STW #50: Austin Walks Out

On this episode: What happened when Austin "took his ball and went home" in 2002? Was it creative? Was he injured? Did it cost him a beer deal? How much did it cost him to come back? Listen if you dare, Bruce is sick and this is three hours of our worst episode ever! WHAT? Worst episode. WHAT? Ever.
Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard is an audio podcast that discusses topics, events, wrestlers and memorable moments through the lens of former WWE executive Bruce Prichard co-hosted by Conrad Thompson.
The show was launched in August 2016 on MLW Radio. The episodes typically range from 2 hours to 4 hours in length, and include discussions about previous WWE pay-per-views and former WWE wrestlers.
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[@Thecallmemisterajp]

Creative was horrible at this time. The fact that they started a feud between Eddie and Austin, 2 of the greatest workers of all time, over karaoke.

[@OneUltimateWarrior]

Facts.

[@mattmoon5300]

I would have loved to watch that match!!! Guerrero vs Austin. Also, Guerrero vs Michaels would’ve been amazing

[@josephhuffman240]

Creative is still horrible. It's as if they don't give a damn about what they're putting out on Monday and Tuesday night. Truthfully I tune in because I've been doing so for well over a decade now and I keep having faith that one night it's going to turn around and start getting better. I'll never give up on them but right now it's awfully hard to watch the garbage they're showing. Like I said before, I don't think they (Vince and the writers) even care anymore.

[@Liberalman00]

@@mattmoon5300 Guerrero vs. Michaels would've happened at WM 22 had Eddie not passed. :-(

[@Super122291]

Liberalman00 liar 🤥

[@jmreeves89]

Show starts at 10:44

[@CPlovesGS]

Thank you they wasted 10 minutes of 🐂💩

[@jonfranks6902]

Thanks. I look for the exact time for every show lol

[@xanderthagreat8460]

47:00 is the start of some🔥

[@DingisDonger]

MVP

[@DatKakashii]

@@xanderthagreat8460lmao! That was amazing. Had me tearing up

[@cjvaye99]

LOL I love how Conrad goes from 0 to 100 real quick getting mad at Bruce not answering questions

[@GregHuffman1987]

bruce just doesn't come off as a genuine guy

[@roberttrester4030]

@@GregHuffman1987 yeah that's because he isn't.

[@warshipsatin8764]

conrad gets mad if he doesnt get the answer he wants, whether its true or not

[@reallyannoyingguyrighthere]

@@warshipsatin8764 exactly. If Jr said he didn’t know, he wouldn’t shout at him. I think he is closer friends with Eric and Bruce but I bet if he was doing one with Stone cold or someone like that, he wouldn’t go off on him. It’s super entertaining but a tad selective.

[@thickerconstrictor9037]

Conrads a disrespectful nobody. He's a smart Mark that married into the wrestling business that has no business doing anything other than sitting in the seat being a shity fan. The only reason anyone puts up with him is because he is a moneymaker for them with these podcasts. Anytime someone replaces him, the show is better without him. He is an obnoxious mouth breather that thinks he knows everything about the business and what should have been done when he wasn't there he didn't know the situation he's just a spectator monday-morning quarterbacking it with no expertise whatsoever. That's why he sucks off Dave meltzer. I love these shows because I love listening to people like Bruce and Jr who actually did something in the business for decades and we're a huge part of its history so I'll put up with Conrad to listen to them but he is so easily replaceable and it's not even slightly entertaining. He tries to do impressions like Bruce and his impressions are absolutely horrible he's not funny and he sounds like he's one cupcake away from a heart attack.

[@justinep3675]

I love it when Bruce and Conrad fight. Good stuff!! 49:00

[@sage-kq4tk]

Yah he was right to call him on this bs

[@michaelforsythe9350]

Everything single thing that Conrad said to Bruce about what was done to Hall was 100% right on the money.

[@j.3o21]

The Scott Hall fight was really good

[@-BigMike-]

This is why I like listening to Conrad. He doesn't swallow all the bullshit these guys feed him. Him and Bischoff got into several very heated arguments, my favorite being the finish of Hogan/Sting at Starrcade.

[@justinep3675]

@@-BigMike- the best fight was Eric and Conrad on the Great American bash. It was in the first 10 mins. An early episode.

[@Rschr101]

The company dropped the ball with Austin in 2002. Nwo and HHH coming back were definitely big factors in Austin being phased out and his injuries caught up with him. But the company should have protected him better. Losing the Undisputed Title match to Jericho was the beginning of the end. Hyping Rock up as the "future" of the business against Hogan was a critical mistake. Austin was the man that put WCW out of business and took Vince and co. to a whole new level of success that has never been matched before or since. Austin deserved better, and do did the audience. Such a shame.

[@travismcdonald6576]

Rschr101 WWE creative just started mailing it in after WCW was bought by Vince.

[@DarronMoe]

Rschr101 Wrong. Austin didn’t put WCW out, he was the most popular WWF wrestler in the attitude but he didn’t do it him self @ all.. Without The Vince angle, rock fued, and any fights with Taker.. Austin wouldn’t Be Shit

[@al_foodwizard6035]

RonnyApacolypse you got to be the dumbest son-of-a-b**** alive

[@DarronMoe]

ayham Hamideh naw ah doubt it

[@johnjandoh6732]

Fin Bluelor wrong rock was not the future cause he was going to Hollywood.

