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- [00:00]
Steve Austin
The following program is a podcast one.com production he started in a small town in Texas, worked his ass off to.
- [00:10]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Become one of the most famous wrestlers of all time. We're gonna take care of business tonight. And that's the bottom line. And now he's dominating the world of On Demand Audio. And he's doing it for the working man. This is a damn good outlet for me to spew the bullshit off my brain.
- [00:28]
Steve Austin
This is the Steve Austin Show.
- [00:30]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Unleash.
- [00:30]
Steve Austin
Unleash.
- [00:39]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
All right, everybody. Welcome to Steve Austin Show. I am coming to you from the mean streets of Los Angeles, California. Today, I am sitting in my office at 316 Gimmick street here in Marina Del Rey, looking at the pearl beer neon clock on this desk. It says 10 minutes until 4pm as the second hand continues to rotate in a clockwise fashion, no pun intended, like a rotisserie chicken. Hey, man, I'm glad you guys tuned in to the show today because I got a badass guest for you today. The one and only Ian Hodgkinson Vampiro from Lucha Underground is my guest on the podcast today. Ian came by the house at 316 Gimmick street to talk about the business of pro wrestling. And we're going to get into some specifics. We're going to talk about selling, we're going to talk about fire. And the conversation is going to ratchet up to about 11 or 12 in intensity because I'm trying to expound a little bit of knowledge upon some of the finer points of the business which have been seemingly forgotten or just completely lost or not given a shit about. So we're going to talk all about that stuff. Grab your seatbelt and strap in. We're going to talk some Lucha. We're going to talk podcast and little Stevie Ray Vaughan, some Krav Maga and all kinds of bullshit. I had a damn good time talking to Ian Hodgkinson the other night. We cracked about two broken skull IPAs. Got a chance to drink a beer with a man that I talked to about a year or two ago while he was in Thunder Bay and I was sitting here and we were Skyping. Had a damn good conversation with him. I've never met Van Piro, so it was good to meet the man, shake his hand, look him in that face, look him in the eyes while I was talking to him, and we had a damn good visit. Very polite cat, very well spoken. I look forward to talking in next time he comes to the LA area. Again for you Lucha Underground folks, Ultima Lucha still continues to go on all the way to the 20th with an epic finale, Lucha Underground on the El Rey Network. Hey, before I get to my conversation with Van Pierro, check this out. The other day I rode out to Agua Dulce, California to ride my Kawasaki mule at the Broken Skull Challenge compound. If you guys been tuning into my Twitter account, you've heard that CMT greenlit the toughest show on television once again for season four. So any of you people out there that listen to my voice, if you think you're bad enough, you think you're tough enough, if you think you got what it takes to wade through seven other human beings and be the final person left to take on my Skull Buster at sunrise the next day, then go to broken skullchallenge.com and sign your ass up. I look forward to seeing you down at the ranch. Anyway, I digress. Back to my story. I rode out to the Broken Skull Challenge. Just arrived, my Kawasaki mule Pro fxt around a little bit. Been a while since I had been out there. As you know, I'm still recovering from this rotator cuff surgery. My right shoulder is coming along just fine, it's doing real good. And I was just kind of tooling around out there, cruising around, enjoying getting a breeze in my damn scalp and riding around and look at all the sights out there and go up and down some of that rocky terrain, that four wheel drive. I put my Kawasaki mule up in my storage bin, locked it up and I got on the highway. It's about a 50 mile drive from Aguadulce to Marina del Rey and I was hauling ass about 70, 80 miles an hour just like everybody else. And I was going in and out of lanes and I was using my turn signal every time I did this. And I noticed that not a lot of other people were using the damn turn signals. What the fuck is wrong with people? You got to use your indicators, your blinkers, your turn signals. Another story just this morning, got up, went out to Thousand Oaks, California, about a 40 mile drive from Marina del Rey to pick up my mother in law to bring her back to the house to spend the night with us. Same goddamn thing. Nobody's using their turn signals, their blinkers or their indicators. I said, what the fuck is wrong with everybody? They act goddamn lazy or just like the finer points. I'm going to explain to in Hodgkins and Van Peer on the podcast about selling and fire. The same thing applies to a damn turn signal. I said, you know what, what do I need to do to help people understand what the fuck a turn signal is. So I got on my computer, I opened it up and in the little window there I just typed in turn signal and it took me to a wikihow to do anything page like Wikipedia. This is wikihow. I'm reading this shit directly off the damn screen for my open how to use your turn signal Check this out. Part of safe driving is letting other drivers around you know what you intend to do. Using your turn signals is not difficult and it's generally required by law whenever you make a turn or change lanes. Hello? By providing a signal, you communicate to others on the road. You let a motherfucker know what you're going to do. This keeps you and other drivers safe and it prevents accidents. Method 1 using turn signals to make a fucking turn 1. Locate the lever on the left side of the steering column. The turn signal is a long lever, usually black or gray in color. When moved up or down, this fucking lever will cause the light on either the left or right side of your car to flash. 2. Use the turn signal to indicate a turn to the left. To signal a left turn, wait until you are approximately 30 yards from the corner around which you intend to turn. Ensure you are in the left turn lane. Then push the turn signal lever down gently with your left hand. When the turn signal locks in place, you will be able to see a flashing arrow directed to the left on your instrument cluster. You'll also hear a tick tock sound which clicks in time with the flashing of the light. This indicates that the signal is operating properly. Return your hand to the steering wheel and continue driving. Now indicate a right turn with the turn signal. To signal a right turn, wait until you are within about 30 yards of the corner you wish to round. Ensure you are in the right turn lane, then move the lever up with your left hand. The series of events which follow are similar to those which occur when making a signal to turn towards the left. Once you have moved the lever up, an arrow light will begin blinking on the dashboard instrument cluster. You will also hear a metronome like sound at regular intervals which clinks in time with a flashing light on your instrument cluster. Hello. 