What Wrestling Legends Really Think Of Modern WWE

9. Steve Austin

Steve Austin
WWE

Steve Austin came up a time before WWE was sanitised and over-produced beyond the once popular recognition of professional wrestling. Understandably, as a megastar who shifted warehouses of merchandise on the strength of an hilarious spiel improvised in the moment, he cannot abide by scripted promos.

Speaking in May of last year on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s podcast, Austin, who has repeated his thoughts on this matter more than the word "What?" - and they still won't listen to the man that drew them the most money - revealed:

"It's hard for someone to write for me. You weren't born in south Texas. You weren't hauling hay. I don't think you can really encapsulate what I would say. You ain't been in the grind with me."

A very reasonable point - in the predetermined and ludicrously outsize world of pro wrestling, a relatable human component is pivotal in accepting it - that point continues to go ignored, somehow, in a defining development explained only by WWE's rampant, inherent arrogance.

Can you imagine Stone Cold Steve Austin addressing the crowd with "You see, you say you're this catchphrase or generic word, but you're more like the opposite of that catchphrase or generic word. Did you know I got fired from WCW? I sucked, but then I developed grit!"

 
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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 surefire Undisputed WWE Universal 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!