The Steve Austin Show – "Hanging Out In The Valley with X-Pac PART 1"
Episode Date: November 4, 2025
Host: Steve Austin
Guest: Sean Waltman (X-Pac)
Location: Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles
Episode Overview
In this "SAS Classic" episode, Steve Austin sits down with longtime friend and wrestling legend Sean Waltman, aka X-Pac, for a candid conversation in Sean's Sherman Oaks apartment. The two old friends catch up on life in LA, reflect on careers in wrestling, share stories about the wrestling business, and geek out over rock music and gym routines. The conversation is relaxed, honest, and loaded with behind-the-scenes insights into pro wrestling mechanics and the personal lives of two industry icons.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Catching Up: Life in LA and Moving to the Valley
- Steve arrives at Sean’s apartment in Sherman Oaks and they reminisce about their time training on the West Side and reasons for moving to different parts of LA.
- Sean moved from Encino to Sherman Oaks for convenience, as his support system and show producers (Maria Menounos, Kevin Undergaro) are nearby.
- Both acknowledge embracing a more reclusive, "hermit" lifestyle as they’ve grown older.
“When I first got back out here, I was at the Rainbow down on Sunset, like, a couple times a week… And then when I got arrested… I just figured I'm going to just reign everything in.”
— Sean Waltman (13:13)
2. Wrestling, Recovery, and Self-Reflection
- Sean discusses the aftermath of his much-publicized airport arrest and how it led him to rein in his social life and take a two-year break from dating and other temptations to work on himself.
- He talks about using relationships as a crutch akin to other addictive behaviors.
- Steve commends Sean’s self-awareness and discipline.
"Because when you're coming up out of being all... messed up, especially drugs and alcohol, we tend to cling to relationships just like another drug. So I had to make sure, you know, that's not what I was gonna do."
— Sean Waltman (14:01)
3. Rock and Roll Connections
- The conversation shifts to Sean's time hanging out with rockstars like Glenn Danzig and Sebastian Bach.
- Steve shares stories about seeing Danzig live and draws comparisons between Glenn Danzig and Bret Hart in terms of personality—both intense and reserved.
- They discuss the egos required for entertainment and the difficulties bands face staying together.
"He [Danzig] loves wrestling and he loves martial arts... so we talk a lot about Japanese wrestling."
— Sean Waltman (15:01)
“You can’t be in entertainment if you ain’t got some type of ego.”
— Steve Austin (16:36)
4. Music: Old vs. New and Gym Habits
- Both admit to not keeping up with new music and sticking to classics from their youth.
- Sean reveals he rarely listens to anything while training—preferring silence for introspection—while Steve reminisces about gym distractions.
- Discussion about gym etiquette, fans approaching them, and the differences between solo vs. public training.
“I just get it done and I get the hell out of there… For you, it’s therapeutic and I’m thinking about other things as I’m training.”
— Sean Waltman (19:21, 19:38)
5. Health, Diet, and Aging as Wrestlers
- Both reveal aches, pains, and the chronic issues that come with decades in wrestling.
- Sean shares that dietary slip-ups (gluten, sugars) immediately affect his joint inflammation and overall wellbeing.
- Both discuss tailored home cooking, with Sean favoring grass-fed Wagyu ground beef and lots of vegetables.
"When I slip on my food intake… my knees hurt… my back’s stiffer… flying coast to coast doesn’t help either."
— Sean Waltman (24:59)
- Training has shifted from heavy lifting to high-rep, light-resistance routines out of necessity.
“I do lighter weights, higher reps… just maintain.”
— Sean Waltman (26:30)
6. Autographs, Traveling, and Indie Wrestling
- Sean describes the grueling business of signing thousands of autographs and the nature of indie appearances.
- Steve and Sean talk about the difficulties of working with inexperienced wrestlers at indie shows—sometimes leading to frustrating, anticlimactic matches.
“A lot of times the guys I’m working with… just are green and inexperienced, but it doesn’t go well.”
