Chicago Sun-Times: Planning key to Austin; McMahon pact

The unholy alliance between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Vince McMahon may have come as a surprise to almost everyone at the Astrodome as well as those watching on pay per view, but it was by no means a last-second deal.

Sources in Houston had Austin and McMahon in talks for most of "WrestleMania" weekend, almost constantly discussing the "insurance plan" Stone Cold and Vince concocted to make sure The Rock did not leave WMX7 as the WWF champion.

And despite the fact that the Rattlesnake lives by the motto DTA- "Don't Trust Anyone"-you can expect this union to last quite some time.

Stone Cold clearly remembers exactly how much pain and rehabilitation it took for him to return from neck injuries and get all the way back to the top of the WWF, and will make sure he holds onto his title-and new friend-for a long, long time.

As for the man who lost to Austin at WMX7, the Rock currently is under suspension from the WWF-but that does not mean he could not join Shane McMahon in WCW.

HEARD AROUND THE RING: Monday night's "Raw" drew a 5.9 in the national Nielsen ratings, making it the highest-rated show in TNN history. The broadcast not only moved TNN into the top 10 of all stations, it did so with the NCAA men's basketball championship game between Duke and Arizona running on CBS during the same time slot. . . . Ric Flair is working on a book that should be out in the fall. . . . Mean Gene Okerlund and Bobby the Brain Heenan impressed many members of the WWF front office and could be in line for a return. . . . "The Mummy Returns," which features The Rock as the Scorpion King, could turn out to be the biggest box office hit of the spring. The film is scheduled to open May 4. . . . Linda McMahon and Mick Foley will have a special surprise in store for Vince this week on "Raw," and it could be former WWF grand-slam winner Shawn Michaels. . . . The WWF has released promotional material for its May pay per view, "Judgment Day." Austin and Triple H are on the posters. Undertaker and Kane vs. HHH & Steve Austin, and Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho vs. Kurt Angle and William Regal most likely will be added to the card very soon. Trish Stratus could become Jericho's manager. The event will take place May 20 in Sacramento, Calif. . . . WCW will return to television May 12 on TNN. . . . Former WCW star Jazz was given a WWF tryout Monday. . . . Tommy Dreamer could be on his way to WCW as a wrestler or a booker behind the scenes.

HOTLINE: Hear about future plans for WCW and ECW superstars, plus updates on Eric Bischoff and Shawn Michaels on the hotline: (900) 454- SLAM ($2 per minute).