Podcast Summary: The Dale Jr. Download

Episode: DJD Classics: WWE's Biggest Personality – 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin
Date: November 11, 2025
Host: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Aaron) with Co-host
Guest: Stone Cold Steve Austin

Overview

This DJD Classics episode is a deep-dive conversation between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and WWE legend "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. The show covers Austin's journey from his Texas upbringing to wrestling superstardom, the formation of his 'Stone Cold' persona, life lessons learned in and outside the ring, and the cultural impact of his career. The discussion also explores wrestling behind the scenes, the evolution of promos, the realities of life after sports, and the bonds built through shared struggles.

Key Discussions and Insights

1. Transition to Life On the Road and Podcasting

[02:04–04:14]

• Austin describes his current TV show, journeying across America to meet interesting people—including Dale Jr.—and his enjoyment in returning to life on the road after retiring from wrestling.
• He discusses launching his own podcast, with both family-friendly and explicit versions.
  • "I love to salt and pepper my language with four letter words. So I run an explicit content show as well. That's kind of my go to." – Stone Cold Steve Austin [03:46]

2. The Broken Skull Ranch Story and Moving West

[04:14–05:59]

• Austin details his pride in owning the Broken Skull Ranch in Texas and the realities that led to selling it, particularly due to the oil industry encroachment and logistical challenges.
• Now based near Reno, Nevada, he enjoys unrestricted access to public land for outdoor adventures.

3. Texas Roots & Early Days

[06:01–08:56]

• Born in Austin, raised in Victoria and Edna, Texas.
• Played multiple sports—football, baseball, discus—and grew up hunting and fishing.
• Strong work ethic instilled by family:
  • "If you weren't going to work, you can get your ass handed to you." – Stone Cold [09:43]

4. The College Football Dream and Setbacks

[10:10–12:50]

• Austin envisioned an NFL future, excelled at junior college, and got scholarship offers, but a knee injury derailed the plan.
• Transitioned from football to manual labor, including driving a forklift.

5. Early Wrestling Inspiration and Break-in

[14:22–16:02]

• Hooked on wrestling at age seven after watching Dusty Rhodes:
  • "I saw Dusty Rhodes bleeding his ass off. ...I looked at my mom... 'why don't that security guard go over and help Dusty?'" – Steve Austin [14:30]
• Idolized Dusty Rhodes and Ric Flair, eventually considering Flair the greatest world champion ever.

6. Early Struggles: Working the Territories

[16:09–18:15]

• Austin's beginnings: low pay, long trips, and constant hustle across Dallas, Tennessee, and Atlanta.
• Copied Ric Flair early on, but realized the need to find his own voice.

7. Learning the Art of the Promo

[18:23–22:25]

• Started out nervous and unskilled. Developed promo chops through necessity, especially under the mentorship of Paul Heyman at ECW:
  • "Paul Heyman helped... teach me how to focus as a laser with a promo to deliver a message, get that message across and affect people and make people feel things because that's how you draw money." – Steve Austin [21:35]

8. Nerves, Persona, and Getting in the Zone

[24:04–26:31]

• Even with experience, pre-show nerves were common, especially "when that red light's running" on live TV.
• Austin thrived with larger crowds and higher stakes, simply cranked his personality "up to 11".

9. The Evolution to 'Stone Cold'

[26:33–33:22]

• The Ringmaster persona felt inauthentic—Austin wanted more.
• The 'Stone Cold' name was coined by his then-wife with a British tea analogy:
  • "Just drink your tea before it gets stone cold... that's your name." – Steve Austin [28:56]
• Pushed for more creative freedom with Vince McMahon, arguing:
  • "If you don't give me my personality, I can't compete. But if you give me my personality, I can compete with anybody you got." [32:01]
• Shift from heel to babyface: career-defining double turn with Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13.

10. Character, Heel vs Babyface Dynamics

[33:22–37:55]

• Austin always preferred playing a heel due to creative freedom.
• Even after a turn, fans continued to cheer for him due to his authenticity and connection.

11. The 'Attitude Era' and Industry Changes

[38:53–43:12]

• Reminisced on Monday Night Wars:
  • "That was the Monday night wars. ...we was throwing everything but the kitchen sink..." – Steve Austin [39:23]
• Discussed the shift to scripting promos, which Austin found restrictive and difficult:
  • "It's hard for someone to try to write. You weren't in South Texas... you didn't have a little bit of a chip on your shoulder." [42:00]

12. Life After Wrestling: Transition & Lessons

[43:47–48:45]

• The abrupt end due to neck injury was difficult.
• Struggled with the transition from stardom, coped with hunting, fishing, and drinking before finding new ventures in TV and podcasting.

