10 Times WWE Found It Hard To Say Goodbye

During the Attitude Era's height, WWE's secret weapon against WCW was one 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin. However, as the Georgia-based company crumbled going into the millennium, Austin felt his position within his home company slip.

Like CM Punk later on, 'The 'Texas Rattlesnake,' became concerned with creative and booking, such as the decision to have him face a troubled Scott Hall at WrestleMania 18. With permission, Austin skipped the following Raw.

When he returned, Austin was expected to lose a qualifying match to rookie Brock Lesnar, which he thought would've made him look weak. He had no problem jobbing, but he hoped it would have been the result of a feud rather than a random episode of Raw. He disagreed with the concept, and he walked out again, hours before Raw. Furious, Vince McMahon, along with his performers, tore into 'The Rattlesnake,' stating he "took his ball and went home."

Stone Cold and WWE might get along now, but at the time, the company refused to look past any opportunity to slight him until he retired more properly in 2003. As McMahon's appearance on the Stone Cold Podcast revealed, neither party completely dropped their side of the argument, with the CEO referring to Austin's actions as unprofessional and 'The Bionic Redneck' questioning McMahon's judgment. Then again, what was there to expect from a guy famous for standing up to the boss?