>>16003171>Could it have worked?Yes, but the time wasn't right. We'd just got Austin back, and with Rock heading to Hollywood, that really only left Austin to hold the show together. If Rock were still around, it might have worked - a reverse of the roles from 98/99, but without Rock and all the questionable booking (putting it charitably) around this time, it killed the wrestling boom. It's honestly why people cite WM17 as the end of the Attitude Era. Austin's heel work in 96/97 is GOAT tier. He was vicious and psychotic, seemingly like an unhinged serial killer who was just holding it together— it was stellar character work. His promo against Bret Hart is honestly one of the greats.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DV0RHVteLs 