The anti-authority rebel vs. the evil, megalomaniac owner was the storyline that injected life into World Wrestling Entertainment and brought the company back from an incredible deficit during the Monday Night Wars to eventually put WCW out of business. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin was the middle finger-flipping, beer drinking, profanity-spewing Superstar that the corporate-minded Vince McMahon wanted nowhere near his company's championship. Austin responded by winning said title and causing many of the grey hairs you see in McMahon today, often using over-sized vehicles such as Zambonis, beer trucks, cement trucks and monster trucks to infuriate the boss. McMahon occasionally got one over on Austin but the Texas Rattlesnake always bounced back, winning more heavyweight gold and promoting a more attitudinal atmosphere in McMahon's company. McMahon, like any good, corrupt businessmen, assembled a faction of henchmen to try to keep Austin at bay but the double tough Texan always managed to get at his rival. Of course assembling a roster of guys a bit better at their jobs than Big Boss Man, Ken Shamrock and Test proved to be may have swung things in McMahon's favor but he made due with what he had. All three of those Superstars ate Stone Cold Stunners on a regular basis and McMahon wound up punished by his insubordinate employee. But that's okay because McMahon was able to soak his wounds in cash thanks to the business the angle did for the company.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
