My World with Jeff Jarrett - The Steiner Brothers [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Welcome back to My World! Today we’re taking a look at Rick & Scott Steiner.

A lot of people automatically assume the Steiners started up together and were teaming right from the start, but that’s not the case at all!

We know they were both great amateurs in high school and at the University of Michigan, as it was always pushed on TV, particularly by Jim Ross, and of course their ring jackets they would later wear with the University of Michigan logo printed on.

Rick later hooked up with George the Animal Steele after getting a degree in education, and Steele of course was a teacher when he wasn’t wrestling back then - and he introduced Rick to the world of pro wrestling.

Rick was trained by Brad Rheingans and Eddie Sharkey at one of the AWA training camps in Minnesota. He debuted in the AWA in January 1985, using his full real name Rob Rechsteiner.

Rick also works in Montreal and Mid-South, eventually morphing his last name Rechsteiner into “Rick Steiner” as his wrestling name going forward.

In the UWF, he and Sting become a team and win the tag titles, and when JCP buys the UWF, he merges over to the NWA, and that’s where he and Scott first get together in 1989.

Before they got together though Jeff, you hooked up with Scott Steiner in 1988 in Memphis.

Scott, who is a couple of years younger than Rick, had debuted in 1986 for the Indianapolis-based World Wrestling Association (WWA) after being trained by The Sheik and Dr. Jerry Graham Jr. and won the world heavyweight and the tag titles there.

He then went to the Continental Wrestling Association (CWA) in Memphis in early 1988.

He formed a team with Billy Joe Travis and later Jed Grundy, winning the tag titles with both.

In our research we found a couple battle royals you had shared time in the ring with as early as May of 1988.

Tell us about the first time you met Scott down here in Memphis. How did you guys seem to hit it off straight away?

You two also teamed up together on occasion:

Working against teams like the Rock ‘n’ Roll RPMs, Beauty & the Beast…did you see Scott’s raw natural talent early on?

Was Scott destined to be following his brother to the NWA do you think?

In April of 1989 the last match we could find with you & Scott was a 10-man steel cage match in Jonesboro, Arkansas…ready for this lineup Jeff?

Chris Adams, Jeff Jarrett, Jerry Lawler, Lord Humongous & Scott Steiner taking on Brian Lee, Detroit Demolition, Dutch Mantell, Master of Pain & Robert Fuller with the heels getting the win. Can you break down each guy - and who they ended up being and any memories of the match?

Scott then joined up with his brother in May 1989 in the NWA, and they really made a name for themselves the next few years as a team here and in New Japan, winning multiple tag titles.

How much NWA/WCW were you watching during this time? Did you keep any contact with Scott?

The Steiners later joined the WWF in December 1992, you of course joined up with the WWF about a year later at the end of November 93. Was this the first time you met Rick?

Besides two Royal Rumble matches in 1994 (the PPV and at a Madison Square Garden house show), you had no other interactions with them there, and they had left by April 1994, essentially not happy with their run there.

Were you talking with them a lot - Scott or Rick? Did you feel their unhappiness?

So the Steiners go back to New Japan full time and even have a few months in ECW in the summer of 95, before going back to WCW in March 1996.

In October 96, this is when you joined WCW for the first time and had a year-run there. You did wrestle Rick in a quick match on the December 23rd Nitro in Macon, GA, but it’s super confusing as you actually pinned an interfering nWo Sting and have your hand raised and that’s it.

But that’s WCW for you.

There’s also a couple of tag matches in May 97 - Another quick match on Nitro on the 19th in Asheville, NC, you and one of the Four Horsemen - Steve McMichael - lost to the Steiners, and the next night in Columbia, SC - you teamed with another Horseman - Ric Flair - and lost again.

What is your relationship like during this time? Like old buds getting back together again or with WCW being different did you run in different circles?

Let’s skip ahead to WCW in the year 2000 when you come across the Steiners again in your career. Scott of course is by now Big Poppa Pump.

What were your original thoughts about the Big Poppa Pump character Scott had created?

His look? His new promo style?

Was Scott more perfect to fit into the WWE at this time compared to WCW with the character?

You and Scott are of course part of nWo 2000 like we just finished up discussing…how was your feedback on those episodes Jeff?

On the March 20th Nitro, you and Scott lost to Hulk Hogan & Sid in Gainesville, FL, and defeated Buff Bagwell & Curt Hennig on the next Nitro in South Padre Island, TX.

There’s then all sorts of crazy stuff going on when Russo & Bischoff are in charge and the nWo is disbanded, and you join the New Blood with them at the helm.