4. Ensure your turn signal turns off after your turn has been completed. Normally, the turn signal will automatically turn off after you've made the turn. Some turns which are at angles at less than 90 degrees, however, might not trigger the automatic suspension of the turn signal after you've made the turn. Failing to turn your turn signal off after you've completed the turn can be illegal and cause confusion or for other drivers. 5. Signal your turn even if you are in a turning lane, some traffic lanes are reserved for left or right turns only. While it might seem unnecessary to indicate you're turning when it should be obvious based on the lane you are in, use the turn signal anyway. Motherfucker. Drivers who are not familiar with the area or who cannot see the signs due to multiple vehicles ahead of them in the lane will appreciate the indication as to where you are headed and could clue them into the fact your lane is for turning in a given direction. Plus, the goddamn law requires that you make a turn with your turn signal. Shit. 6. Don't turn your turn signal on too soon. Only activate your turn signal when there are no intervening streets or alleys between you and the place you wish to turn. If you turn your signal on too soon, someone might think you're turning into a parking lot or down the street, which you actually are not. This confusion could lead to an accident or or to you being cut off. Now here's method two. Dig this. Using turn signals to merge into or out of traffic. 1. God damn. This is important. Use your turn signal when pulling out from the curb before leaving a parking spot on the side of the street. It is important to indicate you are about to merge into traffic after getting in your car. Activate your turn signal in the direction you wish to merge. For instance, if you are parked on the right side of the street and you wish to merge into the lane parallel to your vehicle on the left side, activate your left hand turn signal by pulling down on the signal lever. Check your side mirror to ensure there is space in the flow of traffic to pull out. Then turn your wheel hard to the left and accelerate gently. Return the signal lever to the neutral starting position by pushing up gently on it. Now dig this one. This is real fucking important. This is a merge onto a highway. Get on a highway with your turn signal when merging onto the highway. Accelerate quickly so you can attain the speed appropriate for highway driving. About halfway down the on ramp, flick your left hand turn signal on. This will demonstrate that you want to get over. But remember, you do not have the right of way when merging. Be careful when merging in the high speed traffic. Let me read this sentence again because every one of these motherfuckers out here in Los Angeles thinks just because they're in the merge lane, they think they got the right of way and they start cussing at you and flipping you off and honking at you and going crazy when you don't give Them the right away. Once again, God damn it, here it is. When merging onto the highway, accelerate quickly so that you attain the speed appropriate for highway driving. About halfway down the on ramp, flick your left hand turn signal on. This will demonstrate you want to get over. But remember, motherfuckers, you don't have the right of way when merging. Be careful when merging into high speed traffic. Here's a little psychology for you. This isn't on the page, but the people that are already on the highway, those people have the right of way because they're already on the highway. Since you're trying to get on the highway, you must merge or yield to them. Speed up like a motherfucker. Slow down a Conhair, whatever it takes to feather in. Just remember, you do not have the right of way when you merge in. They do. Fuck. Exit the highway with your turn signal. This is a big one, folks. If you need to get off the highway, position yourself in the far right lane on the highway. If your exit ramp is on the left, position yourself in the far left lane of the highway. Turn the appropriate turn signal on when you're about 100 yards from the off ramp, give or take. Do not slow down as you approach the off ramp. Only modify your speed and adjust your turn signal once you're on the off ramp. God damn it. Here's one. Indicate when you wish to change lanes with your turn signal. Hallelujah. This is what I'm fucking talking about on the highway. If, for instance, you're in the right hand lane and you want to change the left lane, you can do it easily and safely by employing your turn signal. First, put your turn signal on in the direction you wish to go. To move into the right lane, push your turn signal up to let others know you wish to move to the right. To move into the left lane, push your turn signal lever down to indicate you wish to move into the left lane. Activate the turn signal at least five seconds before you wish to change lanes. That's going to give or take a little bit. Don't switch the signal on for just one or two flickers. Place it in a locked position, just as you would when making a turn. That's the middle of the road. Just make sure you give a signal. If it's all clear, turn your wheel slightly toward the lane you wish to merge into. Once you're completely within the boundaries of the lane, move your left hand to your turn signal lever and switch it off. Do not cross multiple lanes of traffic with a single activation of your turn signal. If you know, you need to cross many lanes. Give yourself the adequate time and space to do so. Plan your lane merges ahead of time so when you turn your signal on, you can't cut across three fucking lanes. Go to one lane, check your rear view mirror and plug your signal again. Get to the next lane, check, turn your signal on, look in your rearview mirror, and so forth and so on. It's pretty damn easy, folks. It ain't hard to do. I was doing some history research on the turn signal. I believe the turn signal was invented, give or take, around 1920, and then they became standard goddamn features on an automobile back in the day. When was the first car invented? 1903, 1908. Whatever it was, Model T, they didn't have no blinkers back in. They barely had some headlights. But that little stalk on the left hand side of your steering column, up to the right, down to the left. I gave you the particulars on Wicked. How you know what the fuck you're doing? Don't be a prick. I got a goddamn Range Rover that I lease. I got a 95 Ford Bronco. I got a 2003 Ford Focus. It don't matter what car I'm driving. I don't consider myself too good, too cool, too much of a hot shot, too arrogant to use my goddamn turn signals. I let a brother or sister know what direction I'm going. You hear me? I don't think that's asking too much. If you use your turn signals and we all use our turn signals, and I'm using my turn signals, hey, there'll be one less wreck on the goddamn highway or one less wreck in the city in which you live. It ain't that goddamn hard.