[@SeamHead33]

Skip bullshit 10:45

[@chadpugh1490]

SeamHead33 thank u sir. You've done a service.

[@bradnimbus4836]

Praises upon ye!

[@vegetasolo1221]

ＤＥＨＵＭＡＩＮＺＥ ＹＯＵＲＳＥＬＦ ＡＮＤ ＦＡＣＥ ＴＯ ＢＬＯＯＤＳＨＥＤ

[@tomwilliams2146]

SeamHead33 thanks

[@jonathancoleman7148]

SeamHead33 thanks bro

[@Obironnkenobi]

From what I gathered from his DVD's and interviews since this happened, the reason he (Austin, Pronouns pal) left was both creative and his health. His health was going downhill, he was wearing himself out, and one day realized how much bullshit he was doing. He realized that he was literally destroying himself for really terrible creative.

[@BrandanTheBroker]

19 Year Old Me: Firmly on Austin's side 38 Year Old Me: Kinda on Austin's side but now understand more of Vince's side. I can understand Austin was burnt out and frustrated with creative, but you show up and disclose your problems with the man that's signing your checks. I get Austin didn't want to disclose health problems but it could have went a long way with helping moving forward

[@Super122291]

U old af. Damn

[@bdot187um]

I'm on vince's side on this one, I mean sure the Creative wasn't the best at the time but Austin didn't help either, they tried to pair him with hogan that didn't work tried it with hall it didn't work, with flair not so much, last attempt with Guerrero was too late he was gone, so yeah vince is responsible for his Creative mess but you can see that he tried several times steve wasn't willing to do anything.

[@joshuaboshard3218]

I love listening to all the Conrad podcasts this one is one of my favorites and you can bet your bottom dollar cuz Stone cold said so

[@thedude4672]

I love that Conrad doesn't take any shit from anyone, including Bruce.

[@thedude4672]

@Marcus B A what?

[@FatLadyKiller]

Conrad ruins this show with his whiny bitchness

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

@@FatLadyKiller It's literally his show - what are you doing here? lmao This is a buyer's market, plenty of fish in the sea.

[@FatLadyKiller]

@@fuzzydunlop7928 it is not at all Conrads show, it's Bruce Prichards show. No one cares or listens for Conrad. He asks impossible questions and cries like a bitch when he's not given an answer he wants. It's frustrating and unnecessary. Bruce is the reason for its success and the reason people listen. No one, except maybe you, tunes in for Conrad.

[@michaelsands442]

To me when Stone cold said "ok" he meant "you decided what you were gonna do. I told you what my response to that was going to be; if you want to go in that direction. So we're done because this is a job I'm not willing to do and we disagree. Ok." That's what happens when people don't shoot straight. You have to mean what you say

[@bdot187um]

Indeed.

[@chrissmith8816]

The only thing I've ever disagreed on with Bruce, Steve Austin should have never been a heel!

[@JJA1987]

It's True even Steve Austin has admitted he regrets the Heel Turn

[@MaynardOwns]

Yeah he was a heelface naturally. Fight the man type of shit. Badguygoogguy

[@MarLenBo]

I'm guessing you mean after the babyface run. Because heel Austin from 95-97 was fucking legendary. His in ring work was never better.

[@bdot187um]

It was his own idea though, so you can't fault vince for that shit

[@chrissmith8816]

@@bdot187um Vince owns the company his choice at the end of the day.

[@southbeachtalent]

I find it interesting that King of the Ring was discontinued after 2003, I believe. As a fan I gotta admit I pretty much tuned out full time after 2001, but I always randomly come back to check things out. I don't recall seeing any kind of tournaments of any kind since then, and I'm guessing it's for this reason. Sometimes I just think wrestlers are babies. Tournaments are great, look at March Madness. Taking a loss in a tournament means nothing! No build up, no nothing. It's just a fun match.

[@MrStuDubb]

2:40:36 “Worst fucking show we’ve ever done!” My favorite STW moment

[@Vansbaseball]

I liked the one about an hour or so earlier when he said "I want you to give us something here because so far you have given us not shit on this entire show" Mind you I listen to 83 weeks and he has had some epic blowups with Eric but that line made the show for me

[@RealAlphaDrum]

haha, nice. Like Vince and Steve, or an old married couple.

[@j.3o21]

I love how wrestlers say 'I don't mind doing the job, providing the story is right' lol

[@rubberchix]

haha has anyone ever said the opposite? i dont like doing jobs? even Mil Mascaras tries justifying it

[@captainnutsack8151]

You have to understand that poor storylines = less money. It's about making money and drawing

[@jimson3785]

It's funny because if Hulk Hogan said that, everyone would get mad, but Stone Cold says it and nobody cares.

[@SBandy]

​@@jimson3785 Because what Austin said always made sense. Less so with Hogan.

[@gothchicksbongrips5712]

Eddie and Austin would've been a fun feud

[@GorditoCrunch343]

@Joseph Geiger It could have worked but the writing for it was so bad. Them starting a feud over karaoke??? No wonder Austin walked out, it was such a waste of both guys' talents.

[@blaineperry2740]

A heel Austin vs face Triple H in 01....that just don't sound right at all. 2002 was just a bad year for WWE. Rock basically had one foot out the door. The bad booking of Austin. Abruptly shoved into the midcard. Jobbing to Brock. Austin only had one shot at the WWE Championship back in January. Austin could've been a 7-time champion. But creative had other ideas.

