– Former WWE Superstar Nathan Jones has a small role in the new movie, “Max Mad: Fury Road,” which is being filmed right now in Australia. The film features Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy.

– Speaking of movies, a casting call was held this past weekend in Hamilton, Ohio for a new film featuring WWE Hall Of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. The movie, called “The Echo Effect,” will also feature actor Michael Jai White.

• HUGE NEWS: WILL The Undertaker Be Wrestling At WrestleMania 31?! [Possible *SPOILER*]

Jey Uso of The Usos tag-team in WWE recently responded to Vince McMahon’s speech on the live “Steve Austin Show” podcast about the current generation in WWE during a recent interview with Turnbuckle Weekly.

Below is an excerpt from the interview.

“I know he wouldn’t say something without any meaning behind it. I feel like he was just trying to light a fire under the locker room. He wants guys to go out there and grab that brass ring, step out on a limb, and go out there and get it. I feel like some of the guys, including myself… when me and my brother first came it is kind of like walking on egg shells. We don’t want to mess up because we’re new guys. We’re young we don’t know what to do.

“As far as ambition, I feel like we do have a good crew. It’s going to take time. It’s going to take some years to get used to this thing. But as soon as we got our feet deep in the ground and our claws deep in the dirt, we’re going to be ok. I love my group of guys. I love my locker room. If you look at it we have some great talent in there. It is going to take time. It’s going to take time. That’s all I can say about it.”

– The new season of WWE Hall Of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s “Redneck Island” premieres on CMT tonight. Austin will be joined by a new co-host, Jessie James Decker, for what will be the fourth season of the program. For more information, visit CMT.com.

– In the interview below, Colt Cabana talks about his first podcast with CM Punk.

As seen in many recent years, WWE generally likes inducting a local legend from the WrestleMania host area each year into the WWE Hall Of Fame. This year, one of the leading candidates for the WWE Hall Of Fame in terms of local legends, since WrestleMania 31 in Santa Clara, California, is “The Crippler” Ray Stevens, considered by many to be the best in-ring worker of his generation.

Another choice for a potential local legend induction is former pro wrestler and football player Leo Nomellini, however because WWE owns no video footage on him, his chances are said to be less than great.

As noted last week, the leading candidates in terms of “main event” inductions for 2015 are Sting and “Macho Man” Randy Savage, although Vince McMahon said during the live “Steve Austin Show” podcast on Monday that Savage may not be going in this coming year.

– John Cena tweeted the following on Wednesday in reaction to Steve Austin’s podcast interview with Vince McMahon from Monday night on the WWE Network:

The #StoneColdPodcast w/ @VinceMcMahon was legit. Agree with @steveaustinBSR that it's time 2 step up, WWE. #WWENetwork

— John Cena (@JohnCena) December 3, 2014

– The cast for the new James Bond film will be officially announced this Thursday. As previously reported, former WWE Superstar Dave Bautista has been in discussions for a major role in the film.

– Challenger Comics in Chicago announced that former WWE champion CM Punk will be signing at their store on 2/28/15. Punk will be there to promote his comic book writing debut for Marvel Comics, Thor Annual #1.

$9.99 a month.

We’ve heard it to death, but what do we actually get for that ten bucks?

Thus far, we’ve had a couple of cool shows — The Monday Night War and WWE Rivalries series, a couple of decent shows — WWE Countdown and WrestleMania Rewind, the pay-per-view events and NXT programming, as well as access to a bunch of old crap we’ve seen — and for the most part, can still see — 1,000 times on YouTube.

It sounds like a decent amount of programming when you list it out like that, but let’s be honest, the WWE Network isn’t what it could be.

Perfect example, last night’s live broadcast of the “Steve Austin Show” podcast with special guest, WWE Chairman — Vince McMahon.

Now THAT is how you get WWE Network subscriptions.

That was one of the first true examples of “must-see” programming on the WWE Network. Going in, you couldn’t know that ahead of time, although many expected it to be compelling programming, and luckily in this case, that’s exactly what it turned out to be.

Personally speaking, I think WWE should take notice of the feedback to the show, which has been universally positive and enthusiastic in nature, and offer similar content on as a consistent basis as possible.

