The wrestling world is no stranger to comparing rising stars to legendary figures, and LA Knight is one of the most prominent names to draw such parallels. During an appearance on Casual Conversations with The Classic, Knight addressed the frequent comparisons to WWE icons like Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock, but he made it clear that his aspirations go far beyond emulating them.
“Was I influenced by those guys? Of course,” Knight admitted. “But I don’t want to be them—I want to be better than them.”
While he respects their impact on the industry, Knight made it clear that his goal is to go beyond imitation, focusing on creating something fresh and unique. He recognizes that comparisons are inevitable in wrestling.
“Everybody has to make comparisons; it makes people feel more comfortable. But for me, I’m focused on being at a whole other level,” Knight explained.
His confidence and authenticity have made him one of the most talked-about names in 2023, with fans rallying behind his meteoric rise in WWE.
Knight’s success is a testament to his ability to connect with audiences by staying true to himself. His approach resonates with fans looking for personalities that stand out in a crowded industry. As he continues to rise, many believe Knight has the potential to cement his place among wrestling’s greats—not by mirroring legends, but by blazing his own trail.
WWE Hall of Famer Steve Austin has shared an update on his recovery journey after undergoing total knee replacement surgery on his left knee. The 60-year-old wrestling legend posted on Instagram that he is seven weeks into his recovery and healing well after years of delaying the procedure.
“My left knee was on its last leg, and I’ve been putting this surgery off for years,” Austin wrote. “Post-op X-rays show everything is healing nicely.”
However, Austin admitted to overexerting himself early on, which caused setbacks.
“I started walking way too soon and too far, and really pissed off my new knee. Total Knee Replacement is a year-long healing process, so I don’t know what the hell I was thinking,” he explained, adding that swelling remains an issue but progress is steady.
Austin also shared his excitement about returning to the Mint 400, a challenging off-road racing event held near Las Vegas, in seven weeks.
“I will get back in my @kawasakiusa KRX1000 for the first time this weekend to knock the rust off and get back to driving,” he said, expressing his gratitude for the demanding nature of desert racing and his love of competition.
Austin’s knee issues date back to his college football days, long before his wrestling career. During an October appearance on Bobbycast, he acknowledged that knee replacement surgery was long overdue.
Despite his injuries, Austin remains optimistic and determined to stay active, showing his resilience both in and out of the ring.
While this year’s Survivor Series War Games match was, on its surface, a battle between two different versions of The Bloodline, the last minute addition of CM Punk to the team captained by Roman Reigns reframed the narrative. The story largely came down to Punk and Reigns as uneasy partners, bound by being two of the most successful Paul Heyman Guys.
The unlikely duo did wind up successfully coexisting, but it nonetheless returned a spotlight to the concept of Paul Heyman Guys and who among the celebrated cast of elite stars The Wise Man has helped along the way really is the best. We’ll never have a definitive answer, but it is interesting to compare the top contenders.
Bully Ray
Bully Ray is probably the most surprising act to appear on a list of the most successful Paul Heyman Guys, but when one stops to think about it, it’s both pretty remarkable what the former Bubba Ray Dudley has accomplished and how unlikely his story was had Heyman not put him in a position to succeed.
Though Bully Ray never had a main event singles run in ECW, he was nonetheless one of the promotion’s top stars, a heatseeking missile who drew nuclear reactions from the live crowds. Moreover, the opportunities afforded to him in ECW laid the foundation for his legendary run with D-Von Dudley as one of the greatest tag teams of all time, across ECW, WWE, TNA, and elsewhere.
It was in TNA where Bully Ray realized his full potential, booked as the leader of the Aces and Eights faction, world champion, and the definitive top heel in the promotion for the better part of the year. While he never broke out in WWE, this run proved what he had inside of him as a talker, worker, and wrestling mind, making good on everything Heyman had seen in him from back in their days in Philly together.
CM Punk
CM Punk was an indie darling but ran into a brick wall after signing with WWE. Upper management didn’t see a lot in him, but Paul Heyman did.
Heyman’s role running developmental at that point set him up to work closely with an eager Punk who sat under Heyman’s learning tree while further honing his craft. Against the odds, The Straight Edge Superstar did rise to prominence on the main roster in time. He did some of his best work as a long-reigning WWE Champion, with Heyman serving as his Advocate. Though Punk never needed a mouthpiece, Heyman certainly added to his presentation.
Punk’s resume since first collaborating with Heyman speaks for itself. He is, to date, a two-time WWE Champion, three-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion, WWE ECW Champion, rare two-time WWE Money in the Bank winner, and two-time AEW Champion. It’s a record that places him among wrestling’s most accomplished stars of his generation.
Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns was Vince McMahon’s final hand-picked face of WWE, but it wasn’t until Reigns dropped the white meat babyface persona The Chairman had saddled him with and turned heel alongside Paul Heyman that he broached God Mode.
His positioning as the top babyface placed Reigns as a regular rival to Brock Lesnar, which gave him his first opportunities to collaborate with Heyman. Things went to an entirely new level when Heyman and Reigns formalized their partnership though, with the duo collaborating closely behind the scenes just as Heyman played The Wise Man on screen for Reigns and his Bloodline faction.
Since partnering with Heyman, Reigns enjoyed a historic three and half year reign as WWE Champion that cemented his place as the face of the company and probably the tip-top star of his generation. That’s not to mention that Reigns just won his second Survivor Series War Games main event and the smart money has more world title glory, WrestleMania main events, and other elite accolades in front of him.
Brock Lesnar
(via WWE)
Brock Lesnar was an exceptional amateur wrestler and one of the few talents to succeed at the highest levels of pro wrestling and MMA alike. While The Beast’s real life combat credentials have little to do with Paul Heyman, his WWE journey was largely molded by his relationship with his advocate.
The generally accepted story is that most of the people advising Lesnar early in his career encouraged him to work like a standard big man who worked a slow pace, hit power moves, and never left his feet. Heyman saw bigger things in taking advantage of Lesnar’s natural speed and agility to lead to The Next Big Thing he’d become. Add in Heyman as a necessary mouthpiece and Lesnar became one of the biggest stars WWE has ever seen.
