So much of professional wrestling relies on coincidence, happenstance and being in the right place at the right time. In 1997, Steve Austins career was ready to go nuclear after his Austin 3:16 promo the previous year. At the same time, Vince McMahon was stepping out from behind the commentary desk and starting to acknowledge on screen that the WWF was his company. When McMahon pulled off the Montreal Screwjob it turned him into the ultimate villain, and gave Steve Austin the perfect foil for his rebellious character. The two actually clashed before Montreal, when McMahon tried to talk an injured Austin out of getting physical with Owen Hart, and ate a Stone Cold Stunner for his efforts. This led to Austin being arrested in the ring, which only increased his popularity and showed WWF how much potential there was for an Austin v The Man story. After Austin won the WWF Championship in 1998, the two proceeded to make each others lives a living hell. Austin sprayed McMahon and his cronies with beer and filled his car with cement, while McMahon worked tirelessly to screw Austin over and get the title onto someone he saw as more suitable as World Champion. The two were involved in countless memorable moments from The Attitude Era, and many see their alliance at WrestleMania X-Seven as the true end of that historic time. It wasnt the end of Austin v McMahon though, as the feud eventually spilled over into real life when McMahon wanted Austin to lose to Brock Lesnar as part of King of the Ring. Austin thought it ridiculous to give away such a match for free with no build up, so he didnt come to work. Austin and McMahon eventually settled their real-life differences, and Austin has since admitted that he was wrong to leave.
