It was at Armageddon that many say Stone Cold suffered head injuries causing mental problems. He began associated with the America bashing Iron Sheik:
´See that?´ Austin asks somebody of camera
´He talks of young talent´ says an unseen voice
´He wants to replace Stone Cold´
´Hes always been with Hogan, he created him´
´That son of a bitch hates Stone cold, theyre trying to end me together´ raves Austin
´Such is the way of these so called American heros´ comes the voice again
´Yeah theyve betrayed Stone Cold´
´America has betrayed Stone Cold´ comes the almost hypnotic voice out of sight
´America has betrayed Stone Cold´ raves a wild eyed rattlesnake as we go ringward....
When Hulk Hogan retured to his American loving red and yellow the two were in instant conflict:
...There is a huge ovation as a piece of music not heard in eons eminates from the speakers
´Wait a minute J.R, is this what i think?´
´I am a real American, fight for the rights of every man...´
´It is haha´ roars Lawler as Hulk Hogan appears on stage in yellow trunks with yellow and red top playing air guitar
´What an ovation for the American hero, the icon, the Babe Ruth of sports entertainment - Hulk Hogan´ goes Ross as The Hulkster grabs the mic
´Dudes like Vince said RAW is full of great young talent but this old dog aint ready to retire yet brother´ the crowd cheer in agreement
´Ya see dudes i had the last laugh over Bischoff and the nWo but my return to the greatness of Hulkamania wasnt complete until tonight brother for right here i reafirm my status as the true American icon and confirm that i will be the 30th man in the Royal Rumble this sunday´ the crowd go nuts and Hogan chants start
Hogan begins to pose when out of nowhere the glass shatters
There is a mixed reaction as Steve Austin thunders down the ramp and rolls into the squared circle grabbing a mic
´30th man? you? you change ya clothes and become the darling of the godamn company?´
´Hey brother ive changed now, im back with my Hulkamaniacs´ answers Hogan to a huge pop
´Oh yeah it just happened when it got screwed huh. This is a huge plot against Stone Cold aint it?´
´Brother all these dudes here love you´
´Why they cheering the guy im beating on then? they betrayed me, youve all betrayed me´
´Dude i...´ begins Hogan but gets the finger, the gut kick -
´STUNNER, STUNNER, OH MY GOD A STUNNER HEARD AROUND THE WORLD´ roars J.R as Austin leaves the limp Hogan to a cacophony of boos...
...Hulk Hogan rubbing his neck after the huge stunner earlier is with Mean Gene Okerlund
´Hulk Hogan after the vicious assault earlier tonight what are your feelings going into this match with Austin?´
´Weeeell lemme tell ya something Mean Gene, Austin can stunner Hulk Hogan brother but the Hulkster with the help of all the Hulkamaniacs will get back up dude, just like when the nWo delivered shot after shot the the Hulkamaniacs brother Hulkamania didnt die and still runs wild. As long as i say my prayers, take my vitamins Mean Gene then its gunna be big boot, leg drop, 1..2..3 to Austin, RVD, the enemies of America or anybody the Hulkamaniacs want. Ya see Mean Gene whatta they gunna do now Hulkamania is
running wild again. What they gunna do? what they gunna do?´
Hogan poses to a huge cheer as we go elsewhere...
The two met in the ring for a classic RAW encounter and the fued started aproper:
...´CRASH´ there is a mixed reaction as the glass shatters and a grinning Austin pads out
´Austins mental state has to be questioned Shawn, weve certainly seen a change in him since Armageddon´
´Not just the rattlesnake J.R weve seen a great change in Hogan too but many would say it was for the better´
As if on que Real American hits and the crowd explode
´What an ovation for the Am...wait a minute´ starts J.R until Austin runs up the ramp and attacks Hogan mid air guitar with knee strikes
Hogan is beat back to the metal entrance where Austin grabs him by the boas flinging him into the metal
The Hulkster is easily busted open to Austins ovious delight. The Rattlesnake grabs the head and hits a bulldog onto the metal stage as the crowd jeer. Austin leaves the bloody Hogan and heads to the ring where he begins press ups taunting his opponant
Hogan is up slowly and hobbles to the ring as Steve waves him on. Hogan gets in as Austin stalks
The gut kick,
grabs the head,
Pushed away by Hogan, Austin off the ropes - powerslam by Hogan.