Stone Cold Steve Austin
The year was 1995 and nobody believed in Steve Austin. Austin had been let go from WCW out of a combination of his attitude issues and injuries, combined with a new focus on established imports from WWE. As for WWE, while they would end up signing Austin, it was for the explicit purpose of being a mechanic who could put over stars they were actually invested in in good technical matches.
It was Heyman who put a live mic in Austin’s hands and, in so doing, paved the way the way for the Texas Rattlesnake fans would come to know and love as Stone Cold Steve Austin. Like he did for many others, Heyman gave Stone Cold an opportunity to experiment and spotlight his strengths. Yes, Heyman would also manage Austin in WCW for a spell, and back him up as part of The Alliance in 2001, but it was Austin’s ECW run that permanently branded him as a Paul Heyman guy, and he went on to some of the most explosively successful years in pro wrestling history.
The pro wrestling world has been called the “Wild West” on several occassions, but an actual crossover occurred between Steve Austin and Red Dead Redemption actor, Roger Clark.
Clark is notoriously known for portraying the notorious “Arthur Morgan” in Red Dead Redemption 2. Morgan is the protagonist of the series’ second game as players would take him on a journey across the fictional American west that Rockstar Games had created. Morgan’s story has similar ties to the odyssey of Steve Austin, who had his fair share of allies, adversaries and barroom brawls.
However, this past year it Clark who stepped foot in the wrestling ring in very surreal fashion and footage has surfaced of the cowboy getting physical.
Earlier this year, Clark was a participant in a Fantasy Super Cosplay Wrestling event at Animate Raliegh and happened to restore order in a wrestling match featuring the evil Skeletor from Masters Of The Universe. That particular evening Clark was the “Acting Sheriff” for FSCW and made sure Skeletor’s chicanery wasn’t going to effect the outcome of the match. Skeletor threw salt in the eyes of his cowboy opponent which prompted Clark to step in and deliver a Stone Cold Stunner to the character’s signature skull.
“The premier combat spectacle with combatants from all over the Multiverse. Be amazed by titanic clashes as heroes and villains from Comic Books, Anime, Video Games, and TV do battle LIVE in front of your very eyes. Watch Skeletor, Spider-Man, Deadpool, Mystique, The Mario Brothers, Roadhog & Junk Rat, Storm, Loki, Kratos, Mileena, Dovahkiin, Harley Quinn, and more as they get ready for the Main Event!”
Along with the clip featured above, the FSCW YouTube channel features severals mutliverse characters including Scorpion taking on Deadpool and The Toxic Avenger in a triple threat, Black Panther vs. Loki and more.
As an icon of pro wrestling, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin forged a legion of fans as one tough S.O.B and worked with the very top stars of the Attitude Era. Over his career, the Texas Rattlesnake fought the likes of Triple H, Mankind, and The Rock, but now a teenage girl is proving to be Austin’s main adversary.
In recent years, Austin has gotten involved in the sport of off-road racing and has wasted no time in racking up wins. Speaking to Too Much Access, Austin gushed about his love of getting behind the wheel.
“I’ve been doing it for about a year and a half, and I’ve absolutely fallen in love with it. It’s just so different from anything I’ve ever done.”
Austin explained the similarities between learning to wrestle and learning to off-road race. Aside from initially “sucking” at both, a common mistake newcomers make in each discipline is wanting to “go fast” right from the start. He made the same error and quickly learned that mastering the fundamentals serves you far better in the long run.
Stone Cold and Off Road
At 59-years-old, Austin is facing off with racers decades younger than him. Most recently, a 14-year-old girl has proven to be a thorn in the pro wrestling icon’s side.
“One of my arch-rivals last year was a 14-year-old girl. She can drive her ass off. So when you’re born out there and you get that DNA in you, them kids are fast. It’s fun, it’s competitive, it gives me something to do.”
Austin is enjoying his newfound passion as an off-road racer, but fans may still see him in the ring yet. The Bionic Redneck has teased getting involved with WrestleMania 41 when the Show of Shows comes to April in 2025. If so, Austin’s off-road racer could give the Hall of Famer quite the entrance, as he’s not overshadowed by a certain teenage driver.
Will Ospreay has an ecletic taste in music, but his wrestling fandom runs as deep as his affection for his favorite songs.
Speaking with Kerrang, ‘The Billy Goat’ listed 10 different songs that have changed his life and you better believe that one of them was a classic pro wrestling entrance song.
In addition to ABBA, Oasis, Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers, Will Ospreay listed Jim Johnston’s “I Won’t Do What You Tell Me” as the song that reminded him of his “first love” and that love so happened to be the one true sport. If you’re not familiar with the song titles “I Won’t Do What You Tell Me” is Stone Cold Steve Austin’s theme. Ospreay gives his reasoning as to why he chose Austin’s infamous song that begins with breaking glass.
“From the first time I heard that glass breaking as a kid, and saw the audience go crazy as this guy just ran to the ring and beat everybody up, I was like, ‘Oh, wow, wrestling is cool!’ I don’t actually remember when the first time was that I heard that track specifically, but it was during the Austin vs. McMahon era. I’ll always remember the time in 2001 when [the old] WWF bought WCW [with the ensuing Invasion storyline] and Austin being a big part of that.”
Austin’s theme was previously noted to be inspired by Rage Against The Machine’s “Bulls On Parade” and it’s arguably one of the greatest wrestling entrance songs of all time. In credit to Ospreay, he has himself a pretty catchy tune in AEW that cultivates that soccer chant mentality.
In the interview, Ospreay said that Oasis’ “Live Forever” is a tune that gets him pumped up for the wrestling ring. Funny enough, he got inspired by watching Oasis perform at Wembley, something he did in 2023 and something he’s planning to do in 2024.
In May 2024, WWE Shop saw notable sales in their apparel category, and we have a full list of top-selling products.
