First some backstory here - This topic was from an organized debate another user and I competed in on my old forum. I chose Austin/Vince and the following was my opening debate. I'd like YOUR opinions on this topic now. Which was more significant to the WWF - Austin/Bret or Austin/Vince? I can provide a link to the entire debate if anyone is interested as long as the Mod's don't see it as advertising or anything.
Now on with the show.
Beginning in 1998, the WWF saw an incredible boom period known as the Attitude Era. There were a number of contributing factors between 1996 and 1998 that can be counted as minor sparks to big bang that finally came in 1998 but one thing that cannot be denied is that the boom itself was carried largely on the backs of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Vince McMahon.
In the aftermath of the Montreal Screwjob which went down in November of 1997, Vince McMahon became a regular on-screen character in the WWF, transitioning from the play-by-play commentator he'd been known as for 20-years to the evil corporate boss that millions of wrestling fans worldwide could relate to. It's rarely ever mentioned but Vince's "Bret screwed Bret" speech was the beginning of a year long angle that saw McMahon searching for a man who'd play ball, his "Corporate Champion." Although the angle ended at Survivor Series '98 with The Rock emerging as the Crown Jewel, the entire basis of the Austin/Vince saga is rooted in the "Corporate Champion" angle.
When Steve Austin won the Royal Rumble and was on an obvious collision course with the WWF Championship, the common man began to rally behind Austin, who was still growing into his beer swiggin', middle finger flashing, redneck everyman character. Fans could relate to Austin and, because of this connection, people who'd never watched wrestling in their lives were tuning in en masse to record breaking numbers. Austin's drive to overcome everything Vince McMahon - the boss, THE MAN - was throwing at him was like a page out of every man's life, from the common construction worker to the white collar executive. Steve Austin being forced to defend his rightful WrestleMania title shot through various twists and swerves was like an overdramatized version of the labor crew being forced to work overtime on a Friday to make the foreman look good or the office worker being buried under his department head's paperwork while his boss is partying on the town. These people were tuning in because they got to see Austin do the one thing they couldn't - retaliate.
It was when Austin overcame the obstacles and won the Federation Championship at WrestleMania XIV that the Attitude Era was truly ushered in. With Austin and McMahon building most of the heat and drama with fans, stars like Mick Foley, The Rock, and Triple H were able to be quickly elevated into the main event picture. In a business where new stars break into the main event very slowly, Austin led the pack as a new generation started drawing money not seen since the height of Hulkamania. Another rarely credited star truly made during this time was Mr. McMahon himself.
The Austin/McMahon angle was a massive success. With nuances and interactions dating as far back as the summer of 1997, this angle got really hot in January 1998 and was the dominant storyline on WWF television until July 1999. The angle was dormant while Austin recovered from a neck surgery but became a main focus again immediately upon his return. The fued would continue until WrestleMania 17 in 2001 when ultimately sided with the man who'd made his life hell for years, Mr. McMahon - poetically defeating The Rock to boot.
In the end the angle drew millions upon millions of dollars dollars, attracted many new fans to the product, and was 1/2 of the most exciting war in wrestling history. The angle is still talked about today and is still felt over a decade after it began. Fans still use Austin/McMahon and the Attitude Era as the measuring stick of "good wrestling TV" and Mr. McMahon, 12 years after his original character introduction, is now playing the role of the evil corporate billionaire - a minor step up from his former role of an evil corporate millionaire.
Now on with the show.
Beginning in 1998, the WWF saw an incredible boom period known as the Attitude Era. There were a number of contributing factors between 1996 and 1998 that can be counted as minor sparks to big bang that finally came in 1998 but one thing that cannot be denied is that the boom itself was carried largely on the backs of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Vince McMahon.
In the aftermath of the Montreal Screwjob which went down in November of 1997, Vince McMahon became a regular on-screen character in the WWF, transitioning from the play-by-play commentator he'd been known as for 20-years to the evil corporate boss that millions of wrestling fans worldwide could relate to. It's rarely ever mentioned but Vince's "Bret screwed Bret" speech was the beginning of a year long angle that saw McMahon searching for a man who'd play ball, his "Corporate Champion." Although the angle ended at Survivor Series '98 with The Rock emerging as the Crown Jewel, the entire basis of the Austin/Vince saga is rooted in the "Corporate Champion" angle.
When Steve Austin won the Royal Rumble and was on an obvious collision course with the WWF Championship, the common man began to rally behind Austin, who was still growing into his beer swiggin', middle finger flashing, redneck everyman character. Fans could relate to Austin and, because of this connection, people who'd never watched wrestling in their lives were tuning in en masse to record breaking numbers. Austin's drive to overcome everything Vince McMahon - the boss, THE MAN - was throwing at him was like a page out of every man's life, from the common construction worker to the white collar executive. Steve Austin being forced to defend his rightful WrestleMania title shot through various twists and swerves was like an overdramatized version of the labor crew being forced to work overtime on a Friday to make the foreman look good or the office worker being buried under his department head's paperwork while his boss is partying on the town. These people were tuning in because they got to see Austin do the one thing they couldn't - retaliate.
It was when Austin overcame the obstacles and won the Federation Championship at WrestleMania XIV that the Attitude Era was truly ushered in. With Austin and McMahon building most of the heat and drama with fans, stars like Mick Foley, The Rock, and Triple H were able to be quickly elevated into the main event picture. In a business where new stars break into the main event very slowly, Austin led the pack as a new generation started drawing money not seen since the height of Hulkamania. Another rarely credited star truly made during this time was Mr. McMahon himself.
The Austin/McMahon angle was a massive success. With nuances and interactions dating as far back as the summer of 1997, this angle got really hot in January 1998 and was the dominant storyline on WWF television until July 1999. The angle was dormant while Austin recovered from a neck surgery but became a main focus again immediately upon his return. The fued would continue until WrestleMania 17 in 2001 when ultimately sided with the man who'd made his life hell for years, Mr. McMahon - poetically defeating The Rock to boot.
In the end the angle drew millions upon millions of dollars dollars, attracted many new fans to the product, and was 1/2 of the most exciting war in wrestling history. The angle is still talked about today and is still felt over a decade after it began. Fans still use Austin/McMahon and the Attitude Era as the measuring stick of "good wrestling TV" and Mr. McMahon, 12 years after his original character introduction, is now playing the role of the evil corporate billionaire - a minor step up from his former role of an evil corporate millionaire.
