– WWE Diva Naomi may have injured her left knee in a six-Divas tag match in Paris, France last night. She reportedly landed awkwardly after executing a move on one of The Bella Twins.
– MMA fighter Paul Lazenby, a stuntman and friend of WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, recently told Live Audio Wrestling that “The Rattlesnake” is in great shape and would consider wrestling one more match. The LAW tweeted:
According to Paul Lazenby – Steve Austin is in better shape then most might think, last time they spoke he would entertain the "right offer"
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog, which you can read in its entirety at JRsBarBQ.com. Here are some highlights of what JR said about:
Last Week’s Rowdy Crowd At RAW: “Speaking of reactions, the live events, RAWS, Smackdown, and the PPVs are the places fans should express themselves and not, as I wrote about recently, at an event like the WWE Hall of Fame. The boorish behavior of a loud, perhaps inebriated, minority of male fans is inexcusable and, believe me, I’ve heard all the excuses since writing about some of the attendees who acted like morons at the 2013 #WWEHOF Induction Ceremony. I see this behavior as a total lack of respect for all involved in the process not just those being jeered. Finally, the “we pay our money, so we can act any way that we choose” excuse is laughable….and embarrassing.”
Ryback Attacking Cena: “Just because @Ryback22 is hungry for the WWE Title and the money that comes along with it why does that motive make the powerhouse a villain? Since when did ambition make one an antagonist. Antagonist display a variety of common traits, non of which I have seen yet, I stress yet, from Ryback. I do like the apparent pairing of Ryback vs. John Cena and where this matter may be heading. To me, it certainly feels fresh even though some will take exception to the fact that Cena is in the equation. It doesn’t both me and I see this rivalry selling tickets and producing a reaction in the arenas.”
Steve Austin’s Thoughts on Fandango: “@steveaustinBSR predicts that @WWEFandango will be IC Champion within a few months. It might not take that long but I could also see Fandango winning the US Title as well at some point. Stars become stars over the long haul and even though Fandango has had an amazing few weeks and change as it relates to recognition, etc, it’s how he does long term that writes his story. If Fandango can continue to grow, a key role at WM30 could be in his future and that’s generally considered the yard stick.”
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated the Q&A Section of JRsBarBQ.com. Here are some of the highlights:
Steve Austin’s Lack of Presence On WWE A Sign He’s Not Into Wrestling Anymore?
“You couldn’t be more wrong. Steve loves the wrestling business and the fans. Just showing up to make an obligatory appearance on RAW makes no sense. There needs to be a reason to be there and when all the creative forces converge I’m sure that he will be making the occasional appearance. He is busy…he has a new job…some fans simply don’t get it. Hopefully you ‘re not one of them.”
Will The Undertaker Be At WrestleMania XXX & Will It Be His Final Match?
“Don’t know about last ride, retirement, etc but I do think that Taker wrestles at WM30 in New Orleans. Opponent to be determined. ”
The Miz’s 24-Hour IC Title Reign:
“No issues here…it made for some unpredictable TV. I hope the IC Title is made to be more important.”
NXT Divas Paige & Summer Rae Getting Called Up:
“When the two ladies you spoke of are ready they will be called up. I think both need more time in NXT. Life on the road is hard and takes preparation. Let’s allow them to improve and better prepare for the grueling road schedule that awaits them. There is no hurry.”
– Episode 1 of Steve Austin’s new podcast is now online and can be heard here. Shawn Michaels will be his guest next week.
– WWE returns to the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire on June 1st, 2013. Bell time is 7:30 PM. Tickets go on sale April 20th. Also, USA Championship Wrestling presents “A Royal Homecoming” with Jerry Lawler on April 25th, 2013 at the National Guard Armory in Bolivar, Tennessee. Bell time is 7 PM. Tickets cost $10 & $8. (Thanks to Devin Cutting)
– USAToday.com has an interview up with John Cena hyping his match against The Rock at WrestleMania.
– The Big Show will appear on the Nickelodeon show Supah Ninjas once again on Saturday night at 9 PM (EST), reprising role of Two Ton Harley.
Episode 1 of Austin’s podcast premieres tomorrow (Friday, 4/5) on iTunes.
– Aside from the usual WWE Legends that work for the company and usually attend company events, other legends in town for this weekend’s WrestleMania festivities include Harley Race, Larry Zbyszko, Diamond Dallas Page, Jake Roberts, Bret Hart, Tommy Dreamer, Dominic DeNucci, Mil Mascaras and Dos Caras.
