9. Swooped In To Face Hogan At WrestleMania Ahead Of Austin
Story: Considered by many to be a dream match, Steve Austin vs. Hulk Hogan was proposed by the WWF creative team for WrestleMania X-8 with a view to making the bout become reality. Straight off the bat, Austin seemed a little distracted by the presence of the incoming nWo, and didn't exactly look enthused about working with them during various segments. According to all involved, Austin and the members of the nWo (Hogan, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash) got on just fine, but it's clear there was some tension, especially between 'The Rattlesnake' and Hulk. The question is, did Austin hesitate just a little too long, allowing The Rock to swoop in and take his place in the bumper marquee match against Hogan? Why People BelieveIt: It makes perfect sense that the company would be interested in booking Austin vs. Hogan at WrestleMania, because it's a match millions of people had salivated over for a number of years. Putting that at the top of the marquee would have been guaranteed money, so it therefore felt a little strange that The Rock was placed in there against Hogan instead, leaving Austin to battle Scott Hall in a nothing match. Should We Believe It: Steve Austin and The Rock have always been really good friends, so there's a chance they could have conversed privately, discussing Austin's reservations about facing Hulk Hogan. If so, it seems likely that The Rock would have had his pal's blessing to fill the slot instead of him.
