. And even then it wouldn't be 100% guaranteed.

[avenger]

Well, the domestic violence charge and subsequent no contest plea didn't do him much harm. Although it was interesting to see that in the Angle/Cena clips they used on Monday included a fan sign saying "Austin 3:16 says I just beat my wife". Fairly sure we wouldn't have seen that if he was still doing the podcasts.

[Deleted]

Sept 7, 2017 12:47:44 GMT -5 BorneAgain said:

Might be bad memory on my part, but I recall Rock getting more cheers than Austin leading up the eventually non-existent triple threat at Survivor Series 1999.

Yeah, I was coming to mention this too.

He was getting stale in late 99 and fans were booing him when he would square off with The Rock in that build to Survivor Series. That year long break came at a decent time for him.

[Fade]

Sept 7, 2017 12:47:44 GMT -5 BorneAgain said:

Might be bad memory on my part, but I recall Rock getting more cheers than Austin leading up the eventually non-existent triple threat at Survivor Series 1999.

That time off for his neck surgery pretty much prevented Austin from ever getting stale in the eyes of the fans, because he simply wasn't around long enough for anyone to get sick of him. Rock completely dominating the scene once was one during that period meant he was much more susceptible to live audiences getting bored of his babyface stuff which ended up happening a bit in the build up to Wrestlemania XVII.

As much as of an Austin mark that I am, this is true. You could sense it. They weren't boo'ing him per-say...but in was evident The Rock was about to eclipse him. The injury made the heart grow fonder for Austin..

[chronocross]

I think the injuries played a part in keeping him fresh and not get booed out of the building, though I felt by late 2001 post-Invasion he was getting stale.

[Chainsaw]

I think the closest chance he ever had of being booed was when he was GM, there is always the chance of a GM getting tiring with crowds, especially with Austin running down guys like Lance Storm, but it never even came close to happening.

[saintpat]

He's a wife beater and people line up to ... well, I'll leave it at that.

"He drinks beer and hates his boss. I drink beer and hate my boss. He beats up his boss; I wish I could beat up my boss. He beat his wife; I wish I could ... wait, I do that too. Hell yeah!!!" Lowest common denomenator.

[Bub (BLM)]

I don't think they would have. I think much like Undertaker, fans were going to cheer him no matter what. Undertaker's heel run in 2001/2 came to an end after 8 months or so because people just kept cheering. Same was the case for Austin months prior.

[Deleted]

His injury prevented him from getting stale and The Rock being the top guy felt fresh. Also he left in 2002 but I have a feeling if he stuck around longer it would of begun.

Austin had a really short career

[edgestar]

When they get to watm, they turn on stone cold

[Deleted]

Sept 7, 2017 15:37:14 GMT -5 saintpat said:

He's a wife beater and people line up to ... well, I'll leave it at that.

"He drinks beer and hates his boss. I drink beer and hate my boss. He beats up his boss; I wish I could beat up my boss. He beat his wife; I wish I could ... wait, I do that too. Hell yeah!!!" Lowest common denomenator.

You honestly believe that, at the time, the average fan knew he assaulted his wife and cheered him for it? Like, the teen fan walking around with an Austin 3:16 shirt knew and cheered him on because of domestic abuse? What about the would-be smark that would tell others about the second guy playing the Undertaker? I'm sure that guy knew all about Austin.