Wrestlenomics reports that CM Punk emerged as a top seller for May 2024, showing his strong connection with fans, even though his injury hiatus. Jey Uso followed closely, which shouldn’t be a huge surprise considering the incredible reception his Yeet entrance has received in recent memory.
Cody Rhodes, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and The Rock also featured in the sales rankings, showcasing the appeal of both current and legendary figures in wrestling. Other superstars such as Randy Orton, Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt, Rey Mysterio, and Liv Morgan also made the top ten list, reflecting a range of interests among the WWE fan base.
Best-Selling Items
When it comes to individual items, the “Men’s Black Jey Uso Yeet T-Shirt” led the pack, staying in the top 10 for 22 days throughout the month. This was followed by the “Men’s Black Return of CM Punk T-Shirt,” which also enjoyed significant daily sales.
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s merchandise, particularly the “Stone Cold” Steve Austin & Booker T Rivals T-Shirt and the classic “Stone Cold” Steve Austin 3:16 T-Shirt, remained fan favorites. CM Punk’s “Best In The World” ringer T-shirt and The Rock’s “Final Boss” T-shirt also saw strong sales.
It’s also notable that Liv Morgan topped WWE’s sales charts after her King & Queen of the Ring Women’s World Title win, which landed her the #10 spot for the entire month.
Top-Selling WWE Merchandise for May 2024
Top Superstars:
CM Punk
Jey Uso
Cody Rhodes
Stone Cold Steve Austin
The Rock
Randy Orton
Roman Reigns
Bray Wyatt
Rey Mysterio/Mysterios
Liv Morgan
Insights and Trends
The data from May 2024 reveals a few key trends. The continued sales of CM Punk’s merchandise underline his lasting impact and popularity. Jey Uso’s rise in the rankings reflects his growing influence and appeal within the WWE universe.
The presence of both legendary figures like Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock, alongside current superstars such as Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes, indicates a broad spectrum of fan interests spanning different eras of WWE.
Overall, WWE Shop’s apparel sales for May 2024 highlight the dynamic nature of wrestling fandom and the continued popularity of both past and present WWE superstars.
Steve Austin has a new resident of the Broken Skull Ranch, and it’s a feline with a moniker fit for a one of a kind WWE Hall Of Famer.
Over the weekend, ‘Stone Cold’ shared the unfortunate news that he found one of his cats, a black cat named Lefty, passed away inside of his barn, noting that the animal had been acting erratic as of late. The main eventer of the ‘Broken Skull territory’ has been Austin’s friendly cat named Pancho, who Austin noted was beside himself after losing Lefty.
‘The Texas Rattlesnake’ made plans to rectify that, noting that he’d be getting a new tag partner for Pancho in the near future. That came in the form of a little orange tabby kitten on Wednesday morning.
The kitten is only six weeks old, but clearly has a lot of energy. Austin shared a video of his new furry friend and it appears Pancho is more than appreciative of ‘Stone Cold’ merging the new ‘Mega Paw-ers’ together. In homage of such, Austin was sure to give the new kitten after the late great Randy Savage,
“Introducing Macho. Macho is from a town called Austin, Nevada. Thanks to @huntressdivine for finding him for us. Pancho is already getting used to him, although he is letting him know who the boss is. With Pancho mentoring him, He should be a helluva cat. He certainly has a lot of personality. And is not afraid of anything. He is about 6ish weeks old.”
While Austin didn’t appear at WrestleMania 40 as many expected, ‘Stone Cold’ has stayed very busy enjoying his life out of the limelight and a big partner in crime for that has been Pancho. Now we will have to wait and see the rising star of Macho moving forward.
The Undertaker never got the opportunity to lock horns with fellow WWE Hall of Famer ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin at WrestleMania. Could Austin break The Phenom’s legendary undefeated streak? Well, Taker thinks so.
Each month, the ‘Dead Man’ does an exclusive Q&A Session for Patreon members of his Six Feet Under with Mark Calaway show. The fan questions often produce interesting quotes and this show was no exception. One question asked which wrestler could have ended the Streak earlier than 2014, when Brock Lesnar ‘conquered’ it at WrestleMania XXX. The 59-year-old Hall of Famer said it would have to be ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin.
“It’d have to be Stone Cold. That’s really one of the only guys I didn’t get to work with at Mania. That would have been huge. The Streak may have gotten broken earlier, but still, it would have been nice to work with Steve at Mania.”
The idea of Undertaker vs. Steve Austin at WrestleMania prompted discussion about what the reaction would have been if Austin ended the streak instead of Lesnar. Wrestling fans were furious when WWE’s ‘Best Incarnate’ did the unthinkable, but would Austin get a similar response?
Taker feels that Austin’s popularity was unrivaled, and that would have helped offset some of the backlash, but some fans would have still taken issue with the Streak ending and he could still expect some mixed reactions.
“Steve was over at a level… That was just a whole ‘nother level that he was over at. It would probably be, just like anything else, half the people would love it, half the people would hate it. That’s how it is. Everybody has an opinion but that’s the guy that I would have liked to work with at Mania that I never got a chance to.”
The Undertaker is synonymous with WrestleMania. His fabled undefeated “streak” remains to be one of the greatest chapters in WWE. While WrestleMania is a spectacle itself. Every year, the eagle-eyed fans also anticipated ‘The Deadman’ putting his streak on the line against some of the biggest superstars in the company.
The Undertaker famously ‘claimed the souls’ of some of the all-time greats at Mania over a couple of decades until Brock Lesnar did something unimaginable – ending the streak at WrestleMania XXX. ‘The Phenom’ suffered another loss at ‘The Grandest Stage of Them All’ against Roman Reigns in a No Holds Barred Match at WrestleMania 33.
The Undertaker was involved at WrestleMania 40 when he hit a chokeslam on The Rock during the headlining match between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
Reports suggest that it was Steve Austin, who was originally in the plans to get involved instead of Taker but that didn’t materialize.
