>>6938628I've heard different accounts myself. Austin wanted to work as a Heel because he was bored of being a Babyface. Originally, HHH was meant to be the Babyface who feuded with a Heel Austin, before realised that would be a terrible idea. This is why he got the win at No Way Out (sitting in booker meetings and sleeping with the boss's daughter does have perks). Austin turns Heels (bringing an end to the Attitude era and killing the wrestling boom of the 90s). Rock leaves (after Austin tapped to him in the cagematch and HHH cost him the match) and then Paul lobbies to join Austin in the two-man power trip (I guess the fans have to forget about that business with the car). Austin hand-picked Benoit and Jericho to work with, elevating them, despite HHH trying to bury Jericho again. And then rest sort of lines up. What is absolutely true is that Austin saw this as a reverse of the 98/99 storyline, with the Rock chasing the belt. Austin would have a reign of terror as this paranoid, psychotic champion and then the Rock would return at Summerslam, defeat Austin and then things progress to WM18. Sadly, these ideas were botched and derailed because of the fucking terrible invasion angle - which should have happened in 2002.
