6 Most Insane Things Happening In Wrestling Right Now (Jan 26)

4. Steve Austin Is Still The Best Promo In Wrestling - And Still P*ssed Off

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WWE

In a backstage segment dripping in subtext filmed as a WWE.com exclusive, Steve Austin eviscerated backstage interviewer Poor Mike Rowe.

This was the Austin everybody fell for during the Attitude Era. The segment on RAW25 was a straight, silent retread of the most basic of Austin Vs. McMahon angles. It hardly existed to do anything but raise a smile and set the tone - but Austin should have said something out there. He isn't a hologram. Maybe WWE opted to silence Stone Cold because he's that much better than everybody else.

Austin put the show over backstage, professionally, before the red mist descended. Rowe's reaction indicated that the resulting fire was the agreed plan - but Austin's descent into rage blurred the lines. "Do you know who you're talking to? My name is Stone Cold Steve Austin. I actually drew money," he said, slowly unleashing an ass-whooping directed at Rowe but surely intended for higher-ups. "You got one sorry-ass question (segment) for me? You're a chump. You need to go back to your house, you need to do your homework - 'cause next time, when Stone Cold Steve Austin shows up, I want a proper interview, proper camera time," - and, most tellingly, "proper mic time."

A work; a shoot; whatever: it felt more authentic, more electrifying, than anything else on the show.

Austin is the true barometer of what a pro wrestling star should be. And if he thought RAW25 was the sh*ts, then that's the catchphrase he didn't even get to say on television.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!