The ‘Bloodline Rules’ stipulation of Sunday’s WrestleMania 40 main event between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns allowed for several exciting surprise appearances. The jam-packed Lincoln Financial Field erupted when John Cena and the Undertaker made surprises appearances to assist the American Nightmare.
Many fans were expecting to hear the infamous ‘glass shatter’ and see Stone Cold Steve Austin hit the ring for one more confrontation with his greatest rival, The Rock. As it turns out, WWE did negotiate with Austin regarding this exact scenario. Unfortunately, the two sides could not come to a financial agreement, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
In the months leading up to wrestling’s biggest weekend of the year, Austin was addressed the possibility of another WrestleMania appearance. He kept some hopes alive by saying “never say never,” but now we know why it didn’t materialize.
Steve Austin shocked the wrestling world by coming out of retirement at WrestleMania 38 (2022) and competing in his first match in 19 years.
It started with Kevin Owens calling out Stone Cold and inviting him to appear on the KO Show at WrestleMania 38. Austin accepted, but when he showed up for a talk, Owens had other plans in mind. An impromptu No Holds Barred match broke out and Austin got to show it’s still a very bad idea to cross him.
Bloodline Rules
Cody Rhodes defeated Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in a match contested under ‘Bloodline rules.’ The specific rules were not laid out in person, but it was essentially a no-disqualification match.
The relaxed rules allowed for plenty of outside interference, with members of the Bloodline backing Reigns, and John Cena, The Undertaker and Seth Rollins evening the odds.
In the end, Rhodes ‘finished his story’ and ended the Tribal Chief’s historic championship reign at 1,316 days.
Steve Austin still holds one of his WrestleMania matches in the highest regard, and it didn’t happen to have the WWE Title at stake. During an interview with Justin Barrasso, Stone Cold named his classic match against Bret Hart from WrestleMania 13 as an all-time favorite.
“If it wasn’t for Bret Hart, I don’t know that I would be having this interview right now,” said Austin. “My feud with Bret changed everything.”
Two years ago, Hart claimed that him and Austin clashing at WrestleMania 13 were like “two asteroids hitting at the right time.”
“The match with Steve, that’s the greatest song I ever sang. When I watch it back, I wouldn’t change a thing. I still love seeing that spot where I’m punching the daylights out of Steve in the corner and he kicks me in the groin. It was a beautiful, violent piece of art. Working with Steve was easy, it was fun, and it was memorable.”
Austin talked about how he and Hart delivered on arguably the greatest double-turn ever executed in pro wrestling and that was due in great part to what both men did in the ring that evening.
Stone Cold & The Hitman
After 19 years, Austin finally returned to in-ring action at WrestleMania 38 in Los Angeles. He faced Kevin Owens and came out victorious. Steve has some fond memories of that, but it still won’t shake off his number one with Bret.
‘I have a lot of fond memories of WrestleMania, but whenever I have to pick one, it’s always going to WrestleMania 13 with Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart.”
WWE’s biggest event of the year is coming up in 10 days, and there is no shortage of WrestleMania hype. It appears that fans may need to expect the Texas Rattlesnake as well.
Although nothing has been confirmed, WWE has been in contact with Steve Austin about making an appearance at WrestleMania 40.
WWE Wants Austin For WrestleMania
PW Insider reports that WWE is in discussions to include Stone Cold Steve Austin in WrestleMania 40 weekend. The details of Austin’s role are undisclosed, but an overture has been made.
Steve Austin’s appearance on a production truck during this week’s episode of Monday Night RAW was noticed by many fans. Several other legends have also been rumored for WrestleMania 40 weekend, because John Cena was on that truck as well.
WWE’s WrestleMania Aspirations
It was previously reported that WWE is looking to have John Cena, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker at WrestleMania 40. As of this writing, we have not heard of any possible role that they will play at the show of shows.
Steve Austin’s last match took place at WrestleMania 38 in a No Holds Barred match against Kevin Owens. That marked Austin’s first match to date since WrestleMania XIX in 2003.
John Cena and WrestleMania 40
It was reported in February that John Cena wants to do “something” for WrestleMania 40. He has since confirmed that he has the day off.
Cena is going to start shooting the second season of Peacemaker in the early summer. We will have to see if WWE can get Cena to appear at the show of shows before that obligation starts.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more from the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back throughout the day for more updates.
WrestleMania XL weekend is just two weeks away and WWE’s biggest event of the year is shaping up to be memorable.
The card is nearly set for the first WrestleMania to be held under the new regime of TKO Group Holdings, the new entity comprised of both WWE and UFC, the world’s leading mixed martial arts promotion.
WrestleMania is the culmination of the year’s biggest feuds and storylines. It’s where the stars shine brightest and Superstars deliver performances they know will echo through time. In addition to crafting the strongest possible match card, WWE often brings in legends and celebrities to ensure this PLE stands out from the rest.
Stacking WrestleMania 40
According to this week’s Wrestling Observer newsletter, this year will be no exception. WWE sources say the company is looking to have John Cena, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker at WrestleMania 40.
“Cena is free but depending on what acting stuff he has and how quick after he’s filming would determine how much he can or can’t do for insurance reasons,” Dave Meltzer wrote. “Austin and Undertaker would be based on willingness that they have.”
In asking around with sources linked to WWE’s creative process, we have not heard anything for Cena or Austin planned for WrestleMania. However, this late on the Road to WrestleMania, any surprises involving stars of this magnitude would be a very closely guarded secret.
Keep it locked to SEScoops for our continued coverage of everything WWE on the road to WrestleMania 40. It’s going to be a crazy few weeks, but we’re going to be all-hands-on-deck to continue bringing our readers the best wrestling news coverage around.
March 16 or 3:16 has been an unofficial holiday among pro wrestling fans for years on account of its association with Stone Cold Steve Austin.
The word “legend” gets thrown around wrestling circles pretty liberally. Austin is a class of his own, though. He’s the only three-time Royal Rumble winner, a four-time WrestleMania main event winner, and a six-time world champion. Perhaps most importantly, Austin is on an extremely short list of performers who can genuinely argue he was the hottest act wrestling has ever known.
