4. One Last Round Up For Ol' Stone Cold - Survivor Series 2003
As co-general managers of Monday Night Raw in 2003, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Eric Bischoff were constantly at each other's throats, booking matches and punishing stars that contradicted what each authority figure had envisioned for the future of the brand. Whether Austin was getting Bischoff drunk to the point of vomiting or setting him up to endure a bronco buster from a Mae Young with sardines stuffed in her panties, or Bischoff went out of his way to make life a living hell for popular babyfaces such as Booker T and Goldberg, it became clear that the heads of state on Monday Night Raw simply could not coexist. At Survivor Series in November, Austin formed a team consisting of Shawn Michaels, the Dudley Boyz, Booker T and Rob Van Dam to battle Bischoff's team, featuring Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, Christian, Mark Henry and Scott Steiner, with the stipulation being that the losing team's captain would be forced out of their general manager role. Despite the outstanding performance by a bruised and battered Michaels, he simply could not overcome a numbers disadvantage and the interference of Batista that ultimately proved the bloodied Superstar's downfall. Not to mention the nail in Austin's proverbial coffin. The match proved that not every authority figure downfall had to feature the humiliation of the general manager or owner at its heart. Austin said an emotional goodbye to the WWE Universe without uttering a word. Of course, he returned weeks later, lessening the effect of the sendoff, but who's counting?
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
