Retro Video Review: WWF Action

This will be the first of many retro video tape reviews I do here for my wrestling ramble column. I am finally disposing of these tapes and want to make sure all you wrestling fans know what they were before I do so.

First up we have the WWF's (yes this was pre-WWE times) release 'Action' .

This special video was a 90 minute look at some of the best action from 2001 in the world of the WWF/WWE.

First up we got a look at just how wonderful the attitude era was. The much-missed Hardcore Championship was one of the best inventions during this era and it was perfectly suited to the time in the companies growth.

The Hardcore Title was created for Mick Foley, but as the violent matches grew so did the titles legacy. By 2001 the championship had become one that had evolved into one that was defended on a 24/7 basis. This led to countless titles changes, many memorable encounters and of course some brutal scraps between some of the WWF's finest at the time. There are many highlights included here. This was a time where the title could change many times on one night and blood would flow with ease, unlike today's family friendly WWE.

Next up we saw one of the WWF of the times less family friendly approaches to wrestling. This was the 'bra and panties' series of matches. These were basically the companies attempt to draw in more male viewers and they were more than often shot scraps that saw one or both of the females involved standing in the ring in their underwear. Here we get to see Ivory, Chyna, Trish Stratus and Terri all involved in these poorly judged encounters.

We then get to see Perry Saturn become a deranged madman (due to countless head shots), the former ECW legend ended up becoming a joke of a character and instead of being aligned with Terri he became obsessed with a mop. I'll not say any more about this storyline as it was awful in my opinion and went on far too long.

The risque and Vince McMahon ego-stroking storyline involving Trish, his wife Linda and daughter Stephanie is equally weird as we get to see Vince kiss, degrade and obsess over Stratus, use his wife for his own maniacal schemes and utilise his daughters love the same way. We do get to see Trish gain a measure of revenge, but much of this was unnecessary.

This all led to a few matches that gave Vince his dream of entering the ring as a wrestler. His appearance in a tag match with Trish, William Regal, Stephanie is featured here in parts and works ok until we see poor Stratus degraded once more. (this was not a highpoint in her illustrious career of the WWE's)

Next up we got the fun and very well conceived romantic relationship between Spike Dudley and Molly Holly. This was a great idea and one that saw the Dudley clan embark on a violent series of match-ups against the Holly family. We don't get to see a while match here, but we do get to see some great highlights and some pretty brutal spots.

WWE legend 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin's heel turn as a member of Mr McMahon's posse is then given some time. This was a period where Austin held the World Title, was joined at the hip with (a comical) Kurt Angle and also put forward some of his most comical performances, just watch out for his guitar spots with Angle and you will see what I mean.

The buyout of WWF rival WCW was a wonderful event and one that many thought the WWE/WWF would have handled expertly. Initially this was the case and the beginnings were indeed boding well for an invasion storyline. However when push came to shove even after an initial burst of well-received matches and even a few title changes the WWE roster began to dominate proceedings and the idea of a separate WCW brand within the WWE/WWF drifted away quickly. The inclusion of the (also) defunct ECW helped a little, but did not do much to boost PPV buy rates and it dropped off the radar too. (ECW did make a brief comeback though).

Had the WCW/ECW invasion been handled better it could have become a huge piece of wrestling history. WCW had of course dominated the ratings over the WWE for many months and had almost crippled the company. Had Steve Austin and his era of superstars not taken with the fans they may well have lost the fight. ECW were never direct competition, but they did offer something different to the WWE product and gave us a much more violent approach to grappling. The inclusion of Vince's son Shane and Daughter Stephanie to the mix was a nice move, but yet it never saw its full potential.

'Action' offers a wonderful peek at the WWF/WWE at a pivotal time in its existence. The 'Attitude' era had begun, Steve Austin's star had risen and a man called 'The Rock' was nipping at his toes. There was also end of rival companies ECW and WCW to factor in, this was the time that the WWE/WWF saw its full potential as world leaders in wrestling.

It may not be available on DVD yet, but this video tape is a very interesting look at the WWF/WWE in a time of its history that many of remember fondly.

By Phil Allely

WWE DVD Review: Top 100 Raw Moments

WWE DVD Review: Top 100 Raw Moments

WWE's flagship TV show Raw celebrates its 20^th anniversary this year and has notched up over 1000 episodes along the way. It is also reputed to be the longest-running episodic TV show . That is no mean feat I am sure you will agree. Since it's debut Raw has been a must-watch show for wrestling fans young and old.

