Stone Cold Steve Austin Issues a Brutally Honest Reality Check to WWE’s New Generation
Stone Cold Steve Austin is once again shaking up the wrestling world — and this time, his message is aimed directly at today’s WWE Superstars.
The WWE Hall of Famer recently appeared on Chris Van Vliet’s Insight podcast, where he delivered a blunt assessment of the modern WWE product. While Austin praised the increased freedom and time given to today’s wrestlers under WWE’s current leadership, he also warned that something critical has been lost along the way.
According to the Texas Rattlesnake, many modern matches look too clean, too planned, and far too rehearsed. Instead of feeling like a fight, Austin believes some bouts come across as carefully choreographed routines — and fans can see right through it.
Austin stressed that wrestling is supposed to feel dangerous. He argued that struggle, fatigue, and even small mistakes are what make a match believable. Using Bret Hart as an example, Austin explained how true legends knew how to sell exhaustion and desperation, making long matches feel real without sacrificing quality.
The former WWE Champion also pointed out a larger issue facing the company today: the absence of truly “dangerous” stars. In his view, WWE needs performers who project unpredictability — wrestlers who make fans think anything could happen the moment the bell rings.
Austin’s warning was clear and unapologetic. Chasing perfection won’t create megastars. Grit, realism, and raw emotion will. And if today’s WWE roster wants to reach the legendary status of past icons, they may need to stop performing — and start fighting again.
