10 Things We Learned From Something Else To Wrestle With: WrestleMania 14

8. The McMahon/Austin Feud Was Considered A “Happy Accident”

Steve Austin Vince McMahon
WWE.com/Pro Wrestling Illustrated

Ask anyone to name one feud that encapsulates everything good about the Attitude Era and McMahon vs. Austin is likely atop the list. According to Bruce Prichard, the entire saga was a "happy accident" that was never really the plan in creative.

Yes, Austin was supposed to hit a Stunner on McMahon and no, the boss wasn't supposed to be happy about it, but the rivalry wasn't originally intended to proceed post-WrestleMania XIV. It only caught fire before the show because Shawn Michaels was struggling with injury and Tyson's limited date deal meant he couldn't appear weekly.

Though the plan was to feud Dude Love with Austin after 'Mania, McMahon wasn't initially a part of the story at all, or at least not a major player in it.

WWE had only wanted to use McMahon as filler to ready Austin for his big title triumph in Boston, not as his main enemy. That all changed once it became abundantly clear that people were red hot for the tale of a renegade employee putting the arrogant boss in his place.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.