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whadu · Level 47: Snake Eater **Posts:** 31396 **Timestamp:** Sat Jun 21, 08 12:14 PM

Feud with Mr. McMahon (1998–1999)

With Bret Hart's departure, Austin was clearly the top superstar in the company, and after managing to ruffle the feathers of every other WWF superstar, he entered and won the 1998 Royal Rumble, lastly eliminating The Rock.[33] The next night on Raw, Austin interrupted Vince McMahon in his presentation of Mike Tyson, who was making a special appearance, over the objection of McMahon referring to Tyson as "the baddest man on the planet." Austin gave Tyson the double-bird (two middle fingers), which led to Tyson shoving Austin much to McMahon's embarrassment, who began to publicly disapprove of the prospect of Austin as his champion. Tyson was later announced as "the special enforcer" for the main event at WrestleMania XIV, although he appeared to be aligning himself with WWF Champion Shawn Michaels' stable D-Generation X.[5] This led to Austin's WWF Championship match against Michaels at WrestleMania XIV, which he won with help from Mike Tyson, who turned on DX by making the deciding three-count against Michaels.[5] This victory ushered in the Austin Era,[5] and with it, the Attitude Era.[33]

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin's trademark ring entrance.

On the Raw after Austin won the WWF Title, Vince McMahon presented him with a new title belt and warned Austin that he did not approve of his rebellious nature and that things could be done "the easy way or the hard way." Austin gave his answer in the form of another Stunner. This led to a segment a week later where Austin had pledged a few days prior in a meeting to "play ball" with McMahon, appearing in a suit, tie and loafers, with a beaming McMahon taking a picture of himself and his new corporate champion. The entire thing was a ruse by Austin who in the course of the segment proceeded to tear off the suit, tell McMahon it was the last time he'd see Austin dressed like this, punch his boss in the "corporate grapefruits," and take another picture of the two of them while McMahon was doubled over in pain.

In April 1998, it appeared Stone Cold and Vince McMahon were going to battle out their differences in an actual match, but the match was declared a no contest when Dude Love made an appearance. This led to a match between Dude Love and Austin at Over the Edge: In Your House for the WWF Championship. Austin managed to retain the title despite McMahon acting as the referee and his "Corporate Stooges" (Gerald Brisco and Pat Patterson) as timekeeper and ring announcer, respectively.

McMahon continued to do everything he could to ruin Austin, and he finally scored a big victory for his side at the 1998 King of the Ring tournament.[5] There, Stone Cold lost the WWF Championship to Kane in a First Blood match.[5] Stone Cold further infuriated his nemesis by winning back the championship the next night on Raw.[5] Stone Cold also emerged victorious against The Undertaker at SummerSlam 1998. In response, Mr. McMahon set up a triple threat match at Breakdown: In Your House, where The Undertaker and Kane pinned Austin at the same time. Mr. McMahon decided to vacate the WWF Championship[5] and award it based on a match between the Undertaker and Kane, in which Austin was the guest referee. Austin refused to count for either man and attacked both towards the end of the match. Mr. McMahon later fired The Rattlesnake, although Austin got a measure of revenge by kidnapping McMahon and dragging him to the middle of the ring at "gunpoint," which ended up being a toy gun with a scroll that read "Bang! 3:16." Stone Cold was later re-signed by Shane McMahon. In the semifinals of a tournament to award the vacant championship, Austin lost to Mankind, thanks to a double-cross by Shane. The next night on Raw, Judge Mills Lane ruled that The Rock had to defend his newly won WWF Championship against Austin that night. The Undertaker interfered and hit Austin with a shovel, earning Austin a disqualification victory. At Rock Bottom: In Your House, Steve Austin defeated The Undertaker in a Buried Alive match after Kane tombstoned Undertaker into the grave. With this victory, Stone Cold had qualified for the 1999 Royal Rumble.

The Rattlesnake’s next definitive chance to exact revenge on Mr. McMahon came during the 1999 Royal Rumble match. On Raw, McMahon drew Austin's entry number with the obvious intention of screwing him over. Stone Cold drew entry No. 1, while McMahon drew No. 2 thanks to WWF Commissioner Shawn Michaels. During the Rumble match, McMahon slipped out of the ring and into the crowd as Austin chased him down. It turned out to be a trap as McMahon led Austin into the lobby restroom where he was ambushed by members of The Corporation. Austin was injured and taken away in an ambulance. With Stone Cold gone and not in the Rumble match, Vince joined the announce table in calling the match. Later on, however, Austin returned in an ambulance and re-entered the Royal Rumble. After Austin delivered a Stunner to the Big Boss Man and eliminated him, it was back to just him and Mr. McMahon. With the assistance of the Corporation and a last minute interference from The Rock, Stone Cold was eliminated by McMahon himself, and Vince won the 1999 Royal Rumble.[5] With McMahon turning down his number-one contender spot against The Rock, WWF Commissioner Shawn Michaels awarded Austin the title shot during Raw the next night.

At St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, Stone Cold got a one-on-one match against Mr. McMahon in a Steel Cage, with the WWF Championship opportunity at WrestleMania XV at stake.[5] During the match, The Big Show made his debut, breaking through from under the ring and attacking Stone Cold. Show’s attack propelled Stone Cold into the side of the cage forcing the cage to give way and dropping Austin to the floor first, making him the victor.[5] Stone Cold made the most of his chance, defeating "The Corporate Champion" The Rock at WrestleMania XV for his third WWF Championship.[5]

Austin faced The Rock in a rematch at the following pay-per-view, Backlash, in which Shane McMahon was the referee. During the match, Mr. McMahon approached the ring, only to hand Austin back his Smoking Skull belt and take his son out of the proceedings. Austin won the match when another referee made the count. The Undertaker, however, won the WWF Championship from Austin at Over the Edge. Due to events revolving around Vince McMahon, Stephanie and Linda McMahon made Stone Cold the Chief executive officer of the company. Vince and Shane McMahon challenged Austin to a Handicap Ladder match at King of the Ring with the CEO title on the line, which the duo of father and son won. The next night on Raw, however, Austin made it clear that while he was the CEO of the company, he could have a title shot at any time and place to be determined by himself. Austin made the WWF Championship match that night on Raw and defeated The Undertaker to win his fourth WWF Championship.

Austin held on to the Championship belt until SummerSlam 1999 when he lost it to Mankind in a Triple Threat match also featuring Triple H.[5] By Survivor Series, Triple H was champion. Instead of getting a rematch, Austin was run down by a car in the parking lot.[5] What followed was neck surgery by Dr. Lloyd Youngblood and a nine-month rehabilitation with the car angle as his reason for leaving.[5] In reality, Austin had needed neck surgery since the Owen Hart incident in 1997.

Stone-Cold-Steve-Austin, WWE, Wrestling

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