- [14:47]
Steve Austin
Hey, this is Adam Carolla from the Adam Carolla Show. If you care about predictions, you care about props. And nobody does props like betonline. For years, we've been the home of legitimate sports betting with deep markets, sharp odds and players, Props that reward real insight from kickoff to final whistle. Bet Online gives you live betting, instant updates, and in game predictions that move as the action unfolds. Plus, elevate your play with betonline casino and VIP rewards built for serious players, prediction markets. Follow the conversation. Betonline defines it. Betonline. The game starts here. Steve Austin.
- [15:43]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Unleashed.
- [15:44]
Steve Austin
Unleashed.
- [15:45]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
I'm recording sound. I'm sitting here with van Piro in Hodgkinson 316 Gimmick Street. I was about to hit the record button. I said, ian, what do you want to talk about? He goes, I don't know. I said, I got nothing. And here's the thing. He was over looking across the room and he noticed one of my clocks. And it's real. It's a real chill kind of clock. I don't know the name of it, but it says on it it is five past seven with these gimmick letters, and I collect all these. Kristen, what's this clock from?
- [16:16]
Steve Austin
Design something or other.
- [16:17]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
My wife doesn't know. Never mind. She wasn't of any help today. Normally my wife can solve all the problems of the world. Anyway, I'm sitting here in a room full of clocks with Van Pierro. I said, brother, what do you want to talk about? I said, I got nothing and I got something. I told him I got to start. Ian, welcome to the show. Welcome to my house. How are you?
- [16:36]
Steve Austin
I'm excited to see you in person, man. It's good to be here, brother.
- [16:39]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
I know we had a great conversation on the telephone and then all of a sudden get a chance to shake hands out there.
- [16:44]
Steve Austin
Yeah.
- [16:45]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Come inside and shoot the breeze.
- [16:46]
Steve Austin
Great beer, by the way. Thank you very much.
- [16:48]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
We only drank one beer. This is not a drunken podcast.
- [16:51]
Steve Austin
It should be, though.
- [16:52]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
It could be and it should be. But you're driving. We got to be responsible.
- [16:55]
Steve Austin
No, you got to be responsible.
- [16:57]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
You're the one driving, not me.
- [16:58]
Steve Austin
I'm okay, I'm Canadian.
- [17:02]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Okay? You heard it here first on the Steve Austin Show. So I told in, I said, I gotta start, okay? And here's my start. A couple of weeks ago, two dudes had a match. And I said, well, one guy carried the other guy in a match. The one Guy was an 18 year vet. The guy that got carried been in business about five or six years. All of a sudden all the headlines were Steve Austin said so and so, carried so and so. Like it was an insult. Dude, I've been carried a million times in my career in professional wrestling matches. Hell, I got carried by Bill Dundee, I got carried by Billy Travis, Gary Young, Sean Michaels, Bret Hart. I can sit there and name a bunch of people. So it wasn't an insult. You have been carried in a match because you happen to be working with a veteran who had a lot of experience and you were a little bit on the green side end a hundred percent. So was that an insult that I spouted off?
- [18:01]
Steve Austin
I think it's an insult for the younger guys missing the boat and understanding they should look to work with older guys so they get that experience.
- [18:09]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
But to the wrestling journalists or the people that try to was It. And so it's just a plain facts.
- [18:15]
Steve Austin
Yeah.
- [18:16]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
You call a spade a spade, dude carried the match.
- [18:18]
Steve Austin
Okay.
- [18:19]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Okay. And that's all I said. So it was just grinding my gears. And you've been in the business damn near about the same time or longer than I have been. You're still actively engaged with Lucas. Lucha Underground on El Rey Network. We're going to talk about the Ultimate Lucha, which is coming up on July 6th through July 20th as you guys wrap up. Was that season two?
- [18:36]
Steve Austin
See, season three. We just wrapped season three. Look at you, the journalist. I'm just watching you.
- [18:41]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
No, dude, dude, if I'm going to talk about y' all shit, I gotta talk about y' all shit.
- [18:45]
Steve Austin
Look at you.
- [18:46]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
But so you know, the fact that, you know, someone carries somebody to match it is what it is. It ain't no insult.
- [18:50]
Steve Austin
No, it's not. You need a ring, general. It's just the way it goes. Somebody's got to be the leader.
- [18:56]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Yeah. So anyway, I just had to get that out there. And that was my start.
- [18:59]
Steve Austin
I mean, and I think that people think they're so smart about our business. And unfortunately, good and bad or if it's right or wrong, I have no idea, man. You or I don't have a say in this. Things evolve, and people talk too much. The mystique and the romantic part of the whole industry is kind of slowly being exposed. Right. Like that guy in Las Vegas who puts the mask on and gives everybody's gimmick away. The you doing that for. I know that that's not magic, but I want to see the show, man. Don't ruin it for me. A lot of people think that, oh, he carried the match or your comment like that. Let me tell you something, man. The average fan should know there's about 10 or 12 other people who have their fingers prints on that match. It's not just those two dudes up there. So fucking chill out.
- [19:41]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Yeah, but here's the thing.
- [19:42]
Steve Austin
It's just like, your wife's here, man.
- [19:44]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
No, that's cool. We got the sliding doors closed. Soundproof. No, dude, this is. This is the Unleashed show. You're good. Thanks for the respect, though. Ian took his boots off. I said, no, man, you ain't gonna take your boots off. He goes, no, brother, it's your house. It's the thing to do. So. Respect.
- [19:57]
Steve Austin
Thank you.
- [19:58]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Let's. Let's talk about a classic, okay. Let's talk about the Rock. Biggest movie star in the world right now, in my opinion.
- [20:05]
Steve Austin
Okay.
- [20:06]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Okay. Now, in his movies. He's either, man, he's beating up a lot of cats. He's laying down, laying a smackdown on people or doing what he's got to do to. It's like in San Andreas, the earthquake movie.
- [20:21]
Steve Austin
Okay.
