Speaking of mixed up plans leading to WM14…

Hi Scott,

Your recent post regarding how things changed for WrestleMania 14 in the wake of Montreal got me thinking about the other big what-if resulting form unanticipated complications before Austin’s coronation: going into Royal Rumble 98, what is the plan with Shawn going forward?

I assume that there likely would have been a substantial Austin-DX feud, but even just looking at that February, what was the plan for No Way Out of Texas before HBK’s injury? Was the plan to expand DX in the lead up to this event, with the main event being the same, minus a Savio plus a Shawn?

Since the seeds were already planted for the Austin/McMahon feud as far back as Fall 97, was the Austin/McMahon feud we came to know inevitable, or would splitting focus with DX, assuming a long-term Austin-Michaels rivalry was in the cards in the main event, muck that all up? Would drug-addled and belligerent Shawn eventually have been forced into his worst nightmare… jobbing to the artist formerly known as Rocky Maivia?

Thanks

There was no long term Austin-Michaels feud planned that I know of. The idea was always going to be Shawn loses and splits with Hunter while Austin goes with McMahon. That way Shawn gets to work his buddy and probably main events B-Shows.
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