On a recent episode of his “Grilling JR” podcast, AEW broadcaster Jim Ross shared his thoughts on how WWE handles the Draft and why “Stone Cold” Steve Austin wasn’t part of the WrestleMania 40 (Night Two) main event match.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On WWE keeping talent in the dark about Draft plans ahead of time: “I think that the concept, the theory behind the Draft is to freshen up both rosters. Raw’s roster and Smackdown’s roster. I think that’s that was always the mission. But then after a very brief while, almost immediately, those brands became integrated. I didn’t think that was the purpose. The purpose was to build two separate strong brands, and on the right occasion you can have a SmackDown vs. Raw scenario.
“But of course when you do that, Conrad, I mean somebody’s got to push somebody over. And a lot of guys, believe it or not, still have a problem putting others over. Which I don’t get. That’s part of the business. It’s like saying, ‘Well, I didn’t want to wear wrestling tights.’ Would you like to wear? Men’s Wearhouse? I don’t know what you’re doing here. So yeah, I liked the concept of it, but it got bast**dized very quickly. And then compromised, quite honestly. I didn’t like that [keeping talent in the dark] and I still don’t like that.”
On Steve Austin not working WrestleMania XL: “Yeah, and the reason is to have twofold: cash and creative. Austin is probably the most particular guy as far as who he wrestles as anybody I’ve ever been around. He knows what he needs, he knows what he wants. He knows what will accomplish the best results as an in-ring product. And then, of course, the cash.
“I haven’t talked to Steve for several weeks. But I’m assuming that — if I was guessing, and that’s all it would be right now as I sit here in Jacksonville Beach, Florida — I would say that the cash had a major role in why Austin was not at WrestleMania this year. There was a spot there at the end, where all those guys are getting their flowers and their props and their ‘atta boys’ and getting their stuff over, etc, etc that would fit Steve perfectly. It’s just, I’m guessing that unless he had a commitment of work commitment, which I’m not aware of. Could have, but he would have been the great cherry on the sundae if he had been able to be there for that event.”
On Randy Orton’s rise in 2004 and his feud with Mick Foley: “I thought it was an opportunity for Randy to stand out, to be noticed. It was all in front of him. And at the end of the day when that match was over, Randy was successful. Great match, over exceeded many people’s estimations of what it might be or what it was going to be. I really was a fan of that match.”
In a recent episode of his “Grilling JR” podcast, AEW broadcaster Jim Ross discussed WWE’s handling of the Draft and shed light on why “Stone Cold” Steve Austin was not part of the WrestleMania 40 (Night Two) main event match.
Ross expressed his thoughts on WWE’s Draft, stating that the initial purpose was to freshen up both Raw and Smackdown rosters and build two separate strong brands. However, he believes that the brands became integrated too quickly, deviating from the original intention. Ross also criticized the practice of keeping talent in the dark about Draft plans, stating that he didn’t like it then and still doesn’t like it now.
When it came to Steve Austin’s absence from WrestleMania XL, Ross speculated on the reasons behind it. He mentioned that Austin is very particular about who he wrestles and knows what he needs to achieve the best in-ring results. Additionally, financial considerations likely played a significant role in Austin’s decision. While Ross hadn’t spoken to Austin recently, he assumed that cash was a major factor in his absence from the event. Ross believed that there was a spot at the end of WrestleMania where Austin would have fit perfectly, receiving recognition alongside other legends.
Shifting gears, Ross also discussed Randy Orton’s rise in 2004 and his feud with Mick Foley. He saw this as an opportunity for Orton to stand out and be noticed, which he successfully achieved. Ross praised their match, stating that it exceeded many people’s expectations and showcased Orton’s talent.
The “Grilling JR” podcast episode provided fans with insights into WWE’s Draft process and shed light on Steve Austin’s absence from WrestleMania XL. Ross’s analysis and opinions added depth to the discussion, giving listeners a unique perspective on these topics.
To listen to the full podcast episode, you can watch it below:
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