We hear a lot about production costs and things of that nature making it hard to churn out content on the WWE Network, but for shows like last night’s Austin-McMahon special and the recent “ECW Exposed” specials, all you need is a room, two human beings, a microphone, a camera and some lights.

That can’t be that expensive.

I’m of the opinion that WWE should make the Austin-McMahon live podcast a regular staple on the WWE Network. Once every quarter, the WWE boss man checks in with “The Texas Rattlesnake” for somewhat of a “WWE State of the Union Address” type of deal, but produced and aired in similar fashion to last night’s special.

It’s inexpensive, basic and simple, but most importantly — effective.

If you offer that up every few months when there will no doubt be a plethora of items within the “WWE Universe” world to speak of, I believe fans will come in droves to tune in and make sure they’re watching it live, especially those who watched live — or even after the fact — last night.

Anyone who saw the Austin-McMahon live podcast had to of enjoyed at least some, if not all of it. I’m in the latter category, as I was glued to my monitor for the entire 70 minutes.

I was so into the program, in fact, that I’m not ashamed to admit I literally popped — out-loud — when Austin was telling McMahon that they were being wrapped up off-camera, only for McMahon to inform him that he owns this Network, and it’s going to continue for another ten or 15 minutes.

Anyone who is familiar with Austin’s weekly “Steve Austin Show” podcast at PodcastOne.com is aware of the fact that ole’ “Stone Cold” has some pretty superior skills in the interviewing department.

With that being said, I think it’s safe to assume that Austin doing a similar show to that in which we witnessed with McMahon last night, with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, would be just as intriguing and entertaining.

It’s cheap, it’s simple, it’s effective.

Key word — effective.

You can cut as many “for only $9.99 a month” promos you want. You can offer as many free months as you want. You can give us access to as much old crap you have laying around that you want, but stuff like last night is what is going to up your subscription count.

To date, I’d put last night’s Austin-McMahon show right up there with the Ultimate Warrior documentary as the single most compelling program to air on the WWE Network thus far. Unlike the Warrior documentary, there’s no reason why WWE can’t do something like last night on a consistent basis.

It’s times like last night that makes “the norm” so frustrating. Every once in a while, WWE will prove that “they still got it” (clap, clap, clap-clap-clap) only to turn around the next week and go back to the “same old sh*t” (same old sh*t! same old sh*t! same old sh*t!) and make me as a fan want to chant in their face “you f*cked up! you f*cked up! you f*cked up!”

It’s not rocket science, folks. Last night proved it. You want subscribers? You want the WWE Network to be a success? Start offering content that the people dig instead of lame, B-level “junk” that you have laying around.

“If you build it, they will come.”

Last night, WWE built a foundation and laid out a blueprint on how to make use out of this “over-the-top” digital service. And the fans came (I’ll spare the attempt at spinning that last line into a sexual-related, lame-ass joke).

Ryback wants to be “fed more,” and so do the WWE fans. Give them more stuff like last night’s show, and our collective appetites will be full.

THAT, for $9.99 a month? That’s a steal, my friends. I’ll gladly open up the billfold every 30 days for that type of programming.

Unfortunately, and I hate to be a glass-is-half-empty kind of guy on this one, but I’m afraid we’ll probably go back to our “regularly scheduled (lame) program” from here on out, and have to wait quite a while before we see something as cool as the live broadcast of the “Steve Austin Show” podcast on the WWE Network again.

But hey, that’s just one man’s opinion. What do you think? We’d like to know, and you can let us know by posting your feedback in the “Comments” section below. You can also follow me on social media for more news and views at Facebook.com/MattBooneWZR, and/or on Twitter @MBoone420.

