I don´t think Axl was so surprised. After all BBF was publicly moaning all time. And over the years Axl got used to people telling him good bye... I think
Scott thought he had a reason. Slash went to Axl´s house. And Axl issued a statement saying that Slash said Scott was a fraud. Slash denided he said that. So Scott went after Axl. Slash said in his book it was not up to Scott to rant about Axl.