12 Things We Learned From Jim Ross: Under The Black Hat
6. Austin Was Due To Lose At WrestleMania X8
WrestleMania X8 is largely remembered for the goosebumps-inducing match-up of The Rock vs. 'Hollywood' Hulk Hogan. But while The Great One and The Hulkster stole the show in one of the greatest WrestleMania matches, Steve Austin found himself in the middle of the card against Hogan's nWo running buddy, Scott Hall.
Many have always suggested that 'Mania X8 was initially meant to be Austin vs. Hogan. Not only was that never the case, but Stone Cold was actually due to do the honours for Hall at the Showcase of the Immortals.
Given how Hulk was to do the J-O-B to The Rock later in the show, Vince didn't want the nWo losing two matches on the same night. As such, the original plan was that Scott Hall would come out victorious against The Bionic Redneck.
Ever the professional, Steve Austin had no problem with Scott Hall and was happy to put him over at WrestleMania. Austin's gripe, however, was that he didn't see any money in this match, and his frustration was only further compounded when rumblings suggested that Hall had fallen off the wagon once more.
The decision to have Austin get the W at the Granddaddy of Them All was only made in the day leading up to WrestleMania - McMahon changing the finish after learning of Hall's drinking and drug use - although nobody had remembered to inform a pissed off Texas Rattlesnake of this change by the time Stone Cold arrived at Toronto's SkyDome.
Come WrestleMania day, and Austin was annoyed, creatively disappointed, and questioning just what WWE saw in his future - to the extent that he went home at the following night's Raw event.