This 3 disc set offers us a countdown of the top 100 moments that have been compiled from those 1000 plus episodes.

Now I am unsure of who actually chose these moments, but they have chosen wisely on the whole. There are a few that perhaps seem odd choices and ones that you personally may not rate as highly. This is as always down to the individual viewer and not something to sway you from purchasing this set.

So what can you expect here? Well first off each moment is presented nicely with a short introduction by either someone involved in that moment or a figure in the wrestling industry who it touched in some way.

It may be hard to believe that it has been 20 years since Raw became part of our staple wrestling diet, but where would we be without it?

These moments do indeed capture a plethora of the WWE's finest moments. There are shocks, laughs, emotional scenes and some outrageous events here. Each one will ring a bell in your mind and some even warrant a replay or two.

Your reviewer was especially pleased to see this 100 moments list feature a nice mix of old school footage alongside more modern ones.

So watch out for 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin at his peak, DX in full on comedy mode, Santino and Kozlov having a tea party, Mae Young get powerbombed and the Stephanie McMahon vegas wedding. We are also treated to Bret Hart's return to the WWE, Edge's emotional retirement speech and we even get to see some stars from the now defunct WCW and ECW make their WWE debuts.

These moments may not be a definitive guide to the show that is Raw, but they do give you a broad view of just what this programme has meant to millions of fans over the last two decades.

Extras wise we are offered the entire 1000 episode of Raw, which of course features a wonderful mix of new talent with some ring legends.

Blu-ray buyers will get an extra 6 Raw moments and a 90 minute Legend Roundtable show on the subject of Raw. This features Jim Ross, Road Dogg and many more superstars.

WWE Raw Top 100 Moments is available now from www.wwedvd.co.uk and all good retailers.

RRP DVD £29.99/Blu-ray £34.99

www.wwe.com

By Phil Allely

Steve Austin Interview Links

Arda Ocal (@arda_ocal) of The Score Television Network and the
Baltimore Sun spoke with WWE legend and film & tv star "Stone Cold"
Steve Austin (@steveaustinBSR). Highlights:

- How he's recovering from knee surgery and if he'll ever compete
again and the fact that he would be willing to entertain an offer rfom
WWE and where exactly that process is at right now.

- Discusses the release of the WWE '13 video game in which he is a
focal point, and does it bother him that CM Punk is on the cover.

- Talks about the return of his reality tv series Redneck Island on
CMT. "I consider myself the king of rednecks."

- Why an Austin/Hogan dream match never happened. "I don't think I
just ever wanted to wrestle the guy I guess."

- Finally Austin gives his opinion on the recent CM Punk/Paul Heyman
"Fake Heart Attack" incident and if he thinks it crossed the line. "I
believe in pushing the envelope in an aggressive fashion. But when a
guy dam near dies at ringside, let it go."

EMBED video on your site: 

WWE DVD Review - Falls Count Anywhere

WWE DVD Review : Falls Count Anywhere In recent years many loyal WWE fans have complained about the company embracing a PG rated format and thus (the once prominent of old) blood and violence becoming second fiddle to story line's and more. This new release (Falls Count Anywhere) gives those fans old and new a wonderful trip back in time to see what the federation once delivered on a regular basis. Over the course of the discs we get to see all manner of matches that have strayed beyond the normal realms of regular bout style and for that we must welcome this addition to the WWE DVD release calendar. Across the discs we get to see some of the finest and most brutal match-ups from not only the WWE roster (across the decades), but the WCW and ECW ones too. These are (for the main) matches that we the fans have yet to own on DVD and also ones that perfectly highlight just how each promotion at the time handled such matches that took things beyond the norm. As WWE release go this is one of the best to appear this year. This set features violence, blood and some very brutal moves. All of which just go to show how the world of wrestling has changed in recent years. 'Falls Count Anywhere' showcases such athletes as Mick Foley, Sting, Ric Flair, Triple H and many others in its duration. Each one receives a worthy accolade along the way too. Newer fans may struggle to learn who some older grappler's are, but for anyone interested in the industry this is a release that will appeal to many . WWE Falls Count Anywhere is on general release now. Www.silvervsion.co.uk By Phil Allely

DVD Review - Stone Cold Steve Austin - The Bottom Line on the most Popular Superstar of all time

DVD Review: Stone Cold Steve Austin – The Bottom Line on The Most Popular Superstar of all Time.