- [20:21]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
He's saving, I guess, the world of the city from all this death and destruction. Now in. Do you think that shit really happened? No, it didn't happen. But it's a movie and we believe that Dwayne the Rock Johnson is saving all these people. Okay, so now you made a. You made a great point. The mystique and the. What was the other one?
- [20:43]
Steve Austin
Romanticism.
- [20:44]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Yeah. Of the business has been eroded away by kayfabe being broken. But hey, yeah, kayfabe was broken. And then, you know, Dr. D, David Schultz slapped John Stossel. I talk about this so many times. People rib me about it 20, 30 years ago, all the different talk shows talked about, oh, wrestling really isn't real. I thought it was real when I first started watching it in, but nonetheless, when I watched the business today, when I watch Lucha Underground on El Rey Network or if I still watch wwe, dude, I'm buying in. I'm just watching it for what it is. The fact that I did it and I know it gives me a critical eye. So I guess there's two sets of eyes in that I watch the product from. One, when two guys really go out there and nail it and I'm able to just forget about everything and be a fan on the other end of it. If I'm watching bad work and a bad storyline because I am smart to the business, then I start to pick things apart. But left to it, the business left to its own devices with me knowing what I know. If there's a quality match being done by two badass hands who I understand their character, their motivation, and the reason for which they're fighting. Dude, I'm in as a fan.
- [22:00]
Steve Austin
Yup. 100% I agree with you. Even though I'm ringside and I'm watching as an announcer and I seeing all this insane acrobatics stuff, I look at it different if I have five or ten minutes to myself. And you know how it is when you're busy, you. You don't want to be around what you're involved in. You want to breathe. But I still find myself this day. I watch Kawada matches or Masawa or Kobashi, that Stan Hansen, that mid, mid 1990s, early 90s, mid-90s all Japan stuff, because that's what does it for me. I'LL watch a match with. I watch it over and over again with Takada and Muda. The big UWF New Japan invasion angle. I was like, God damn, I'm a fan. Because I know this is what I want to see. Watching this stuff today, I can't.
- [22:49]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Not a fan of anything.
- [22:54]
Steve Austin
That comment's probably gonna get me in a lot of trouble. But let me say it this way. I don't watch it as a fan anymore. Now I watch it as when we were rehearsing and we were going over this, and I sat at home for three weeks trying to think of how to help you tell the story. And I'm sitting there and I see that you listen to me, then I'm into it. If you're just gonna go out there and you brush me off and you look at me and you just kind of do flipping and flying, it doesn't do it for me. It doesn't do it for me.
- [23:22]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
But to me, as long as you have some physicality, there's some logic in there. Can I go back to.
- [23:29]
Steve Austin
There's no logic, brother. If you get a beautiful Barbie doll girl, is that really going to turn your crank for the rest of your life? Or do you want somebody with some grit, some scar tissue, some experience, brains? The same thing. Yeah, right. Experience. Somebody who can kind of move you and compete with you and hold your curiosity and sometimes make you want to be a better person. Wrestling does that to you. You watch that. You go to wrestling because you want to be a wrestler. You want to get rid of your spirit. You're a fan, you're freaked out. You like the energy. But if it's just put together like a video game, it's like, what are we doing here? Am I wrong to say that?
- [24:07]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
No, I just. It's just, you know, going back to the. Going back to the. The Stan, Anson Brody stuff, and you're talking about, like, 90s. And I go back to as was. Like, I was talking to Ricochet. Prince Puma was on here a while back, and I was talking to him, you know.
- [24:23]
Steve Austin
Is that who that is? Ricochet? He's two guys. Are you kidding me? I've been doing this forever, and no one tells me anything.
- [24:29]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Yeah.
- [24:29]
Steve Austin
So waiting for my first victory.
- [24:31]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Yeah. Like, because we were.
- [24:32]
Steve Austin
Don't even tell me this isn't a shoot now.
- [24:34]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
It's a total shoot. It's a work shoot. It's a shoot on a work. So, like, I told him, you know, the match that he had with Will Osprey over in New Japan, I mean, it was cool, it was badass. And I told him I'd never seen anything like it. I had no, I won't back off that statement. It was spectacular. The athleticism, timing, precision were just off the charts. But you know, just like I told him right to his face, dude, I like that mid-80s, NWA Four Horsemen, Ric Flair, Dusty Rose, Nikita Koloff, you know, coming on it, Rock and Roll Express, Midnight Express. Leading into your all Japan stuff, because big fans of Gordy Freebirds, Brody Hanson, Funks, you know, all that stuff you're talking about, because, dude, I mean, you're bringing a fight. You're bringing a fight. And I guess for me, because I guess I don't want to say I'm trapped in a 6 1,270 pound body, but that's the body in which I perform my work. So I wasn't able to do the things that those guys could do. But to me, just in watching two guys slug it out with logic, if you're doing all the high flying stuff and there's logic behind it, then I can dig it. Just like I could the heavy hitting stuff. Sometimes when you start flying too much, maybe you defy too much logic.
- [25:55]
Steve Austin
Well, okay, I understand exactly what you're saying, and I think my answer is this. And in Lucha Underground, the people in production and the staff, the writers, the producers, or however you want to say it, are so in tune with making sure that there's validity to the violence we're stressing. And that's the pride and joy of crafting a conversation with these young men and women who are doing these extraordinary physical feats. I, in a million years, for ten hundred million dollars, would never ever try a moonsault to the floor. Are you kidding me? But these kids do it with their eyes closed and they look at you and laugh. I mean, hey, things have evolved and good thanks to the people who influenced us. We did this. Now they are doing that because of what we did. So sitting back and being able to contribute and say, look it, man, don't do this, that and the other thing and just somebody super kicks you to the mouth. Fucking hell. Sell that, sell that. Get up and hit him back, okay, but sell your job, man. Those little details that we're injecting into Lucha Underground is definitely. If you watch the promos, the vignettes, the storyline, there is logic, but you really got to sit down and watch the whole show. Does that make sense?
