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Post by ThugSuperstar on May 19, 2017 20:03:31 GMT -5
stillrealtous.com/vince-mcmahon-hated-original-austin-316-shirt-design/The best-selling shirt in wrestling history almost didn't even exist, because Vince! The more and more I read about Vince, the more I realize he was never anything close to this wrestling genius that people make him out to be. If he didn't have the right people around him, the WWF never would've transcended wrestling the way it did.
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Post by theoutlaw1999 on May 19, 2017 20:43:23 GMT -5
What I will say about that shirt is that it looked fantastic on Austin. Some guys don't look right wearing their merchandise but Austin and the 3:16 shirt both blended perfectly.
surprised Vince hated it because all he had to do is take one look at Austin wearing it.
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Post by LA Times on May 19, 2017 20:49:55 GMT -5
Mick Foley told a similar story in his first book, where in summer 1996, Austin went up to the guy in charge of merchandising and asked "How about some Stone Cold merchandise?". The guy said he wasnt sure it would sell, but had a list of upcoming merchandise for Mark Henry (who just signed with the company) and the Stalker (Barry Windham).
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Post by hbkbigdaddycool on May 20, 2017 0:43:20 GMT -5
The reason why Vince didn't think Austin 3:16 would sell is simple.... it wasn't a character.
The Stalker was a character, and Vince saw merchandise with that.
Funny thing is, I remember saying to some friends, "you know what a sweet Austin shirt would be?? If it said Austin 3:16 on the front, and then had like a skull or something on the back of the shirt." Then like a few weeks later, it debuted. My buddy then asked, "do you work for the WWF??" All I could do is laugh, cause it was pretty ironic that it was the same idea that I had.
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Post by The Brain on May 20, 2017 14:05:50 GMT -5
He changed his tune real quick when the money started rolling in from sales.
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Post by The Real Valbroski on May 20, 2017 14:23:42 GMT -5
That promo is timeless.
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2017 14:29:22 GMT -5
The reason why Vince didn't think Austin 3:16 would sell is simple.... it wasn't a character. The Stalker was a character, and Vince saw merchandise with that. Funny thing is, I remember saying to some friends, "you know what a sweet Austin shirt would be?? If it said Austin 3:16 on the front, and then had like a skull or something on the back of the shirt." Then like a few weeks later, it debuted. My buddy then asked, "do you work for the WWF??" All I could do is laugh, cause it was pretty ironic that it was the same idea that I had. Crazy I told my friend an idea about football pads with spikes back in the day! |
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Post by PJ on May 20, 2017 14:38:55 GMT -5
I am personally not that big of a McMahon fan but fom what I read it seems like Vince changed his mind when he saw it was catching momentum with the fans...So I don't think that it would have been lost on Vince if he had to decide on it by himself and the Austin and the WWE would have still transcended to what they became.
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Post by Darkhawk on May 20, 2017 17:10:48 GMT -5
I'm sure Vince didn't mind being wrong on this one, because that shirt was a major top seller.
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2017 18:16:45 GMT -5
It sold millions world wide vince must have been happy he was wrong I own 6 of them
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Post by Funk The Revival on May 21, 2017 7:21:06 GMT -5
Timeless phrase. I love how during the promo he says "piss off" to Vince through Hayes' earpiece. Had the shirt as a kid, bought the ARRIVE. RAISE HELL. LEAVE. shirt a few years on.
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Post by JC Motors on May 30, 2017 20:26:56 GMT -5
I wonder how much money they raked in off that T-shirt
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Post by HHH316 on Jun 1, 2017 22:31:44 GMT -5
I still have my original I bought at a house show in 1997. I remember my teacher asking me what it meant and having to explain to him the book of Austin.
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Post by JokerFC on Jun 7, 2017 12:45:30 GMT -5
Russo, Prichard, Bearer, Cornette and many others have all confirmed this to be true. Vince gt lucky several times in the mid-late 90s. One time was with the Austin merch which he didn't want to back the 2nd was the Mr McMahon character....which he had to be begged to embrace. Vince 100% felt the fans would be on his side after Bret left....LOL
Its nuts.
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