[@vampirascoffin870]

Thank you fucking facts but i love 2002 wwe went down hill in 2008 going pg

[@williamscolaro1159]

At least we got hbk vs hhh at summerslam

[@mattmoon5300]

Ppvs were great in 2002. Absolutely fucking great. Just terrible booking for Austin

[@Splattermelt]

@@thaterasound Brock is a child. Austin would have whopped that blockheaded paint-chip eatin' lizard brained piece of ass.

[@daherreysso2826]

He was supposed to win but refused to put over HHH

[@C.Romero7]

Thank you for this I love how you simply called out the attempt to destroy stone cold even if they say they didn't, you spoke the evidence , he was the biggest bread , stone cold did not deserve this , thank you

[@tommyhallum4207]

I think bringing back the NWO was the wrong move they should have created some type of kliq faction and left Hogan out of it. You still could have had the Rock vs Hogan and it still would have been epic but you could have also had the greatest faction in history. Maybe some kind of DX spin-off that included all of the kliq.

[@jordanwillett8456]

That's what I think everyone wanted but at the time Shawn wasn't wrestling by the time he made his come back Nash was hurt and hall was gone so all you had lest was Hunter and Shawn which led to a great rivalry between them

[@longhuynh7380]

Nwo should have came back in the invasion angle

[@GLPitt1]

They should have brought them back but not done it just to job them out and turn Hogan face. They could have had a long, drawn out story arc between NWO and Austin that lasted a calendar year. And then turned Hogan face after a lot of teasing. Just wasted so much potential material. And they could always have done Stone Cold vs Lesnar later on.

[@bdot187um]

@@longhuynh7380 no they could've came as is in 2002 as the lethal poison, unfortunately bad creative and people not wanting to work with them hurt them , which eventually ended the nwo in the summer of 02.

[@bdot187um]

@@GLPitt1 i totally agree.

[@jackmyoff6461]

Steve Austin holding The Pixar ball... ;)

[@GamingAndTv]

He took his ball and went home lol

[@donaldb93]

@@GamingAndTvI love Austin but he didn’t like putting guys over the record with him against the rock is like 5-1 and his only lost was his retirement match

[@joerauch7037]

I love this episode my favorite cause Steve was my favorite wrestler of all time and totally understand why he walk out I would have to

[@Rschr101]

Agreed. Steve deserved better

[@keithcrockett8986]

Joe Rauch he walked out because he simply was too selfish to pass the perverbial torch....

[@komodo380]

Being booked to lose in a qualifying match at KOTR 2002 against Lesnar who was green as hell after you were one of the two top guys of the Attitude Era is enough to set anyone off. Brock made his debut the night after WM 18, Goldberg made his debut on September 22, 1997.....that would be like Goldberg being booked to beat Hogan at Starrcade 97 in an opening match just 3 months later, makes absolutely no sense.

[@daherreysso2826]

Chris Gilfeather before Brock he was supposed to face HHH at Mania and drop the undisputed title and he refused coz of his ego he didn’t wanted to go 3-1 on Title matches on Mania

[@nathanielparham5960]

I didn't see Austin a babyface

[@MrBooBeeDoo]

Conrad, Goldust and Mr Perfect weren't surprise entrants to the 2002 Royal Rumble. They were advertised beforehand that they would appear.

[@mrrvc6950]

2002 was the year that killed the business. Still have not recovered and the show today is total shit.

[@MattySadler]

Spot on it was 2002 when I stopped watching. Not watched a single show since then.

[@lordgonzo6611]

Bye felicia

[@dahuefillmore4244]

Yeah 2002 and 2003 was fuccing brutal!

[@Iam123-i5j]

i stopped watching right after WM 19. But I've slowly starting coming back over the past year

[@Rishieh]

You are correct, I held on for a *bit* more but once HHH beat Booker at Mania I peaced out

[@emilygorey2237]

Conrad and bruce fighting is hilarious. Conrad is totally right though. If forcing an alcoholic to drink is ' the business' then that is toxic and, quite frankly, garbage from a creative standpoint.

[@mx49dad]

.

[@cjvaye99]

its hilarious Conrad's anger comes out of nowhere lol

[@mikesharon2822]

Nobody gonna argue that Hulk & Austin are the 2 biggest wrestlers of all time!!! Love how they argue like brothers over the Scott hall issue lol

[@papamike612]

Mike Sharon what makes a huge face is a huge heel... i think to mention hulk-Austin, almost have to list it as hulk/Andre, Austin/Rock

[@vampirascoffin870]

The greatest match that never happened along with austin vs goldberg

[@BishopM1]

Mike Sharon The Rock was at least just as big. 1997-1999 Austin was no doubt the biggest star in the WWF, but by 2000-2002 Rock was discernibly bigger.

[@joshlewispersonal]

This proves to me that the wide scale rehab WWE pays for and hands out like Oprah handing out houses is just for good publicity and to be frank is probably a smart move for the future of the BUSINESS... but not for the good of the WRESTLERS themselves. Props to Conrad for sticking to his guns - i have worked in the corporate creative field before and you get thick skin from handling heated arguments, so i wasn't surprised Bruce could handle it. But most podcast hosts are too polite and respond commonly as a kiss ass - no matter what you think of Conrad, Bruce's words proves that WWE doesn't really give a shit about their employees' abuse issues and Bruce is a class A bullshitter (probably more the fault of the industry than his own)

[@alexbain87]

@1:07:54 Scott Hall was and had been for a long time an addict. He let the companies he’s been a part of down MANY times. And as Bruce said and Stephanie has said, WWE paid for Scott’s (AND OTHERS) rehab, many many times. Don’t give me this bleeding heart shit. WWE did all they could from a corporate stand point.

