“This Is A Guy You Need To Invest In” – Jim Cornette Issues Strong Warning To WWE About Austin Theory
Austin Theory has returned to WWE programming with a completely overhauled presentation, swapping his previous hit-and-miss comedic persona for a hard-hitting heel character. The shift has landed particularly well since Theory aligned himself with The Vision faction, giving his work a fresh edge that fans are finally connecting with.
During a recent episode of his “Drive-Thru” podcast, veteran wrestling manager Jim Cornette didn’t hold back when discussing Theory’s current trajectory. The outspoken personality made it clear that WWE needs to stay the course and avoid second-guessing themselves with the young star.
“For the uninitiated, when I talk about somebody like this or Bron Breakker from 2-3 years ago, I’m not necessarily saying that they’re fully formed or they’re the greatest talent right now,” Cornette explained. “I’m saying this is a guy you need to invest in. I’m saying that you don’t need to d*** around with. This is the guy you need to groom.”
Cornette emphasized that Theory possesses the raw materials WWE should be building around for years to come.
“This is the guy that’s gonna be a big-time player and a puppy with big paws. You can tell with Theory – his body looks better. He’s dressing more oomphy. He had more fire on the mic. His work is technically fabulous in the ring, but also, he’s working hard, he’s trying. Instead of just doing a bunch more moves, you can tell when he’s getting constructive criticism, he’s trainable, he’s coachable. He’s improving, he’s growing.”
The praise from Cornette carries weight given his reputation for being difficult to impress when it comes to modern talent.
Theory Opens Up About Paul Heyman And The Vision Alliance
A few weeks ago, the former United States Champion sat down with the “RAW Recap” podcast to discuss his creative direction and why joining forces with Paul Heyman made sense for where he sees his career heading.
“Well to me it’s about the future, and that’s exactly what The Vision’s about,” Theory said. “It’s about taking, and that’s what I’m all about now. I’m not waiting for opportunities. I’m not looking at my past and saying, ‘Hey, I beat John Cena. Give me something, somebody hand me another opportunity.’ Nah, we just take, and that’s how it feels now, being in the vision. It’s gonna take everything.”
Theory also detailed his long-standing connection with Heyman, which predates his main roster run by several years.
“I’ve always had a good relationship with Paul. Back when I was the EVOLVE champion, WWE did one of their first shows with EVOLVE and it was at the ECW Arena. That was the first time I ever met Paul. And I didn’t even know that night, but he ended up doing the ring introduction for me. And that kind of set off the relationship there.”
The 27-year-old recalled another pivotal moment when Heyman quietly went to bat for him during the pandemic era.
“There was another time as well, kind of during the pandemic. I got a opportunity to be on RAW and in that opportunity, that was because of Paul Heyman. So we’ve always had a great relationship. And I think if there’s anybody in this industry that you want looking out for your career, or you’d like to get some knowledge from a Wise Man, it’s Paul Heyman. So I just don’t think he can do any wrong.”
With Heyman in his corner and a renewed sense of purpose about his character, Theory appears positioned for the kind of sustained push that Cornette and others have long argued he deserves. Whether WWE Creative stays patient with the process remains the only real question.