– On Monday’s RAW, Paul Heyman revealed that Triple H’s match against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 29 will be a No Holds Barred match, with Triple H’s career on the line. Dave Meltzer reports that the stipulation was finalized just days before RAW, and other ideas for the match included Hell In A Cell, or Shawn Michaels and Paul Heyman in Triple H and Brock Lesnar’s corners.
– Former WWE Diva Serena Deeb will be making her return to the ring in May after an 18-month hiatus due to injury. She’ll be wrestling former WWE Diva Shelly Martinez at Pro Wrestling Syndicate’s Bombshell Ladies of Wrestling event on May 11th from Metuchen, New Jersey.
– “Stone Cold Steve” Austin tweeted on Thursday that he will not be taking part in WrestleMania 29 weekend:
I've had many questions concerning WrestleMania 29. The decision has been made that I will not be at WM29 and that the bottom line.
WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin recently appeared on Adam Carolla’s podcast. You can listen below, Austin comes in towards the end:
Here are some of the highlights of what he said about:
Getting Started in Pro Wrestling:
“I grew up in a small town in south Texas. Changing channels on the television one day, probably seven years old, and came across Houston Wrestling. There was one light hanging over the arena, two guys fighting for a championship belt. This was back in the day when wrestling was real. This was before all the exposés and the 20/20’s and all that stuff. So, wrestling was “real,” and I was glued to the screen. Through my athletic stuff and football scholarships through college, once I got out of college I was driving a forklift for Watkins Motor Lines in Dallas, Texas, driving down to the Sportatorium watching the Von Erich’s fight the Freebirds. Not in the forklift [laughter]. And a guy had a commercial on TV; teach you how to be a pro wrestler. I always knew in the back of my mind that I was going to be a pro wrestler. My first college major was a business major because I was going to sell insurance with my dad. I figured that’d be the logical thing to do. But man, it kicked the s*** out of me. I dropped it several times to a PE major. And after 17 hours to graduate, I decided nah, this ain’t for me. I’m going to go into professional wrestling full time.”
How Hard Life Was When He First started:
“We were driving from Nashville to Memphis and Memphis and back, about a 400 mile round trip, making 15 dollars to do that. So the two guys rode with me would just gas up my base model Hyundai Excel, which my brother had co-signed the note for me, payments were 154 bucks a month. I could barely make those damn payments. So guys were chasing me around, trying to collect my car. So times were rough, but that’s part of paying the dues process. On Wednesdays we used to always get paid in Evansville, Indiana, and with the little s****y paychecks we were getting, we’d go down to the liquor store in Evansville to buy our beer before we headed home. This was back when it was okay to drink and drive, before everyone started screwing it up. So we’d cash our checks and we’d tell the guy behind the counter there, yeah these are just our trans checks for gas and horse****. But these were the checks we were living on.”
Getting His Big Break In Wrestling:
“The big break came when I left USWA in Tennessee and went to Atlanta for substantially more money, but not a lot of money. And then a few years later, after I injured my arm, I went to ECW in Philadelphia with Paul Heyman. I started to learn how to cut a damn effective promo. Someone finally gave me a chance and put the microphone in front of my face. And a chance for me to unleash some of the stuff I had inside of me from being screwed over by WCW. WWE called me, picked me up, I went up there and they called me the Ringmaster. Well that sucked ass. I knew it. It wasn’t giving me any kind of marquee value. Ain’t too many people going to be buying t-shirts with the Ringmaster on it. So I came up with the Stone Cold Steve Austin gimmick, and I pitched that to the office. They started calling me Stone Cold Steve Austin unceremoniously. There was no build up, no hoopla, no bull****. And then one thing turned into another, I knew I was onto something. I just started turning the volume way up on the promo level. I turned the balance up inside the ring, giving out a very credible, believable product. People bought into it, with the storylines and the booking, and it turned into a real strong thing.”
His Favorite Wrestlers:
“Man, when you talk about your really good wrestlers, Shawn Michaels to me, is the greatest performer I have ever seen in the ring. Bret “the Hitman” Hart is the guy whose going to weave together storylines on different levels of psychology and execution, and he’s just top notch. Ric Flair is my favorite pro wrestler of all time. So I think when you look pro wrestler up in a dictionary, you see the picture of Ric Flair.”