[@jeremycr8ivesoul543]

Austin shouldn't have turned heel...invasion of wcw should've started at WM 17 by interrupting rock vs austin 01 forcing two top guys to shift their focus to defend the company

[@longhuynh7380]

Exactly this is the right time to introduce the big guys from wcw too hall Nash hogan Goldberg and bischoff would have been better than ddp booker t and

[@longhuynh7380]

Jeremy Cr8iveSoul would have been nice if we had heel michaels vs face Austin that would have been perfect

[@slystonedtuna]

The Fact They Had Jericho Champion Was A Testament Of How Much Bullshit The Creative Was. Austin Should Have Won The Undisputed Championship In December 2001 And Went To Face Triple H At Mania In A Babyface Program

[@mattjustofficial]

Hurricane double chokeslam was Austin and Triple H not Rock

[@Dagon391]

Except the WWE was no just fine after Stone Cold left. This was the beginning of the end. Look where they are now with 3 people watching Raw every Monday.

[@dontgotocollege5232]

They are more valuable now than back then.

[@Rschr101]

Ratings went in the shitter once Austin left and Rocky sold out for Hollywood. WWE lost most of the mainstream audience to the UFC and now only die hards and children watch wrestling. Their programming is geared toward a younger audience and it shows. Still fun to watch old matches but these days the product is garbage.

[@jizzio82]

God bless you Conrad. Listening in 2022, new to this podcast. As a recovering addict who is 6 years clean, thank you for calling out the bullshit with Hall to Bruce. And fuck him for his attitude toward it. Keep speaking the truth and calling out this business for its BS. I don’t watch wrestling and haven’t since the 90s. But I followed the attitude era and this has all been very enlightening

[@clover7028]

I felt the same way. Congrats on your sobriety!

[@FforFake]

This was definitely Prichard's worst moment on this podcast. It makes you appreciate Bischoff more for admitting it was wrong to exploit Hall's alcoholism in an angle.

[@thesupervisor3270]

If WCW was still in business WWE wouldn’t have buried Austin like they did when he left

[@ToxicAvengerCleanYourMind]

When he left? He left because they wanted him to lose to Brock Lesnar. That's not being buried! If was to lose to Christian, yeah, I understand, but Brock Lesnar! Austin was do shortsighted. He could of formed a rivalry off that and it could of ran into a main event at Wrestlemania. You don't know what being buried means

[@jmiyagi12345]

@@ToxicAvengerCleanYourMind it isn't getting buried, but wasn't this some random Raw with no build up? If I recall, they hadn't even been involved in anything prior. So it's not like they had plant d the seeds and this was the first of many matchups.

[@ToxicAvengerCleanYourMind]

@@jmiyagi12345 yeah, true...good point. I don't know though...when you make it to the top like Austin did, he didn't want to leave...I can't blame him really and he probably knew he was about to retire anyways so yeah, I see your point

[@88smjls]

Then like 2 years later Rock leaves for 7 years😂😂😂

[@kb4231]

He was really out after summer 02 was just a part timer the last two years.

[@ICHIBAN-cz8ih]

@@kb4231 he left in '03 after the Goldberg match and came back for a few months about a year later

[@urbanentertainmentgodz]

Austin vs Lesnar woulda been a million buys..

[@Super122291]

Nice chest 😍

[@WalterThomasMcCarty]

Conrad calling Bruce Jack Dick is amazing podcast listening.

[@sleazyfellow]

So austin makes Vince a legit billionaire, but Vince acted like a complete teenager who got broken up with when austin decided to leave. I would of liked to have seen austin never return, I wonder what Vince would of done, I guess HHH would of made Vince back into just a multimillionaire sooner. A dvd like the original ultimate warrior 1, instead it's called don't cross the boss the steve austin story

[@sage-kq4tk]

Check out 49:00 it shows how fucked this company is.

[@pikkon899]

And you, if in that same position, wouldn't have been angry if the person that made you billions just got up and left? Where does it end with people? Vince handled it poorly but come one now. Both Steve and Vince are to blame here.

[@sonicplys64]

Steve didn't want to do the job and put new talent over. I wonder if the following year, Trips threatened to pull an Austin if he didn't get what he wants (hence his reign of terror in 2003).

[@travismcdonald6576]

I wonder how much HHH and Stephanie played in the demise of Austin during this time?

[@GorditoCrunch343]

Steve was the last obstacle in the way that prevented Hunter's politics backstage. Once it became clear that he was on his way out in 2002, HHH immediately made a power play for the top spot.

[@un-realism7813]

And also opened the door for Shawn to make a "miraculous" recovery once Austin and Rock were gone

[@Rschr101]

This was definitely a huge factor in Austin being downplayed in 2002. But I would say it started in 2000 when he returned from the neck surgery. Stephanie had just been given creative control and Steve got saddled with Rikishi...Im sure HHH suggested he be put in the angle and Austin never got a win over Hunter in that whole feud. Luckily 2001 was a triumphant comwback year for Austin, he definitely found his groove and was better than ever...but HHH getting injured also helped a ton. Long story short, Steph and Trips definitely influenced the fall of Austin.