Austin rolls away from an elbow drop by the Hulkster and as Hogan gets up whips him to the corner
The bionec redneck scores with a sholder and begins to stomp a mudhole in his bloody foe
Hogan is dragged to the center of the ring and covered for 2. Austin jumps up and hits 1..2..3..4 of his traditional elbow drops but again only gets a 2 count.
Austin punchs away at the Hulksters head but a wide eyed Hogan gets to his knees
The head shakes, the crowd go wild, Hogans on his feet, Austin punchs, the head goes, Austin tries again, the finger goes out and shakes
´HERE WE GO J.R´ roars HBK
Austin punchs, blocked, punch by Hogan
´HOOO´ go the crowd
Another punch
´HOOO´
A third
´HOOO´
The whip - ´BIG BOOT´
off the ropes - ´THE LEG DROP, THE LEG DROP´
1..2..3 Hogan wins it
The fans are extactic and go wild as Hogan ear taunts and poses after the match. Hogan is so caught up in pleasing the fans he doesnt see Austin with a chair
THWACK
Austin lays into Hogan sending blood everywhere, Hebner tries to intervene until he recieves a chairshot of his own. Refs flood the ring as we go elsewhere...
After the vile attack it was decided the two would meet at the Royal Rumble:
...The camera backtracks as a limo with the plate ´Hulk 1´ pulls up
The crowd go wild as ´The immortal´ Hulk Hogan steps out in red ´Hulk still rules T-Shirt´
The camera focuses on The Hulksters bruised face and he gives a slight wince as he walks toward the backstage area
J.R and King speculate that Austins attack may have done more damage than we thought as we leave...
...We are taken backstage as ´Mean´ Gene Okerlund catches up with the Hulkster.
Mean Gene: ´´Hulk Hogan we are just minutes away from your huge encounter with Stone Cold Steve Austin, what are your thoughts going into this match, especially after that brutal attack last week on RAW?´´
Hogan: ´´Well ya know sumthin Mean Gene, it´s like this. Last week on RAW Austin took a chair and beat me into oblivion brother, but he forgot. He forgot that there are always millions, of screamin hulkamaniacs that have my back. I dunno what his problem is, but i´m damned if i do and i´m damned if i don´t brother. Now Austin used a chair brother, he´s got real used to that. But brother, this, *points to his palm*, THIS, is where the power lies brother. And tonight, i´m gunna wind back this fist, load these 24 inch pythons, and run wild on him brother.´´
Mean Gene: Now what about the Royal Rumble, you enter number 30, do you have any words for the other participants?
Hogan: Weeeellllll ya know Mean Gene as a matter of fact i do... watcha gunna do dudes, WATCHA GUNNA DO, WHEN HULKAMANIA, RUNS WILD ON YOU´´
The crowd erupt as Hogan does some poses and puts Mean Gene in a pretend headlock as we go ringside...
Hogan won the match at the Rumble and Austin disapeared from WWE. Hogan then had the greatest gift in wrestling history. Shawn Michaels had to vacate the title and to annoy the very men who had injured him, he gave it to Hulk Hogan
...HBKs theme hits to a huge ovation as he appears on stage in the wheelchair staring down at the four men in the ring
´Yknow i was just gunna hand this belt back to Rob but thats now impossible and its not going to a rookie so...´ HBK throws the belt as far down the alisle as he can
´So all hail your new World champ Hulk Hogan´ Hunter and Suppz go balistic in the ring...
