I was talking about Vince McMahon as a character, not a promoter.
You didn't say that though at first
I was talking about Vince McMahon as a character, not a promoter.
No @Dale Is speaking the truth
Well, i'm not anybody's alt so... no she is not speaking the truth. Insulting ("garbage") is a sign of insecurity. I'm not some sensitive Rock mark lol
I know it's morning in USA right now, so I'll be later. And guys don't delete or block this thread; i'm sure that'll be an interesting discussion, because it's an extremely unpopular opinion.
I want to discuss with others and not to exchange unpleasantries lol
Being overrated is subjective tbh as your opinions for who is and isn't doesn't really have much empirical merit, much like anyone else.
However, in my opinion, while I'm still doing my watch-through of RAW in 1996 and 1997, he was easily the third best wrestler and most entertaining star on the show just from his facial expressions and his wrestling ability pre-neck injury. If Owen never accidentally dropped him on his head, chances are he would have gone down as one of the best technical wrestlers of his time.
That said, he was treated very well in those two years as the challenger on the chase for the title. He helped give Bret Hart's heel turn life and helped give Bret more personality thanks to the dynamic between the two, and he gelled extremely well with Shawn to the point that the two, even injured, put on a pretty good match at Mania XIV.
As for why people may like Austin so much. It's what he represents. Steve Austin came around at the perfect time that the 90's counterculture movement was at its height. Corporate America was structurally at its strongest before the collapse of the economy following 9/11, and many people were feeling oppressed by the long work hours and hating their bosses. Steve Austin represented, much like Dusty Rhodes, the working class man. Whereas Dusty exuded the middle class values of scratching and clawing your way to the top, Austin represented rebelliousness and pushing back against the system. His rivalry with Vince McMahon was paramount in showing this, as the McMahon character was the white collar sniveling boss everyone wanted to beat up, and Austin was the blue collar worker stuck being an employee of this guy.
So I'm not really going to change your mind, but more so say that for four years (1997-2000), Steve Austin was a direct epitomization of middle class culture of the time. He was beloved because of what he represented and how he carried himself. Him being the biggest draw next to Hogan is more an effect this than anything else.
So that's my essay done for today.
Well, thanks for your answer, i have to say that i agree with your points.
What i'm basically saying is that he was kind of "one trick pony"; epitomization, like you said of the late 90s.
Being overrated is subjective tbh as your opinions for who is and isn't doesn't really have much empirical merit, much like anyone else.
So I'm not really going to change your mind, but more so say that for four years (1997-2000), Steve Austin was a direct epitomization of middle class culture of the time. He was beloved because of what he represented and how he carried himself. Him being the biggest draw next to Hogan is more an effect this than anything else.
Man he said that great it was fantastic writing, did u see Austin before the nexk injury in wcwdamn he was good as stunning Steve with the blonde hair , he was definitely up there as one of the best in tje ring in any capacity, technically gifted, like grim said before the accident by Owen he would have been up there, even Austin admits after that that he had 6 moves and admits it , so yeah one trick pony think that's accurate, most were though, all wrestlers back then were all good at something, ain't one who wasbood ateveything, mic skills, look, charisma etc
I'm not denying the fact that he was popular (extremely popular to be fair), but that's in my mind comes from strong booking and the late 90s culture. So: right man in right time.
I have a feeling that most of fans who consider Austin GOAT have this... i don't know... romanticised view upon him. That he alone kicked off AE by giving this 3:16 promo.
I don't think anyone is saying he isn't, but we also forget that until he reinvented himself, Hogan was representative of 80's middle class values, so he could be construed as a "one trick pony". When he reinvented himself as a heel, the reason he got over was because the time period was right for it. All of his fans that were kids were now adults and didn't give a shit about his character, suddenly he's a rat bastard who sold his soul? Everyone wanted to see him get his ass kicked.