By Phil Allely

‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin is one of the select few professional wrestlers who even non wrestling fans recognise (joining Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair and perhaps even Bret Hart in that elite group). Austin with his no nonsense attitude, swagger, bird flipping disregard for management and beer drinking ways cut a swathe through the WWE in the min 1990s and almost single-handedly took the company to new heights in terms of popularity and growth. If it wasn’t for a serious neck injury he could still be at the top of the pile today.

After making his name in the USWA and being unceremoniously fired by WCW, Austin joined the WWE and within a short space of time he found his feet, creating the ‘Stone Cold’ character and he never looked back.

This four disc set consists of an interview based career retrospective and eleven full matches from various promotions, plus an entire disc of promos/skits.

I have been fortunate enough to personally interview Steve and the man featured here is indeed the real thing, there are no persona’s here. It is nice to hear the man himself discuss the more controversial parts of his in-ring life, the injuries, the highs, the lows and just what wrestling means to him.

Match wise we have a nice mix of singles scraps against such luminaries as Shawn Michaels, Dude Love, Undertaker and more, there are also tag efforts alongside the likes of Ric Flair to relish as well.

When I interviewed Steve he had just finished working on the new commentaries to some of the matches here (with Jim Ross), these are fun to view and you can see why they were chosen. All in all this is a must have release for many reasons, fans old and new will lap it up.

Available now from www.silvervision.co.uk and all good retailers.

Steve Austin Interview Highlights

WWE Hall of Famer Steve Austin was interviewed by The LAW this past week about his new movie Recoil. The LAW can be heard every Sunday night at 11pm EST with Dan Lovranski, Jason Agnew and John Pollock on TSN 1050 Toronto and online at liveaudiowrestling.com. Here are some highlights, courtesy of Chris Maffei:




Talent Having Problems with The Rock returning: "My thoughts on that are, you earn what you get in this business. Rock has earned the ability to come and go as he wants, because the business still needs him, it can still use him, and it can elevate the profile with having such a mainstream guy there. I don't know about the promos between John (Cena) and Rock. I think some of them have gotten kind of personal, you wonder how much of it's a work and how much of it's a shoot. At the end of the day, it's a worked business. Again, I think it's a good thing for Rock to be involved with this. He's earned his right to come and go and do whatever he wants."



Current talent being vocal to creative: "(CM) Punk was a guy, and is a guy who, man, that guy flew by the seat of his pants. He was pissed off, he vented, he cuts great promos. He worked himself out of a bad situation into a great situation. He knew when it was time to pick his spot, when he contract was gonna be up. That guy's been around the horn a few times, and he's been kicked around a little bit. He saw how the other guys were being treated, and he needed, and deserved, and earned the right to be treated in that same fashion. Guys, you gotta pick your spot, but you gotta be vocal. It is a very interesting machine these days. They need voices to question them. They need voices to inspire them, or fuel them, to rethink some of the things that they're doing and make it a better product."



Returning under the right circumstances: "There's nothing up in the air for me. If there's something that presents itself as a business opportunity, then I have an open ear to listen to it. It would have to be right for myself, my opponent, and obviously the company. I'm not lobbying for another match. There's always talk. People ask, 'am I capable of having another match?' Yeah. If I was in a bad situation, I would get back in the ring full time if I had to, but I don't have to. I'm happy doing what I'm doing."

DVD Review: The Steve Austin Collection

wrestling legend Steve Austin has made a very impressive mark on the movie/TV industry and has forged himself a nice career in it since he hung up his wrestling boots.


This triple disc boxset is a very good introduction to Austin's movie output and a testament to his acting prowess.

With his recent return to WWE TV and a wonderful performance as host of the wrestling company's Tough Enough TV show it is now highly likely that Austin will work between his acting committments and his big screen ones.



Stone Cold as he is most well known in wrestling circles is one of the few fomer grapplers that has done well for himself outside of the ring. I have even had the priviledge of interviewing him on multiple occasions and found him to be a very nice man indeed.



The films on offer here include Austin's breakthrough hit The Stranger, a bu the numbers action romp, Hunt to Kill (featuring Eric Roberts) which heads down a more rugged ass-kicking route and the feel-good tale Born to Fight, which sees Austin strut his acting chops to the best of his ability.



With huge hit action flick The Expendables under his belt Austin's career is now going to the next level, he can indeed pick and choose his films, he can also jump genres too.



This boxset is a great way to introduce yourself to Steve Austin the actor and you know what you will be very pleasently pleased too.



The Steve Austin Collection is on release now from all good retailers.