[@Rschr101]

Interesting too that the ratings exploded when Austin took the title from Shawn in 98 and later the audience basically disappeared when Austin left and Shawn returned in 02.

[@keithcrockett8986]

Had nothing to do with HHH.... STEVE WAS UPSET BECAUSE HOGAN WAS COMING IN..... THAT WOULDVE POSSIBLY HURT AUSTIN'S TOP SPOT....

[@xtraspecialmango]

Dollar shave sliced my face up reeeeal good.

[@cryptozoomauler5505]

Ouch. What were you using as shaving cream?

[@maineventkrunch2265]

Man I miss these old shows so much, the 3 hour long odysseys.

[@VindicatorMike]

Conrad was right about them pouring beer on Scott Hall. That was stupid and wrong.

[@EGarrett01]

He did the same thing to Jake Roberts. Stone Cold loved to mock alcoholics.

[@pocmuky8637]

@@EGarrett01 Austin never poured beer on Jake. He didn't even have beer as a gimmick yet. That was Jerry Lawler pouring whisky in their feud. Austin only mentioned "a cheep bottle of thunderbird" in the infamous 3:16 promo.

[@EGarrett01]

Yes but Austin for some reason loved to mock alcoholic characters.

[@pocmuky8637]

@@EGarrett01 Like who? How do you know that??

[@EGarrett01]

Because he did it more than once including when it wasn't booked.

[@mrddm3]

I'm about 1/4 into this one and I'm pretty well versed why Steve said BYE B*TCH!

[@TheJiljo]

Everyone with a bad neck has an expiration date. Yes people like Edge and Paige/Saraya are exceptions (and even they need a limited schedule), but people like Lita, Malenko, Bob Holly, Austin, Kurt Angle, and Paul Orndorff had to hang it up prematurely or use substances to keep going. I firmly believe Benoit was approaching his breaking point, physical health-wise, around the time he did what he did. And if Big E ever comes back, he’ll definitely have a limited schedule. Steve saw the writing on the wall regarding his health and the bad creative was enough for him to say “enough, I’m out”

[@heisensaul5538]

I just listened to the Sherri episode and I was curious what else was on the poll from this one and DDP is the only one of the 4 to not get an episode so far. I hope he gets one in 2020 on STW. That'd be an interesting listen, but that is definitely more of an Eric Bischoff topic for 83 weeks.

[@bdr113080]

At the 50:00 minute mark this turns into shoot. Wow

[@filfil9960]

I think Austin's heel turn in 2001 was underated. That was some of the most entertaining stuff I've ever seen. He started the watch thing and the WHAT? He and Kurt Angle was amazing chemistry...that stuff I still watch today so I enjoyed Steve Austin in the summer of 2001!

[@GorditoCrunch343]

It was a great run, probably the best in-ring year for anyone in wrestling history. Problem was that the fans didn't want to see it and were not going to boo their hero. Ratings plummeted and house shows suffered over time after that, worst move possible for business. At least it made Kurt a big star for that short span, so there's that.

[@Rschr101]

My favorite year of wrestling. That was peak for me and if you look at the ratings they were never higher after that year. Most people turned out after Austin left and Rocky sold out for Hollywood.

[@WAREHOUSE553]

No, it didnt work. He was not a good heel and it basically ruined him.

[@MarLenBo]

Conrad was 100% correct in that argument.

[@markwilliams7054]

I enjoyed his feud with Hall. His Jericho match at no way out was worse than mania x8

[@Rschr101]

Austin and Jericho never had good chemistry. Might've had something to do with Chris being a short, glorified midcarder with terrible timing.

[@Prime92]

I didn't know the wrestling automatically involves beer. Guess Hall should have just quite wrestling. Just wow.

[@bigb860]

This episode could've been a lot better but it still has one of the best Bruce/Conrad bicker-fests of all time.

[@rmelvin82273]

Conrad is an insufferable bitch. His hindsight guided virtue signaling is some weak shit. The fat ass needs knocked down a peg. His name isn't in the title for a reason. He's not the draw.

[@FatLadyKiller]

I'm so over his fat whiny ass. He literally thinks it's his show not Bruces. He needs to be replaced

[@RyanDMoore]

I don't understand the hate for Conrad... And how is mocking someone in recovery with their old vice that they're dying to use but know that they can't NOT a little fucked up? It's just a total lack of compassion, empathy, and respect. That's like tying someone who trusts you up who is a freshly-recovering opiate addict and then dumping bottles of Morphine, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, and heroin all over them just to laugh at their inner turmoil of wanting to use but knowing that they can't. That's prey mentality. It's like throwing a surprise coming-home party for a crack addict coming out of rehab, and at the party everybody is trying to get him to snort a line (while they aren't doing any, because they're just doing it to see if he fucks up). That's like a human experiment and an abuse of power that shouldn't be there in the first place. It's not funny, it's cold hearted. Love Bruce but I like Conrad just fine. Show would be different without him.

[@daveboone7432]

That's like if he was a heroin addict and they threw heroin at him in the ring and said if you can't handle it get out of the room that's a little crazy to me

[@jaylew8408]

Scott was only a mid card as Razor before leaving for wcw? I don't think that's the case

[@WAREHOUSE553]

Agree he was upper mid card that couldve been World Champ but didnt want it. And he could run circles around Austin the ring in terms of wrestling. But Austin was the better talker.

[@WhatAboutall]

I want that Sherri episode. And i want that DDp show, hear how they murdered his character.

