10 WWE Wrestlers Who Didn't Do What Was Best For Business
2. 'Stone Cold' Takes His Ball Home
Stone Cold Steve Austin was WWE’s biggest star during the late '90s Attitude Era. However, in 2002, it was time for WWE to start building new superstars to replace an aging Austin and The Rock, who was pursuing a film career in Hollywood. WWE asked him to put over a rising young star, but The Texas Rattlesnake wasn’t willing to do business.
According to Pro Wrestling Torch, negotiations between Austin and creative became heated just a few hours before the 10 June 2002 episode of WWE RAW was set to air. The disagreement was over a proposed match with Brock Lesnar.
At the time, Lesnar was billed as “The Next Big Thing”, and WWE was looking to push the future star as a main-event player. Austin believed the match and creative direction would damage his brand. Rather than passing the torch to the young Beast Incarnate, he took his ball and went home.