Austin made his spectacular return at Global Warning, this was the old Stone Cold, he stunnered both Suppz and Hogan, undoubaly costing Hogan the match and World title
...´ITS AUSTIN, ITS AUSTIN´
The rattlesnake into the ring - Stunner to Hogan. ´THE LEG IS HOOKED ONE...TWO...THREE, MY GOD SUPPZ WINS IT, WHAT HAVE WE WITNESSED´...
If things wernt bad enough, Hulk Hogan was awarded the RAW anniversary best superstar award, the ultimate insult from Vince McMahon and his friend Hulk Hogan, or so Austin thought
...´Yknow there are many great superstars ohhh yeah but few who can be considered greats ohhh yeah, so the winner of the greatest superstar is....Hollywood Hulk Hogan ohhh yeah´
Real American hits and Hogan collects the award, going to the ring to pose for the extactic fans, when all of a sudden CRASH the glass shatters and Steve Austin complete with cool box returns to the ring, he takes two cans and offers one to Hogan. Hogan makes to take it but the rattlesnake snatchs it back at the last second
´STUNNER, STUNNER´ Austin grabs the award and flings it into the crowd, mounts the turnbuckle and holds up a toast to the WWE logo as we leave the air...
Austin decided to take some of his frustration out on the Sheik
...The crowd go wild as Sheiks mad rantings are cut off by glass shattering. Stone Cold in street attire walks to the ring and salutes the fans on the ringposts, eying up the enormous Andre in the process. Austin, with amusement moves to Sheik and grabs the mic
´Why dont you stop flapping ya gums and piss off to Iraq ya silly son of a bitch´ goes Austin to cheers
´If either of you bastards gets to Hogan before me you can bet ya last curry ill send ya there in a coffin. Last week Hogan took what was mine by right by kissing McMahons ass all these years, yeah hes good but he aint no Stone Cold. Hogan? Id take your meely wrinkled ass back Hollywood cause the can of whup ass i opened last week is ready to be drunk. And thats the...´ Austin breaks off half way through, gut kick to Sheik
´STUNNER, STUNNER´...
And again with the Sheik:
... ´INFIDAL, MAY A THOUSAND CURSES BE UPON HIM´ rages The Iron Sheik in the medical room, still being treated fo Austins stunner
Suddenly the door flys open and The Rattlesnake stands there looking for Hulk Hogan. Sheik cries out in fear as the grinning Austin advances
Austin tips over the couch with a crash, Sheik staggers up, the double bird by Austin - ´STUNNER, OH WHAT A STUNNER´ wails Ross as The Iron Sheik flys up in the air...
So the date was set: Hogan v Austin v Suppz for the world title at No Way Out
...Gene: ´´And also tonight you face off against Stone Cold Steve Austin and Suppz for the World Championship, any thoughts?´´
Hogan: ´Lemme tell ya somethin Gene, Austin can round around stunnin´ me and moaning like a baby, but the fact is brother, he can cry me a river. Cos tomorrow night on RAW, when im the new World Champion, i´m calling his punkass down to the ring. And as for Suppz, watcha gunna do, WATCHA GUNNA DO, WHEN HULKAMANIA RUNS WILD ON YOU?´...
Hogan won at No Way Out:
...Austin is wide eyed as Hogans up on his knees shaking his head. Hogan and Austin get up together and the crowd go nuts as Hogan points and shakes the finger at Austin. Stone Cold cant believe whats happening as he throws a punch a Hogan - blocked. Throws another - blocked again. Hogan comes back with punchs of his own, three in a row to beat The Rattlesnake into the ropes. The Hulkster gets the whip into the infamous big boot. Austins down, Hogan off the ropes - ´LEG DROP, LEG DROP´ the leg is hooked, one, two, three Hulk Hogan wins it and the World title...
Soon after, the big one was made, it would be settled once and for all on the greatest stage of them all, Wrestlemania XIX:
...´´Yes or no´´ asks Hogan.
Austin waits for a few seconds, listening to the fans as another Austin/Hogan chant starts up.