Steve Austin Interview

Steve Austin

By Phil Allely

In an exclusive interview with Phil Allely WWE legend turned hugely successful actor ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin promoted his latest DVD release Born To Fight and stated that if he did have one more match the WWE’s CM Punk would be his chosen opponent.

Still on very good terms with the WWE Austin has been the face of the recently revamped Tough Enough series and stepped back into the ring to referee a match at this years Wrestlemania. He is also the man at the centre of an interesting semi-shoot storyline where CM Punk and himself are battling on Twitter in relation to a proposed feud.

So Steve whilst we have seen twitter remarks and other mentions of him, we’ve not actually heard you comment on CM Punk, what do you really think about him?

“Aw hell I think Punk is a great guy, I’d say he looks up to me for what I did in the ring back in the day. I now look up to him for what he is doing now. I’d say it’s a case of mutual respect now. So yeah I hear the stories, if the stars aligned and all things worked out to benefit us all (The WWE, myself and Punk) I’d say that he is the guy I’d pick to face. I could get another match out of this carcass of mine sure”.

Born to Fight is Austin’s latest DVD and one that takes him away from his comfort zone of action films. Telling the tale of a young man new to school who experiences bullying, this tale is one that Stone Cold feels will appeal to more than just his loyal fan base.

Born to Fight is a movie that seems well out of your action movie comfort zone, was that a conscious decision after such movies as Hunt to Kill and The Expendables?

“This movie (Born to Fight) shows a softer side to me than the previous ones I guess. I’d call it the Karate Kid meets Rocky type of film, I play an ex-boxer turned school janitor. I see this kid being bullied and I train him to become a boxer and teach him how to stand up for himself, whilst learning more about myself too. I enjoyed the role as it stretched me as an actor, there is more dialogue for me to tackle for a start, I don’t even cuss once in this one. I got to develop my character more than in previous movies. There’s no fight choreography, it made it interesting. It’s a different kind of movie for me. You know when I was young I wasn’t bullied, but now days you hear of it all the time. I think the story here where my character (Dan) helps this youngster learn how to make his way through life is a confidence building one. There’s more to the story than most you see being made. People will relate to it.”

What’s next for you movie wise?

“Next up I have a film called recall in post-production, I’m a vigilante ex-cop and track down people who got off through the system, and serve my own kind of punishment to them.”



I think we can safely say you have a talent for acting, I’m sure you get many scripts sent to you now that you’ve notched up such an amount of successful roles, what entices you to a role?

“You know what I read the script and try to find something different, I mean saying that a bunch of my films have seen my family killed, I look for a good script. A lot of my films lead to some form of fighting, I want to grow as an actor, and still please my fans.”

Last time I spoke to you (promoting Hunt to Kill) you said that comedy was something you would love to give a go, how is that going?

“Comedy, no one has asked really, but I am working on it now myself. I have a script in progress, kind of a spoof of the action genre and I do want to do that, I’m a fun guy in real life, I’d love to do that.”

So Steve you’ve been fortunate enough to work on big budget films, low budgets straight to DVD movies and TV shows, which do you prefer?

“You know I had a lot of fun on expendables, those guys were carrying the weight of the film and I got to hang out have fun and aspire to be a bigger star one day. I enjoy making what I do, I am a quiet guy and am happy doing what I can do.”

“TV wise, you know what I am trying to pitch a script right now, to be part of something I could invest years in to build a character would be something I’d definitely like. On many levels I like change and get uneasy if things stay the same, but to be able to work on a project for set hours and days would be perfect, Nash Bridges was something I enjoyed, but I was in high demand, wrestling was extremely over then, I had a blast, if I knew what I knew now I’d do it different now.”

You returned to the WWE at WrestleMania, what prompted that?

“We I thought if I am gonna be there and not one of the guys wrestling why not be the guy pullng all the strings. I enjoy working WWE shows and the fans. It’s fun being closer to it all. It’s changed a bit since my day, we were a lot edgier then. I don’t miss the bumps and travel grind though. Wrestling is out of my system, but I still like being involved.”

At Mania you got to work with your old friend Jim Ross do you remain close friends?

“JR and I talk all the time, it’s great to work with him when I have the opportunity. He was instrumental in the success of Stone cold. He is doing alternate commentary on my new DVD, there are three unseen matches on it so that will be good for the fans. We cover my time in USWA then we jump to WCW, take in ECW and then the WWE. One of the unreleased matches has me against Kurt Angle, it was a really physical match and I’d forgotten how tough it was til we started watching it back. Looking back like that lets you see things you would change if you could go back.Early in my career I was in Ric Flair mode early in my career (acting like a back peddling heel) I was really treading water for a time. But then as the fans yearned for an ass-kicking guy I stepped up and gave them what they wanted, it was my greatest success when Stone Cold was born.”