- [27:08]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Yeah, it makes total sense, I guess, not to sit here and run us into a big Circle or beat a dead horse. But to me, it's like, as they say, the business evolves. I was talking to a guy a few weeks ago, he said, it just changed, man. I think this is with respect to the younger generation that are in the ring in the WWE now or in Lucha Underground or anywhere, Ring of Honor, any, any organization, man. Be as athletic or push it to the limit as much as you want, but just make sure you gotta have some razzle dazzle here and there. Or if you got that body that can do all that kind of stuff, great, but just sell it. If you're on the receiving end of it, just sell it. Take that Will Osprey and that ricochet match from New Japan. And give or take, that match was about 15 minutes from start to finish by the time they started in the ring. And just say you had that match in its entirety and let's call it 15. But then you would have added in five minutes of pure selling by either guy, or even, dare I say, seven or eight or nine, because of this kind of stuff they were doing. And some of them might have been a little bit out of sequence, but that was an athletic event. It was an athletic spectacle. But had it, the stakes been high, a belt on the line, and I knew more about their characters and I knew that what they were doing to each other actually inflicted pain, then I would have cared more. I made a comparison that match to 1982, Dynamite versus Tiger Mask. Lots of similarities, a lot of same precision. But what I loved about Dynamite's work in was his intent to inflict pain, his intent to try to harm you. He was working, of course. He laid his shit in and he was trying to win an athletic contest. And I guess that's my bottom line. An athletic contest where there's logic and I care about both combatants, whether I love both of them, hate both of them, or love one and hate the other. But those are my basic components that I really want to see to enjoy a match.
- [29:18]
Steve Austin
Okay, I'm going to throw some crazy stuff at you. If you look at. I'm going to give you three examples. Just the fact that Tenrou, if anybody can remember, Tenrou or Jumbo Saruta were sumo guys. So they had to go through that sumo tradition and they went through the dojo and they took that beating. And then they went through the new boy phase, which in Japan, a new boy or your young boy, he would be the guy who carry your bag and set up the ring and bow and all that kind of stuff for you. And Just be basically your valet. But in it with respect, though, it's a different culture. And then all of a sudden, go in there. So you got this guy who was put in 15, 16 years of earning that opportunity to go into a fight. So when he locks up and that bam and that snatch and you throw him to the ropes, you come off and that bam. And no one moves. That's authenticity, people. God, these guys are bringing mountains. Why am I saying that? Marco Antonio Barrero fought Eric Morales three times. The second fight, it was like that match with those two kids in Japan with Ricochet and the other young man, they hit each other so hard and so much, and it was a non stop thing. It was like the Rocky movie. It was like, you guys got to stop. Their wives were screaming the corners. I was there. I was Marco's bodyguard. They fought, and neither one was gonna back. It was that night. We're gonna die. We will die in here together. So they hurt themselves. So if you knew their backstory, that type of fight made sense. Their next fight, they didn't hit each other as hard because they already did it. They earned our respect. We know you can go. These young guys in Japan or these house shows are doing all these crazy stuff. They haven't earned it in our eyes yet. So we look at them in a different light. Does any of that, what I just said make sense?
- [31:06]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Yeah, it makes sense. I guess it's. It's interesting in talking about the Marcantonio Barrero, Eric Morales fight, because you said they fought three times, Right. And the second time, they was just bangin.
- [31:19]
Steve Austin
Yeah.
- [31:20]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
But on the third time, it was because you're talking about shoot boxing.
- [31:23]
Steve Austin
Yeah.
- [31:23]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
But then it was because, dude, they were. They weathered that war, so you already gave them that, you know, and also you're gonna game plan different. So there comes the logic that I would apply to the pro wrestling sense of. We banged for you the second time. We did whatever did the first time. We banged the second time. Third time, we got to give you something different.
- [31:43]
Steve Austin
But did you hear what you just said? They banged the second time. These young men didn't have the first time yet.
- [31:50]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Right.
- [31:51]
Steve Austin
Get to that point where we need to go that extreme.
- [31:54]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Okay. But nonetheless, nonetheless gone to say, the Will Osprey Ricochet match, you didn't get a chance to see it, but you heard about it, so we've seen that. So now it's got to be the. The number three match that you're talking about, where it's like, man, I done took this guy's best shots. He hits like a motherfucker. Now I just keep my distance, see what I can get in on him. And so this is that more tactician match. So my point is, where does the business go now? Like, with what everybody's doing, you just got to bring more logic to the business. Because right now the guys in wwe, the guys in Lucha Underground, and I said with respect, are doing some fantastic moves. But at the bottom, at the end of the day, if you don't have the logic there where we saw you do this, like, I don't know how those two cats go back to New Japan, go back to that same building and how they work again. Because what will you do different? Because if I had to go back and I was working, if you were Osprey and I'm Ricochet dude, now we're going to go technical wrestling because we done gave you everything but the kitchen sink. So now, I mean, maybe that's a bad analogy. But my point is I'm totally going to fuck you up from a spectator standpoint because now we're going to fucking grapple and claw for everything we get. And it's going to be a different match because to do anything more in, to make my point, you damn. You're going to have to kill yourself.
- [33:20]
Steve Austin
Yes. Or you got to go the other route and not see each other again for three years.
