“Stone Cold” Steve Austin is still one of the most popular WWE Superstars in the company’s history. His merchandise continues to sell well and he is also a WWE Hall Of Famer. It seems Vince McMahon did not initially believe in Austin.
Jake Roberts recently spoke to Premier Live TV, where he discussed a conversation he had with Vince McMahon in the past. While writing television with McMahon, Roberts told him that Steve Austin would become a main event level talent eventually. Then McMahon revealed what he really felt about Austin at that time.
“When Steve Austin came to WWF, I was helping write television, and I watched him, and I said, ‘This motherf*cker got it, man. He’s got that ‘it’ factor and he don’t even know he’s got it.’”
“I’m starting to scoot him into places. Sort of as an afterthought so nobody was watching. Well then one day I told Vince [McMahon], I said, ‘That guy right there is gonna be your next super, superstar.’ ‘You kidding me Jake?’ He said, ‘That guy, he’ll never make it past fifth, sixth match. He’s not a main-eventer.’ I said, ‘The f*ck he ain’t.’ He said, ‘Do you think so?’ I said, ‘Yeah I think so,’ and we tried the thing and I guess it might’ve worked huh?”
Ultimately, McMahon gave Steve Austin the push and he went on to become one of the biggest Superstars in WWE. His contributions to the business will forever be remembered and it seems Jake Roberts already saw the potential in Austin before anyone else.