What about Tough Enough, will we see a season 2?

“ I hear there will be a second series I’d say there’s a 95% chance of it right now. I really did enjoy doing it. That was my first foray onto reality TV. I had been approached before and turned them all down, but Tough Enough intrigued me. To work with Bill (De Mott), Booker and Trish (Status) made it special, reality TV was more fun than I anticipated it to be.”

What are your feelings on the much hyped John Cena/Rock match at next years WrestleMania?

“That’s an interesting build-up to watch, a year-long build is something no one’s ever done. Rock is doing his thing (in Hollywood), WWE are doing their thing and there’s still a while to go for the pay off. I will be interested in seeing how it plays out.”

DVD Review - Born to Fight (starring steve austin)

DVD Review – Born To Fight (starring Stone Cold Steve Austin)


By Phil Allely

WWE legend Steve Austin has carved himself a very nice career in the world of film since he retired from the wrestling ring. He has also been able to juggle big budget hits with low budget projects that can stretch him as an actor. Known primarily as an action movie star this is one such project that allows Austin to get his teeth into the role and expand his acting skills along the way.

Born to Fight is a nice addition to the CV of Steve and it also serves well as a film that may just gain him a whole new level of fan. Telling a story we can relate to in some way this film revolves around the all to real issue of bullying. Austin plays Dan a janitor at a US high school, here he seems to happily go about his work and not really show up on anyone’s radar. Young Matthew is the school newcomer who unwittingly ends up on the receiving end of a beating and other embarrassing situations at the hands of the school boxing star.

Although Matthew tries to overcome his belittling he decides he needs to learn to box to gain the respect of his foes and to stand up to them. This is where our muscle bound lead comes in, Dan it transpires is a retired pro boxer and he after seeing potential in Matthew decides to help him train to enter the upcoming school boxing competition.

Born to Fight is a cross between the Karate Kid and Rocky films (in Austin’s own words, watch out for my interview coming soon). The tale has a meaning and moral code is there too, this is a story that makes you feel like you have invested into the narrative. Austin deserves special credit for stepping out of his comfort zone here, he has more dialogue than in any of his action features. He has also picked up many good habits along the way as well, he now works the camera better, he owns each scene he is in and he doesn’t overshadow his co-stars.

Born to Fight is released on October 3rd by Anchor Bay Entertainment.

Cert 12

RRP £15.99 (DVD), £19.99 (Blu-ray)

Jim Ross New Blog HIghlights

Jim Ross is back with a new blog over on jrsbarbq.com. Here are some highlights from this entry:




- Get well wishes to Rey Mysterio who had knee surgery in San Diego this past Friday. Rey had ACL and MCL issues addressed and will be out of action for several months. This is the same knee that Rey has had multiple surgeries so his rehabilitation work will be even more magnified and important.



- Many have asked me via Twitter @JRsBBQ and in the Q&A Section of this site to comment on the ESPN/Grantland article regarding Ric Flair's personal finances and other personal issues. Ric has been a friend for well over three decades and I was uncomfortable reading the piece. Ric has always enjoyed life to its fullest, and beyond, which, last I looked, wasn't a crime.



Lots of famous athletes and entertainers have had financial hurdles to overcome. If Ric has the issues that Grantland outlined, I wish Naitch well and he has my support.



- Several people have asked me about Samoa Joe. I personally like Joe's work and feel that his best days lie ahead. I do not know Joe. I've never conversed with him that I can recall. Bottom line is 1. he has a contract where he now works and 2. I am not involved in talent acquisition for WWE.



- Could Scott Hall fit in the announce booth as a color commentator? It's not an easy transition for many former wrestlers to make the move from the ring to the announce table so it wouldn't be automatic. However, Scott is a bright guy who is glib and he knows the genre well. If he put in the work that it would take to be an asset who's to say that Scott Hall wouldn't be a good broadcaster? I do know that it takes great focus, commitment and study to be as good as one needs to be in today's world. I don't know if Scott has an interest in this matter but it was a question from a Twitter follower.

Goldberg to return to the WWE?

By Phil Allely


Former WWE and WCW star Goldberg has hinted that a return to the ring may be on the cards before the end of the year.

