I Listen So You Don't Have To: Steve Austin Show Ep. 266

Lesnar's live WWE Network show pops up in audio format this week
Photo Credit: WWE.com

If you're new, here's the rundown: I listen to a handful of wrestling podcasts each week. Too many, probably, though certainly not all of them. In the interest of saving you time — in case you have the restraint to skip certain episodes — the plan is to give the bare bones of a given show and let you decide if it’s worth investing the time to hear the whole thing. There are better wrestling podcasts out there, of course, but these are the ones in my regular rotation that I feel best fit the category of hit or miss. If I can save other folks some time, I'm happy to do so.

Show: Steve Austin Show — Unleashed!
Episode: 266 (Oct. 22, 2015)
Run Time: 1:28:44
Guest: Brock Lesnar (15:34)

Summary: Aside from an intro, his drops and the Match of the Week suggestion at the end, this is the audio version of Lesnar’s appearance with Austin on the WWE Network after the Oct. 19 RAW. After a bit of small talk about farming, trucks, hunting, drinking and music, Austin takes Lesnar back to his high school and college football and wrestling career. Lesnar explains how he ended up in Ohio Valley Wrestling, recalls positive veteran influences and some of his WrestleMania moments. Talk shifts to the world of UFC, Lesnar’s bout with diverticulitis and the time Austin walked out of WWE instead of work a RAW match with Lesnar. They end by talking about Lesnar’s current role with WWE, his memories of WrestleMania 30 and life advice.

Quote of the week: “I’d had enough of the business… It was the road, it was the people, everything. I was becoming this person that I never thought I would be. I was, I felt entrapped. I felt like I was a trapped animal. I can remember times being on an airplane and wanting to punch the door open and jump out of the plane. That’s what I felt like. And I tell Vince this to this day: I was built to be in the ring. I wasn’t built to get from ring to ring.”

Why you should listen: As usual, you listen to this if you skipped the video version on the Network. Austin’s WWEN podcasts are borderline essential — you don’t need me to tell you one way or another — but it must be said this is an improvement on the Edge and Christian episode. Although Lesnar clearly convinced Austin not to push too far in a few sensitive topics, the subject matter covered was much more worthwhile — especially considering how few interviews Lesnar gives to anyone period.

Why you should skip it: Austin was hoping the curses dropped from the WWE Network feed would be restored here, but no such luck. This talk should put to rest any notion of Austin wrestling Lesnar (or anyone) at WrestleMania 32, so if you’d like to believe in that fantasy, feel free to skip. Also as usual, there’s plenty to be said for getting to take in the visual side of the equation, either for the inserted video clips or the body language of the host and guest.

Final thoughts: I love that Austin does these shows, and it’s great they get them worked into his actual podcast feed — especially now that it’s just a few days later instead of a week or more. The downside is, for my purposes on The Wrestling Blog, I don’t have much to add. Still — don’t miss this one, however you can listen. Unless you’re fully out on WWE, Austin interviewing Lesnar is canonical.