Austin’s lack of trust of McMahon over the years doesn’t explain all of his ornery episodes. He has been especially impatient and short-tempered in recent weeks. Austin, who opted out of working a program with Hulk Hogan when the WrestleMania plans were being discussed, ended up saddled with Scott Hall. Austin was concerned from the beginning, but was assured Hall would be on a short leash.
When Hall decided to drink beers in the hotel bar the night before WrestleMania, Hall showed that he wasn’t taking his redemption seriously. It only drove home Austin’s point that he wasn’t going to go out of his way to help Hall in any way – especially doing a job to him at WrestleMania. A few days earlier, the finish of the Austin-Hall match was changed from Hall winning thanks to NWO interference to Austin winning clean without interference – apparently to placate Austin, who was growing less and less patient with the direction of the WWF and Vince McMahon in general.