– Vince McMahon tweeted the following after last night’s live “Steve Austin Show” podcast interview on the WWE Network:

Enjoyed talking about Then Now & Forever pic.twitter.com/BxGcpJSVNC

— Vince McMahon (@VinceMcMahon) December 2, 2014

– Steve Austin tweeted these out after the taping:

Just got back to the #brokenskullranch from Tulsa. Thanks @VinceMcMahon, @WWE, and @WWENetwork.
Safe travels to the next one. @PodcastOne

— Steve Austin (@steveaustinBSR) December 2, 2014

#OneMoreRound #steveaustinshow w @VinceMcMahon will drop soon on @PodcastOne Details soon. #AudioWhoopAss pic.twitter.com/Pjrnzv9fIG

— Steve Austin (@steveaustinBSR) December 2, 2014

The following are highlights of the latest blog by WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross:

On Vince McMahon addressing CM Punk during Steve Austin Show: “Was happy that VKM addressed the hot topic of the CM Punk matter and was surprised about the apology he made to Punk about getting his legal paperwork on Punk and AJ’s wedding day. Seems as if the door is open to resume talks some day if both parties are of that mindset. Punk’s overwhelming desire to close the show at a WrestleMania is admirable and if any one in the locker room doesn’t have that same goal every day of their professional life then they need to find another line of work.”

On dead crowd for RAW in Tulsa: “Thought Tulsa crowd could have helped out a little more. Perhaps they did and it merely didn’t come across well on TV.”

On the team of Cesaro and Tyson Kidd: “Something drew my eye to the team of Cesaro and Tyson Kidd as I think that both men are ‘this close’ to being in a spot to where they can better help WWE. Agreed with VKM that Cesaro needs to enhance his personality a bit but his physical skills are special. Being on Total Divas has helped Kidd gain confidence in utilizing his personality.”

Check out the complete blog at JRsBarBQ.com. You can also order JR’s Bar-B-Q products online at WWEShop.com.

– Former WWE & TNA star Bully Ray tweeted the following on Monday night, calling out WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar:

I'm the 1 who can defeat the 1 who put the 1 in 21-1. @HeymanHustle @WWE #RawTulsa

— Bully Ray (@bullyray5150) December 2, 2014

Paul Heyman, the 1 behind the 1 who put the 1 in 21-1, responded:

Easy, @REALBully5150. The idea is to work WITH fellow #PaulHeymanGuy s … dissension amongst the ranks defeats the purpose!

— Paul Heyman (@HeymanHustle) December 2, 2014

. @REALBully5150 Of course, though, we can discuss over 2am sushi. Meet me at da joint. You know the one. As in the 1 in 21-1. Ahem.

— Paul Heyman (@HeymanHustle) December 2, 2014

– Mr. Money in the Bank Seth Rollins tweeted the following late Monday night, perhaps in response to Vince McMahon talking about today’s WWE locker room not being as ambitious as the Superstars of the Attitude Era:

No better way to grab the brass ring then to take out the so-called last guy to do just that. #WWETLC #TablesMatch How's that for ambition?

— Seth Rollins (@WWERollins) December 2, 2014

The following is a detailed recap of Vince McMahon on Steve Austin’s podcast from Monday night, courtesy of PWInsider.com:

Austin welcomed Vince to the podcast,which is on the Network. Austin asked him how the Network was doing and Vince said it was doing great both from a subscription and a content standpoint. Austin asked him about the UK and Vince said it’s been a stop/start thing and they hope to have it wrapped up by the first of the year, but noted that wasn’t a promise.’

Austin asked him how in tune Vince was with the wrestling fans right now. Vince said that they don’t do wrestling but sports-entertainment. Vince said that not every match is going to “hit” and no one else does the content weekly that they do and then broadcast it worldwide. Austin said he’d like to see more in-ring over the course of the show and asked Vince if he’s wrong in wanting too much wrestling. Austin said that sometimes the early segments take too long. Vince acknowledged that and said that you do have to give the audience a hook or they won’t care about the matches.

Austin said that there are no other big leagues for other talents to go to and there are talents who are walking on eggshells afraid to do anything. Vince said, “Well don’t piss anyone off.” Vince said that there isn’t as much camaraderie and silliness backstage as there was in Austin’s era. Vince said the last guy to really try and reach for the brass ring was John Cena. He sees potential in Ambrose, Rollins and Reigns but they aren’t there yet. He said the talents don’t do what Austin did. Austin challenged the roster to take chances and try to get over. Vince said the roster is thin and he wants to see guys do it as well.

Vince was asked what he was looking for in Superstars. Vince said he’s looking for someone who’s hungry and wants to learn and keep learning every day. Austin told a story about a wrestler getting a bigger than usual pop at MSG and Austin pointed it out to Vince and Vince said that he hoped that person got over. That told Austin it wasn’t just Vince with a magic wand but Vince hoping guys took the reigns.

