The reason behind Austin Theory’s recent high-profile role in WWE has reportedly been revealed.
Austin Theory signed with WWE in 2019 after impressing during a try-out the previous year. The star initially appeared on NXT before quickly moving to Raw where he challenged for the Raw Tag Team Titles alongside Angel Garza at WrestleMania 36.
However, Theory headed back to NXT in the summer of 2020, eventually teaming with up with Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell in The Way. After a popular run with the faction, Theory returned to Raw as part of the WWE Draft in October 2021.
After feuding with Jeff Hardy, Theory was made part of Team Raw at Survivor Series, while he was later revealed to have stolen Cleopatra’s Egg from Vince McMahon at the event. Despite this, McMahon gave the high flyer a WWE Title match against Big E and continued to take him under his wing, with Theory featuring in numerous segments with the WWE Chairman.
Writing in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer has noted that Austin Theory was kept in a high profile spot alongside McMahon because his match with Big E did well with the younger audience.
“The idea here is that Theory’s match did well, particularly with teenagers, at holding the audience and he is young, so give him the rub sitting next to Vince.”
While Austin Theory was eventually revealed to have stolen the prized egg at Survivor Series, it has since been reported that the original plan was very different different. In the days after the event it was suggested that the stakes were originally much lower and may have included a tie-in with the 24/7 Championship scene as opposed to the WWE Championship.
Teams associated with The Rock and Red Notice weren’t happy with that and plans were changed. The addition of Vince McMahon to the story was reportedly done as a make good to add prestige and notoriety to the lucrative promotional deal, which is said to be in the seven figures.