´´Yes, it´ll be my pleasure to open up a can of whup ass on Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania´´
The crowd roar in approval as Hogan nods his head.
´´Weelll there´s just one more thing. Good luck, cos you´re gunna need it... brother´´
Before Austin has a chance to reply Hogan lays Austin out with a right hand and bounces off the ropes, ´´THE LEGDROP, THE LEGDROP´´ screams J.R as Hogan drops the leg across austins throat, ´´It´s on, it´s on. Icon vs. Icon, Austin/Hogan, WRESTLEMANIAAAAAA´´ roars J.R as we go to commercial...
As Mania approached the fued reached unpresented levels, the two looking to outthink, outfight and outsmart each other:
...CRAAAAASH
Hogan rushs into the parking lot just as Austin with a sickening screech of metal and shattering of glass drives over the limo
Hogan stares in disbelief as Stone Cold parks the truck on top of the limo and hops out with a cool box
Austin approachs Hogan and with a grin offers Hogan a beer. A shocked Hogan simply stares at the can
The rattlesnake leaves it stood on the ground in front of Hogan and turns back toward his truck
The beer sails through the air narrowly missing Austin as Hogan kicks it away. Austin stops and shakes his head as he turns to The Hulkster
Hogan charges going for a right hand, Austin ducks under and flips the double bird
´STUNNER, STUNNER´ Hogan goes flying as Austin shouts trash in his face. The Texas rattlesnake leaves another beer next to his prone body as we leave the air...
Of course, nobody had forgotten about the Sheik:
...The crowd go wild as we Stone Cold enter the parking lot, heading toward his truck. Suddenly Austin stops in disbelief
´Son of a bitch´ he mutters before storming back the way he came
Once Austin has gone the camera swings around to reveal that Austins truck has been clamped...
What will happen at SAFCO field on Sunday? Who knows, but you can be sure we will never, ever forget it
...´Vince, that son of...´ Austin begins but breaks off as he sees Sheik. The Rattlesnake advances as Sheik staggers backward, falling over a waste paper bin
´NO, NO, PLEASE I BEG YOU´ wails Sheik as he gets up, Austin standing poised all the while
The gut kick, turns, grabs the head ´STUNNER, STUNNER´
With Sheik down Vince beams, that is until Austin turns to him with an intense stare
´Wheres Hogan?´ he demands as Vince swallows hard and we leave...
...´Stone Cold Steve Austin would like to toast ya. To your health, your future and most importantly, all the luck in the world for ´Mania. tho it ain´t gunna matter, as Stone Cold will be the new, World Champion... brother´.
With that, Austin slams his beer can aggressively off Hogans, sending beer everywhere.
´Well brother, Hollywood Hulk Hogan would like to offer a toast of his own. To your health, your future and most importantly, you being able to leave the ring, after i bust you up real bad and retain my title this Sunday at WrestleMania´
Hogan then returns Austin´s gesture, slamming his can off Austin´s with a lot of force. ´Hogan and Austin have completely imploded here King, this rivalry is one of the most personal i have ever seen´
´Yeah J.R, and it´s gunna culminate at WrestleMania baby´...
...The Rattlesnake grabs the beers and mounts the turnbuckle, toasting the capacity crowd. He then climbs down and asks the ringside attendant for Hogan´s belt. He grabs the gold and stands dead centre in the middle of the ring, raises one beer to the crowd and smacks it off Hulk Hogan´s World Title belt, then tilts his head back and guzzles the beer down, Hogan seeing this in amazement at ringside, slides under the bottom rope.. STUNNER to the Rattlesnake. Beer goes spewing from Austin´s mouth as the Bionic Redneck goes flying ´STUNNER, STUNNER, STUNNER TO AUSTIN, BY HOGAN, MY GOD!´...
...We fade to black with J.R
roaring, ´Hogan/Austin, Icon vs. Icon, WRESTLEMANIAAAAAAAA´