Austin asked why Cesaro hasn’t clicked yet. Vince said that perhaps it’s because he’s Swiss but he hasn’t shown the charisma but Vince hopes he does/ Austin pointed out that the momentum was lost for him via the booking and Vince said he doesn’t have all the answers and Cesaro isn’t being given up on.

Austin talked about the Creative Team and how different it was from the days of Vince working from his pool. Austin asked why creative got so complicated. Vince said that the company grew in leaps and bounds and went public and it’s not going to be a one man show. Vince said he can’t do it all and joked that he used to work Pat Patterson to the bone. He talked about how when people would come by his house, they’d end up in the pool because Vince loves ribs and described it being one of the funniest things in the world. Vince said you have to have fun to make fun. Austin told a story about Shane tossing Vince in the pool.

Austin asked where Shane McMahon is. Vince said he’s a happy camper and has his hands in a lot of pots. He said Shane’s departure was something of a mutual thing. He said being a family in business is difficult. Vince said he tried to do what was right for business. Vince said his dad didn’t want him in the business and he wanted his kids to do what they wanted to do.

Vince told the story of an announcer holding his father up for money and his father refusing, then deciding Vince would be the announcer with no experience, “and you’re going to do a good job.” Vince gave him a partner and it was Arnold Skaaland.

Skaaland was a man of few words so Vince asked him father for someone else to help him. There were a number of individuals who helped him.

Austin asked him if he wanted to talk about CM Punk. Vince said he wanted to personally apologize for him getting his termination papers on his wedding day. He said that in a company their side, the different areas of the company didn’t know what was going on. He said that he didn’t want to go through dirty laundry. Vince said there have been others who were disgruntled and they said things they later regretted and he hoped they would one day work together again. Vince said he didn’t listen to the Colt Cabana interview but heard Punk used a lot of expletives and things were said that were his side of things. He said that he had issues with Austin and Hulk Hogan but they eventually came back. Vince said he was willing to work with Punk again and admits that he has a big ego, but is willing to put it aside and work with him down the line. Vince later said Punk worked really hard for the company.

Austin talked about working with Vince and being in a similar situation. Vince said Austin was difficult to work with at times. They talked about Austin walking out when he was asked to put over Brock Lesnar, Austin said he was hard-headed and never returned Vince’s calls. Finally, Jim Ross sent him a card in the mail and offered to talk with Steve anytime Ross put them back in touch. Austin asked if there was someone who could bridge the gap between Vince and Punk. Vince said that unfortunately there is not and Punk is pretty much a loner and has a lack of communication. Vince said that when attorneys get involved it’s going to “hell in a handbasket.”

Austin told a story about Vince fining him $650,000 when he returned. Vince then told him what he thought was fair. He settled on $250,000. Vince said when you walk out, not on the company but the fans you have to do something or else the next time you don’t like the creative, you walk out again.

Vince said that Austin had the communications, perhaps not with Vince but with others and Punk was a loner. Vince admitted he himself can be introverted and shy and he understands it and talked about feeling uncomfortable when he was at political events for his wife and would often find himself talking to the bartender, who was more his kind of people.

Austin talked about watching The Undertaker losing at Wrestlemania. He asked about the background of ending the streak. Vince said that no one wants to give back to the business more than Mark Calaway. He said that it was time and when you look down the line on who he could work with, who else was it going to be. There was no one else it could be. He said that Brock was the one person that Mark felt was the guy. Austin challenged him and Vince admitted he made the decision to end the Streak.

Austin asked Vince why Brock Lesnar isn’t around more. Vince said you don’t want him around more, because he’s a special attraction.

Vince said Randy Savage would absolutely be in the WWE Hall of Fame. He said it would be soon but not perhaps this year. Austin cornered him and made Vince say yes.

On Sting, Vince McMahon said he made a great impression but he’s the type of character you don’t need to see every week but “I think you’ll see him at Wrestlemania.” Austin said that when he was hot, he was on every show and Vince said the business has changed and some of it is contracts.