— Sean Waltman (30:03)
“What do the people want to see…? Greatest hits medley of my greatest hits."
— Sean Waltman (30:53)
7. Wrestling Psychology: WWE vs. NXT
-
Steve and Sean dissect recent WWE PPVs, focusing on the stark differences in show presentation between the main roster and NXT.
- They praise the simplicity and clarity of NXT storytelling; it caters to a specific fanbase and keeps narratives easy to follow.
- The tag match between Undisputed Era and Mustache Mountain is cited as "next-level stuff," spotlighting Tyler Bate's impressive performance at just 21.
“That kid’s one of the strongest people I’ve seen in wrestling, pound for pound.”
— Sean Waltman (33:12)
- Contrasting NXT’s approach to the sometimes convoluted storylines on the main roster, which try to appeal to everyone but can end up confusing fans.
“Main roster is almost trying to cover or cater to everybody... storylines get convoluted.”
— Steve Austin (37:22)
8. Women's Division: The Becky Lynch / Charlotte Flair Dynamic
- Both discuss the confusing heel/face dynamic in the women's division following SummerSlam.
- Steve argues Becky Lynch should simply be “Becky,” letting the crowd decide her role, while Charlotte is more naturally a heel.
- They debate possible WrestleMania matchups and Ronda Rousey’s status as a face or potential heel turn.
"Let her be whatever the people want her to be… for her, she ain’t got to be a heel or baby. She just needs to be Becky Lynch."
— Steve Austin (39:12)
“Some people are going to like Charlotte, just let her be Charlotte, which is a heel type of thing anyway.”
— Sean Waltman (39:44)
9. Ronda Rousey's Growth in WWE
- The hosts marvel at Ronda Rousey's rapid progress, particularly her emotional storytelling and authenticity in the ring.
- Steve highlights her real listening skills, saying too many wrestlers only wait for their turn to speak rather than truly engage.
“She’s really, really listening… not just waiting for her turn to talk. There’s a difference.”
— Steve Austin (42:20)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Glenn Danzig & Bret Hart comparison:
"He reminds me of Bret Hart. Kind of reserved, quiet, kind of introspective… obviously, a little bit of ego."
— Steve Austin (16:13)
On self-imposed rehab from relationships:
"I took two years off of everything. No messing around, nothing."
— Sean Waltman (13:40)
On fan engagement at the gym:
"If I make eye contact with people, I’m kind of inviting it."
— Sean Waltman (20:58)
On indie wrestling frustrations:
“They screw my hot tag up. So, yeah, it's frustrating, man. I'm not gonna lie.”
— Sean Waltman (30:37)
On NXT’s simple storytelling:
"They have a… different fanbase. It's easier for them to cater to them… I like how they present their storyline."
— Sean Waltman (33:47)
On Becky Lynch’s character:
“She just needs to be Becky Lynch. And, and this is truly one of those cases where, like, where they say, well, Roman Reigns, however the people want to take him… let’s take that out of the equation… Becky ought to just be Becky.”
— Steve Austin (39:12)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Intro & Background Setup: 00:13–10:30
- Sean's Move to Sherman Oaks: 10:30–12:20
- Social Life & Self-Reflection: 12:41–14:20
- Music Scene & Rock Stories: 14:24–18:39
- Gym Training Habits: 19:08–21:29
- Health, Diet & Wrestling Injuries: 23:17–26:10
- Autograph & Indie Wrestling Stories: 22:05–30:03
- Old-School Gym Anecdotes: 27:14–28:47
- Pro-Wrestling Psychology, NXT vs Main Roster: 32:06–38:59
- Women’s Division & Becky Lynch: 38:59–41:07
- Ronda Rousey & Promo Skills Discussion: 41:07–43:42
Episode Tone
Relaxed, conversational, and laced with humor, the episode feels like eavesdropping on two veterans swapping war stories and philosophies on wrestling, life, and rock and roll, all with their signature no-BS style.
For more SAS episodes, and the rest of this conversation with Sean Waltman, visit podcastone.com/premium.