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PWINSIDER Q & A: STEVE AUSTIN LOSING STEAM, HOLDING TITLES OFF OF PPVS, WWE FINISHERS, WRESTLERS HOOKING UP AND MORE

In your opinion, what is the most significant reason why Stone Cold Steve Austin no longer was the top star in the WWE by late 2000 through mid 2002 (before he abruptly left due to burnout)? Do you think it was the botched heel turn, the lack of development with the character (excluding the ‘singing and hugging’ he did when he was a heel) , his being out for a year due to neck surgery, or something else? I remember after he returned in 2000 that, while the crowd still popped for him, overall reaction to the character wasn’t the same (I’d describe it as borderline boredom), and it got progressively worse through 2001 when he became champion and heel.

I think that the heel turn was a part of it.  The fans didn't want to boo him so they didn't buy it.  I also think a bigger part was that his act never really changed over time.  Unlike Hulk Hogan, who a decade plus earlier had appealed to kids, Austin's audience was teenage and young adult males.  With Hogan, as the kids grew up they always looked back at Hogan as the guy they loved when they were a kid.  So, his act got a pass from them. Austin fans were older and thus more mature, so the same bond wouldn't be there.  I think with them, the repetitive nature of the Austin character just started to run its course.

Does WWE, TNA or any other large promotion have any official position on fraternizing between wrestlers, or wrestlers and other employees? Obviously, it has happened (Edge/Matt Hardy/Lita, HHH/Steph, UT/McCool, etc.) and still does happen, but is it a consistent position, or is it a situation where the stars can get away with it while others can't?

I have never heard of any official policy against it.  Usually, the only people that seem to care about it are the wrestlers, as they will often rag on a guy dating a diva if he is an undercard worker. 

What's the deal with WWE finishers recently? I understand the move away from holds/moves that could cause neck and head injuries like piledrivers or a number of insane Japanese moves, but look what passes for finishers today in WWE: a fireman's carry slam, a top-rope splash (Mysterio), and worst of all, a right-hand punch from Big Show. I could buy these as finishers 15-20 years ago, but not in 2009, especially when you look at some of the things TNA does.

The deal is that they are trying to keep guys healthy.  Ever since they have dialed back on the moves that impact the spine, they haven't had to send workers to see Dr. Youngblood for spine fusion surgery.  I too miss the big, impressive spots but I completely understand why they are doing what they are doing. It just makes sense to protect the workers.

I've got a question about The World Titles being defended all the time. I notice that because there are 12-14 PPVs for the WWE, the BIG titles are always defended. But not so much always with TNA. Do you think that it has devalued the Big Titles (as in the RAW & SD titles)? 

This is another topic that Buck and I have talked about recently on Elite audio.  I know why WWE puts all of the belts on every show, they think it will help the buyrates, but I too am wondering if they should stop overexposing the belts.  Buyrates are down to at least close to what is the floor so putting all the title matches on PPVs isn't getting the desired results.  I would like to see them cut back on the title matches and see if they could make less frequent title matches more appealing to potential customers.  It can't hurt to try.

If you had to book a PPV main event, the one that's gonna draw the most buys, and it has to be 30 mins long, and no extra stipulation, what two current wrestlers (doesn't have to be WWE only) would you pick to be in the match, that could actually deliver a great 30 min match?

There are so many different people I could choose for this that I don't want to insult anyone by leaving them out.  There are just so many guys out there that if you gave them these conditions could deliver the goods.

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