They talk about the Monday Night War. Vince said he always felt WWE was more passionate and WCW having talent in charge of their own creative created chaos. Austin said they don’t have any real competition and Vince said that they compete with everything on TV. He said they and WCW were burning so hot and it was a question of who was going to burn out first. Vince always kept ideas in huis pocket. He said all the WCW issues eventually wore them down.

Continue reading on Page 2 Below: Vince talks about expanding the WWF in the 80’s, Jim Ross, the Austin-McMahon feud & more –

For those who have asked whether or not CM Punk was watching the “Steve Austin Show” interview with Vince McMahon — which included McMahon publicly apologizing to Punk for firing him on the day of his wedding — while it was happening live on Monday night, the former WWE Superstar made it clear in an indirect fashion that he was not.

While the interview was airing live on the WWE Network, Punk posted the following tweet, indicating that he was watching an NHL game as the Austin-McMahon show was airing.

This Habs/Avs game is bonkers. St. Patrick!!!!

— player/coach (@CMPunk) December 2, 2014

Whether or not Punk has watched the show since remains to be seen, however we will likely find out soon enough, as he is scheduled to return to Colt Cabana’s “Art of Wrestling” podcast for a Q&A with fans as part of a follow-up to his initial interview on the show, where he explained — in great detail — his departure from WWE.

– Below is the latest edition of WWE “Canvas 2 Canvas,” which features Hulk Hogan.

– WWE Chairman Vince McMahon tweeted the following regarding his live interview with WWE Hall Of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin on the WWE Network tonight following RAW.

.@SteveAustinBSR and I have a love-hate relationship: I love him, he hates me!! #AUSTINMcMahonPodcast #WWENetwork pic.twitter.com/6Bpl9u4kVm

— Vince McMahon (@VinceMcMahon) December 1, 2014

• PHOTOS: BRAND NEW Bikini Pics Of Sexy UFC Contender MIESHA TATE!

Rolling Stone has published a new interview with WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin to hype his exclusive interview with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon tonight after RAW live on the WWE Network.

Here are some highlights of what he said about:

Sting’s WWE Debut at Survivor Series: 

“The face-to-face with him and Triple H, they just let it build and build. Triple H tried to sell the big right hand, block, there’s the kick and the damage is done, then he hits his finish. I loved it. I’m a fan of good stuff inside the squared circle and it was a good story. The Authority had really built how they needed to win that night in a really long-winded promo by Stephanie McMahon and Triple H. They were setting the table for Sting. All of the guys in that match worked their asses off, and I really enjoyed the work between Seth Rollins and Dolph Ziggler as they went into the finish.”

What He’d Like To See Incorporated Into The WWE Product:

“People go into that arena and they know the fix is in. They know what pro wrestling or sports entertainment is. That being said, they want it executed to the highest level so that they can suspend their disbelief and buy in, and so in a world of make believe you make people believe in you. It’s as real as it can be. It’s not about trying to relive the Attitude Era, it’s not about putting up middle fingers or using four-letter words, it’s about creating a character that people can buy into and believe. Someone they either love or hate, but they’re emotionally invested in. That’s what I would like to see. ”

Working On His Own Private Label Beer Brand:

“I can’t really announce anything yet but we’re working on the paperwork right now. I’m also working on another lifestyle-orientated thing that I’m excited about too, but since you brought the beer up, I’m anticipating getting everything finalized so I can get in the tasting room, come up with the formula and create the beer. It’s almost a done deal.”

There’s much more to the interview, including Steve Austin’s thoughts on NXT, which (if any) current WWE Superstars remind him of the “Stone Cold” character and if he thinks Hulk Hogan is serious about wanting to wrestle again. Check it out at RollingStone.com.

Former WWE Superstar CM Punk has launched his own official online t-shirt store at ProWrestlingTees.com. Below is a photo of some of the initial designs for Punk’s t-shirts that are available.

Speaking of Punk, it’s said that there are many within WWE who are curious to see how the company decides to handle responding to his recent interview on Colt Cabana’s “Art of Wrestling” podcast.

As noted earlier today, WWE Hall Of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin mentioned in a new WWE.com interview that he plans on asking Vince McMahon about the Punk situation during their live sit-down interview on the WWE Network tonight immediately following RAW.

