Corner to Corner - A Look at the Week
Submitted by Stan Grubb on Saturday, June 15, 2002 at 11:56 AM EST



A brief look back often gives us the opportunity to reflect on recent events and even think on what these events could do to our future. This being the case, the only thing left to do is speculate.

Folks, this week is a chaotic one, so we’ll dispense with the pleasantries. Jumping right into ANOTHER CORNER TO CORNER!


Stone Cold Steve Austin, the man who led the way for WWE for a long time, took a walk Monday. In taking a walk, he also left a huge void in his departure. Imagine the size of those shoes folks…

Seeing a man like Steve Austin step away so abruptly reminds me that this business can change at any point and time. Whether this incident is work or shoot still remains to be seen. I think its best said by the fans/listeners of WWE Byte This! Can’t wait to see what happens.

A guy like Steve Austin is definitely irreplaceable. You cannot just plug another star into his spot and say, “Go ahead, make yourself famous.” Sure, its important to have a new face step up and make the statement that life will go on, but I wish to make this statement. That spot is not to be treated lightly. Granted, I don’t believe the WWE will just throw X-Pac at the forefront and say “Go ahead Sean, get it done,” but I think they are maybe treating this a little light still. RVD is a very huge star. Booker T is on the verge of finally breaking loose. So, it’s almost a matter of time till one of these guys finally makes it big. Still, one wonders if they could really carry such an enormous load.

I have gone on record as being very much behind Booker T and RVD. Both of these superstars have to be feeling the pressure, even more so than normal since Steve’s departure, to be at the top of their games. These guys are ready to rock but maybe not the way Stone Cold did business. Folks, we may have to get prepared to adapt to a WWE without Steve Austin.

I wish I could talk to Steve Austin (Williams) because I would love to be able to find out just what is causing this problem. I mean I understand that things happen and obviously something did, but man this is a huge loss.

Watching and listening to “Byte This” this week brought it into perspective for me. Austin may indeed be gone for good. Kevin Kelly stated he feels that this is not a work at all and is in fact VERY real. I’m inclined to believe him there. The WWE will not fall apart but they will have to actually stop the bleeding and find a way to heal this wound effectively.

Vince McMahon went on last week and gave me another reason to start backing him again. The man stated that he knew that things were falling short but he stated he had a plan. I can’t sit here and just sell him short, so I am inclined to believe that things are going to improve.

Vince knows that Steve Austin is a huge name but that in the entire time he’s been in business he’s had to deal with MANY huge names. Steve Austin leaving WWE is not a sign of bankruptcy or the sky falling around us. Vince knows that it must be dealt with and I feel he’ll handle appropriately.

Steve Austin, I want you to know that I salute your stand here to get things to change. I also want you to know that I think you could have done it differently. I think things, either way, will never be the same.

IF Steve Austin does not return, I think the WWE will benefit from it. I think that they will have room to improve their product. I feel that people will step up and make the product a more cutting edge style. Rob Van Dam, Brock Lesnar, Eddie Guererro, and Booker T all have a huge load to bear. Once Chris Benoit returns, that load could very well lift onto his shoulders, and there’s no finer a candidate to carry that load.

On the end, its still just speculation and rumor until we see the press release that states Steve Austin and WWE have parted ways indefinitely. Until then, we’re left to wonder why.

Thanks again for reading.
--Stan Grubb-
ImpactXtreme@msn.com








*NEW GALLERY* Even MORE Hot Shots of TORRIE WILSON Tearing the Night Up!

• Quick Links -
  [Back to LOP] [News Archives] [Results] [Columns] [Forums]