The legacy of WrestleMania 18 is remembered almost solely for the epic Hulk Hogan vs. The Rock dream match. Fans rarely talk about what Triple H and Steve Austin did despite being two of the top names on the card. WWE going with Triple H vs Chris Jericho in the main event and Austin vs Scott Hall led to failure for both wrestlers looking back at the event.

The perfect story was there for a better main event for the world title. Austin’s heel run from 2001 ended abruptly before WWE could pay it off after the Invasion angle ended. Triple H’s comeback story winning the title would have been a lot better with Austin in the heel role than Jericho. The backstory would have created a special double main event with Triple H and Austin deserving to close the show.

Austin And Triple H Had The Perfect Story

WWE witnessed the end of a great storyline when Triple H tore his quads to end the Two-Man Power Trip with Steve Austin. The evil team dominated WWE for a few months after Austin turned heel at WrestleMania 17 and Triple H joined him as a partner. Triple H suffered his brutal injury in the WWE Tag Team Championship loss to Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit to take him off television for about seven months of rehab.

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Austin insulted Triple H in a couple of promos to put the blame on him for their tag title loss and team ending. The story was already being set up for Triple H to need revenge against Austin if he stayed with his current heel character. WWE’s eventual payoff did see Triple H have the heroic return with his feud instead coming against Chris Jericho and Stephanie McMahon.

Triple H and Austin did have a lengthy feud in late 1999 to early 2000, but it would have been completely different in 2002. The same scenario of Triple H winning the Royal Rumble to challenge Austin would have created a bigger match and more authentic story than he had with Jericho.

The Match Would've Paid Off Austin’s Heel Turn

WWE turning Steve Austin heel at WrestleMania 17 was a bold move that is still debated today. Austin did a lot of entertaining work during his heel run, but WWE witnessed a loss of money compared to previous success when he was a face. The injury to Triple H saw Austin moving forward in a singles role against the likes of Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, Kurt Angle, and a few others.

Angle was the only name to truly benefit from facing Austin as a heel during the Invasion storyline. Another polarizing move saw Austin betraying WWE to double down on his heel turn as part of The Alliance with Shane McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, and Paul Heyman. WWE essentially turned Austin heel twice with a lot of sloppy variables in play, but it could have been worth it.

The eventual face turn one night after the Invasion ended made the past few months feel pointless for Austin. Another unnecessary feud with Vince McMahon wasn’t needed, and he’d have been better off keeping the heel role for a few more months. Austin remaining WWE Champion after The Alliance died even gave them the easy story of WWE having to keep the traitor on the roster due to him holding the top belt.

Better Overall Results

Both WrestleMania 18 matches for Steve Austin and Triple H were huge disappointments that harmed the overall show. Austin feuding with the New World Order as a face wasn’t necessary due to The Rock having the biggest angle against Hulk Hogan. WWE could have had a more fitting story for the nWo if Scott Hall and Kevin Nash feuded with a team like the Dudley Boyz or Brothers of Destruction in tag action instead of Austin.

Triple H had a history with Chris Jericho since he technically got injured wrestling Jericho in that tag match. Jericho deserved his WWE Undisputed Championship push, but he just wasn’t at the level of the biggest names to main event a WrestleMania. Austin staying a heel and unifying the WWE and WCW belts would have given him more heat heading into Triple H’s return.

WWE could have paid off the bigger angle of the Two-Man Power Trip ending ugly and Triple H needing revenge. The same story of Triple H having an epic Madison Square Garden return and winning the Royal Rumble could have still worked. However, the best scenario would have seen Triple H main eventing WrestleMania 18 against a heel Austin to make his title win even sweeter.