Owen Hart:
“I remember I was wrestling Undertaker that night in the main event. I was there. Didn’t see it happen. I was in the back, hanging out, waiting for my time to go on. All of a sudden, we get word back that Owen fell, and we knew that he was going to do a gig hanging from the ceiling of the arena, and it was a hell of a fall. And all of a sudden, we get word that he isn’t with us anymore. It was a real weird feeling. They said the show must go on, so the show must go on. We’re out there tangling in the ring. It’s strange, when people pay money to see something, I guess they want to see the end of the show. We’re in the back and the boss says go on, so we go on.”
His Hall of Fame Induction:
“I kind of was the head liner, but I can’t remember everybody that went in with me. I know Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat was there, which was totally awesome. The Hall of Fame was a real neat deal because they played a little four or five minute package before I went up there. I think I had been so busy between the ropes and on the road, going down the road I never realized what I was doing. I knew I was hot. I knew I was drawing a lot of money. I knew we were selling tickets, but I was too close to the forest to see the trees. Finally at that moment, at the Hall of Fame deal, I really realized the impact I had on the business, and to the people that watched the business. So it was a real neat night at the office, but I cannot remember the entire class.”
WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin has posted a new blog at this Broken Skull Ranch website announcing official details of his new podcast, The Steve Austin Show:
“Well, sonofabitch…It has been awhile since I wrote a blog, that’s for sure. So then I’ll jump right into the story…
Bout a year ago I thought about doing a podcast. And well, a year goes by and I haven’t done a GD thing…And my manager calls me up and says “Hey man, do you have any interest in doing a podcast?” I said “You damn right I do”. So the wheels were put in motion to get this show started.
To keep it simple I figured I’d call it the Steve Austin Show. Pretty fuckin original and straight to the point. Ok…So we got a name for the show. How long is it? And how often do you record the show? The show will start out at 30 minutes, give or take a few. And a new show will air once a week.
Well, what’s the show about, Einstein? Good question. The show will basically consist of me talking about current issues or events going on in the world and offering my expert opinion and commentary on said issues and events. I’ll have guests on the show from time to time in the studio or on the phone. I’ll interview folks from different walks of life that I find interesting. Hell, at any given time it could turn into a 30 minute bullshit session about life, hunting, pro wrestling, MMA, physical fitness, movies, beer…Anything. I will also send out a heads up via Twitter (@steveaustinBSR) when I will ask you guys for subject matter to talk about on the show. You can ask questions and I’ll provide some answers. I will also from time to time provide a phone number for you to call and we will talk on the show.
I am looking forward to starting the show this week. As with anything in life, it will be a work in progress. I don’t want to layout any specific format for the show right now and say “This is what the show is”. The pieces will fall into place and we’ll ride along and see what happens. That’s the way my brain works, anyway.
I will be providing updates on Twitter. The Steve Austin Show is around the corner. Stay tuned.”
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has update his blog, which you can read in its entirety at JRsBarBQ.com. Here are some highlights of what JR wrote about: is back with a new blog on jrsbarbq.com. Here are some highlights:
The Latest From Steve Austin:
@steveaustinBSR about to head to Mexico to tape season three of CMT’s Redneck Island and then onto his ranch in south Texas to start a new, reality show for CMT taped on the Broken Skull Ranch. Plus, the Texas Rattlesnake and devout JR’s BBQ Sauce and Chipotle Ketchup user is about to step into the world of weekly podcasts. Stay tuned and follow Steve on Twitter for more info.
CM Punk’s Recent Antics:
Still getting some lingering feedback regarding @CMPunk interrupting The Undertaker’s tribute to the late, Paul Bearer Monday night. Again, I did not and do not have a problem with it especially considering that WWE honored the memory of my late friend throughout the night. For PB to be involved in another major, storyline leading into WrestleMania, would have thrilled him to no end. Villains do bad things and usually get their comeuppance in the end. Time will tell on the latter as it relates to Punk ending ‘The Streak’ which would be as big a defining moment as when the Ultimate Warrior beat Hulk Hogan at WM6, in the eyes of some.
Helluva match on Friday Night Smackdown between @RealJackSwagger and @IAmJericho. Jericho brings out the best in everyone he faces, which is a legit artform on the grappling canvas, and the former Division One, two sport athlete Swagger is getting better each week. Swagger’s addition of veteran Zeb Colter to his presentation has been positive from the young Oklahoman’s development.
– The Hollywood Reporter reports that WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin has another reality show on the way. Austin will star in “Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Ranch,” a reality competition show that will pits six contestants against one another in a series of challenges on Austin’s Texas ranch.
In other good news for Austin, his “Redneck Island” show has been picked up for a third season.