- [33:25]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Yeah, yeah, I get you, but I'm just talking, following up. Where do you go when you've gone this far? My point is, what do you do now, where the business is at, Just to back off a little bit. To me, when I watch wwe and with respect to all the talent that they have in there right now and guys that have way more athletic ability than the generation that I came from. But now more than ever, with all the dynamic move sets, you want to work even harder down at NXT on the character development or the Persona or the interview skills. And it's to me, you should always emphasize the work. Always like the work of. I mentioned superstar Bill Dundee earlier. He never worked like a guy that was 57200. Ricky Morton, one of my all time favorite tag teams at Robert Gibson, Rock and Roll Express, he worked pro style. My point is it all goes back to logic and, and why now as they continue to book, to me, you know, wrestling in is serious. I think you should have some moments of levity or some comedy or humor. Humor. Not comedy, some humor. But I think, man, if it's all about competition, you're fighting for a belt or you're fighting to get in contention for a belt. In my opinion, wins and losses matter. And so that in your pursuit of that belt, everything is done in a logical manner to try to continue and manipulate, because you're not fooling the public anymore, because they know it's a work going back to your mystique and romanticism, but you're manipulating them through logical storylines. If your storylines and you work inside the Ring doesn't have logic, your storylines and your angles don't mean shit. And if they don't mean shit, you're gonna disengage the audience. Does that make sense or am I just a fucking idiot?
- [35:20]
Steve Austin
No, you are not. And it makes all the sense in the world. But how do you do that? You gotta sell. You don't fucking sell. You don't become authentic. If the people don't feel your pain, then they won't believe in you. You need to be like, there's an actor in Mexico, Pedro Infante. He died in the 40s. He was like, the Golden Era. He was like Justin Bieber of the golden era cinema in Latin America. He died in a plane crash. The classic thing about Pedro Infante is he would suffer. He the whole movie, and then at the end, he would slowly get the girl and then sing the song and go off into the sunset. You got to make this. You got to make people cry. And at the end, if there's no other hope to come out, and if they don't believe it and they don't get that emotional contact with you, they're not going to believe in your work. Lucha Underground, the first season and a half, it was kind of like, what the fuck are we doing? Because this is. We're taking a boulder, we're going to fling it over our shoulder, and let's see what happens when it hits the water. We've done that now. We've tweaked it. Season three, everything is different. The stories make sense, that the selling is there, the authenticity, all those little things that needed to be injected, they are there. You've got to see the athleticism of these kids now, now that they get it, to tell the story. Oh, my God. Season 3 and Lucha Underground is gonna. I don't. I don't know what the fuck we're gonna do in season four. I don't know what we're. I don't know what to do.
- [36:39]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
At Pluto tv, we're celebrating Black History Month with our free curated collection of black entertainment.
- [36:45]
Steve Austin
No ifs, ands or buts about Catch.
- [36:48]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Award winning Films like Dreamgirls, Monster's Ball and Selma. We must make a massive demonstration.
- [36:54]
Steve Austin
Iconic hits like School Days and Set It Off. Plus full seasons of shows like Tyler.
- [36:59]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
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- [37:01]
Steve Austin
I got you star studded Brilliant Black entertainment.
- [37:03]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
And it's all free.
- [37:05]
Steve Austin
It's getting good this month and always.
- [37:07]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
On Pluto TV stream now.
- [37:08]
Steve Austin
Hey.
- [37:09]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Never. Okay. You talked about selling real quick and I was talking about logic and then I want to talk about.
- [37:13]
Steve Austin
Isn't the same thing though. One goes hand in hand for people.
- [37:17]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Yeah. I mean selling would definitely be a part of logic and logic would be a part of selling.
- [37:23]
Steve Austin
I mean you gotta. Yeah.
- [37:24]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Even things have to make sense.
- [37:26]
Steve Austin
Yeah.
- [37:26]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Selling is the.
- [37:28]
Steve Austin
We all know Bruce Lee's a badass. He's going to come kick your ass. But he's got to go through 40 guys. That's even cooler because he finally gets. And he's scarred up and bleeding. You know what's on. But if he just walked in fresh, it's like it's not as cool.
- [37:41]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
But selling. Selling is. Is the recognition and acknowledgment of pain and it's the body becoming weak.
- [37:48]
Steve Austin
That was in wwf. I don't know. I forget his name. I think he was over a little bit that he got so over because he got. He didn't tap out in a match with Brett, you know, who's that guy?
- [38:00]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Yeah, dude, the old ball guy.
- [38:01]
Steve Austin
That fucking guy. I think he just sold. He probably. And because of that he's doing all right.
- [38:07]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Yeah. You know what that was. That was interesting moment you. You brought up there. Here's the thing and I'll get back to my point that I was going to make end brought back. Brought up a real famous match that I was in WrestleMania 13 again.
- [38:17]
Steve Austin
Was that you?
- [38:18]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Yes, it was me. That's my. I wish it was my twin brother because now if it was my twin brother, I wouldn't feel like. But my. But your point was I was selling in that match and I remember going to the finish room and you know, Vince dropped that finish on us and there was only three men in that room. It was myself, Brett the Hitman Hart got a lot of respect for. And Vince McMahon I got a lot of respect for. Laid down the finish. I said, okay. We walked out. I went down and circled the ring. I came back by myself. I said, vince, I said, you think I finished the really work. And Vince looked at me and goes, God. Oh, God damn, Steve. I'm telling you it'll work. I said, all right, I'm Good. So I went to talk to Brett. We just kind of kick around a few things. We had a fishbone. I'm holding up my hand in front of end. I got my fingers spread wide open and that's a fish bone. We had this, this, this and this that we knew was going to happen. And Russ on the fly. But Brett said, steve, I really think we was in a no color zone back in the day, you know. Yeah, yeah, no juice. He goes, man, I really think you need to have color if you're going to pass out. And, dude, I don't have been in the company a year, year and a half, you know, I just got, you know, real hot pretty quick. It took a long time. I had to get rid of my manager and come up with a stone cold name. He goes, man, I'm telling you, you need to have color if you're going to pass out. And I said, all right, man. He goes, you know, he said he'd do the honors if, you know, I was worried about it because I hadn't been tenured yet, man. I didn't have the staying power and I didn't know if I could weather the heat. So anyway, we ended up. Brett helped a brother out and I got that color. But that was the picture of what you're saying as far as selling. I passed out. That was the thing that made me. But the fact of passing out is the act of losing consciousness, and that is the ultimate price of selling. And the blood painted the visual picture which will ever be ingrained in people's minds. One of the most iconic pictures in probably WWE history and probably the only time such a high level double turn has ever been done. I wanted to talk about the two of the other components that I like in a match and this. This podcast is all over the place, but we're just shooting the breeze here and there's no paper, nothing in front of us. We're talking about pro wrestling.
