Stone Cold comeback: Texas Rattlesnake Steve Austin is back in WWE, looking to regain his former glory and revive the flagging federation - Cover Story

Wrestling Digest, June, 2003 by Steve Anderson

The More Things Change ...

Before Austin's Departure

World Wrestling Federation (WWF)
One WWF undisputed heavyweight champion: The Undertaker
WWF world tag-team champions: Billy Gunn and Chuck Palumbo.
WWF intercontinental champion: Rob Van Dam
WWF European champion: William Regal
WWF hardcore champion: Bradshaw
WWE ownership split 50-50 between Ric Flair ("Raw") and Vince McMahon
("Smackdown").
Twelve WWF pay-per-views per year
Vince McMahon wanted to "kill" the WWF with the New World Order led by
Hulk Hogan

The More Things Change Even More

Upon Austin's Return

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
World heavyweight champion ("Raw"): Triple H; WWE champion
("Smackdown"): Kurt Angle
World tag-team champions ("Raw"): William Regal and Lance Storm;
WWE tag-team champions: Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas
Title eliminated
Title eliminated
Title eliminated
"Raw" run by general manager Eric Bischoff and "Smackdown" run by
general manager Stephanie McMahon, as selected by sole WWE owner Vince
McMahon
Four WWE "Raw" pay-per-views, four "Smackdown" pay-per-views, and four
total WWE pay-per-views
Vince McMahon killed the NWO and now wants to kill the legacy of Hulk

Hogan.