4. Stone Cold Steve Austin And Vince McMahon
Steve Austin walked out on WWE after becoming unhappy with the direction his character was taking. The tipping point came when creative wanted Austin to job to Brock Lesnar on Raw causing Austin to literally stand up, fly home and abandon the broadcast. Steve then failed to show for a few more shows in 2002 which led to WWE releasing one of their Confidential Series which completely buried their leading star. Austin claims he walked because he felt the move wasnt right for business. He felt a superstar of his standing losing to a relative newcomer to the main roster was PPV material and WWE could have made a tonne of money from a long feud. Perhaps Austins pride took a severe blow, who knows, well have to take his word for it. According to Austins long time friend Jim Ross, on his own Ross Report podcast, the walk out was the final nail in his careers coffin. His last match as an active member of the roster came a year later at WrestleMania XIX against The Rock. WWE released a controversial episode of Confidential completely dedicated to the incident. The show was detrimental about Steve as a person and as a professional. There was speculation saying it was just an elaborate ploy by Vince McMahon to gain more ratings but it proved to be a 100% shoot. Vince and Jim Ross both commented on how disappointed they were with their incredibly selfish friends decision. Vince even claimed the door was not open for an Austin return while JR stated other superstars were ready to fill the Texas Rattlesnakes shoes.