– Here’s the latest Backstage Fallout video from Monday’s Old School RAW:
“Will The New Age Outlaws take on Team Rhodes Scholars next week on Raw? Watch the “Old School” Raw edition of “Backstage Fallout” to find out. Plus, see Brodus Clay and Tensai shake, rattle and roll with The Honky Tonk Man.”
– Dolph Ziggler had some kind words for former WWE superstar Sean Waltman on Tuesday morning. Waltman re-tweeted Ziggler’s message:
“@therealxpac You aren’t “old school Raw”. You are immortal! You are great in any damn decade! #Icon. Miss you my idol:”
Ziggler also tweet this about Roddy Piper not being at RAW:
“#OdSchoolRaw without @R_Roddy_Piper is likeStar Wars without lightsabers. We miss you #Piper.”
Piper re-tweeted that message, and another one from a fan:
“If @R_Roddy_Piper isn’t at Legends night tonight on Raw, then it’s not a legends night at all. It’s amateur night. #WWE”
– Steve Austin tweeted the following to his fellow Attitude Era superstar Billy Gunn regarding Monday’s Old School RAW:
“@RealBillyGunn Thanks for calling me and letting me know you were gonna be there! #classy”
Gunn responded to Austin by writing:
“@steveaustinBSR well I thought you were going to be there if it means anything I missed you”
Sean “X-Pac” Waltman replied, “@RealBillyGunn @steveaustinBSR The love between you two could bring a tear to a glass eye & make a fat baby poop! Quote by Mr Perfect”
WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin recently joined The Ministry of Slam for an exclusive interview to promote his new movie “The Package” available on DVD and Blu-Ray March 5. Highlights from the interview are as follows:
His most memorable moment of his career: “Man, you’re talking about trying to pick something from close to a 15-year body of work, but one of the most personal highlights for me would be cutting the promo in the basement of a Holiday Inn with ECW back in 1995. A bunch of the ECW guys were there, and I’d watched them cut their promos. Paul E (Heyman) was there too, and he was the guy who gave me that platform to talk, which I did for around 7 minutes. One take, one time and that was it, I put it all on the line.
“For me to finally get that platform to vent and talk about the frustrations I was feeling, as well as where I aspiring to go, I look back on that as a very important part of both my life and career.”
Thoughts on Paul Heyman’s current role in WWE: “I don’t know how many hats he’s wearing while he’s there, but yes. You can talk to a guy till you’re blue in the face, and if anybody can get through to them, it’s Paul. I mean in terms of getting inside a guy or gal’s head, helping them unlock their potential and letting them see things that they didn’t see themselves. He’s very good at doing that. I think probably the most important thing that he can continue to do is remain there, in that ring, and deliver the kind of electric performance that he’s doing.
So, my point is that if the kids could just sit there and watch that guy work, they’re gonna’ soak that knowledge in. As long as WWE keep Paul around for talent to watch him, and pick his brain afterwards or at lunch – I mean, he’s a valuable asset to the company just as a talent anyway – but what can rub off onto those kids is even more valuable if you ask me.
Similarities between backstage politics in wrestling and Hollywood: “I’m a pretty private, streamlined person, so I don’t really go out and get my nose into a bunch of horseshit in Hollywood – playing the games many people like to play. I live in Los Angeles, but that’s where it starts and stops. I dig the weather and it’s easy to take meetings, which is pretty much it!
“When you have the movie industry and then take professional wrestling, basically the entertainment industry, they are just parallel that run right beside each other. One is a little bit bigger than the other; obviously Hollywood and the movies is a bigger street, but make no mistake, the traps, shenanigans and horseshit are exactly the same as wrestling. To me, they mirror each other.”
His future: “I’ve been 7 months out, healing up my ACL and PCL, so I’m waiting till Summer to film my next action movie. We’ve signed a two-picture deal through my company, Broken Skull Ranch Productions with Anchor Bay Entertainment. I’m looking forward to doing those, because I have full creative control and can let the shit really fly.”
“I’ve also got a couple of other reality TV projects I’m working on which will be released in the next couple of months. I love reality television, the atmosphere that it creates is just a bad-ass and fun way to spend time doing something you love to and getting paid for it! I’m also spending more time at my ranch; deer season is over till next year, but I’m kicking ass on my leg, feeling good and getting ready to film season 3 of Redneck Island in April. I’m as busy as I wanna’ be, feeling fortunate and also doing pretty god darn good in terms of my health!”
