24. Steve Austin Takes His Ball And Goes Home (2002)
Furious that he was asked to do a job for Brock Lesnar in a throwaway match on Raw and generally annoyed with WWE’s wishy-washy creative direction for him at the time, Steve Austin walked out on the promotion in May 2002.
The biggest star in the history of the industry felt he had been overlooked since his 2000 return from injury. The Rock was now ahead of him in the pecking order, as was Triple H. The arrival of nWo trio Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Hulk Hogan – all of whom Austin was working with – also irked him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CZX_xHros8
A misguided 2001 heel turn had blunted his popularity and by WrestleMania X8 he was demoted to the midcard. The proposed defeat to Lesnar was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Austin boarded a flight and went home, no-showing Raw. WWE then proceeded to bury him on television, with Vince McMahon infamously stating that Austin had “took his ball and went home”. Some gratitude for the man who almost single-handedly turned the ailing company’s fortunes around in the mid-to-late-90s.
Trending
- WWE Announces Brand New Championship
- First Look At WWE WrestleMania 40 Set Construction
- Bray Wyatt’s Father Explains Why He Won’t Be Inducted Into WWE Hall Of Fame In 2024
- Top WWE Star Says They’re In The ‘Final Two Months’ Of Their Contract
- CM Punk Announced For First ‘Shoot Interview’ Since Rejoining WWE
- Released WWE Star Says They ‘Expected’ Their Release
- AEW Double Or Nothing 2024 Date & Location Confirmed
- Backstage Reaction To CM Punk Referencing Vince McMahon On WWE Raw Revealed
- Multiple WWE Legends Being Brought In For WrestleMania 40 Revealed
- AEW Stars Advance In Vacant Championship Tournament