10 Things We Learned From Bruce Prichard's WWF & ECW Podcast
1. Steve Austin Was Signed Before Working For ECW
The common story recanted tells of Steve Austin leaving WCW bitterly before seeking solace in Paul Heyman's ECW. From there, the WWF came calling for Austin's services in late-1995, repackaging him as 'The Ringmaster'. Bruce Prichard refutes some of this tale, unveiling that the WWF had actually held talks with Austin before the wrestler had even left WCW.
Unbelievably, Prichard also says that Austin was signed before completing his work in ECW. After putting pen-to-paper on a deal, Vince McMahon wanted Steve to go and do some work for Heyman, at least for a few months. That's exactly what ended up happening, although Prichard is keen to point out that McMahon didn't see Austin as anything special at the time.
During one of The Ringmaster's first WWF showings, he appeared alongside Ted DiBiase in an interview segment conducted by Prichard himself (as Brother Love). McMahon instructed Prichard not to give Austin too much dialogue, which is interesting considering Heyman had told the WWF that talking was Steve's main strength.
It's absolutely fascinating to learn that Steve Austin was signed by the WWF before he worked in ECW.
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What else did you glean from Bruce Prichard's podcast on the WWF/ECW relationship? Let us know down in the comments section below!