Austin never had haters or doubters like Roman Reigns or John Cena. In contrast to Hulk Hogan, his work as the top babyface in wrestling has aged well for its match quality. While guys like The Undertaker had longer runs at or around the top, they never burned nearly as bright as The Rattlesnake at his peak.
One of the biggest launching pads for Austin’s time on top came when he won the 1996 King of the Ring tournament and, all the more so, when the victory speech to follow arrived as the single greatest promo in wrestling history.
The Austin 3:16 Promo Was A Unique Fit For Stone Cold’s Character
Not just any wrestler can cut any promo. Yes, good talkers are capable of turning lemons into lemonade and making subpar suggestions from the WWE writing team into entertaining, even memorable monologues. The best of the best promos always have a connection to the person delivering it, though, the way CM Punk’s Pipebomb could only have come from The Straight Edge Superstar or the way only The Rock could verbally shred countless opponents on the stick in his unique style.
Austin 3 :16 was the ultimate example of a great wrestling personality channeling everything about himself and his character to make a moment. The victory speech perfectly captured the piss and vinegar of Stone Cold Steve Austin before he was a babyface, before had arrived as a top name, but when he was hungry, a little bitter, and had finally put the pieces together to realize his potential.
The Austin 3:16 Promo Was A Unique Fit For Stone Cold’s Opponent
The phrasing of “Austin 3:16” was a direct knock on Jake Roberts, whose babyface persona in 1996 leaned into both the character and the real person having embraced religion and drawn inspiration from scripture.
Yes, there have been great wrestling promos focused on the man delivering the words at hand. Some of the very best promos, however, like Dusty Rhodes talking about “Hard Times” up against the machine that was Ric Flair and The Four Horsemen or Vince McMahon becoming the heel mastermind Mr. McMahon before our eyes when he declared ‘Bret screwed Bret’ had as much to do with the speaker’s enemy as they did the with person holding the mic. So it was that Austin 3;16 was so good not in spite of, but because it so cuttingly took down Jake Roberts.
The Austin 3:16 Promo Rejected Convention
‘King’ Baron Corbin
Even in 1996, there was a tradition of heels winning the King of the Ring tournament and embracing their version of how a king might behave. Owen Hart did this masterfully in 1994, while Mabel did just OK with it in 1995. Years before them, wrestlers including Randy Savage and Haku had put their own spins on the gimmick. Years later Booker T would use a royal gimmick to reinvent himself and reach new heights, while Baron Corbin would bore fans to tears as King Corbin.
Steve Austin easily could have fit in with this line of arrogant heels who put on airs, maybe a little comedic, but also wearing the gravitas that comes with a crown in the wrestling world. Instead, in delivering a foul-mouthed, heated promo, he embraced the push of winning a major tournament while rejecting the tacky trappings of a king gimmick. Stone Cold would remain Stone Cold, and with this big win on his resume, he was geared up for a run at the top of the card.
The Austin 3:16 Promo Launched A Legendary Run
Obviously, Steve Austin was a respected worker to be signed to WWE in the first place and he’d made some inroads with management and the fans to justify winning the King of the Ring tournament in 1996. Austin was a backup choice as king, though, as Triple H infamously lost the opportunity as punishment for his role in the Curtain Call incident.
Austin delivering the victory speech he did cemented his place as more than someone WWE was trying in a featured spot, but rather someone who had truly captured the imagination of WWE fans. Stone Cold wouldn’t shoot straight to the top (case in point, the following month’s PPV saw him work a forgettable mid-card match with Marc Mero, and he didn’t make it onto the main card for SummerSlam two months later). However, Austin had a concrete accolade to point to and this promo launched arguably the most successful wrestling t-shirt of all time, further highlighting that the fans wanted what Austin was selling.
By late 1996, Austin would be feuding with Bret Hart in a long program that was instrumental in launching him into the stratosphere. This feud included one of the greatest WrestleMania matches of all time in 1997. Fast forward a year later, and The Bionic Redneck would win his first world title, unseating Shawn Michaels in the ‘Mania main event.
Austin 3:16 Embodied The Attitude Era
The face of WWE in different eras is often instrumental in defining that era. Bruno Sammartino was a dominant babyface when he put the brand on the map. Hulk Hogan was a superhero who appealed to kids. John Cena returned WWE to a sense of family-friendly entertainment with a reliable star who always showed up and never got himself into trouble.
Stone Cold Steve Austin was the foul-mouthed antihero who was not only willing but eager to go up against wrestling tradition embodied by Bret Hart, then corporate powers that be represented by Vince McMahon and his Corporation.
The Austin 3:16 promo encapsulated the character and its ethos. While there’s some debate about when the Attitude Era truly started, the earliest point that has any widespread traction is the Austin winning King of the Ring. This night signaled Stone Cold’s chaotic style was no flash in the pan, but rather emblematic of where WWE and the business on the whole were headed for the next five-years-plus—one of the hottest periods in pro wrestling history.
The choice for the greatest wrestling promo of all time will always be subjective. Nonetheless, it stands that Stone Cold Steve Austin’s King of the Ring victory speech is one of the most memorable, game-changing, era-defining pieces of business on the mic wrestling has ever seen. To this day, Austin remains on the short list of the greatest wrestling stars of all time. His signature promo is an indelible part of that legacy.
Steve Austin wants to see UFC fighters Colby Covington and Sean Strickland in WWE and that’s the bottom line. Why? Because ‘Stone Cold’ said so.
A crossover between WWE and MMA has been quite common as a bunch of former MMA fighters have been a part of WWE. Now, with the recent formation of TKO Group Holdings, WWE and the UFC come under one umbrella which means more crossovers are likely to happen.
At UFC 298, WWE stars Bianca Belair and Montez Ford were spotted in attendance. Meanwhile, on this week’s Monday Night Raw, UFC lightweight Michael Chandler made an appearance and went on to call out former UFC Double Champion Conor McGregor.