[@nicholascalvo2083]

The Monday Night Wars Killed Wrestling. They started giving away big matches every week and guys worked over and over and watered down the product

[@suitedandbooted363]

Nicholas Calvo agree but at the same time it was amazing as it pushed Vince to raise his game.

[@jjalkman1999]

Disagree. They still put on big PPVs back then. Adding Smackdown is what watered things down.

[@Rschr101]

The brand split, Austin retiring, Rocky selling out, and Triple H being over pushed is what ruined wrestling.

[@lancewalton8705]

Austin and Undertaker were the biggest fucking divas in the world in 01-02. So many missed opportunities

[@ogarstyle]

The one good thing that came from his walk out was that they brought The Rock back early...

[@daherreysso2826]

AAAnderson055 they had to do it coz Rock was leaving so who’s gonna the face of the company? Rock was okay putting over Brock

[@Rschr101]

Rocky left 2 months later.

[@fmthebaron]

They should've just had Undertaker beat Austin at WM 18 and have Scott Hall beat Ric Flair instead. Austin couldn't complain then because he'd be in a feature match with another fellow top guy and could become a part of The Undertaker's Legendary Undefeated Streak. Then just have Flair with Arn Anderson lose to Scott Hall with Kevin Nash.

[@TheeCoachg]

I have started this episode a million times and still don’t know why “Austin walked out” lol. Conrad was right here just as he was in the WM19 episode with the Booker T shit. I like Bruce but it’s frustrating when he can’t even admit something was done in poor taste.How can you say “we put you through rehab so many times” yet dump beer on him. How do you even have a Wellness policy that allows prior offenders to even be involved in angles where the lines can get blurred. WWE can do some tasteless Ass shit smh

[@johnjandoh6732]

thalrg22 Well if you don't know then you're dumb cause you should have heard what Conrad read in Austin's book.

[@troywright359]

it is horribe that they did that to hall and just told him to man up

[@rmelvin82273]

@@troywright359 they didn't know he was taking the medication that would make him sick. It's easy to Virtue signal when you have hindsight as your guide.

[@troywright359]

they didn't know or care to ask. just the environment of feeling unable to speak up is bad enough.

[@kingoffarts8352]

OK so the WWE is suppose to ask everyone everyday what kind of medication they are talking? why didn't Scott tell someone at WWE he was on it.? If he did I'm sure they would not have poured beer on him. I'm sure they would have thought of something else to do instead. You can't blame your employer or any of your co workers if you choose not to tell them about your medication . Sorry but that;s just common sense.

[@bluejackgirlyx]

@1.56.00 Sounds to me likeVince had written off Austin as damaged goods. (see @2.00.00 this is supported/confirmed by Austin). I mean, he was having matches with Ric Flair prior to this--matches san punches no less. So Vince, callously, figured he haqd a broken horse and wanted to shock the world by burying him in a semi-suprise fashion ( 50-50 , obvi)...thus giving him a new, shiny stud in Lesnar...and leaving behind the horse's corpse...that used to go by the name Stunning Steve. Good for Austin standing up and calling SELF-INTEREST ONLY serving Vince out... have SOME respect for the guy...not ZERO.

[@WAREHOUSE553]

But Rock jobbed to alot of people and still managed to stay on top. Stone Cold seemed, like Hogan, to have an issue with losing. If Rock could do it, why couldn't he.

[@Radiohead801]

2:40:30 Conrad pissed lol

[@sonicplys64]

Bruce "I don't know" Prichard

[@derekfisher8571]

Bruce got called dead to rights on the Scott Hall thing. And I know it was Scott's personal problem, but that was uncalled for in my opinion.

[@Super122291]

Shut up Derek

[@falseshepherd-490]

Conrad may have slightly over reacted to the stone cold/Scott hall beer angle.

[@tharealest8190]

Daniel Didion no he didn't, Bruce was CLEARLY full of shit with that situation and Conrad rightfully so called his ass out on it .

[@oozziehalifa4435]

Daniel Didion I agreed with Conrad on that one. That's pretty messed up and inconsiderate. Careless as well and these guys are supposed to be a fraternity

[@kevinnielsen134]

He didn't over react at all IMO. Bruce had an awful take on that situation. If you know Scott Hall has a drinking problem and the company clearly wants him to stay away from alcohol, why would you ever dump beer on him in an angle? That's stupid. The idea of "if you can't handle it do something else" is ridiculous. There were so many other things Austin could have done to him instead of that. The alcohol never should have been involved.

[@SeamHead33]

Jetsfan89 if you're working with stone cold, doesn't beer kinda come with the territory?

[@joeygana8864]

Jetsfan89 Agreed, Love Bruce, but I’m in Recovery, if somebody was dumping Dope On Me, it would trigger me, and I would end up using, bad angle, and just kind of heartless, Austin could of done so many other things, and why wasn’t it just Austin, vs Kevin Nash, that would of been more realistic, You Got Austin the Face of The Company, vs The Guy who Came up with the Stone Cold Gimmick, well Tweener, Diesal who was the face of the company for 1995, he held the title for 362 Days, but he was hurt or something, but Hall, wasn’t the Hall of 1996 in 2002, Nash could still go, and it would of been a way bigger attraction, And Austin Could of Wrestled Hogan at wm, he didn’t want to be booed, The Rock Never Minds, Rock as a Heel, Hollywood Rock, Best Rock Ever, But Austin vs Hogan was The Plan, but Austin didn’t want to get booed, after just turning face again.

