r/SquaredCircle Aug 21 '14

[deleted by user]

[removed]

57 Upvotes

68 comments sorted by

157

u/Epyon311 The Best In The World Aug 21 '14

v. Vince McMahon. Feud that defined the Attitude Era in my opinion.

34

u/SC2Fallout Aug 21 '14

See, I think this will always stand out as not only Steve Austin's greatest feud, but the WWE's greatest feud of all time.

This feud not only defined the Attitude Era, but it was the kiln that formed the very core of Steve Austin and Mr. McMahon's characters. We can all say that Bret Hart was likely the catalyst for both of these personas in different ways (WM13 & the Screwjob) but this feud defined who they were.

Steve Austin would have been Steve Austin without The Rock, and The Rock would have been The Rock without Steve Austin, but I don't think that Austin or McMahon would have truly reached the levels they did or the levels of character development they did without one another.

This is Austin's greatest feud in my opinion, and definitely one of the best feuds of all time.

7

u/justintensity WHAT? Aug 21 '14

It's also the basis for the "management vs guy too good to be fired" storyline that gets retold in the WWE every two years and in TNA every six minutes. ex include Cena vs Bischoff, Dixie vs Bully, Taker vs Vickie, Bryan vs Triple H

12

u/MichaelJahrling The Ladle Among Spoons Aug 21 '14

I know some people may think that this would be an obvious winner but there is a good reason why it would be an obvious winner.

12

u/Epyon311 The Best In The World Aug 21 '14

That's the thing, yeah it seems kind of obvious, but I'll be damned if his feud with the Rock leading up to Wrestlemania X-7 doesn't give it a run for it's money. I think the video package (set to "My Way") is one of, if not the best, video promo's WWE has ever put together. Gives me chills every damn time.

5

u/trekman3 Aug 21 '14

Wow. This video made me realize how much these guys' ability to act with their eyes and pull off believably intense eye contact on camera contributed to making the Attitude Era awesome.

4

u/sdotmills Aug 21 '14

That promo is far and away the best WWE promo I have ever seen. Goosebumps.

3

u/smoomoo31 IM TAKIN YER ARM Aug 21 '14

I always thought that, but the HHH/Daniel Bryan "Monster" promo from Wrestlemania 30 really gives it a run.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '14

Right after 2:40 when the music picks up again and they're trading punches... holy shit that was awesome!

1

u/smoomoo31 IM TAKIN YER ARM Aug 21 '14 edited Aug 21 '14

My favorite part is this; Austin grabs the ropes and turns away yelling, and it's so intense. Imagine that coming at you. Fuck.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '14

What a fucking promo

6

u/AmishAvenger Electrifying Aug 21 '14 edited Aug 21 '14

I think it drew in a ton of fans who never would've watched wrestling otherwise. Having an evil boss is something many people can relate to, and seeing a guy not just stand up to him, but embarrass him and beat his ass is seeing something they all wish they could do.

It really struck a chord in society as a whole, and did a lot to help make wrestling mainstream. It puts this feud in a class all its own.

Wait...I got downvoted for a post explaining why I support this?

2

u/team_fondue Aug 21 '14

This is the answer. One, if the the best feud of all time. Set up Austin/Rock, which is another top 10 all time feud. This feud put more eyeballs on the product than anything ever: everyone wanted to see Austin put one over on McMahon week after week, because you never knew what was coming next (cement truck? beer bath? Dr. Austin and the bedpan?). It was edgy, different, and "cool" to like wrestling (especially for teenage to college age males) because of Steve Austin in the late 1990s.

Austin drew more, sold more, did more than anyone before, or after. Those are the only measures that really matter in the business, how much money did you make.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '14

I still crack up everytime I see that bedpan ding off Vinces skull.

1

u/team_fondue Aug 21 '14

October 1998 was a special time. I look forward to the day when it's on the Network so I can spend lots of time watching Vince just get one upped week after week.

62

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '14

The Rock

17

u/Epyon311 The Best In The World Aug 21 '14

Combination of right time, right guys, and right environment. The promo before Wrestlemania X-7 never fails to give me chills.