You can hear the full interview exclusively at www.ministryofslam.com, as well as interviews with Eric Bischoff, Hulk Hogan, Mick Foley, Terry Funk, Sting and many more.
Here are some highlights of what Austin said about:
How His Pro Wrestling Career Prepared Him For Hollywood:
I don’t know if a pro wrestling career prepares you for Hollywood. When you get out there and you’re in an arena for 20,000 people or 90,000 people it’s a lot different than being on a quiet set with 100 people, so I think you get used to dealing with cameras. But there’s many things that are the same. There’s ten times the things that are different. So there’s a little bit of crossover, but not much to bottom line it.
How Grueling Acting Is Compared To Wrestling:
Man, it’s a whole different animal because when you’re out there on the road, you’re a truck driver, you’re driving yourself to and from events, and then you’ve got to perform and then you got to put on your rock star hat and go do all the stuff that you do afterwards. So you’re kind of living three lives in one body. I got a lot of respect for people in the movie industry. There’s a lot of work that goes into preparing for the role, preparing for what you’ve got to do and being a pro and pulling it off to the upmost of your ability, so both are hand-in-hand as far as a bust-ass endeavor to do your best.
How He Selects His Movie Projects:
I’m happy now that I can be pickier than I ever had been and the next two movies that we’re going to do with Anchor Bay, we’re going to produce these through Broken Skull Ranch Productions and I can have a lot more hands-on as far as the stuff that we’re looking at and we’re picking. I just look for stuff that I’d like to make. I don’t look to save the world with any of the movies that I make. I’m not trying to make any political statement with the movies I make. I’m trying to have a good time. I’m trying to entertain people.
His Favorite Memory From The Attitude Era
I had so many of them it seems like every time I went to work on the Monday Night RAW, I was looking forward to seeing what kind of shenanigans I was going to be playing in the storyline. But just going to work every night and just being on the road and getting in the ring every night was probably the biggest fun of all. And hanging out with the guys and just living that life was my dream. And I had a good time doing it.
– At one point, WWE was interested in booking a Rey Mysterio vs. Sin Cara match at WrestleMania, but those plans have been dropped.
– Tickets for the 2013 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony at Madison Square Garden on 4/6 have sold out. It’s possible WWE will release more tickets in the weeks leading up to the event, but there’s nothing currently available on Ticketmaster.com
– WWE is currently paying WWE Hall of Fame inductees $5,000 and their inductors $2,500.
– Close friends of WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin are under the impression that he’ll never wrestle again. There’s still a chance WWE will get him to come out of retirement at WrestleMania XXX for one final match, but it remains unlikely.
WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin spoke to Seattle’s KISW radio station this week to promote his new DVD action film, The Package. One of the topics discussed was the current condition of Jake “The Snake” Roberts, who has been living with Diamond Dallas Page in Georgia at the “Accountability Crib.”
Here’s what Austin said:
“Dallas Page is one of my best friends, and I talk with DDP all the time. Jake is in there, doing the DDP Yoga, cleaned up, and he’s been sober for I don’t know how long. His mind is back, and Jake is one of the best guys to ever get in the business. I’m a big fan – he’s one of my favorite workers. I don’t know Jake as well as some, but I got my fingers crossed that he continues going down the path that he’s on. I’m real proud of him for getting his life back.”
– Promoting his latest movie The Package, which was released on DVD and Blu-ray on Tuesday, WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin was asked about the status of Tough Enough.
“I think that window is closed,” remarked Austin. He also added that WWE “dropped the ball with Tough Enough.”
The audio interview is available at KISW.com.
– On April 26, 1976, Bruno Sammartino suffered a neck fracture in a match against Stan Hansen at Madison Square Garden, when Hansen improperly executed a body slam and dropped Sammartino on his head. Despite doctors’ orders, Sammartino insisted on flying home to Pittsburgh that night. 1Wrestling.com has released vintage audio of Sammartino detailing the incident to Bill Apter at a hospital the week after and what the prognosis for his future was back then.
Scott Hall arrived in Georgia yesterday and will begin living at DDP’s “Accountability Crib” where he’ll be practicing DDP’s yoga program and getting sober.
– Comcast announced today that they are buying General Electric’s 49% stake in NBC Universal for $16.7 billion dollars. NBC Universal is the parent company USA Network and Syfy, homes of WWE RAW and SmackDown.