You and Scott start feuding and your first singles match together in Rockford, IL  and it was on the April 17th Nitro for the World title - that you had won the night before at Spring Stampede.

Scott is gonna win this one by DQ in only 3:27.

The next month on the May 23rd taping of Thunder, Kevin Nash defeated you and Scott in a 3-way to become WCW World Champion. The match only lasts 4:55.

We know WCW 2000 isn’t really known for “wrestling” but these are some short matches aren’t they?

Let’s look at some of the other WCW stuff if we dare..

You team with Rick this time and lose to Harlem Heat at the July 9th Thunder taping in East Lansing, MI.

Nitro on September 4th in Dallas and it’s Triple Cage War Games with Nash’s world title on the line.

You, Nash, Russo, and Scott (so you’re now teaming up again) defeated Booker T, Goldberg, Sting and Kronik.

Two weeks later on Nitro from Kitchener, Ontario, Sting & Booker T defeated you and Scott, although it was Vince Russo who got the winning pin, to earn a future world title shot.

WCW itself is really going down the tubes by this point, but why did Russo think putting himself in the ring was a good idea? Did you think it was a good idea?

Fast forwarding a bit more to 2001 near the end of WCW. Scott is the WCW World Champion by now.

Is this a big deal for him? Or with the state WCW is in by now, it doesn’t really matter who’s carrying the gold?

You and Scott go to a no contest on the January 8th Nitro from St. Paul, MN in just 5:08

6 days later at WCW’s Sin PPV in Indianapolis, Scott defeated you and Sid in a 4-way that only goes 7:58, but the match in this case was cut short as it’s the famous match where Sid broke his leg.

When this all takes place - and we will discuss this further in a future episode - are you and Scott in the back going…holy shit what just happened?

How’s this for an interesting trivia note, on the final 2 episodes of WCW Thunder, you teamed with both Steiner’s - one on each show!

On the March 14th episode from Knoxville, TN, you and Rick defeated DDP and Dustin Rhodes.

And a week later on the final Thunder, which is in Gainesville, FL, you and Scott team this time, defeated Dustin in a handicap match.

Does anything else at all stick out to you from your WCW run with the Steiners here in 2000-2001?

Moving on from there we go to WWA - World Wrestling All-Stars. We’ve talked a bit about this before on the show, but this is essentially where you and Scott refused to do a job for the other one, when they tried to shoehorn Scott in to replace Randy Savage at the WWA PPV in Vegas, but instead Brian Christopher ended up with the spot.

And in your last WWA appearance together, Nathan Jones defeated you, Scott and Brian Christopher in a 4-way to win the WWA World title.

Then we get to TNA. I think it’s no secret you wanted Scott in at the kickstart of TNA, but he was WWE bound, and there was no way you could match the money Vince would be offering Scott.

But what about Rick? He appeared in the 20-man Gauntlet for the Gold on the very first TNA weekly PPV to crown the first NWA Champion in TNA.

Did you want or try to get Rick in full time with TNA at the start? Was he just happy with his regular New Japan gig at the time?

Rick eventually comes into TNA for a one off and has a post match brawl with you, following your match with Hacksaw Jim Duggan on the 69th weekly PPV on October 29, 2003.

Was Rick supposed to have a run here? Why just 1 match? Did he want to focus more on his real estate work?

He didn't return to TNA until mid 2006 for a few appearances, and then again 2007 as a wrestler.

Scott started in WWE in November 2002 and his last match was the 2004 Royal Rumble match in January.

Why do you think it didn’t work out for Scott in WWE here?

Scott didn't wrestle anywhere after this until August 2005 as he was injured and underwent foot surgery in July 2004, and had to wear a cast for 8 months while recovering.

Were you talking to Scott about getting him into TNA, once he was back to 100%?

Eventually Scott debuted in TNA at Destination X in March 2006, where he helped you by attacking Sting, and was subsequently revealed as your new bodyguard. How was it bringing Scott back and was it important to you?

Then at the next Impact taping, you and Scott fought the Naturals (Andy Douglas & Chase Stevens) to a no contest.

Did it feel like old times teaming with your friend?

Did you ever bring up bringing Rick in or was that something that evolved over time?

One of your bigger matches teaming with Scott was at Sacrifice in 06 when Sting was to choose a mystery partner to face you two and teases it would in fact be Rick before unveiling Samoa Joe. How did Joe and Scott get along in the ring?

Scott is your bodyguard for most of this run but had some matches against Sting and Christian but was this the same Scott?

He doesn’t return to TV after a match with Christian in early August…do you remember why that was?

He makes his return as we covered recently to be Christian’s special consultant in February of 07 - why bring Scott back at this time?