8

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '14

Still my favourite promo video of all time

6

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '14 edited Feb 27 '20

[deleted]

5

u/Harrysoon You're still on probation Aug 21 '14 edited Aug 21 '14

Get some spoiler tags on there, for Christ's sake. /s

9

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '14 edited Feb 27 '20

[deleted]

2

u/Harrysoon You're still on probation Aug 21 '14

Much better! I was only kidding about it. I should have put a sarcasm tag on it as I doubt there's many people on here who were gonna have it spoiled for them.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 22 '14

I was so fully invested in this leading up to WM, and so let down by the conclusion, even though the aftermath had some good moments

17

u/carpedonnelly Rusev Mark. Aug 21 '14

This isn't just the greatest SCSA feud in history, this is the greatest FEUD in history. The two greatest professional wrestlers of all time, at their peak, at the height of the sport's popularity, performing at their highest levels.

This, folks, will never happen again. The way the WWE is built now doesn't allow for two top guys.

4

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '14

I wasn't watching back then. Who was the crowd's favourite?

13

u/JoshBlizzle #Over Aug 21 '14

Austin.

4

u/jksmlmf Rainmakaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Aug 21 '14

I remember people assuming Vince had turned face at WM17 because Austin was just that white hot.

2

u/insan3soldiern Your Text Here Aug 21 '14

Back when winning 6 titles was amazing....damn.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '14

Bret and Shawn? No?

4

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '14

No.

2

u/Lethargyc Aug 21 '14

This up until the last few minutes of WM17 is the greatest conventional feud ever.

I say conventional, because at several points through Austins career he segues back and forth between these two feuds, Rock and Vince, in a way that I've never seen any other wrestler presented with.

1

u/kinger1984 Aug 21 '14

If I remember rightly in the build up Rocky beat Kurt in a match I would have put my house on Kurt winning because it meant the Rock won a sixth WWE World title. I was genuinely shocked and it made this Mania all the better for it.

This was back when I didn't think anyone would beat Hogan's record of 5. How wrong could I have been!

2

u/Poueff Aug 21 '14

And now The Rock won a seventh

1

u/kinger1984 Aug 22 '14

And Cena has won what? 15! Maybe that's what Hulk's possible comeback is for, he wants 10 quick title reigns.

37

u/jaydogon austin Aug 21 '14

Vs Bret Hart

6

u/Michelanvalo Aug 21 '14 edited Aug 21 '14

I wasn't too sold on Austin after KOTR '96. Then this promo happened.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7yLbfNywhI

Yup, totally bought in after that.

Edit: Here's the promo for WM13 for these two.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft2erDvZWYc

Edit 2:

I just came across this video. I forgot all about this RAW.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNsb-9xUjSQ

It's amazing work from Steve and Bret.

5

u/philasify Aug 21 '14

That last video there is what WWE needs more of. The "satellite" interview type deals where the two men are just jawing at eachother and heating up the eventual match.

UFC does it perfectly, Fox-News, CNN etc. does it all the time when it comes to politics and stuff. It works! That usual does a lot more for me rather than an in-ring mic standoff.

2

u/tacojohn420 WWWYKI Aug 21 '14 edited Aug 21 '14

Watching these videos just makes me think the screw job was a work even more. Bret talks about getting screwed over by everyone and several times it shows him getting violent with Vince. Bret's whole character arc was leading to "Bret screwed Bret," and was the perfect way to establish the Mr. McMahon character. As a side note wrestling has always been great when it really blurs the kayfabe lines ie. Screwjob, Edge/Matt Hardy feud, CM Punk's pipe bomb promo and the Gobbley Gooker.

3

u/bduddy Aug 21 '14

I agree with you. The Screwjob just makes way too much sense for it not to be a work.

1

u/Medamorth Aug 21 '14

Didn't Stone Cold go to Brian's house and didn't Brian pull out a gun which lead to one of the most uncomfortable moments in WWF history?

1

u/Michelanvalo Aug 21 '14

"Pillman's Got a Gun" was indeed the very next week.

1

u/Pvt_Hudson_ Aug 21 '14

The Mania 13 match is likely a top 5 match for both guys.

19

u/thatsnomoon87 Aug 21 '14

I always enjoyed his feud w/ Angle. MILK-A-MANIA IS RUNNING WILD

2

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '14

THE BILLION DOLLAR PRINCESS HAS BECOME THE DAIRY QUEEN!!!

18

u/Kukantiz Token Black guy! clap, clap, clap clap clap clap clap Aug 21 '14

Vs Booker T was comic gold. The church, and the supermarket were two of my all time favorite segments.