Now, Steve Austin has stated that he feels that the aforementioned UFC fighters could taste success in the squared circle as well.
Steve Austin outlines why he wants Sean Strickland and Colby Covington in WWE
Speaking with ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, Stone Cold Steve Austin highlighted former UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland’s mic skills while he said Colby Covington backs his trash-talking with incredible athletic ability which could help in WWE.
“If I’m going right now, I’m going Sean Strickland,” Austin said. “I like Sean Strickland. Boy, he stays economic in the Octagon right now, but what a promo. And so, then I go with Colby Covington. All the trash talk, all the athletic ability. Guy never runs out of gas, he’s always in shape, talks a mean streak and can back it up. He’s very exciting, he has that X-factor that you always look for. He’s double tough.”
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin thinks two UFC fighters could cross over successfully into WWE. His answers may or may not surprise you pic.twitter.com/7XrCzbl9Qh
Strickland has built a reputation for speaking his mind without any reluctance which has garnered a lot of attention lately. It is something that could come in handy for him in WWE. Meanwhile, Covington’s trash talk could be put to the test against some of the biggest mic workers if he decides to ever step foot in WWE.
While they are being highlighted to crossover to WWE, former WWE tag-team Champion Montez Ford expressed his desire to compete in UFC.
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin has told several stories in the ring during his time with WWE. Although it’s been a while since he laced up his boots, the Texas Rattlesnake isn’t shutting the door on having another match.
Steve Austin Speaks on a Return
Steve Austin competed in a No Holds Barred match against Kevin Owens on February 4, 2022, at WrestleMania 38. AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas played host to a historic performance, but it might not be his last.
While speaking to ESPN, Steve Austin spoke on the possibility of having another match. He gave the classic “never say never” approach to things, but this could mean a lot coming from Austin.
“I said I’d never get in a ring again unless all the stars aligned. And for some reason, somehow, they all did. And at the age of 57, I headlined the first night of WrestleMania. I never thought I’d do that. If you’d have told me that when I retired in [2003], I’d have said, ‘You’re crazy.’ So I’m not gonna sit here and say no to anything, because you never say never in this crazy business of sports entertainment.”
Austin also mentioned that a potential match with CM Punk “would be a good one.”
“I like Punk, and I think Punk likes me — so, as long as he can take a [Stone Cold] Stunner,” Austin said with a laugh. “I consider him a great friend, a great guy and a great wrestler who’s had a great career. We’ll see.”
Steve Austin in WWE 2K24
Austin will have a significant role in WWE 2K24’s latest game mode, “Showcase of the Immortals.” This mode lets players experience 21 historic WrestleMania matches, commemorating the 40th anniversary of WWE’s premier event. These matches include iconic showdowns like Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant from WrestleMania 3 and the memorable ladder match between Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon from WrestleMania 10, as well as more recent bouts such as the first women’s WrestleMania main event featuring Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania 35.
In the game, players will be able to replay Steve Austin’s legendary match with Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13 in 1997, a bout that propelled the “Stone Cold” character to new heights. Additionally, Austin’s WrestleMania 17 clash with The Rock in 2001 and his comeback match against Owens will also be available.
What’s Next
The Rock’s recent return to WWE may have sparked interest in Austin to do the same. Only time will tell if he locks up in a WWE ring again, but his match at WrestleMania against Kevin Owens, which Austin won, was a well-produced 13-minute street fight that had fans on their feet the whole time. Odds are, Austin is in good enough shape to give the same performance, or even better, at 59-years-old.
WWE is in a booming period in their history, and they are definitely in a position to offer big compensation if Austin does decide to return. If anything, his comeback will likely be much more well-received than The Rock’s was.
WWE’s next video game is on the way. Plenty of rumors are bound to come out about the release, as we expect. Now, we have a tease with a bit more weight, because it came from 2K themselves.
The Latest WWE 2K24 Tease
The 2k team sent out an Instagram post that is getting some attention. In the new drop, they posted a photo of a referee shirt. That wasn’t as interesting as the fact that they also tagged “Stone Cold” Steve Austin in the photo.
Although no direct involvement with Steve Austin has been confirmed for the new WWE video game yet, tagging him certainly draws a connection. It is expected that the Texas Rattlesnake will be featured in the game as a playable character, perhaps even in multiple versions, but he may be even more involved with the project.
WWE’s next video game, WWE 2K24, is coming. The teases are starting to flow in, and those may provide clues on what’s to come. Plenty of featured are desired by gamers, and they are a tough crowd to please. 2K knows what it’s like to botch a video game release, if you remember 2k20, and they don’t want to repeat history at all in that regard.
When WWE 2K24 Will Be Released
The release date for WWE 2K24 remains undisclosed at this point, but we might receive this vital information within the next few days. The latest release in the series, WWE 2K23, became available on March 14th, 2023, offering gamers the chance to experience it on various platforms, including PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
A comprehensive review of the last game is accessible on Amazon for those interested in exploring its features and gameplay.
‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin certainly lived up to his moniker by submerging his body in freezing water as part of his first ‘Cold plunge’ experience.
On Instagram, Austin shared footage of his first experience of submerging his body into icy-cold water. The WWE Hall of Famer was clearly not a fan of the freezing temperatures and let off the occasional expletive.
In a second video, Austin said he ‘chickened out’ in the first video after ten seconds. The Texas Rattlesnake was told that the experience was “Supposed to get your endorphins going or some sh*t.” Austin added that he was “freezing my f***ing ass off!”
In the comments, several people shared their own experiences with doing cold plunges. Matt Cardona said that Diamond Dallas Page “tortured” him with a cold plunge. WWE’s Robert Roode called the videos the best thing he’s seen in a long time. ‘Hurricane’ Shane Helms added that Austin’s commentary was top-notch.
Cold Plunge: The Science & The Risks
Cold plunges are nothing new in the world of sports, as athletes have been using ice baths for decades. Ice baths are often used to reduce delayed onset muscle soreness and perceptions of fatigue after heavy exercise.
