On a recent edition of his “Tuesday With The Taskmaster” podcast, former WCW booker Kevin Sullivan discussed the career of WWE Hall of Famer Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat.
Sullivan explained why Steamboat didn’t become a multi-time world champion, citing his entrance at WCW WrestleWar 1989. He said,
“Ricky is one of the greatest performers I’ve ever seen. The three matches with Flair were incredible, but when he came out with his wife in the homecoming outfit, with the crown on her head, the white dress, the spotlight on the white pony, and his kid sitting up there? He lost half the guys in the audience and every woman.”
On a recent edition of the “Gabby AF” podcast, WWE SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis discussed the working environment in WWE under the new TKO leadership.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On the work environment in WWE: “Some of the reason that the company is firing on all cylinders so much is because there is a real breath of experience and I mean this in a sense of, behind the scenes, there’s a lot of TNA fingerprints and I think that lends itself well because for me, I developed a lot of my skill set by working with limited resources, particularly with the NWA. How could I make the most out of this thing, but I don’t have this huge team of people, I don’t have the ability to go, yeah, send this to that department and they’ll do this and that with it and then we’ll produce this thing and then we can go to this location and shoot this, no, we got to figure out how to bootstrap this thing, right? Raw was Chicago last night, and Cody referenced it like, ‘Oh, Chicago has been very kind to me.’ A six year timeline back to what he and I were able to accomplish there. It’s like, there’s value in having people all around your orbit who have been able to squeeze as much juice as possible out of every opportunity.”
On the other WWE producers working backstage: “Obviously, you need people who are familiar with the WWE way of doing things, because you need people to maximize that system. For me, I’m still figuring out, ‘Oh, we have a person for that?’ Because my instinct still is to sort of figure it out but it’s like, no, no, there’s a guy for that, you can just ask them. At the same time, having all of these different guys, like Abyss, is back there, Bobby Roode is back there, Shane Helms is back there, Petey Williams is back there, Daivari is back there. [These] are all guys that have accomplished things at all sorts of different levels of resources, like we know how to handle a crisis, we know how to make the most out of something when it falls into our lap, we know how to make the most out of something even if it doesn’t seem like very much. Those are all of the skills that we can use to make the better show possible, and then you plug that into this energy source and this incredible amount of resources and the revenue that the company is doing. I know it’s cliche but, the sky is the limit.”
Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat: A Legendary Performer
Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat is widely regarded as one of the greatest performers in professional wrestling history. With his incredible in-ring skills and charismatic presence, Steamboat captivated audiences around the world during his illustrious career. Despite his undeniable talent, Steamboat never became a multi-time world champion, leaving many fans wondering why. Former WCW booker Kevin Sullivan shed some light on this topic during a recent podcast.
Sullivan explained that Steamboat’s entrance at WCW WrestleWar 1989 may have played a role in hindering his chances of becoming a world champion. Steamboat made a grand entrance with his wife in a homecoming outfit, complete with a crown on her head, a white dress, and a spotlight on a white pony. Additionally, Steamboat’s child was seated in the audience. Sullivan believes that this elaborate entrance may have alienated some members of the audience, particularly male fans.
While Steamboat’s entrance may have divided the audience, there is no denying the impact he had in the ring. His trilogy of matches against Ric Flair is often hailed as some of the greatest matches in wrestling history. The chemistry between Steamboat and Flair was electric, and their matches showcased technical prowess, athleticism, and storytelling at its finest. These matches solidified Steamboat’s status as one of the all-time greats.
In a separate podcast, WWE SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis discussed the working environment in WWE under the new TKO leadership. Aldis highlighted the presence of former TNA employees within the company and how their experience with limited resources has contributed to WWE’s success. He emphasized the value of having individuals who can maximize opportunities and make the most out of every situation.
Aldis also mentioned several WWE producers who have accomplished great things at various levels of resources. These individuals, such as Abyss, Bobby Roode, Shane Helms, Petey Williams, and Daivari, bring a wealth of knowledge and skills to the backstage environment. Their ability to handle crises and make the most out of any situation adds to the overall quality of WWE’s programming.
The combination of experienced individuals from different wrestling backgrounds and the vast resources available to WWE has created a dynamic work environment. This synergy allows for the creation of a better show and opens up limitless possibilities for the company’s future.
In conclusion, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat’s career is a testament to his incredible talent and impact on the wrestling industry. While his elaborate entrance may have hindered his chances of becoming a multi-time world champion, his in-ring performances and memorable matches with Ric Flair solidified his legacy. Additionally, the presence of experienced individuals from various wrestling backgrounds within WWE contributes to the company’s success. With their ability to maximize opportunities and make the most out of any situation, WWE continues to thrive in the ever-evolving world of professional wrestling.