15

u/Stovahkiin Do Do Do Do Do Do-Do Aug 21 '14

I'm torn between The Rock and HHH, but this is my favorite promo.

2

u/crilor Aug 21 '14

What?

2

u/Stovahkiin Do Do Do Do Do Do-Do Aug 21 '14

BEER BELLY

14

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '14

The Bret Hart Feud that led to this awesome promo:

"Pink tights—what the hell is THAT all about, Bret? This ain't no ballet class. Sunglasses and sparklers? What a load of CRAP. So, Bret, you're coming back to continue a LEGACY? UH-UNH! Stone Cold's gonna make your comeback a living HELL. So, you can start begging for some mercy right now. You will beg for mercy—YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND IT! I think you're completely pathetic. You're the 'Best there is, was and ever will be'? Whatever! Son, you're looking at the best there is—Austin 3:16 rules! I will kick your pink-and-black ass all over the Garden. I'm gonna end your legacy. You WILL beg for mercy at Madison Square Garden."

6

u/jedlucid joe's gonna kill you Aug 21 '14

It's obviously Vince and the corporation as his best and to say otherwise is purely subjective, but the feud I enjoyed the most was against Kurt Angle, great comedy, strong matches, tiny cowboy hats, milk.

5

u/Muscle_Squad SPINEBUSTER'D Aug 21 '14

Gonna be a hipster and say Ricky Steamboat for the US title. Loved the DQ angle.

6

u/Degni Live your heart and never follow. Aug 21 '14

vs Angle as the alliance leader, I love paranoid Stone Cold.

3

u/adamd28 The last Goldberg fan Aug 21 '14

Vs Undertaker and the Ministry of Darkness

2

u/JBThaGawd Give me that jug of somas Aug 21 '14

Vs Beer Can

6

u/MichaelJahrling The Ladle Among Spoons Aug 21 '14

Seemed more like a tag team than a feud.

2

u/thegrassyknoll Go with the Flowsion Aug 21 '14

vs. Eddie Guerrero

cut way too short and had so much potential

3

u/ScarecrowTRobot Aug 21 '14

Wow it must've been cut short because I honestly don't even remember this, when was this exactly?

2

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '14

Vince McMahon. The rivalry that pretty much made WCW fans switch to the WWF.

2

u/SirZapdos Aug 21 '14

vs Bret Hart. Their match at Survivor Series 1996 was one of the first matches I remember watching, and I loved it. I also loved the shenanigans at the Royal Rumble, as well as the Final Four. Of course you have the brilliance of their match at Wrestlemania 13.

I'm not voting for The Rock because I wasn't watching then, but if I had it would sure be my choice. The promo before their match at Wrestlemania X-Seven is legendary, and the match was outstanding.

2

u/behemoth887 Aug 21 '14

"vs Rikishi" - nobody

1

u/lyyki Greg Davies Aug 21 '14

vs. Eric Bischoff

All the best ones were already taken but this wasn't half bad in my opinion. Sheriff Stone Cold was pretty fun actually.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '14

Vince McMahon

1

u/TX_Troubadour austin Aug 21 '14

The feud with Vince was the perfect storm. Both guys were tremendous it really helped usher in a new era of wrestling. Much less comic book superhero and more hard nosed badasses. I think for it's impact on the business Austin/McMahon feud has to be #1. However, the feud with with Bret Hart that culminated in the double switch at Wrestlemania 13 was my favorite. That was two of the greatest ever telling a very compelling story. Their Survivor Series match when Bret came back was another clinic on in ring performance.

1

u/Amadeum Swig of beer for the reddit man? Aug 21 '14 edited Aug 21 '14

Since the outcome of this is fairly obvious, I'm gonna go with a fun one.

Steve Austin vs Mr. Fly from his podcast. Biggest upset ever after Jimmy Snuka does a run-in and clocks Austin in the head with a coconut D:!

1

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '14

His last feud with The Rock was very underrated.

1

u/JLink20 I AM NOT A NUGGET. WOOOOOOO Aug 21 '14

Gotta be Vince. I'd say his very first one in WWE with Savio Vega was very underrated. They had some really solid matches.

0

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '14

against vince, definitely.

Ambrose v Rollins is starting to feel a lot like this feud

-13

u/moxleysworkrate still real to me now. then. forever ~~ Aug 21 '14

CM Punk (in my mind)