BRUCE PRICHARD: "THIS was STEVE AUSTIN's MAJOR REASON for QUITTING WWE!

[@TheSweetestScience]

You can only do so much with an injured Steve Austin but I think when he came back as a GM feuding with Eric Bischoff, I think that was great TV. 👍🏼

[@jaylucien669]

Agreed

[@zackfair6791]

It's too bad Lesnar didn't like the travel schedule. I consider 02-04 Lesnar one of my favs from the ruthless aggression era. He had a great repertoire of wrestling moves back then.

[@theboxingboy7422]

Brock was and still is a very introverted person. He grew up on dairy farm in South Dakota so to go from a pretty quiet life to being on TV every week and travelling constantly which he said was his big problem. Was too much for him and he said he was drinking a bottle of vodka a night. Some guys are built for that type of grind some ain't.

[@johnjohnson7036]

I'm pretty sure Vince got his investment back from Stone Cold! Lol

[@dhenderson1810]

I thought injury was ultimately the reason Austin retired from WWE.

[@adamkeller7749]

Austin was an odd case. The biggest star ever next to Hogan but even in 2002 they had no clue what to do with him anymore even if he had been able to wrestle. His GM stuff from 2003-04 got really stale too very soon, I couldn't stand seeing the same thing every week, which was a promo, WHAT, stunner, beer bash and repeat. I also blame the hardcore attitude marks for that, they never wanted him to turn heel or do something different. His 2001 heel run was amazing and yet you heard all the whining and bitching from all those Marks. That's why they didn't know what else to do with him.

[@NeoSoulCrew]

You sure use a lot of "mark" speak. What a geek

[@adamkeller7749]

@@NeoSoulCrew lol Usually I hate that word but it has become a bad habit since everyone uses it as a way of insulting certain group of people. I used to say "fanboys" but it seems like many people don't even know what that means

[@jeffreymiller9808]

Not hating on Austin but he kind of had an Ego 4 the Top Spot as well, Can’t turn the Title over to Brock Lesnar on his way Up, Can’t Lose to Scott Hall at Wrestlemania etc..

[@zeek3580]

Had an ego issue this year for mania too im sure

[@adamkeller7749]

Austin definitely had an ego. He was the biggest star next to Hogan but even in 2002 they had no clue what to do with him anymore even if he had been able to wrestle. His GM stuff from 2003-04 got really stale too very soon, I couldn't stand seeing the same thing every week, which was a promo, WHAT, stunner, beer bash and repeat. I also blame the hardcore attitude marks for that, they never wanted him to turn heel or do something different. His 2001 heel run was amazing and yet you heard all the whining and bitching from all those Marks. That's why they didn't know what else to do with him. As far as him not losing to Hall goes well I get that because it wasn't the athletic WWF Razor Ramon anymore, he was the somewhat lazy nWo guy who everybody knew had an issue with alcoholism. Losing to Nash would have been even worse since big lazy could barely walk. But then again he refused working with Hogan so what was left for him to do?` Another odd thing is, I could never see him wrestle either Hogan nor Goldberg, those matches would have been out of balance imo.

[@DC-eq4yh]

If you watch his last match at mania with the rock I'm pretty sure he told rock that that was it because you can see it on the rocks face. Then we got all the gm/sheriff stuff, so they did get something done. I believe there is more to this story, injuries/egos and what have you, just wish there was more of Austin's career, but maybe it is just perfect the way it is. For me it's hard to put him on my rushmore, even though he is probably my favorite of all time, because of how short his career was as stone cold. I could have 2 completely different rushmore 's though, guys that deserve it and guys that are my favorites with maybe only taker being on both

[@donovanbradford8231]

Truly the end of an era on a different level, Austin was gone, so was Rock, Nash, Goldberg, Steiner, Rikishi, Test, A-Train, Jeff Hardy, Foley would be gone after Backlash. While you still had say Angle, Triple-H, Edge, and Kane they weren't the characters of old. And with Lesnar gone you really just woke up one day in 2004 and had to go this WWE us so different from what I've been watching for however many years and it showed up in the ratings for sure.

[@markula_4040]

From a merch standpoint, the lack of the Stone Cold name hurts but as far as a non-WWE career, the name would not have benefitted him at all. None of his movies or whatever would have performed better if he was billed as Stone Cold Steve Austin over just Steve Austin.

[@nickr4837]

No one ever brings up the real reason Brock tried the NFL: Stephen Neal. He beat Brock's ass for an NCAA title, then became an NFL pro with no experience in football. Brock wanted to follow in his footsteps

[@BuddyRose-kt1nu]

Bruce: "I don't know if it was scepticism" ...then goes on to describe that everyone was sceptical. Friggin Bruce the political animal as always.

[@BuddyRose-kt1nu]

Bruce's unlistenable. I don't know why I keep clicking on his nonsense. I like Conrad I guess.

[@justinkredable9725]

Oh so thats why steve wasnt a mania, he is pissed that wwe gave the rock his name rights and tag lines 🤔

[@ricksanchez2425]

Love Austin but I don't think he likes all the pg stuff

[@TheSweetestScience]

Sure, that makes a lot of sense. He loves(d) to cuss in promos AND in the ring when he’s wrestling(a lot of the times the hot mics picks up what he says too, flip the bird and of course drink beer.

[@sextonhardcastle1940]

In 2004 wwe wasn’t PG

[@Otto-1943]

@@TheSweetestScienceIt wasn’t PG era Steve Austin wasn’t able to wrestle anymore because his neck

[@ithinkaboutthings9052]

I always felt Austin had the talent to work regardless of some tv ratings nonsense. I wonder if the folks who harp on PG WWE are too young to remember pro wrestling BEFORE the rating system was invented. He could only go so far in World Class, WCW and the other places he went.

[@richswavy3626]

So Vince McMahon Ego got in the way again so we could've had Steve Austin for at least five more years. That means he could've retired in 2009 instead of 2004. Smh