The following are highlights of a new Rolling Stone interview with WWE Hall Of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin:

Whose idea was it to do a live WWE Network interview with Vince McMahon? “Back in the day I’d reached out to him just in passing about being on the show. A couple of months ago [WWE] came to L.A. for SummerSlam and we were trying to put it together then, but he didn’t have the time to fit me in. Then they were going to fly me to Stamford but I didn’t want to go all that way to do a podcast [laughs]. So we’ve wanted to do this thing for a while. I guess timing is everything and so someone from WWE reached out to me and said, “Hey, what do you think about doing your podcast live on the WWE Network?” and I said, “Man, that would be awesome.” It’s a win-win for both parties.

Any time you go live with Vince McMahon it’s going to be a very interesting experience. To me this is a conversation between us about the wrestling business and the direction the WWE’s headed in. There’s a few key talent I’d like to ask specific questions about. In doing my research, I’ve started watching some of the old videos of the work we did as far as angles go and the chemistry we had in the ring, so I’m not there to be Howard Stern. My podcast is a conversation, it’s basically a bulls–t session: two guys shooting the breeze talking about the business. At the end of the day, Vince McMahon is in the entertainment business, as am I, so I want it to be entertaining and engaging. I’m looking forward to it.”

What are your thoughts on NXT? I think that show harkens back to wrestling’s past in terms of style and presentation. “You hit the nail right on the head. I haven’t watched a whole lot of it but what I have seen I liked. I like the lighting, I like the action and it just feels different. I understand what WWE’s trying to do with Monday Night Raw, they want it to look like it’s the slickest production in the world, but sometimes it’s too slick. When everyone’s got a scripted promo, it doesn’t breed the same spontaneity that the Attitude Era had. You had a lot of guys out there grabbing a microphone where they might have a bullet point or two, but their words – you can’t write that stuff.”

Check out the complete interview at RollingStone.com.

• PHOTOS: Super Model Turned UFC Women’s Fighter — INSANELY HOT PICS! [View >>]

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has posted a lengthy blog update at JRsBarBQ.com with his thoughts on CM Punk’s now infamous podcast interview with Colt Cabana, Steve Austin interviewing Vince McMahon after RAW live on the WWE Network and more. It’s worth noting that Ross says he has not yet listened to the Punk podcast, but is reacting to what he’s heard about it.

Here are some highlights of what he said about:

CM Punk’s Podcast Interview With Colt Cabana:

“Often times it is better for the talent to be given a leave of absence to allow feelings to become less emotional and bodies to heal. However, as always evaluating an issue of this magnitude in hindsight is generally 20/20. I don’t know how all the internal conversations went between Punk and WWE. We’ve heard only one side of the story thus far …”

“Its also very important for any company to pay  close attention to all talents and it’s also a fact that all talents can’t be treated the same because all people are different. The wrestling business breeds paranoia and a variety of insecurities much like Hollywood actors and many athletes because the nature of their genres generally have shorter shelf lives as it relates to one’s career. In other words, managing a talent roster in any pro wrestling company is and always has been a 24/7 proposition.  I can tell you that it was the most emotionally draining, exhausting and stressful job that I ever had. It affected my health but I was blessed that it did not adversely affect my marriage. I’m a lucky man in that department.”

Steve Austin Interviewing Vince McMahon After RAW: 

“Mr. McMahon and the Rattlesnake had magical chemistry and a competitive rivalry that went well beyond the bell to bell action. Steve’s proud of his podcast that can be found with my Ross Report on Podcast One and I don’t think he would leave his Texas ranch to fly to Tulsa, Oklahoma to lob softballs to the Chairman of WWE. I fully expect Steve to address the Punk situation with McMahon. Vince rarely dodges any major issue in this sort of forum and Austin has become a great interviewer so I have extremely high expectations for this piece of business. I know that I will be watching and that’s after sitting through another three hour RAW.

Seeing Austin and McMahon doing business together Monday night will be nostalgic and, at one time years ago, would have seemed unlikely but the two of them finally communicated, addressed each other’s issues and then made more history in WWE that may never be rivaled.”