At a recent autograph signing the former superstar answered a question about when/if he would return to the ring, stating that he ‘would like his return to take place before the end of the year’. He did add the word ‘probably’ to his answer, but did mention that his hypothetical opponent would be none other than ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin.

If this is the case and Austin’s much hyped one more match is with Goldberg it would not only be a guaranteed ratings winner, but would mark the in-ring return of two of the 1990s biggest drawing and successful wrestlers.

The WWE and Goldberg have been in negotiations many times and most recently these fell apart due to the WWE feeling his demands were unreasonable.

Has the current lack of star power in the organisation changed their minds? Their recent u-turn with CM Punk may mean they are more willing to work with their talent to retain or obtain them than ever before.



If he does return to the WWE we expect Goldberg to be booked more favourably than in his previous tenure, where his monster ‘babyface’ character (from his WCW days) was watered down beyond recognition.

New Jim Ross Blog Highlights

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross is back with a new blog over on jrsbarbq.com. Here are some highlights from this entry:




- Do I hate Michael Cole? No. I really try to not be a 'hater' as I've worked with too many people in my life that were. They're no fun to be around. Cole is in a challenging spot trying to raise his game to the level of the antagonist Lawler, Cornette, Ventura, Heyman, JBL, and Bobby Heenan. I do know that our three man team will evolve on Raw nicely. Thsi has zero to do with some, like me by and large, who prefer a two man announce team. I'm not a big fan of the three man booth on Monday Night Football, BTW.



- Do I prefer reality based sports entertainment or the 'bigger than life' spectacle style of presentation? Reality based by far. Not big on eye rolling, "are you kidding me?" type presentations. The more believable and more plausible the better for me.



- Will JR and Michael Cole have a 'blow off match?' Good Lord, I hope not. Why continue to punish the audience? That ship has sailed plus after a 2nd abdominal surgery only a few weeks ago that's the last thing that I need to be doing. Here's a novel idea, how about more wrestlers getting in the mix?



- I'm looking forward to being in San Jose for Raw Monday night as the last Raw before a PPV is usually a strong effort. The success of Summer Slam largely rests on the shoulders of CM Punk and John Cena notwithstanding the Smackdown main event of Randy Orton vs. Christian for the World Title. I'm anxious to broadcast the longer bouts that are often featured on PPV. I don't know the announce team assignment for Summer Slam but I'll prepare like I'm going to do 'em all.

CM Punk Talks Steve Austin

While the chances of this happening are very slim, people close to CM Punk have said that Punk still has his heart set on a match with retired WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. The potential feud was featured as a “dream feud” in WWE’s recent “All Stars” video game – and they both engaged in a war of words on Twitter hypothesizing what would happen if they ever stepped in the ring together.




During a recent interview with GQ.com, Punk was asked about his recent “shoot” promo on RAW – and whether him wearing a Steve Austin t-shirt while giving the promo was a sign of things to come. Punk told GQ – saying a program with Steve Austin “writes itself” and is says he “absolutely” wants it to happen:



“I do a lot of weird little things like that because people talk about it. I don’t think it’s any secret; I think the biggest match any wrestling company can do right now is C.M. Punk vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin. I’ve thought that since I was 15. I’m straight edge. I don’t drink. I don’t do drugs. I don’t smoke. And that is the perfect protagonist or antagonist to Stone Cold Steve Austin, depending on how you want to spin it. It writes itself. You would have to try really, really hard to f*** that one up. The idea of being on television is to wear your T-shirt so people see it and maybe buy it. I had gone out previously in the night and wrestled. You throw your T-shirt on the ground, and I don’t know what the hell happens to it after that. I came to the back, and I was looking for another T-shirt. I sent somebody to go and get one, and they came back with a XXL. I was like, “I’m going to be swimming in this thing.” And it’s always creepy when you’re wearing wrestling trunks with a shirt because it doesn’t look like you’re wearing any pants. I had a Stone Cold Steve Austin shirt in my bag, and it fit me. I chuckled to myself and put it on. Am I planting seeds? I don’t know. I can’t guarantee to anybody that that match is going to happen. Do I want it to happen? Absolutely.”