- [40:26]
Steve Austin
Need more beer.
- [40:26]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
But one of the things, and I'm gonna get one right after this point is fire. Fire. Because I'm sitting across from in. I don't know if you ever met in before. Scary looking dude, bald head, got tattoos everywhere, Pretty jacked up. A dude knows some iron. Teach his crime. A guy. So, Ian, if we used to stand up and we're standing here in my house and I just start slapping the shit out of you about every 15 seconds, I just fire off and just knock the shit out of you. There's only so many of those you're gonna Take after you say, you know what? Fuck this motherfucker. And all of a sudden you're just going to go haywire and try to stomp a mud hole in my ass and walk it dry. Because I have angered you to a point where I've insulted you as a man, your guest in my house, and now I'm teeing off on you and you're going to fire back. So when you fire back, I would imagine you're going to fire back with extreme vengeance and trying to inflict as much pain in me as. As you can. Because I've pissed you off. I fucked you over and I've disrespected you much like a heel getting heat on a baby face. He's been breaking all the rules. He's pulling his hair, he's pulling his fucking tights. He's doing everything he can to keep his baby face down. But that baby face is fighting for everything he can. He's playing within the structures of the rules. Why? Because he's a baby face. But finally, after calling a couple of hope spots, you know it's time to make that comeback. And when it's time for that comeback, I'll guarantee you you're not going to hit me three times with a running clothesline here in my office. You're going to beat the fuck out of me with your balled up fist. Use some crab McGuire. Kick the fuck out of me. My point is it's going to elicit an emotion out of you, which is it's fight or flight. I doubt very seriously that you can run through my sliding doors and run down the fucking block hollering. I would imagine that when you open up on me, you're gonna bring everything you got because it's time to end this bullshit. Am I correct? Yeah. And you know the point? I'm trying.
- [42:35]
Steve Austin
I do. I'm kind of a bitch. So I'd probably just take and start to cry and say, sorry that I offended you, so I wouldn't fight back.
- [42:41]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Come on, go work. Work me on this. I'm trying to make a point about fire.
- [42:45]
Steve Austin
Well, fire. Look at, look at the NHL, you fucking. We're setting up for a face off and you look at me. That's it. We're going.
- [42:51]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Right.
- [42:52]
Steve Austin
So you punch a guy 3, 4, 5 times, of course he's gonna fire back. It doesn't take that much, right? You ain't gonna stand.
- [42:57]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Yeah, but you ain't had a fire up. You got the fire up.
- [43:00]
Steve Austin
You gotta go.
- [43:00]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
That's one thing that it is to me, is a lost art in the business or a lost emotion. Because you're talking about selling. We're talking about logic. It only be logic. Let me turn the tables. You come over and you slap the fuck out of me a couple times after I said, hey, Ian, why don't you come over to my crib? We'll do a podcast. I'll tell you right now, you ain't gonna get too many of those motherfuckers because we're going. And goddamn, whether I beat your ass or you beat mine, we're going. That's the point I'm trying to make. That's logic in a match.
- [43:28]
Steve Austin
Yeah. That's real life, dude.
- [43:30]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
If I.
- [43:31]
Steve Austin
It's a fight.
- [43:32]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Yeah. If you want to do something here, you're gonna pay for it. Well, if you do something, my ring. I'm the baby face off. Sudden I got a gut full of your antics. I got to come back on your ass. And so when I'm talking about engaging the audience, you haven't got a problem in a while. Dude, I'm talking about, I mean, when you, if you want to grab an audience, buy the guts like Tom Cruise and Mission Impossible or any of your favorite action stars, whoever the fuck it might be. When it's payback time is payback time.
- [43:57]
Steve Austin
Yeah.
- [43:57]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
And so when I talk, you're talking about selling, we're talking about logic. We're talking about, you know, doing all these things in a match for it to be believable, to work on the character development so that, you know, I either love this person or I hate that person or whatever the case is. I bought into their characters. And fire is so simple, but you see it these days so manufactured that it's see through and it's the same old, same old three clothesline bullshit comeback. And I can call the comeback because I've seen it a million times. But you know the worst part of it? I don't feel it because there's no anger there. And if a person has fucking held me down by cheating or if it's just my time to get my shit back in, I'm pissed off and I'm coming for your ass. And you've got to send that message out as a baby face or reverse it. A mean streak as a heel. If you. If you're a fucking dastardly piece of shit, cowardly whatever, or just a bully, when it comes time to get heat on that baby face, if you ain't stomping his guts in with malice and intent to Hurt, you're doing your job wrong, you ain't got to do it. Go about doing it in a rapid fire fashion. You can pace yourself. I'm not saying rush, which is another mistake that you often see today. People are rushing so much shit today because they think, ah, well, we're not. We're not getting anything out of the crowd because we're not doing things fast enough. No, you're doing things too goddamn fast. Slow the fuck down. I take you back to a match that one of the best matches I've seen a long time was you and fucking Pentagon Junior. Was it season one?
- [45:38]
Steve Austin
Season one?
- [45:38]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Dude, the way y' all laid that out, you ain't been in the ring in fucking how long?
- [45:42]
Steve Austin
About eight years.
- [45:43]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Yeah. I'm sitting there thinking, all right, how's vamp gonna pull this off, dude, you sold. You generated offense. Then he got back on top. And you had the size advantage, the clear size advantage. But he operated and worked on you in a fashion that was logical and sensible. I bought into it hook, line and sinker. I ain't just saying that because you're right here. I, I talked about it last year on the podcast.
