10 Times WWE Couldn't Repeat Success
7. Austin Vs. McMahon
Austin vs. McMahon might be one of the greatest feuds in the history of professional wrestling, and one which hurtled WWE into its second Golden Era - arguably, its greatest ever period of relevance - but the company has been haunted by its shadow ever since.
It's not just the concept of an evil authority figure illogically holding back the promotion's most obviously popular star which has festered over the product for the past 22 years, but the very same actors. Since Austin shook hands with the devil himself, putting an end to that particular cash cow, McMahon and his extended clan have continued to wage war on whichever superstar riding a groundswell of support threatens to earn his company money.
The only time 'authority vs. unfashionable babyface' has came close to working again was Daniel Bryan's run in 2014 - a storyline which necessitated real life denseness towards his marketability to prosper. Nothing was taken from this: Roman Reigns, a noted company pick, was swiftly placed in the exact same role shortly after. No prizes for guessing how much sympathy that gained him.