[@grannysfamily8804]

When you have Austin's money. You don't have to take crap from anyone. Lol

[@jamesbyersmusic]

1:00:00 - Shame the same sentiment wasn't shared about Scott Hall a few minutes earlier...

[@BishopM1]

Do a Rock/Austin feud episode. All the way before WM15-19

[@SonicAlchemy13]

Never had a problem with Austin turning heel. It was a nice swerve and I hate The Rock as a face , so I enjoyed watching him getting drowned in chair shots. Austin as a cowardly heel that hid his behind wife and needed Kurt Angle's hugs for validation is what I had a problem with. The stupid "What?" chants that ruined everyone else's promo for two years is what I had a problem with.

[@SSJ2Phenom]

Look, I don't condone not living up to your word or contractual obligations. Having said that, it's hard not to be on Austin's side here. He told them that he didn't like the creative with Brock several times and they didn't listen at all. I mean, if Rock had said it or Taker or Trips I feel like they would've listened. Just because he wasn't the tippy top guy anymore it seems like they didn't care about what he wanted.

[@patrickdoherty4527]

Yeah. It was ridiculous. He was a megastar. He was treated so badly.

[@crashintonickdm]

Lmao Austin is such a damn legend.

[@jeffhall3044]

Stone Cold Steve Austin does whatever he wants whenever he wants.

[@weatheredtome]

Conrad was 100% right in this. Prichard is just salty because he knows he got caught mixing up his stories and excuses and got rightfully called out for it

[@jmreeves89]

Was this the start of Ad Greed Hell? I only relisten to early episodes to avoid the stupid amount of ads (and to avoid WWE Bruce) but this one literally starts with an ad every 9 minutes.

[@colonelsanders3388]

Couldn’t finish this episode because could not tolerate Conrad’s smug b.s. towards Bruce. It’s pathetically easy to judge Bruce & the wwe in hindsight, until you walked in their shoes and put your own money on the line. Conrad is the worst smart mark out there.

[@jordanwillett8456]

Yeah he makes the show a bit unbearable sometimes he believes anything daddy Dave says and if Bruce says something contrary to that he cries

[@stevemichael652]

Say what u want about Russo, I sure have…. But can we agree “holes” that big where no one coming out to help Austin would not have happened under his watch? One of his strengths was to always protect talent and the story, from having guys leave the arena on camera so no one can ask “why didn’t they respond” (BATB 2000 hogan and bishoff leaving so they couldn’t attack Russo during his “shoot”) …. To having stars lose matches via dirty finishes so they didn’t get pinned so protect their character….. Russo was always making sure shit made sense.

[@bluejackgirlyx]

@134.00 Austin highlights valid point from talent persp. -- move and shuffle as necessary - as needed- between the 2...not nail each person to one or the other and absolutely throw flexibility right out the effin window.

[@Kevin-cy4qn]

OK!?!!, I've NEVER said this, even though I have thought about it for yrs, but I didn't buy into the whole Shawn Michaels thing, & still don't think that it's to the extent that the rumor Mills started, & still say to this day, but Bruce is trying to tell us, that Austin was the "Hardest Superstar to EVER work with", when I had HBK in that company, running a muck! From trying to, to LITERALLY burying guys, or just plain ruining WAY MORE than a few guys career?!! WOW!! Plus, I always heard the saying by Good Ole Jr. that "They can't miss you, unless you're gone" nor whatever it was Bruce said about learning new holds.

[@AmericanGypsy206]

The WWE did not make a mistake, pushing Austin down the Card he was passed his prime plus he had multiple injuries and the WWE did not need him in 2002 like they did from 1997 to 2001… during this time WCW was gone they did not need to push the envelope for ratings. They were in a comfortable spot plus they had brock Lesnar triple H Chris Jericho edge, Kurt angle and more they did not need Austin plus he had a very big ego and he thought he was the best and a year after this he got arrested for domestic violence for beating up his then wife Deborah, Steve Austin was a physical wreck in the early 2000s and his wrestling career was pretty much done. The WWE was clearly full of talent. They didn’t need him or the rock.

[@robertmoore8821]

Edit out the "commercials" before putting this on KZbin.

[@elasticater8429]

I love this show but Conrad just kills me sometimes. He's unbearably Naive.

[@cryptozoomauler5505]

I don't find him naive, but I do find him to be very pushy and a jerk to his co-host sometimes....whereas I find Bruce to be the good cop, although the thing with Hall WAS wrong.

[@thatdudewithtrexarms8594]

Bruce lied a lot in this one. damn man.

[@TheRustedShackleford]

The dumping beer on Scott Hall was a pretty fucked up move. I get it's within the realms of Austin's gimmick, but there were other options In sure. Even more fucked up is Bruce defending it.

[@Scred00xx]

LMAO

[@JR7827]

Bruce doesn't know anything.....or claims not to.😑 But, he does great impressions I'll give him that. 😂

[@cooper08071985]

JR7827 claims not to know, he will always protect McMahon just so the door to return is always open

[@leestenson6975]

These 15 second ads are killing me

[@Super122291]

Rip lee 🙏

[@angelhuezorocks]

Conrad, you are great. It's awesome let a lier stumble on his own lies ( that's Bruce ).