There is much more to the blog, including Jim Ross’ thoughts on how WWE manages the talent roster and the upcoming NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9 pay-per-view.

With “Stone Cold” Steve Austin interviewing WWE Chairman Vince McMahon for his “Steve Austin Show” live on the WWE Network immediately following tonight’s “Cyber Monday” edition of RAW, the official WWE website caught up with the WWE Hall Of Famer to ask him a few questions regarding tonight’s big podcast.

Jim Ross Blog: CM Punk’s Pipebomb Podcast, Austin Interviewing Vince

Below are highlights of the WWE.com interview.

WWE.COM: Now that you’re entering people’s eardrums with your podcast every week, chatter about your in-ring return has reached a fever pitch. Is there any part of you that wishes the rumors would die down?

AUSTIN: That’s all just chatter, because you never hear me on the podcast selling myself in a match. Hulk Hogan’s trying to stir a matchup, calling me a coward. A lot of what I say breaks over into the mainstream, but I don’t ever want to sell a match that I cannot deliver, because I wouldn’t be living up to my word.

WWE.COM: Point blank, is there any chance we’ll see the black trunks and black boots anytime in the near or distant future?

AUSTIN: As we speak right now, no.

WWE.COM: What is the one thing you want Mr. McMahon to have to answer on your live podcast on WWE Network?

AUSTIN: Nothing is off limits. There’s a line that I won’t cross, but that’s for my standards — nothing that WWE has told me. There are many things I’d like to ask him. I’d like to know what’s going on with CM Punk. I’d like to know how Daniel Bryan’s health is. I’d like to know whose idea it was in Atlanta [that made me] take my ball and go home in 2002. I reacted the worst way possible, but I want to know who came up with that masterpiece of an idea. Guys like me come along very seldom in the wrestling business. You can count ’em on a couple of fingers.

• AUDIO: *MORE* From CM Punk’s SHOOT Against WWE, SHOCKING Comments!

The official WWE website currently features a giant advertisement for WWE Hall Of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s live podcast with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, which is scheduled to air on the WWE Network immediately following tonight’s “Cyber Monday” themed edition of WWE RAW.

WWE is promoting the appearance with the main hype centering around Austin revealing whether or not he will ever wrestle again.

Below is the official blurb accompanied by the ad on WWE.com.

“In a candid one-on-one conversation, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin speaks about the favorite episodes of his podcast, what he wants to ask Mr. McMahon tonight and the one thing everybody wants to know: if he’ll ever wrestle again.”

While it should come as a surprise to absolutely nobody who actually heard the interview, the Colt Cabana “Art of Wrestling” podcast with CM Punk earlier this week has been the talk of the locker room in WWE since it first appeared on the internet.

The general consensus is that virtually everyone within WWE — most notably the talent themselves — thought it was one of the greatest things ever.

It’s widely known within WWE that in certain circles, CM Punk is well-liked, while in others, which is a big much bigger circle, by the way, everyone — fans and detractors of Punk — all thoroughly enjoyed the interview.

The key reason that everyone was in favor of Punk’s appearance on the show was because whether you like him or not, he pointed out — in what is said by many to be in very honest fashion — many issues that the current pool of talent within WWE deal with, and have dealt with, for quite a while. Many are said to be afraid to speak up about many of the issues that Punk touched on, but universally applauded him for having the gull to do so without any fear of repercussions.

The reason of Vince McMahon himself was said to be not as bad as you would think. While McMahon is notorious for “no-selling” issues that do in fact bother him, the general consensus was that while he wasn’t pleased with Punk for many of the comments he made, to say the least, he wasn’t as over-the-top angry or upset as two other key WWE high-ranking executives.

Those executives are none other than Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.

Triple H was said to be outraged and furious, and according to one person close to the situation, outright said he “wants to kill CM Punk.”

While this is likely a moot point, as Punk himself made it clear during the podcast that he has no desire to return to the world of professional wrestling, much-less WWE, that he is on one of those unofficial “banned for life” lists.

Some people believe that while Vince McMahon is still alive and in complete control of the company, anything is possible in terms of being willing to bring Punk back one day, however, those same people are under the belief that when and if it becomes up to Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, Punk has no chance whatsoever at stepping foot back onto a WWE television, or non-televised program, for that matter.

