Before I go any further, I want to go on record as saying that I’m a huge Steve Austin fan. Ever since I first saw him in the USWA about fifteen years ago, I knew he would become a major player.
But recently I’ve become embarrassed by what I’ve seen of the man on television.
This past Saturday night, Austin took on John Bradshaw Layfield in a beer drinking contest. After downing a few cold ones, Austin took JBL down with a stone cold stunner, before downing a few more cold ones as the live crowd roared their approval. But while the fans in attendance loved every minute of it, to me this little act was becoming stale and tired.
Almost three years ago, Steve Austin put in a great performance against the Rock in what turned out to be his last match. Nobody knew then just how bad Austin’s knee and neck injuries had become. The following night on Raw, General Manager Eric Bischoff fired Austin for lying about his health problems.
But recently I’ve become embarrassed by what I’ve seen of the man on television.
This past Saturday night, Austin took on John Bradshaw Layfield in a beer drinking contest. After downing a few cold ones, Austin took JBL down with a stone cold stunner, before downing a few more cold ones as the live crowd roared their approval. But while the fans in attendance loved every minute of it, to me this little act was becoming stale and tired.
Almost three years ago, Steve Austin put in a great performance against the Rock in what turned out to be his last match. Nobody knew then just how bad Austin’s knee and neck injuries had become. The following night on Raw, General Manager Eric Bischoff fired Austin for lying about his health problems.
Since then, Austin has served as general manager and “sheriff” of Raw, while continuing to stunner anyone who got in his way, as well as downing cold ones whenever he could.
He’s also had several disagreements behind the scenes, which meant he was off our screens for months at a time, but he always came back, usually around the time of the WWE’s biggest shows, stealing the limelight, dishing out a few stunners and downing even more cold ones.
See what I’m trying to get at here?
As sad as it is for me to say, but I really think it’s time for Steve Austin to consider his options and move away from the world of professional wrestling. If his injuries really prohibit him from competing in that final, career defining match, then he should stop with his tiresome act and step away from the ring completely.
Compare Austin’s situation to that of his former rival Bret Hart. Since his appearances for the now-defunct World Wrestling All-Stars promotion, the Hitman has received numerous offers from both WWE and TNA to return to television in non-competing roles, something that he’s turned down because he wants to preserve his legacy as one of the greats, and because he knows that after his recent health problems, he wouldn’t be able to put in the same type of performance he did years ago. By appearing in skits, Austin is harming his legacy, and his appearances no longer guarantee ratings. If they did, then Saturday Night’s Main Event would have drawn more viewers than either Raw or Smackdown.
Just give us one more match Steve, one more defining moment. If you can’t do that, then leave us with our precious moments, and don’t outstay your welcome.
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