Risks include hypothermia, shock, and the possibility of sudden cardiac death. It is with this in mind that those who use cold plunges are advised to not spend more than 15 minutes immersed. People are also advised to use warm clothing on areas of their body that aren’t submerged, such as their torso.
When not doing a cold plunge, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin can be found behind the wheel of his 3:16-inspired vehicle…
Bret Hart was a part of many famous moments in WWE history. The Hitman is a two-time WWE Hall of Famer, and he fought hard to keep his spot in the company. Many fans see WrestleMania 13 as a massive turning point in Hart’s career, but it was also the start of an even bigger change for the pro wrestling business.
Setting Up WrestleMania 13
While speaking to Inside the Ropes, Bret Hart remembered his big feud against Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13. The Texas Rattlesnake was just getting momentum, and that was reflected by the changing audience at the time.
Bret Hart mentioned that he had a match with Steve Austin at the previous Survivor Series, and they wanted to take time building a rematch. Bret was originally scheduled to face HBK at WrestleMania, but Shawn Michaels went home to “find his smile,” and the match between Hart and Austin was put together at the last minute.
“The audiences were changing in that time period. Especially I remember particularly on the East Coast. I think that was probably due to ECW but the fans started to kind of find it was more fun to cheer the bad guys and piss the good guys off. So they were there to kind of make trouble at the shows lot of the times and they’d start chanting for all the bad guys. During that time period, I noticed that it really changed the atmosphere of the matches.”
“I remember a lot of the good guys having a lot of trouble getting reactions and the bad guys were getting, like Steve Austin was getting all the reaction in the world. You could sort of sense that he was gonna become a babyface, and guys like me would move over to the side. I just saw it as a chance ‘So I should just change styles. I’ll just wrestle like Bret the Hitman, the old Hart Foundation days.’ It wasn’t such a hard transfer for me. I could work heel or babyface pretty easy.”
The WrestleMania 13 Match
When it comes to building the match, Bret Hart stated that it was “pretty nice” how they went about it. Then, when they showed up for the match, there wasn’t much of a plan in place.
“So it was just building up pretty nice. I think my momentum was going pretty well. But when I showed up to wrestle Steve at WrestleMania 13. I don’t think either one of us had much of a plan for the match. I remember we started talking about it in the dressing room. I was like ‘So what are we doing?’ And he was like, ‘I don’t know, what do you want to do?’
“Me and Steve, we were just kind of trying to figure it out. We sat on the ring apron and we just started talking about it and I said ‘The way I see this fight or this match is like a school fight’ I was sort of the guy that was the cool guy in school. [I was] popular with everybody and I was maybe the quarterback on the football team kind of thing. Steve Austin was the new guy that came to school, [who] had a shaved head, was kind of a badass. The way I remember talking to Steve about it is like ‘So this should be like a school fight and all the fans are basically all the kids at the school watching this flight.’ That’s where we started kind of the psychology of the match and how we should build it.”
Steve Austin & Bret Hart’s Future In Pro Wrestling
Bret Hart hasn’t wrestled a match since he teamed with John Cena to beat Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez on September 12th, 2011 during an episode of WWE RAW. Hart didn’t do much in that match, but it still wrapped up his career in WWE.
Steve Austin, on the other hand, is not 100% retired from in-ring competition. You can never say never with him, although there are no reported plans for him to lace up his boots again any time soon. His match against Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38 was proof that the Texas Rattlesnake can still go in the ring.
WWE paired up Grayson Waller and Austin Theory to form A-Town Down Under, and that heel team is making a lot of noise. They are also responsible for Kevin Owens’ recent injury, and they are not afraid to rub salt in the wound.
Kevin Owens will take on Austin Theory on the December 15th episode of WWE SmackDown in the current United States Title #1 contender tournament. That match could be a rough one for Theory, but he’s not making it any better for himself.
Grayson Waller and Austin Theory appeared in a backstage promo that was released online after the December 9th episode of SmackDown.
During the video, Austin Theory broke out his uncanny “Stone Cold” Steve Austin impression, as he cut a promo on Kevin Owens while showing off a t-shirt that said “Grayson 3:16” on the front and “I Just Broke Your Hand” on the back.
“Grayson 3:16 son, why don’t you turn around and show ’em! Look at that, ‘I just broke your hand,’ son! Kevin Owens, we broke ya hand, ya ain’t got one no more! WHAT?! Grayson Waller’s gonna beat ya? WHAT?! Austin Theory’s gonna beat ya? WHAT?! We broke ya hand! WHAT?!”
Austin Theory walked off as he busted out in a Steve Austin laugh, which caused Grayson Waller to shout, “What?!” as his partner exited the frame. The two are certainly taking digs at Kevin Owens, but they might need to be careful about invoking Steve Austin’s name like that.
What’s next for Steve Austin in WWE
WWE is not currently talking about bringing Steve Austin in for a CM Punk dream match at this time. Although that rumor hit the Internet Wrestling Community in a big way, it’s not being discussed. Although fans may not see Steve Austin actually return at this time, it’s still good to hear his voice via Austin Theory’s spot-on impression.
You can watch Austin Theory and Grayson Waller’s little backstage promo in the video below.
Kevin Owens might not be able to utilize his KO punch right now due to his affliction, but there are still other ways that he is a very dangerous opponent. It will be interesting to see how Owens does in the United States Title tournament, as he has already teased having beef with Logan Paul.
You may check out the card for the December 15th episode of WWE SmackDown below. Keep checking back with SE Scoops for more!
December 15th, 2023 WWE SmackDown Card
Roman Reigns returns to SmackDown
Kevin Owens vs Austin Theory – 1st Round United States Title #1 Contender Tournament Match
Grayson Waller vs NXT Superstar – 1st Round United States Title #1 Contender Tournament Match
Will Kevin Owens beat Logan Paul for the United States Title after winning this tournament? Are you impressed by Austin Theory’s Steve Austin impression? Let us know what you think by engaging with us on social media!
