The Kurt Angle Show - Steve Austin [Show Notes] (Patreon)

What a last few episodes we’ve had - but last week watching back your Iron Man Match with Brock, wow. 

I’m assuming you saw that Brock is scheduled for WrestleMania against Omos - what do you think of that match?

Is it a surprise to you that Brock isn’t in a higher profile match?

Speaking of high profile…that’s going to lead us to our topic this week - “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Kurt - when was the first time you saw Steve on TV? Was it as the Ringmaster or had he become Stone Cold already?

Do you remember the first time you met each other?

How did Austin carry himself backstage when you first broke into the company? Was he intimidating?

Your wrestling debut with the company itself is on Survivor Series 1999 a show infamous for Austin being hit by a car to put him on the shelf for a year because of his neck injury. Did you hope one day you’d be across the ring from him in a main event spot?

Did you two ever talk about your neck injuries early on in your career or was that later?

When Austin is eventually going to return from his injury in 2000 you’re just hitting your stride as a big time star in the WWF. At Unforgiven - Austin’s return - you two run into each other for the first time and you offer Steve your gold medals and friendship - and tells you to stick it up your ass before attacking you and throwing your medal to the floor. Getting to work with Austin for the first time - nerve wracking?

What was Austin’s advice to you?

Did you get to sit and learn from Steve a lot when he returned?

The first match I found in my research that you two were a part of was a 6-man main event on a house show in Buffalo where Austin would team with the Rock & Triple H to defeat you, Rikishi & Chris Benoit in late October of 2000. Any memories of that event?

Just a week later on Raw your first televised match with him takes place as you & Rikishi team up to take on Austin & Triple H in a tag team match. The match would conclude with Hunter turning heel on Austin for a big heel beatdown but you’re nowhere in sight as Hunter had thrown you out of the ring already. Do you think you & Austin could’ve had a big time program in late 2000 with you as champion and Austin as the returning challenger for the title?

Do you think that was money down the drain that it wasn’t done?

You’d continue to work against him on the road teaming with the likes of Kane to take on Austin & Undertaker, but your first one-on-one match against Austin is on Raw on November 27th in the main event. What did you learn from working with Steve in the ring?

What is different about Steve in the ring compared to other guys?

You got a chance to wrestle Steve in the 6-man Hell in a Cell match at Armageddon where you defended the title against Austin, Rikishi, Rock, Taker & Triple H. Is this not one of the biggest main events featuring star talent?

How chaotic is a match like this to

1. Put together
2. Not get hurt
3. Make sure everyone is on the same page

You would retain the title after Rock would hit you with a rock bottom, Austin stopped the count, hit the stunner on rock, Hunter broke up the pin and you would sneak on top of the Rock to get the pin…

Do you think it was a good finish for you to sneak over on Rock instead of maybe pinning him with your finish compared to Austin’s stunner?

Could you had seen yourself & Steve headlining a WrestleMania?

Is that a regret in your career?

Most of your 2001 is working against Steve or with Steve which we’ve covered in the archives. Was there ever something Steve didn’t want you to hit him with considering his neck or did he completely trust you - and vice versa?

How high up is Steve as one of your all-time favorite opponents?

Do you have any funny in-ring stories regarding the Texas Rattlesnake?

You ever get into a beer drinking contest with him?

You were one of his final singles matches on Monday Night Raw in late January of 02 - did you see how tired and beat up Austin was?

Did you see Steve’s unhappiness with creative and everything around the nWo storyline?

What was your favorite match with Steve?

Do you think your feud with Steve was hurt by the fact it was during the Invasion?

Looking back - do you think Steve’s time in the company would’ve lasted longer if you two worked a WrestleMania program instead of Steve and the nWo?

Were you surprised to see the WWE book Steve vs. Brock Lesnar on a Monday Night Raw with no build?

Did you blame him for walking out due to his unhappiness?

Did you talk to him at this time or after the fact about this period in his career?

Austin returned in 2003 - were you happy to see him back in the company?

Did you think he had one more run in him?

Austin would have his last match - well at the time - against the Rock - at the same WrestleMania you would headline against Brock Lesnar. Did you see Steve backstage?

The news came out after the fact that he had a pretty bad panic attack the night before Mania - did you hear about that at the time?

Between his panic attack, your broken neck going into the match with Brock - and Brock’s eventual injury - man this Mania was snake bitten wasn’t it?

Did you see Steve after the show? Did you guys discuss your neck injury considering his in the past?

Austin would make several appearances over the years with the WWE, including at ECW’s first One Night Stand which you were a part of, Raw Homecoming and others - did you keep in contact with Steve after he stopped wrestling?

Do you consider Steve the biggest star in pro wrestling history?

What was your relationship with Steve while in TNA? Did you keep in touch?

Did you ever talk with him about coming into the company?

Were you happy to see him when you returned to the WWE?

Did you enjoy Austin vs. Owens - and do you wish that was the match you could’ve gotten as your retirement?

What was it like doing the Broken Skull Sessions podcast with him for the WWE Network?