Stone Cold Steve Austin Said What, What, What About WWE?

Vince McMahon and the WWE had some bad financial news. One main contributor could be the quality of the product. One person with an opinion on it is Stone Cold Steve Austin. The Hall of Famer was pretty critical of the company’s approach to the product, even as he recognized their right to do whatever they want with their shows.

In response to a caller who praised the “John Cena reading Welsh poetry” commercial for WWE 2K15, the Texas Rattlesnake took the fan’s lead when he expressed a hope that the company could treat all of their matches and feuds with the seriousness and reverence that comes across in that spot.

On WWE going back to professional wrestling instead of sports entertainment:

“I think you’re barking up the right tree because that’s the same type thing that I preach. I’m all about, ‘Okay, we know it’s a work but we’re presenting it like this in a serious fashion.’ I did a thing for the NFL Network the other day — it’s right down the street from where I’m at right now — I walked in the NFL Network. It felt, smelt, and breathed — I knew I was in a football factory. That’s what they talked about. That’s what their passion was. That’s what it was about.”

On making things believable:

“You can put it under the umbrella of ‘sports entertainment’ but when two guys or two gals get in a 20-by-20 squared circle and start wrestling, it is professional wrestling and that is the end of the story. Yes, it would be great to see… I’m all about yeah, we know it’s a work, but we all want to believe. In a world that’s a work, all you can do when the storylines aren’t so great, make the people believe in you. But that being said, here’s the thing: WWE is its own world. They say ‘WWE Universe,’ so whatever they create and put out there is what they create and put out there. So create and put out something that people can buy in to on a serious note, and don’t make it the three-ring circus that it’s become, and let it be wrestling.”

On the Attitude Era:

“I’m not saying that you’ve got to go back to the Attitude Era. I ain’t saying that. I’m not saying you have to say one cuss word. It’s about believability and telling the story in the ring. Intriguing storylines. And all you got to do is reeducate your fan base.”

On WWE fans being open to a more serious product:

“In my opinion, they’re [the fans] gonna want to go along for the ride. Okay, all the sudden we’re taking it serious. Here’s what it is. Here’s your top 10 rankings. Here’s who’s in line for the title shot, and why. And oh, by the way, your mother’s an ugly dog. Oh, you just made it personal!”

On training WWE superstars:

“Create that atmosphere. Talk about that match, why is he going after that body part… That commitment to the core of the form is one that needs to be taught from the beginning of a man or woman’s contract with WWE. Whenever I geut a chance to walk in there, to the Florida training center, that’s what I hope it’s about…I hope it feels like professional wrestling. I maintain a great relationship with WWE, but when you talk about the product – and I did it for 15 years…I have my opinions that I stick by: reality and real stuff, real issues and real angles.”

And don’t call him a “sports entertainer”:

“It’ll always be pro wrestling. You can put in under the guise of sports entertainment, but I don’t know anybody on the current crew, and maybe John Cena would, and I love John Cena, he’s a friend of mine, but I don’t know anyone who when someone comes down…in the airport…anywhere in the world, the United States or wherever, ‘hey man, you look familiar, are you one of those sports entertainers?’ They say ‘are you a pro wrestler?’

I was out somewhere the other day, someone recognized me and they said, ‘hey man, you look like one of those pro wrestlers” and, of course, they didn’t say who I was, but that was already a compliment when they said I looked like a pro wrestler. They did not say sports entertainer…I cringe at that.”

Do you agree with Stone Cold’s assessment of the industry’s current product? How would you change things if put in charge?

Stone Cold Steve Austin Said What, What, What About WWE?