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Stone Cold Steve Austin is not the Corporate Champion and doesn�t want
to wear any Corporate Title.
When the Rattlesnake first became Federation Champion, after defeating
Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XIV, he obtained a title that was first
purchased by Mr. McMahon. Although he was thrilled to be the Federation
Champion, the highest honor in sports-entertainment, he wasn�t happy with
the championship belt itself.
Just after Fully Loaded: In Your House last
July, Austin traded in what the owner calls the
"official" Federation Championship and began
carrying around his own custom-made gold.
Austin�s title was much better suited for him,
as it featured a skull and rattlesnake, and a
whole lot of attitude!
He carried that championship proudly until September, when at Breakdown:
In Your House Mr. McMahon used his "master plan" to get the
championship away from Austin. That night, after Kane and the Undertaker
simultaneously pinned the Rattlesnake, Mr. McMahon took the title hostage
and ran toward his limo. Just before he got in and it drove away, he
screamed at Austin, "You don�t have it anymore, it�s mine!"
The following day, September 28 on the live RAW from Detroit, Michigan,
the owner -- as Gorilla Monsoon would say -- added insult to injury. Mr.
McMahon came out with the custom made gold.
"This was a championship belt that Stone Cold Steve Austin had made for
himself," the owner said. "Look at it with the skull on it. There�s only one
place that this championship belt is going�above my fireplace on my
mantle in one of my homes."
Then Mr. McMahon put the custom-made championship around his own
waist and stood up on the second rope with both arms in the air, mocking
Austin.
Later in the night, Austin attacked McMahon in the famous Zamboni
incident and was arrested. While being led away by police, Austin promised,
"I ain�t done with ya yet Vince. I ain�t done with ya, not yet but a
longshot!"
No truer words have been spoken. In fact, the very next week, Austin
attacked Mr. McMahon in the hospital (in an episode of RAW also featuring
the debut of Mr. Socko). But as much as Austin antagonized Mr.
McMahon, he wasn�t able to recapture the title.
In October, the owner attempted in vein to get Austin to humble himself. He
forced the Rattlesnake to be the special referee in the match between Kane
and the Undertaker to determine the new champion at Judgment Day.
Austin knocked them both out, slapped his hand on the mat three times, and
declared himself the winner! Mr. McMahon fired him on the spot.
The following night on RAW, Austin took the owner hostage�making him
literally squeal like a pig�with the infamous toy "Bang 3:16" pistol. So
fearful was the owner that he sent Shane out to sign Austin to a new
contract�with the stipulation that the Rattlesnake could not attack the
owner unless sufficiently physically provoked. The contract guaranteed one
shot at the Federation Championship�but only one.
At Survivor Series, Austin was again unable to capture the title after being
double crossed by Shane. Later, at the Royal Rumble, Austin let his rage get
the best of him. Instead of simply throwing the owner over and out and
winning the match, he beat on him until he was distracted by The Rock, and
Mr. McMahon threw him over! Fortunately with a little help from
Commissioner Michaels, Austin got himself another shot�at WrestleMania.
In a truly unforgettable match, Austin overcame months of difficulty and
finally regained the title. You could see the pride in his face. So content was
the Rattlesnake that he had once again won the Federation Championship
that he even smiled a bit! He literally toasted the gold with a beer.
But after thinking about it overnight Austin realized that, as proud as he is to
carry the richest prize in sports-entertainment, he does not want to wear
gold purchased by Mr. McMahon. Carrying his custom-made strap suits
him better, not only because of its design, but because it represents a double
bird for the Federation owner!
After months of struggle, it is understandable
that Austin would not want to wear any
"official" Federation Championship. The word
"official," in any of its definitions, is not part
of the Austin 3:16 Dictionary. Austin has
always done things his way, and he wants to
carry a title that represents that. Most
importantly, he wants his title � not Vince�s !
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