Christina Crawford Interview Highlights - Tough Enough 2011

WWE Tough Enough contestant Christina Crawford, sister of Alicia Fox and former FCW Diva Caylee Turner, recently spoke to CentralFloridaFuture.com about the show. Here are some highlights: 
Working with her sister Alicia Fox:

"I would love love love to win that title one day. But it would be the best if I could take it from my sister. What started my dream of working with the WWE was when my sister got hired, but I was too young at the time to apply. My dream was to go to school and then I would try out for the WWE. She is on the main roster and I haven't gotten the chance to work with her yet. But we do hang out together and it's great moral support." 
Concern over injuries:

"I am not worried about injuries because the training environment is always safe. The trainers are helping us learn to build and to protect our body." 
Show host Steve Austin:

"He is extremely intimidating, but you are just starstruck when you first meet him and you forget all of that. It's amazing for a legend like him to share his knowledge with us." 

Steve Austin talks to WWE.com

- WWE.com has a new interview up with Steve Austin to promote the All Stars video game. Here are some highlights:




WWE.com: One of the most interesting features in WWE All Stars is the “Fantasy Warfare” mode, which pits your character against CM Punk. Is that a rivalry you wish you could’ve had in real life?



AUSTIN: Damn right it is. CM Punk is one of my favorite WWE Superstars right now. I like what he brings to the ring, I like his mental game. I think a rivalry between “Stone Cold” and CM Punk would have been a hell of a spectacle and a lot of entertainment.



WWE.com: It’s been about eight years since you retired from active competition. Is there a Superstar who is carrying on your legacy today?



AUSTIN: You know, the closest comparison you could make would be Randy Orton, but, man, when someone wants to make comparisons to me, it’s just like making a comparison to Michael Jordan. For a period of time, I was the hottest person on two feet that had ever been in the business. I set all kinds of records from attendance to merchandise to ratings records. When someone can beat that, then I’ll say, "Yep, they beat me." But no one’s done that.

New Steve Austin Interview Highlights

Steve Austin spoke with ESPN.com this week to promote the release of WWE All Stars. Here are some highlights:




So how perfect of a feud would "Stone Cold" versus CM Punk have been if you were still wrestling?



When you have a storyline like that, and the way CM cuts his promos, I think it would damn sure be entertaining and fans would latch onto it. He's done well in WWE, and I think he's got bigger fish to fry and bigger things to do in that company. I look for big things from him. And damn right, that would be a good program. I would love to be a part of that.



Wrestlemania is coming up this Sunday and you're refereeing the match between Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler. How did it feel the other night to dump all that beer over Cole's head?



Damn, that was fun. [laughs] Michael Cole has done a tremendous job playing the role of the heel announcer. He has that cocky swagger about him, and he's crossed that line to where now you're seeing the true Michael Cole. He's a good guy, but he's really turning it on. I've been really proud of what he's done from a work standpoint. Then you have Jerry Lawler, who is one of my favorite wrestlers of all time. If you never saw him work in his prime or never saw some of his work in the Mid South, then you really missed out. He's a great talker, a great worker in the ring, and there's no better person to be in this match with Cole than Lawler. Then you have me as the referee and Jack Swagger roaming ringside and I think anything can happen that night.



When you're pouring beer on Michael Cole and the crowd is going crazy and people start to chant: "One more match," do you ever get the itch to come back for maybe one more main event?



I'll tell you what, sometimes you do, but it's just like an itch that you scratch and it goes away. We had that ring at Tough Enough, and it's the same WWE ring they use every week, and I got the chance to bounce around and take some bumps from one of the kids in the contest and gave him a few bumps. Could I still do it? Damn right I could. It may not be quite as good as I used to, but I got it out of my system. I hope people enjoy Tough Enough because I had so much fun doing it, but that's about as close as I want to be to a business that I love.



The other big storyline in WWE right now is the return of The Rock. What did you think of him getting physical with Miz and Cena on Monday night?



I thought it was great entertainment. It's good for Rock, it's good for John, it's good for Miz, and it's good for the fans. Everybody is winning all the way around. He got out of the business and went on to do what he's done and I'm proud of how successful he has become. But now that he's back, it's a win-win for everybody, but especially the fans. Whether you love him or you hate him, depending on what your opinion of Cena is, he's definitely made an impact and it will be interesting to see how this thing plays out.

Steve Austin Plugging Wrestlemania and Tough Enough Interview Highlights

Steve Austin is promoting WrestleMania 27 and Tough Enough in a new interview with IGN. In the interview, Austin revealed that each week on Tough Enough, he will select the "Bottom 3." These will be the lowest level performers on the show. Austin will give them a chance to convince him to let them stay before eliminating one and allowing the other two to stay.