– This Friday night in Los Angeles, WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s new DVD/Blu-Ray action movie, “The Package” will have a special screening at the Laemmle’s NoHo 7 Theaters. After the 7pm screening, Austin will host a Q&A session with fans in attendance. Here’s the movie synopsis, from a press release sent out today:
Austin plays Tommy Wick, a nightclub bouncer and enforcer for Seattle crime boss Big Doug (Eric Keenleyside, Dreamcatcher, Firewall). When Big Doug instructs Tommy to hand-deliver a secret package to the mysterious international crime lord “The German,” (Lundgren), he does so with the hopes that Big Doug will forgive the debt Tommy’s brother Eddie (Lochlyn Munro, White Chicks, Freddy vs. Jason) owes. Facing incredible odds, Tommy races against the ticking clock – and a small army of hit men, mercenaries, assassins and sadists — to complete delivery.
Deadline.com reports that WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin has signed on two star in two more action movies with Anchor Bay Films, which has already produced the former wrestler in Maximum Conviction, Hunt To Kill, and the upcoming February 19th home video release The Package.
Ausitn’s next leading action role will be in Kill Em All, John, where he’ll star as an ex-hitman “pulled back into the underworld to ‘retire’ a number of crime bosses as the clock ticks.” Filming begins this summer. John will be directed by Jesse V. Johnson (“The Package”) and is based on a script by Umair Aleem.
Aside from starring in two new action movies, Austin will also do some producing through Anchor Bay for his own Broken Skull Ranch Productions.
– Check out the following clip from Steve Austin’s new action movie, “The Package,” which will be out on DVD & Blu-Ray on February 19th.
Directed by Jesse V. Johnson and written by Derek Kolstad, THE PACKAGE features Austin as Tommy Wick, a nightclub bouncer and enforcer for Seattle crime boss Big Doug (Eric Keenleyside, Dreamcatcher, Firewall). When Big Doug instructs Tommy to hand-deliver a secret package to the mysterious international crime lord “The German,” (Lundgren), he does so with the hopes that Big Doug will forgive the debt Tommy’s brother Eddie (Lochlyn Munroe, White Chicks, Freddy vs. Jason) owes.
Word of the clandestine delivery spreads and soon “the package” — and those who carry it — becomes the target of rival gang leader Anthony (Michael Daingerfield, The Messengers). Anthony will stop at nothing to ensure its capture. Facing incredible odds, Tommy races against the ticking clock — and a small army of hit men, mercenaries, assassins and sadists — to complete delivery. But does The German have other ideas about what to do with the package?
During his regular guest column for the UK’s Fighting Spirit Magazine, WWE Hall of Famer Steve Austin spoke about today’s current WWE superstars – and the importance of having a solid wrestling foundation before getting pushed into the spotlight.
“Today’s guys are very impressionable, and don’t really call it in the ring anymore,” Austin said. “Some of the guys don’t know whether to shit or wind their watch; when they get in the ring, they have some basics, but they’ve always been told exactly what to do before they go out there. Back in the day, we were calling it all in the ring; we didn’t have anything to be nervous about, because we didn’t have to remember anything. All I had to do was listen to a hellacious worker like Billy Joe Travis or Jimmy Jack Funk, trusting them to help lead me through it.”
He continued, “The guys today are on a big stage, and none bigger than WWE. It’s up to the promotion to bring these cats in light, establish them, and help them get over. You can’t just bring in someone new and expect them to work a Wrestlemania calibre match right away. If you give someone a monster push right off the bat, but don’t give them the base knowledge, it makes no sense to wonder why they shit the bed. These kids are exposed after a few weeks of TV, because they don’t have the experience of what to do in that situation. The more knowledge you have, the better chance you have of being successful”.
Read the full article in Issue 89 of FSM, on sale now from WH Smiths in the UK and Easons in Ireland.
– Jim Ross noted on Twitter that he’s currently battling the flu.
– WWE.com has published an “injury update” on The Rock, which is basically a story-line driven piece talking about The Shield attacking him on RAW and Vince McMahon announcing that CM Punk will be stripped of the WWE Championship if The Shield interferes in their match at the Royal Rumble. After The Rock tweeted that he suffered internal bleeding on Monday night, the article speculates whether The Rock’s injuries are worse than he’s letting on.
– Paul Heyman tweeted a picture on Tuesday afternoon of CM Punk holding the WWE Championship on RAW with the caption, “The belt itself leaves a lot to be desired, but that title means EVERYTHING!” WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin replied to the tweet, “Wow. Agreed.”
Nash defeated Bob Backlund to capture the WWE Championship in a record 8 seconds at Madison Square Garden back in 1994. Here’s video of the title change:
was released today on Blu-Ray and DVD.