All Elite Wrestling may have some impressive viewing figures (albeit figures not as high as this time last year) but two wrestling legends aren’t tuning in.
It’s no secret that AEW’s ratings have fallen dramatically in recent months, with many attributing that to the absence of CM Punk.
There has been some good news recently for AEW, with last Friday’s AEW Rampage drawing the show’s highest ratings since January.
The Pact
AEW has a passionate fanbase of people both in and out of the wrestling industry but two names not watching (for now) are Kevin Nash and Steve Austin.
During the latest episode of Kliq This, Big Daddy Cool explained why he and the Rattlesnake are changing channels whenever AEW is on their TVs.
“I just want to go on record today, I have not watched AEW in months. It goes back to Steve Austin and I got a pact that he’s not watching it therefore I’m not watching it and what I can tell by Twitter is [Undertaker] is now not watching it.”
“Steve Austin and I got a pact that he’s not watching it therefore I’m not watching it.”
Kevin Nash.
“It’s nothing against any of the talent over there, anybody that does anything over there. It’s just something that we decided. It’s like lent, you have to give things up so we did that. It doesn’t change the fact that Kenny Omega is my favorite wrestler. Doesn’t change that at all.”
Nash’s comments about The Undertaker stem from a Twitter exchange, in which Nash joked that Bret Hart doesn’t watch AEW.
In response, the Phenom said that Nash’s comments got a “huge pop” from him.
Big Daddy Cool’s comment about Kenny Omega being his favorite wrestler come after Nash made the claim during Omega’s feud with Will Ospreay.
When WWE finally was able to convince Steve Austin to come out of retirement last year for a match at WrestleMania 38 – Night 1 against Kevin Owens, he left the door open to do another match.
WWE has taken him at his word and tried to get him to agree to step into the ring again, this time at this year’s WrestleMania 39.
Fightful Select reports that multiple pitches have been made to Steve Austin since last year and those in WWE believe he’s open-minded to wrestling again should the right situation and money come his way. However, the offers so far haven’t seemed like either of those.
No Response
As previously reported, WWE pitched him on the idea of doing a match with Brock Lesnar last summer or in the fall, but the money wasn’t right. Later, Austin was offered more money to possibly face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39, and “we’re just told he didn’t get back to WWE on it.”
Austin, who has gotten into great shape, was pitched additional ideas to be on the WrestleMania 39 card, but not for marquee matches.
One name rumored online to have been pitched was LA Knight, and Fightful was able to confirm that match was pitched, but it’s unclear whether Austin is interested in it. Austin is slated to do some WWE-related promotional work for WWE 2K soon.
With WrestleMania 39 drawing closer, WWE has yet to give any indication that Austin will compete at the show.
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that Austin has no intention on competing this April.
“They did talk about Austin. As far as Austin goes, Steve might be at the show. I mean I wouldn’t be surprised at all. He might do something on the show, but he did in fact turn down wrestling at the show. He was offered Brock Lesnar, he was offered Roman Reigns. Probably, he could have named his opponent if he wanted to do it with anybody else. But he did not choose to wrestle on the show.”
Dave Meltzer.
Austin at WrestleMania
If a match isn’t happening for the Rattlesnake, that doesn’t mean that Austin won’t be featured at WrestleMania.
As one of (if not the) biggest stars in wrestling, WWE would be wise to have Austin on the show, even if he doesn’t wrestle.
Austin has proven himself to be a referee at WrestleMania, officiating Brock Lesnar Vs. Goldberg (WrestleMania 20,) and Jerry Lawler vs Michael Cole (WrestleMania 27.)
The Texas Rattlesnake could also serve as a guest host, as we saw by The Rock (WrestleMania 27,) Hulk Hogan (WrestleMania 30,) Alexa Bliss (WrestleMania 35), and the combination of Hogan and Titus O’Neil (WrestleMania 37.)
Although WWE didn’t get their dream match between The Rock and Roman Reigns, the company has tried to make another major match happen. This time it features Steve Austin.
As previously reported, The Rock indicated that he wouldn’t be in ring shape in time for the match at WrestleMania 39 in April. The company knew about this for a while.
Fightful Select reports that a pitch was made internally for a “huge opponent” for Austin, and that was Reigns. The report noted, at the very least, Austin’s camp was approached with the possibility of it happening, which was said to have been for “enormous” money.
Past Talks
Last summer, it was reported that Austin was approached with a deal that wasn’t as appealing from a financial standpoint. After speaking with those in WWE, they claimed they hadn’t heard back on whether the most recent offer was accepted. One source indicated that another “big name” was offered in the months prior.
It was previously reported by WrestlingNews.co in December that the internal plans for top WrestleMania title matches called for Drew McIntyre/Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins one night and TBD/Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns another night.
Austin came out of retirement last year for a match against Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38.
It sounds like WWE Hall Of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin is the most likely of three big names that could be at WrestleMania 39 next year.
Austin wrestled his first match in 19 years back in April. He competed against Kevin Owens in an impromptu No Disqualification singles bout to close out Night One of WrestleMania 38. Austin ultimately won the bout in his home state of Texas.
It was his first match since his retirement match against The Rock at WrestleMania 19 in 2003. Austin lost that bout before walking off into a silent retirement. However, after his return match earlier this year, many have speculated if Austin could wrestle yet again as WrestleMania season approaches.
Austin is one of three big names speculated for WrestleMania 39 this April, including The Rock and John Cena. According to a report from Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio, Austin is actually the surest of the three to appear at the event, with Cena and Rock listed as “probable.”
via WWE.com
Meltzer noted that it’s ultimately a question of how Austin is feeling, and that “The Texas Rattlesnake” is going to do what he feels like doing. Since his return match against Owens, it was said that Austin was actually pleased with his performance in the matchup, likely leaving the door open for another return bout.
Perhaps that could very well happen this April in Los Angeles. Of course, the question then becomes – who would his opponent be? Let us know who you’d like Steve Austin to face off against in the comments below!
