If there’s one thing the WWE has proven over and over again throughout the years is that no one wrestler is bigger than the company.

Bret Hart thought he was King Shit. Now he’s slated for the “Daily Show’s” “Where Are They Now” weekly segment. Hulk Hogan thought he was bigger than the industry, and only now that he is way too old to be doing what he is doing does he realize that he owes the industry something, not the other way around.

Mark my words – Austin is a heartbeat away from headlining the civic center in some ass-backward Nebraska town where a coked-up Jake Roberts will break his neck worse than Owen Hart ever did. That is, if all of this isn’t some elaborate work.

But let’s suppose for a minute Stone Cold is an egomaniac and he really did walk. Steve Austin needs the WWE a lot worse than the WWE needs Austin. And frankly, while Austin isn’t the washed-up talent every member of the nWo is, his on-air shtick was getting pretty stale.

Austin comes out, drinks beer, calls somebody a son of a bitch, flips the finger, wrestles like shit (never more evident than in his match with Flair) and then drinks some more beer. Throw in a “What” every now and again and you’ve got the basic formula Austin’s been doing since the Attitude era was born.

Blame that on his inability to get over as a heel last year. Fans just couldn’t accept the fact that one day he was a tough-as-nails competitor, the next minute he was running away from guys like Jeff Hardy. Then he came up with that fucking “What” phrase and it was right to face town.

Austin had run out of good feuds a long time ago, hence the reason he got stuck fighting with Hall, then Flair. He needed something new to freshen his gimmick. Unfortunately for Austin’s ego, that also meant coming down from the top spot in the company. Whether his problems lie more with his inability to accept new feuds (including putting over younger talent) or not be the No. 1 guy is anyone’s guess. Either way, Austin’s ego will be more his downfall than the company’s. After all, there are plenty of eager of young guys who can fill Austin’s role just as well or better than Stone Cold ever did. RVD certainly comes to mind.

It will be interesting to see “Confidential” this week, not to mention this week’s Ross Report, to see how the WWE spins this turn of events. Of course, we can’t rule out the possibility that this is some kind of work originating on the Internet and then going to TV. The fact that WWE.com is promoting “Confidential” as “The shocking reason Austin walked out” signifies it may well be a work.

Considering the fact “Confidential” all but said (OK, heavily implied) Shawn Michaels would never be back only to have him show up two days later proves that this show is far from the insider’s show it’s billed to be. If anything, the WWE’s recent decisions to open the proverbial “fourth wall” up to the fans reflects America’s fascination with reality TV more than anything.

As Vince and JR are always so fond of telling us, they want to give the fans what they want. Considering how popular reality TV has been over the last few years (“Survivor,” “Fear Factor,” and a shitload of others), and how the WWE has begun to capitalize on it (“Tough Enough,” now “Confidential”), it’s no surprise this dirty laundry is being aired in public.

That still brings us back to the original question of whether or not this laundry is truly dirty. On the one hand, Austin may have a big ego, but he’s not stupid. He knows for all rights and purposes that Vince is the only game around these days (fuck Jarrett’s promotion if he thinks I’m paying $10 a week to watch his shit). He knows what Vince giveth Vince can taketh away. So unless he’s really ready to call it a career and move on to something else (and that likely goes for Debra too, barring a divorce), this has to be a work. Or else I’m giving Austin’s intelligence way too much credit. Hard to say.

One also has to keep in mind that not only could this be one of Vince’s hair-brained schemes, but I may just be sniffing a little Paul Heyman in there as well. Remember when ECW was the first company to take you into the locker room with the whole Sandman blinding thing? OK, I don’t remember that, but I remember hearing about it, which leads me to believe it could be one of Paul E.’s wild ideas. And who knows, it just may pay off.

Either way, the soap opera that is the WWE has just gotten a lot more interesting.

And now, a few random thoughts... p · So what happens to Flair now that he lost his half of the company? Does this make him a wrestler again? Please, god, no. Flair was great ... IN HIS DAY! I don’t need to see Ric in tights ever again.

· I’m fully expecting to see more crossover action between Raw and Smackdown! now that Vince is 100 percent owner again. Younger talents are likely about to be screwed.

· I wonder how long before Linda and the board get involved with Vince being 100 percent owner again? But if that opens the door for a return by Mick Foley as commissioner, then that’s A-OK with me. Maybe Ric could be the comish for one show and Foley for the other. At least then you’re getting some use out of your broken down old wrestlers who are still under contract.

· Scott Hall now says he didn’t expect to make it much beyond WrestleMania. Way to set high standards for yourself, drunky. Here’s a quarter, go get yourself some Mad Dog.