RenegadexParagon

I'm pretty sure the original plan was for Steve to be the first ever Undisputed champion and drop the belt to Triple H at 'Mania. For whatever reason, Steve didn't want to job to Trips (does anyone really?).

But at that time in 2002, Rock was the bigger star, it only made since for him to face Hogan. But I yeah, I'm with ya', I always hated the fact that Austin was having a match with Scott Hall (nothing against Hall, btw), and not giving the "Game" a Stunner all the way to hell.

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LeapingLannyPoffo

I would assume that it had something to do with Austin's resentment from WCW.

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krillep

Some few marks comment.

But some valid and true things to.

Facts: Austin didn't have an offer from Vince, first when Hogan retired.
Hogan said in the newspaper a challenge to Austin that he could lose clean at Wrestlemania 25. Austin said he couldn't because he was done with wrestling.

Hogan and Austin goes along just fine.

Austin even said before Bound For Glory:

"Hogan is a great man, he was put on earth to do this."

krillep

Now when we know that.

The reason Vince goes with The Rock is what is interesting.

Vince was thinking that The Rock was the future.

Remember Austin had walked out in Vince several times and leaved when he didn't want to job to Lesnar.

Vince Mcmahon even said: "Austin was toughest man to work with".

In my opinion The Rock was at the same level as Austin.

But Austin-marks and Rock-marks fighting to this day who was the biggest face. Austin or Rock?

Taker-Tribute-Act

It's only been spoken about in a million interviews. Pointless discussion.

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How I would book Wrestlemania 29

Scottish Wrestling Alliance

SWA Classic Match

LBGetBack

I realize that time has not been real kind to Scott Hall's legacy.....the drug and legal problems, and not being in good graces with WWE so he hasn't had the WWE hype machine talking up his legacy for 10 years(DVD's, hall of fame, bringing him in for special appearances, etc.).......but you need to understand something. There was a long time when Scott Hall was one of the coolest, most popular wrestlers on the planet.....as both face and heel.

He may not have ever gotten the title run, but like Piper, he really didn't need it either. He was a MAJOR star with wrestling fans.

It kind've annoys me that "after the fact" more recent fans act like Austin was wrestling a scrub. Hall was absolutely deserving of wrestling Austin. Hall had been away for a bit, so it was a very recent return of a major star.

The Main Headliner

Yup, great point.

Freeloader

Lot of misinformation here.

Hogan vs Austin was the originally slated match. Hogan and Austin couldn't agree how the match would flow (the match itself, not the outcome; Hogan had agreed to lose clean to either of them) so it got nixed and Rock stepped in and faced Hogan. Now, whether or not Austin's issues with Hogan stemmed back to WCW (Austin and Hogan were not even in WCW for a year together, never read anything credible that they had a beef there) or the ideas of the actual match itself (Hogan getting to Hulk up, showboat, hit the legdrop, etc). It was a good thing, because it led to a better match than Austin and Hogan would of been, because The Rock is far superior to selling moves than Austin and did a great job working a proper pace for the almost 50 year old (at that point) Hogan, and it worked out great. Austin was easily capable of being just a big of an asshole when it came to "not wanting to lose or look bad" as Hogan was, and in the early 2000's, Hogan was more willing to job at that point than Austin. Steve was ripshit he had to lose the belt to Jericho at No Way Out that year.

Hogan/Rock was far better than Hogan/Austin had any chance of being.

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mellison24

At the time, I wanted Austin to face Hogan over the Rock (even as a Rocky fanboy). But looking back, Rock v Hogan does just 'fit' better. Their characters matched better imo. Rock was the Hogan of his era. Stone Cold was equally awesome (if not better), but it wouldn't have quite worked the same.

Catchphrase vs Catchphrase is how I'd put it. And Austin didn't have a catchphrase as such for DURING promo's. He just ended promo's with them.

I just think the fit was perfect. Like Rock said in their first promo for that match (the 'challenge' promo):

'Hulk Hogan....and The Rock....in the same ring! Who'd have thought they would ever see......Hogan....and The Rock?'

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mellison24

On the Austin v Rock 'biggest face' row:

Well they're both the same for different reasons. Austin was the guy you wanted to come after your own boss, let alone Vince. Anti-hero.

Rock was an actual hero. Fans completely embraced him, like they initially did with Cena.

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