Here are some highlights from the interview:



His approach to eliminating contestants:

"When it's time for me to be Stone Cold, when we go into elimination and it's time to ask the nitty gritty questions, and they've got a chance to either stay or go, you know, I get on them pretty good, and I'm looking to see who I can rattle, or undo, and you know, we've weeded out some of the ones who really needed to go first."



Using other wrestlers as examples to the Tough Enough contestants:

"There are many guys who I'll bring up in the course of a week. We'll have a different superstar come by each week and talk to the kids. I'll use myself as an example some of the time, but not all the time because you know, one of the things I'll tell them about me is, I was never the best wrestler in the world. I was never the best looking wrestler in the world. I was never the best built guy in the dressing room. I was never the best at anything. But I had enough things and I wanted it bad enough that I made it to the top and I did what I did. But not everybody's going to have my style. Not everybody comes from the background I come from. I use Shawn Michaels, I use The Undertaker, I use The Rock a lot, Ric Flair, my favorite pro wrestler. And Rey Mysterio came by. Some of these guys might be more in a Rey kind of mode. But I'll use as many examples as I can, and I've got a bunch of them because I grew up watching this business since I was seven or eight years old."



Being a heel vs. face:

"Shoot, man, I loved being a damn heel. Something about that, just going out there and being the most despicable person you could ever be, was a real turn on for me. And I grew up a real shy kid in south Texas, and it was something for me to lean on and have fun with. But when I came up with the Stone Cold thing, I really kind of brought a gray area in to a black and white world."



What?

"I tell you what, I would have never in a million years went up to Vince and said, 'Hey, I've got this thing that I'm going to do and it's going to make people say 'What?' after every pause or break in someone's promo for the next ten years. I had no idea that even these days, when Michael Cole's in the ring cutting a promo, if he puts that pause in there, they'll come with a 'What?!' - but it's been interesting!"

Steve Austin On Tough Enough!

WWE Hall of Famer "Stone Cold" Steve Austin spoke to IGN.com recently to promote the return of WWE Tough Enough. Here are some highlights of what Austin said about:




Working Last Week's RAW: "I didn't get a chance to do exactly everything that I wanted to do because I wanted to give the fans so much more, and they expected more."



Staying Retired & Working Tough Enough: "I'm close enough -- I'm as close as I want to be and can get to it right now by being the host and watching Bill (DeMott) and Booker and Trish (Stratus) put them through their paces .. The days of lighting up 20,000 people every single night of the week, no matter what day it was, and 90,000 on a big show like WrestleMania, that was a blast, but those days are over, and I've had some great times in this ring. And when I think back, I've got a lot of great memories, and this is about as close as I want to be."

JBL In Character Interview Highlights

WWE's website interviewed JBL this week after his return on RAW Monday night. Here are some highlights from the in-character interview:


WWE.com: First of all, sorry about the night you had this past Monday. I don’t think it was the return you were expecting.



JBL: What bothers me is when other great champions come back, like The Rock, “Stone Cold” or Roddy Piper, when these guys return they’re not treated like that. And I was the greatest champion of all time. You got the best [Superstars] from the ’80s and ’90s coming back for WrestleMania, and I had to reiterate to my fans, because they love me so much, that JBL was the greatest champion. So, when something like this happens it’s just a matter of complete disrespect by a guy like Steve Austin. I hear he’s very successful in movies – God bless him – but that’s where he should stay.



WWE.com: Speaking of being successful after WWE, you’ve been gone for almost two years now, what are you up to these days?



JBL: I invested in a really good beverage company, New Leaf Beverage (newleafbrands.com). We’ve got about 18 brands, including four lemonades and four iced teas. We’re in about 35 states, and sales have been pretty good. It’s been a good investment; I’ve spent a lot of time with that. I spend a lot of time in Bermuda. I can do my investments anywhere, so I spend about 4-6 months a year there. It’s only an hour-and-a-half from New York, so it’s an easy commute.



WWE.com: Any final words for the WWE Universe?



JBL: I’m thrilled they got to see the greatest champion to ever come back. Also, I got to meet Alberto Del Rio, and I cannot tell you how proud I am of the young man. I knew his dad. I knew his uncle. And one thing we agree on, Rey Mysterio is not a good role model for kids. You want to look up to people like Alberto Del Rio and me, both great champions, both very successful financially.

Steve Austin Tweet

Steve Austin wrote the following yesterday on his Twitter about his return to RAW and having more time next time:


"thanks for the feedback for last nights RAW...next time im on RAW, i will damn sure have more time and raise all kinds of hell. bottom line."