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that its the Rock, so it obviously isn't. I'd bet on Kurt Angle, setting up an Angle-Austin title match in December, then Austin can take the strap and battle the Rock at Wrestlemania. Either that or maybe its the Undertaker. If they use either Henry or the Big Show, I'll be sorely disappointed. I guess it could also be Vinnie Mac, but that storyline is pretty played out. I guess it could STILL be Foley. Or maybe its Lillian Garcia.
Here's what I'd do, though: over the next few weeks, every Austin-Rikishi confrontation is damaged by "outside interference" in various forms, but the assailant is never identified. Next PPV, Austin tries to get his hands on Rikishi, and just after he gets the win -- the Undertaker busts out and beats Austin down. An Austin-Taker -Rikishi feud develops, leading to the next PPV, but the "mystery assailant" attacks don't stop.
Prior to the triple threat match at the next PPV, Austin is attacked backstage, but the Taker and Rikishi are already in the ring. Austin takes a beating. Next Raw, Austin calls out the Taker and Rikishi and wants to know who is helping them out. Taker comes out and informs "Stone Cold" that it hasn't just been him helping Rikishi, EVERYBODY's been helping out. Out come a half-dozen or so of the wrestlers without major programs (Malenko, Saturn, Snow, Hardcore Holly. . .to name a few) and stand next to the Taker on the ramp. The Taker goes on to say that they all come out and do their jobs week after week, some playing bad guys, some playing good guys, but all of them doing their jobs and showing each other respect -- except Austin, who has tried to turn the WWF into his personal playground. Taker shows a montage of the Stunners that Austin dispensed in his "comeback" without provocation, and says that the "boys backstage" got together and decided they didn't like Austin's attitude, they didn't need him, and that they were going to make sure he stayed gone. This leads to a Austin vs. the World feud, culminating in a Wrestlemania handicap elimination match between Austin and everybody who wants him gone, with his career on the line. Everybody expects the Wrestlemania main event to be Austin v. the Rock, but I don't see why they'd want to turn either of these guys when they're so popular as faces (notice how the crowd didn't take to the "Austin went too far" angle at No Mercy), and this would save them that, and frankly, Austin Stunnering his way through a half-dozen or so opponents would make a pretty good Wrestlemania match.
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