Part 2/8:
As 2002 dawned, it marked the end of the riveting yet tumultuous invasion storyline, which saw Austin shift from a beloved face to a heel in the latter parts of 2001. While his heel turn at WrestleMania X-Seven may have rustled some feathers among fans, Austin felt a reinvention was required. Yet, the momentum which once propelled him to the forefront began to stall. Early disappointments, such as failing to win the Royal Rumble and missing out on the undisputed championship, piled up alongside lingering neck issues and tumult in his personal life—an explosive mixture waiting to ignite.