Just a few months later as we’ve been discussing the Steiner Brothers reunite in TNA. Was it difficult to bring Rick in?

At Slammiversary a long thought dream match between the Steiners and Team 3D is scheduled but Scott gets injured in a tag match with you in Puerto Rico with a severe throat injury.

From the Torch 6/9/07:

Sunday night in Puerto Rico, Scott Steiner suffered a torn trachea during a match against Apolo on a TNA house show. During a tag match featuring Steiner & Robert Roode vs. Jeff Jarrett & Apolo, Apolo kicked Steiner in the throat. He didn’t immediately realize he had suffered a tear, but symptoms surfaced hours later and he was hospitalized. He had surgery to repair it in Puerto Rico, but will be unable to fly for at least two weeks, so he may return to the U.S. via water transport. He will miss the TNA Slammiversary PPV as a result of the injury, so he won’t be able to wrestle with his brother Rick against Team 3D as scheduled.

What do you remember of the injury and how dangerous it got so quickly?

Road Warrior Animal teamed with Rick while Scott was recuperating to take on Team 3D at Slammiversary. From the Observer: ““The other major substitution was Road Warrior Animal as Scott Steiner's replacement, teaming with Rick Steiner, against Team 3-D. The crowd reacted huge to Animal, seeing him as what he once was as opposed to what he was in his last WWF run. The match was as good as could have been expected. Animal showed up in a lot better shape than he was in his last run, pleasantly surprising everyone. It was funny to watch Team 3-D actually lead the cheers for Animal at times when the crowd popped for him because they grew up as huge Road Warriors fans. However, the finish of a 3-D on Steiner made no sense, because it hurt a future 3-D vs. Steiners match. Evidently, this was blamed on miscommunication. Animal came in and gave the impression he was told he was going over and then ended up being asked to do the job. So he wouldn't do it and Steiner was asked, even though it made no sense. “

Man this sounds like a mess of a miscommunication. Are you at this show? Do you remember this all going down? Were you unhappy with what happened?

Finally Scott would heal and the Steiners would cost Team 3D the TNA tag team titles at Victory Road to set up the match at Hard Justice. The Steiners get the win - what did you think of the match and was it everything you hoped it to be?

In a ⅔ falls tables match at Bound for Glory the Steiners beat Team 3D again. Team 3D never did get their win over the Steiners. Why do you think that is?

The Steiners had one more high profile match against AJ Styles & Tomko for the tag team titles but Styles & Tomko retained before Rick was released on January 29th, 2008. Was it just time to move in a different direction?

Was this the last time you had spoken to or seen Rick?

Without Rick - Scott gets a big push winning a contract for a TNA World Title shot in a Feast or Fired match- Jeff we’ve never really talked about this gimmick…but what can you tell us about it?

Steiner begins a feud with Petey Williams since both have briefcases…which saw Steiner be this serious comedy character. Where did this all come from?

Rhaka Khan debuts and helps Steiner in his feud with Petey. What can you tell us about Rhaka Khan?

Eventually Petey becomes a protege of Scott’s and we get the infamous Scott Steiner does math promo…

Is this the Scott you know?

The match at Sacrifice was to be Scott Steiner vs. Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe for the title but Kurt had gotten hurt wrestling overseas and instead Kaz was inserted. What do you remember of all this going on?

Sadly Scott would tear his ACL in the match and would be sidelined. The next time we see Scott again is he will be joining the Main Event Mafia. Why did Scott fit into the group?

Steiner would eventually defeat Petey Williams regarding their break up and team up with Booker T to become World Tag Team Champions over Beer Money at Victory Road. They would lose the tag team titles in a Full Metal Mayhem match including Team 3D, Beer Money and the British Invasion. Was Scott’s body really slowing him down?

Angle disbands the Mafia but Steiner refuses to accept it. Why do you think it was time to break it up?

Steiner would then feud with Bobby Lashley which would get blown off at Final Resolution in a Last Man Standing match and he would leave the company soon after. Do you remember the deal with that?

Scott would return as a babyface in early 2011 and align with Fortune. Did you have anything to do with Scott coming back?

Scott would turn heel and help you get a victory over Matt Morgan before you teamed with him to defeat Matt & Kurt Angle on June 2nd, 2011. How was it to be teaming with your buddy again?

Steiner would join Immortal not long after you leave TNA and would leave TNA in March of 2012. Was there more that could’ve been done with Scott in TNA do you think?

How has your relationship with him gone through the years?

Scott has gone back and forth working indies and we’ve seen Rick Steiner’s son Bron Breakker break through in NXT…but they were recently inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Long overdue was it not?