Continue reading this story by clicking below to advance to page two …

– The live “Steve Austin Show” podcast with special guest Vince McMahon, which as noted will air live on the WWE Network following next Monday’s RAW, is expected to run over an hour in length.

– It looks as though next Tuesday’s edition of the “Monday Night War” documentary series on the WWE Network will focus on the impact of The Undertaker and Sting in the WWE vs. WCW battle for wrestling supremecy. The official description for the episode reads as follows:

“In an era of shifting loyalties, WWE and WCW would each build a cornerstone in order to achieve stability.”

Apparently the key reason WWE decided to heavily promote the WWE Network live special edition of Steve Austin’s “Steve Austin Show” podcast with Vince McMahon as the guest was to lure the people who subscribed to the Network for the free month of November into returning for the month of December.

The special “Steve Austin Show” podcast with Vince McMahon is scheduled to air on the WWE Network immediately after next Monday’s edition of WWE RAW, so it’s pretty safe to assume that it will be one of the key focal points in terms of repetitive promotion throughout the show on Monday night.

– Randy Orton is not currently scheduled for any WWE events until the WWE Holiday Tour kicks off after Christmas.

– Steve Austin is taking questions for his upcoming podcast with Vince McMahon, which airs live on the WWE Network next week immediately after RAW. If you’ve got a quetion you want Austin to ask Vince, send it to questions@steveaustinshow.com.

– Mr. Money in the Bank Seth Rollins will be a guest on Chris Jericho’s Talk is Jericho podcast later this week.

This week on @TalkIsJericho:
Wed- #SethRollins @WWERollins & @roryfox_ !!
Fri- @VH1 @MobWives star @ReneeGraziano & Brazilian Flag incident!

— Chris Jericho (@IAmJericho) November 25, 2014

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– As noted earlier today, former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan has been backstage at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana today. As it turned out, Bryan made his television return in the opening segment of RAW. He appeared as The Authority was bidding farewell to the WWE Universe. Bryan was in charge of the RAW for the night – for the full breakdown of Bryan’s return, check out our RAW Results (11/24/14).

– Also announced on RAW was the next guest on Steve Austin’s “Steve Austin Show” podcast. On his next show, which is available tomorrow at PodcastOne.com, Bray Wyatt will be the featured guest. On next Monday’s show, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon will be the guest on Austin’s podcast, which will air live on the WWE Network.

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WWE issued the following today …

WWE® NETWORK TO AIR A LIVE “STONE COLD” STEVE AUSTIN PODCAST WITH SPECIAL GUEST VINCE MCMAHON

STAMFORD, Conn., Nov. 24, 2014 – WWE Network will air a live “Stone Cold” Steve Austin podcast with special guest, WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon immediately following Monday Night Raw on USA next Monday, December 1. The WWE Hall of Famer and host of the popular podcast The Steve Austin Show – Unleashed will sit down with Vince McMahon from BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla for this special interview. Fans can expect “Stone Cold” to be his usual brash and in-your-face self, like only he can be, during WWE Network’s first-ever video podcast presentation.

WWE Network features 24/7 scheduled programming, all 12 pay-per-view events LIVE and the most comprehensive video-on-demand library with more than 2,600 hours of content, including every WWE, WCW and ECW pay-per-view, all for $9.99 per month with no commitment and the ability to cancel any time. WWE Network programming includes groundbreaking original programming, reality shows, documentaries, classic matches, exclusive coverage of special events and more. The U.S. English language version of WWE Network is available on an over-the-top basis in more than 170 countries and territories.

Like other digital subscription services, such as Netflix and Hulu Plus, fans are able to subscribe online by going to WWE.com and can watch WWE Network on their TV through connected devices such as Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku streaming devices, Sony Playstation 3, Sony Playstation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Smart TVs including Sony and Samsung.

For a complete listing of WWE Network availability by country and device, please click here.

It was announced during the WWE Survivor Series pay-per-view on Sunday night that WWE Hall Of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s weekly “Steve Austin Show” podcast would be airing live on the WWE Network on December 1st.

Austin’s “Steve Austin Show” is set to air on the WWE Network immediately following RAW on Dec. 1st with special guest, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon.