After Bret Harts controversial departure from the WWF in 1997, Vince McMahon was looking for a new top babyface to take his spot. Shawn Michaels was easily the top heel and Steve Austins new renegade character that started with the infamous Austin 3:16 speech at the previous years King of the Ring PPV, was catching fire. But the WWF was still losing the ratings war with WCW, whose NWO angle had captured everyones imagination. Hogans heel turn had got even non wrestling fans talking. McMahon needed something just as big to combat them. Enter Mike Tyson, the controversial former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion and self-proclaimed Baddest Man on the Planet. On a much promoted episode of Monday Night Raw, Vince McMahon, with whom Austin had been feuding, introduced Tyson. With his guest in the ring, McMahon announced that Tyson would be at WrestleMania XIV, but before he could say what hed be doing, Austins music hit. Austin verbally ran down Tyson, saying that he could beat him in a fight, ending his speech with a double one-handed salute. Tyson shoved Austin, and all hell broke loose. McMahon cursed Austin for ruining the big moment, when in actual fact, they had made a little bit of wrestling history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5abDK1j5IE The outcome of this angle? Huge amounts of mainstream media attention for Tyson, a massive buy rate for WrestleMania XIV, and the confirmation of Austin as the franchise star for the Atttiude era. The Tyson angle also marked the start of WWF turning the tide against WCW in the Monday Night Wars.
Dean Ayass is a well known name to British wrestling fans. A commentator, manager, booker and ring announcer who has been involved in the business since 1993, Dean's insight into the business is second to none.
