Former WWE wrestler "Stone Cold" Steve Austin recently held a chat with SportsDayDFW.com. Here are some highlights.
On if he was influenced by the Von Erichs, a Texas wrestling family, and who his other influences are:
Austin: "Of course the Von Erichs were rock stars. I went to the Sportatorium. My mom went to high school with Dusty Rhodes. Ric Flair the greatest of all time. That building, I'll be nice about it. it smelled like urine stale beer, popcorn and more beer. It got so hot.people jammed in there. It was a dump. But it was the greatest wrestling venue in the world. It caught on fire and they tore it down. They should have rebuilt it."
On his favorite Sportatorium memory:
Austin: "It was the Von Erichs vs. Michael "P.S." Hayes. I hope he goes into the hall of fame at Wrestlemania 32."
On the current state of wrestling:
Austin: "You got a crop of guys, they are really talented, the business will be fine, turn them loose a little but. There is only one company to work for and people are walking on eggshells, but the business will be fine."
On if blood is necessary in the business now:
Austin: "I'm always down for a little blood. With the way things are going, you're going to have to test everybody, it has to be warranted and it can't be gratuitous."
On the rigors of working in the business:
Austin: "There were times we would be on the road for three weeks at a time. It was a grind but we live to be on the road. Your'e a road warrior and you come home and you unpack and in a day and a half you're bored and you want to go back."
On which female WWE wrestler has the brightest future:
Austin: "I can't just give you one, the women's movement has been crazy. Bayley, Sasha Banks, Charlotte, Becky Lynch."
On if he'd like to see Ronda Rousey join WWE when her MMA career is done:
Austin: "That would be great. She's on top of the world, movie star one of the toughest fighters in the world. She's box office. I love watching her. It was fun watching her at WM 31, if they can do something again that would be awesome."