13. Giving Back to New Talent & the Future

[50:43–52:14]

• Austin stresses to young wrestlers the importance of planning for life after the ring:
  • "Start planting those seeds right now so when you spin out of this, you come out with momentum." [51:23]
• Observes a more controlled, sponsor-friendly environment making it tougher for today's stars to break through as he did.

14. Peak Moments and In-Ring Memories

[55:20–66:10]

• Most iconic match: WrestleMania 13 against Bret Hart—a blood-soaked, storytelling masterpiece.
• The essential trust between performers, with Bret Hart being his favorite opponent for professionalism and mutual respect.
• Describes the gritty realities of getting "color" (bleeding) in the ring and the lack of training or preparation for it.

15. The Beer Bash & Business Ventures

[66:10–68:44]

• Origin of the iconic beer celebration—taking inspiration from "Sandman" in ECW, then making it his own.
• Launch of 'Broken Skull IPA' beer brand.

16. Life Now: Outdoors, Hunting, and Hobbies

[68:44–73:54]

• Still hunting, now mostly in Nevada.
• Enjoys a quieter lifestyle, devoted to business, brand ambassadorships, and spending time with family.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On leaving WWE and the power of the promo:

  • "When you turn me up to 11, that's me." — Steve Austin [21:35]

• On reinventing himself:

  • "If you don't give me my personality, I can't compete. But if you give me my personality, I can compete with anybody you got." — Steve Austin [32:01]

• On overcoming scripted promos:

  • "I can't work off paper." — Steve Austin [48:56]

• Classic 'Stone Cold' advice to younger talent:

  • "Start planting those seeds right now so when you spin out of this, you come out with momentum." — Steve Austin [51:23]

• On his favorite wrestling moment:

  • "Most satisfying moment in my entire wrestling career." — describing lying in a pool of blood at WrestleMania 13 [57:26]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------------------|-------------------| | Introduction to Stone Cold’s TV show and podcast | 02:04 – 04:14 | | Broken Skull Ranch & Ranching Stories | 04:14 – 05:59 | | Early Years in Texas, sports, family | 06:01 – 09:43 | | Football dreams & end of college | 10:10 – 12:50 | | First encounter with wrestling, wrestling heroes | 14:22 – 16:02 | | Early career, struggles, Ric Flair emulation | 16:09 – 18:15 | | Learning promos & Paul Heyman’s influence | 18:23 – 22:25 | | On-stage nerves, performing in big moments | 24:04 – 26:31 | | Creation of 'Stone Cold' persona | 26:33 – 33:22 | | The double turn with Bret Hart | 33:22 – 35:56 | | Attitude Era vs. Today | 38:53 – 43:12 | | Life and challenges after wrestling | 43:47 – 48:45 | | Advice for new talent | 50:43 – 52:14 | | Most memorable matches & ring trust | 55:20 – 59:31 | | "Getting color" and ring realities | 60:20 – 64:30 | | Beer bashing, beer business, and new ventures | 66:10 – 68:44 | | Hunting, post-career routine, and wrap-up | 68:44 – 73:54 |

In the Words of Stone Cold Steve Austin

• "Half goes in, that's for me, half goes on, that's for everybody else. It's a win-win situation." (on beer bashing) [67:05]
• "You want to make people forget about their problems for about two hours and put a smile on their face." (on wrestling's role in people's lives) [53:41]
• "Retirement always sounds like the R word. ...Hell, I retired when I was 38, man. You know how much money I left on the table?" [45:00]
• "If I can't be the main guy, I don't want to be any guy." (on why he stayed away from wrestling for a time after retirement) [46:20]

Tone & Flow

The conversation was authentic, relaxed, and laced with humor and grit. Austin’s charisma and realness shine through every story, as does Dale Jr.’s curiosity and respect. They trade stories as two icons from different worlds, each relating to the highs, lows, and transitions of peak athletic careers.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Stone Cold’s authenticity and toughness came from a hard-working Texas upbringing and a relentless drive to become his own man in wrestling.
• His career transformation—from struggling rookie to icon—was marked by finding his own voice and pushing creative limits.
• Wrestling is both art and business, with backstage struggles and personal evolution as vital as what happens in the ring.
• Life after the spotlight is challenging; planning and adaptability are crucial for any athlete or performer.
• Rituals and traditions such as "getting color" and sharing beers became both spectacle and storytelling tools, infusing the sport with memorable pageantry.

This episode is a must-listen for wrestling fans, students of sports entertainment, and anyone interested in personal growth through adversity and reinvention.