10 Things We Learned Listening To Jesse Ventura On Steve Austin's Podcast
1. Saturday Night's Main Event Commentary Was Originally Supposed To Be Scripted
One of the most interesting things Jesse discussed on Austin's podcast was the original plans for NBC to script the commentary for Saturday Night's Main Event.
While preparing for the show one day, Jesse came across a script backstage that had Vince and Jesse's comments all planned out. Jesse then saw Dick Ebersol, the head of NBC Sports at the time, and asked for a moment of the executive's time. Jesse questioned the need for a commentary script and gave Dick his professional opinion.
Jesse explained that NBC only recently begAn caring about professional wrestling and the WWF. Ventura continued by praising the NBC's involvement with the WWF and that everyone was happy to be on board, working together, but he questioned the approach.
According to Jesse he told Dick, "Who in your staff of writers is qualified to write for Jesse 'The Body' Ventura? I know wrestling, they don't. You have no one who can write for me."
Dick Ebersol pondered the point on the spot, then told Jesse he was right and to forget all about the prepared notes.