Steve Austin Shoving Mike Tyson on Raw Secretly Changed WWE History — Bruce Prichard Reveals the Wild Backstage Fallout
One split-second shove between Steve Austin and Mike Tyson on Monday Night Raw didn’t just shock fans — it completely altered WWE’s plans heading into WrestleMania 14.
Speaking on a recent episode of Something To Wrestle With, Bruce Prichard pulled back the curtain on Tyson’s early 1998 involvement with WWE and revealed how that chaotic on-screen moment turned into one of the most important creative pivots of the Attitude Era.
Mike Tyson Was Never “Just a Celebrity Guest”
According to Prichard, Tyson wasn’t brought in as a novelty act. Long before his Raw appearance, the former heavyweight champion was a genuine wrestling fan who deeply respected the business.
Prichard recalled conversations dating back to the early 1990s, including plans that once involved Tyson refereeing a Randy Savage match. He even shared a story of Tyson openly admitting he was legitimately afraid of Hulk Hogan — a detail that showed how seriously Tyson viewed wrestling and its stars.
Behind the scenes, Tyson was nothing like the media portrayal fans were used to seeing. Prichard described him as respectful, humble, and even awed by the wrestling world once he experienced it firsthand.
The Night Everything Changed After the Royal Rumble
Everything shifted the night Austin shoved Tyson on Raw shortly after the Royal Rumble.
Prichard revealed that WWE had one plan for Tyson — until that moment happened live on television. Backstage, Vince McMahon immediately saw bigger possibilities.
After the segment, Vince reportedly asked if Tyson would be willing to do more. If so, WWE could build something massive heading into WrestleMania.
What followed was a late-night meeting that changed wrestling history.
The Chaotic Backstage Scene You Never Saw
Prichard shared a surreal behind-the-scenes moment after the shove. Tyson was furious in his locker room, unloading on his team — with thousands of dollars in cash stuffed inside his coat pockets.
When Austin shoved him earlier, the money reportedly flew everywhere, and Tyson’s entourage scrambled to pick it up off the floor.
Moments later, Tyson’s mood completely flipped. When WWE officials entered to apologize, Tyson became almost childlike, apologizing repeatedly for his outburst and showing genuine respect toward everyone in the room.
Tyson Personally Approved Doing More With WWE
That same night, WWE laid out a bold vision: multiple TV appearances, deeper involvement, and a major role at WrestleMania.
Crucially, it wasn’t Tyson’s manager who made the call — Tyson did.
According to Prichard, Tyson immediately agreed and wanted to be involved in everything WWE had planned. That decision ultimately led to Tyson becoming the special guest enforcer for Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 14 — a match that helped launch Austin into superstardom and defined the Attitude Era.
One Shove, One Decision, A Historic WrestleMania
Prichard summed it up by calling Tyson “one of a kind” — an enigma who was professional, easy to work with, and far different from his public image.
And it all started with one unscripted-looking shove that changed WWE’s creative direction forever.
