10 Wrestlers You Can Tell HATED Working For WWE

5. Steve Austin

Steve Austin Scott Hall WrestleMania X-8
WWE.com

Steve Austin didn't quite think his grand plan to avoid Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania X8 through.

Yes, he wasn't out-politicked by the Hulkster on the Grandest Stage, at which Hogan turned himself face at the Rock's expense - but Rock wasn't cast as a heel forevermore. The match lives on simply as a legendary moment on a legendary CV. Meanwhile, Austin's consolation prize does not reach those heights in retrospect. His match with Scott Hall, who by then was a mess of personal problems, was a 10 minute embodiment of two men failing themselves and their audience. It was a real shame; both had performed to the full ***** level at previous incarnations of the Show of Shows. 2002 was a different, sadder, and far more tedious match than 1994 or 1997. Hall was struggling to contain his excesses to the hotel bar.

Austin, simply, did not care; this was a cold performance removed entirely from the fiery babyface displays of old. It was 4PM on a day at the office in which he'd already hit the wall.

This was the last tea round when everybody was okay for now, thank you.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!