The Real Reason We Never Saw Steve Austin And Jeff Jarrett Wrestle

Austin had incredible instincts to preserve his star power. He knew Marc Mero wasn't a major player, nor could he elevate him to that level. He knew Triple H wasn't ready in the summer of 1999, whereas he knew Rock was at the onset of that year. He knew to avoid the politicking power of Hulk Hogan. His 2001 heel turn was disastrous enough for his career; the Rattlesnake knew well enough to keep himself away from the monstrous nostalgia flex of those 24-inch pythons. He was proved right, in the end: Jarrett was a paper headliner in WCW, in which he failed quite dismally to arrest the decline.

This may all read as a character assassination of Jarrett, but that wasn't the intention. The man was a superb midcard talent, one of the best of a loaded 1990s scene: his slapnuts schtick was priceless, his work of a high in-ring standard, his way of timing the despicable deed so expert that it provoked the guiltiest of pops. He was good, but he was never great - and that's why Austin refused to work him in a major, Attitude Era programme.

In fact, beyond a dark match and a pair of Royal Rumbles, he never worked him at all.

There is a neat parallel between the careers of Steve Austin and Jeff Jarrett, but a greater irony: "Don't piss me off" earned as much money as Jarrett missed out on.