[@johnjandoh6732]

Falcon Your a shortsighted dumbass

[@RyanDMoore]

@@johnjandoh6732 Your? Really, that easy to get right and you fucked THAT up? You learned the difference between there, their, and they're in a third grade spelling course and you try to insult the guy... 😂😂😂

[@shizzygotitphilly]

How many podcasts Conrad’s on ?

[@SDG.12]

Stooge Prichard

[@GustavoPedroza83]

Damn. Conrad called him out😹😹😹

[@Super122291]

Shut up u burrito

[@GustavoPedroza83]

@@Super122291 piss off u racist bigot

[@markmullins132]

Wifebeater 3:16

[@jeffez6572]

Like you where there to see what happened. Iv personally witnessed 2 woman make this claim and turned out to be bullshit on one, the second one she ran after him with a knife n he clocked her with a backhand (well deserved) was she arrested for attempted homicide nope.. Im not saying in any way he did or didn't do it. I dont make stupid comments like that unless i have 1st hand knowledge of what happened. I know this a TOTAL SHOCKER (A.K.A unexpexting finger in de butt🍑👈) to all the millennials, but not everything u read on google is all 100% truth

[@Rschr101]

Erroneous comment.

[@Palomares256]

Austin is Beast💪🏽👌🏼💯

[@thickerconstrictor9037]

I completely agree then it was beyond stupid to have Austin job to Brock with no build-up. I think that Steve handled it horribly and I think walking out like he did was wrong. he definitely should have put him over but it shouldn't have been with no buildup on free TV. It should have been at least a nice build-up like he had with the undertaker. but it seems like he had a lot of issues at the time and obviously when he came back it wasn't long before he retired so he probably needed that time away. But he still handled it like complete shit. There was definitely fault on both sides. It's a real shame because had Steve stayed healthy we definitely could have gotten at least five more years of him being a top player. Even if he wasn't as hot as he was in his prime, he could have still had a five-year run left and some spot appearances here and even the last 10 years could still have had a match here and there. It's a shame that he left like he did but giving Brock vs Austin away with no build-up was dumb. And he definitely needed some time away.

[@jonfranks6902]

Everyone is an expert after the fact

[@theGodKingg]

Because the chair shit was crazy hard lol. Go watch if you haven’t lol.

[@tommyhallum4207]

Bruce has some good Impressions but Austin is not one of them. That was terrible man.

[@Difrentstyles]

We would check the observer every week trying info around this time.... Eddie in WWA New England for a show or two before he went back to wwe Tom running weekend trainings, then me the young kid setting up the ring going to the store for them great times 02 we had Bossman, Sabu, Candido, Balls,Tammy, Snuka, Rosie, and Jamal. Sparta had the hook up from Danny and Tom. Had to be off tv for 3 months, I believe it was. Good times ✌🏼

[@cmonhitme419]

@2.45.00 love that jr impression

[@freighttrainsahpassing9790]

coincedentally it's April Fools day of 19 while I listen to Austin say "April Fools" lol !!!

[@leestenson6975]

Nobody cares

[@faithfamilyandcountry7452]

Wow I’ve never heard them so fired up. 49:00

[@sabercrosby8128]

everybody wanted austin v hogan. It was the dream wrestlemania match. Looks like Austin's ego got in the way. They should have given the fans their dream match. Can't believe they missed that opportunity. its insane

[@TRELLT77]

Ego??? Hogan is and always has been trash. Austin deserved better

[@sabercrosby8128]

@@TRELLT77 yeah he stated many times he wouldn't do the job for hogan or even work with him

[@kb4231]

It's funny that Rock got the Hogan match, and also got the Lesnar match with the build up that Austin wanted.

[@jordanwillett8456]

@@TRELLT77 Ok why would Austin not job for Brock? He was mad because wwe was trying to build stars and Austin wanted to be the guy I loved Austin but after 01 he was to big for his own good

[@TRELLT77]

@@jordanwillett8456 Too big??? He is the greatest success in pro wrestling/Sports Entertainment. He was a long time great worker, had skill and showed what a modern star should be. It's not like CM Punk & Finn Balor whereby you wonder why the fascination, nothing special. Brock did just fine though didn't he????

[@DBeck420]

Personally I think Conrad owes Prichard an apology!! I understood perfectly clear what Bruce was getting at about when Austin kidnapped Hall and poured beer on him....Conrad seemed to be looking for an argument. Hall should've said something if he had a concern and I agree he probably felt he couldn't in fear of losing his spot/Job. I'm really enjoying listening to all the inside stories being a fan my entire life (I was born in 1973, back when Vince was as skinny as my sorry ass lol) . Show Bruce some Love Conrad, you already know that "He Loves Youuuuuuuu!"

[@sonicplys64]

A while ago Vince said he wanted the Real Stone Cold back. What he got was the whiny Bret Hart version. How ironic.

[@madandy2008]

Face triple h and heel austin....no thank you lol

[@Rschr101]

Haha there's no way any fan in their right mind was going to cheer the son in law over Austin. The fans didnt want to boo Steve. They never did. I think the crowd would've been more split at Mania 18 had it been Hogan vs Austin.

[@madandy2008]

@@Rschr101 yeah man i just remember hating austin was a heel and waiting for him too change back and the alliance crap was even worse...triple h was too much of a natural heel too be cheered over austin and if it happened they would have had too do a double switch again

[@Y2JLionHeart]

@@madandy2008 I liked the heel Austin. HHH was never a good face, IMO. Natural heel, as you said.

[@GregHuffman1987]

so this episode signs off on a Vince Russo on a Poll match