- [46:06]
Steve Austin
Yeah, yeah, you did. And it makes fun. First of all, for the fans, it's been a long time since anybody's seen Steve Austin cut a promo. And I'm right here, front, front row, you're fired up, veins coming out of your neck, rolling your sleeves up on your biceps. You're fucking ready to go. I'm backing up. Hey, man, I'm your homie, brother. But I think the biggest thing that the kids are making, kids. When I say kids, the younger people are making boys and girls, men and women. Are you going too fast? You're too quick? You punch a guy six times and before the, the fans can even say that, digest that violence, you've already kicked him and spun, kicked. And you did a moonsault. You've kicked out. You don't sell the chair shots and you're back. Everything you just did junk food, man. Fucking in. And it just, you just wasted all that talent. You didn't tell a story. And I think that's the point, telling stories.
- [46:55]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
I'm gonna tell you a story right now about two dudes. One of them's bald. The other guys you got done.
- [47:00]
Steve Austin
I'm bald.
- [47:01]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Number two.
- [47:02]
Steve Austin
Number one, is it zero. But this is growing up.
- [47:04]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Zero. Yeah. So you got these two, Two thirsty guys. They're angry, they're sitting across the table.
- [47:09]
Steve Austin
God damn, brother. I gotta calm you down. Come over here. And kick me and stop me in the corner.
- [47:13]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
I'm just trying to make a point.
- [47:15]
Steve Austin
Jesus Christ.
- [47:16]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
I was trying to make a goddamn point. I called my wife on myself. I'll get my blood pressure medication in here.
- [47:22]
Steve Austin
Holy In. Yo, Jackson, what's wrong with you?
- [47:24]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
No, but you know what? But, but does it. I mean, like, when you talk about the business, you get excited about it. It's like I get so fired up about the business because that's my love for it. And so I just get ramped up. So I didn't mean to go fucking crazy.
- [47:36]
Steve Austin
I think it was fucking awesome.
- [47:37]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
If I had a tachometer, I was probably like at the 7500rpms. Almost redlined a couple.
- [47:42]
Steve Austin
No, you redlined like a motherfucker. I was watching you.
- [47:44]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Well, since I redlined, we're going to take a pause for the calls. Sponsors coming here and do you think I'm taking a break to have a beer with in Hodgkinson? Thank you, Vampiro here at the Steve Austin Show. Coming right back in a minute. Hey, you looking to buy a used car? Then you should check out truecar.com and the TrueCar app. I bet you didn't know that you can use TrueCar to help you buy a used car, too. It ain't just for new car purchases. There's over 500,000 pre owned vehicles available from TrueCar certified dealers nationwide. And there are over 11,000 TrueCar certified dealers. And TrueCar lets you get upfront pricing information on new and used vehicles and lets you see what other people pay for the car you want so that you feel confident you're getting a fair price. With TrueCar via their TrueCar pricing curve, you see what other people paid for the car and you lock in your guaranteed savings. Then you can connect with a local certified dealer of your choosing, take them your TrueCar guaranteed savings certificate, and make your car buying experience quick and easy. Over 2 million cars have been sold to TrueCar users by the TrueCar Certified Dealer Network. And TrueCar users save an average of over $3,000 off MSRP. So when you're ready to buy a new or used car, visit truecar.com or download the TrueCar app to enjoy a better car buying experience. Some features not available in all states. I took a serious break here in the action. Got all calmed down, regained my composure as the great Gordon solely. Gordon solely.
- [49:19]
Steve Austin
How about that? Who could pull a name out like that, huh? Trivia, baby. Come on.
- [49:22]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Hey. Well, let's talk about your announce for Lucha Underground. Dude, were you influenced by anybody's style?
- [49:29]
Steve Austin
Yeah, of course. Great. Muda was probably the guy I tried to copy the most.
- [49:33]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
No, but from an announcing standpoint.
- [49:35]
Steve Austin
Oh, from an announcing standpoint, no. I got a friend, Kevin Gill. He does some indie shows and stuff like that. And he's got a podcast and he's. He. I've kind of stole things from him, probably. I kind of approached it like this. I thought, I have no experience. I have no clue. The best thing about me is being animated. Like you. Just right now, you fired up. I think I've made a career of being charismatic. Why study and go into business with somebody who does that for a living? Just go there and be a filler. Play. Looking at your picture, Stevie Ray Vaughan. I remember Jimmy Vaughn telling his brother, how are you going to play lead guy guitar and sing at the same time? You're not going to do it. I've always based everything I've done in my life around music. And Stevie would say, I will play the guitar, but then I will play the guitar. So I look at my relationship at the announce booth as one guitar player, somebody will play. But when there needs to be a little fill, I will do that little fill. I thought that that was the best way to approach it. And it seems to be working, dude. Makes sense.
- [50:38]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
You're old enough to know who Steve Ray Vaughan is. I got a big fan base in the UK and all the way across the different countries. A lot of people here in the States are too young to understand who Steve Ray Vaughan was. To me, he's the greatest blues guitarist player ever, in my opinion. He's my favorite guitarist of all time, ever. And I know some pretty badass guitar players. Did you. Did you ever get a chance to watch what this guy did?
- [51:02]
Steve Austin
Yeah, of course. You know, he used to play at the Elma Combo in Toronto.
- [51:06]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Exactly. There's a famous recording of that very concert.
- [51:09]
Steve Austin
And I was at a show, I was working for mtv, and there was a big festival going on, and the Stray Cats played and Stevie Ray played, and I saw that in Minneapolis. I saw him a few other times, too, but yeah, I've seen them. Sure. Good stuff, dude.
- [51:23]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Absolutely the best stuff.
- [51:25]
Steve Austin
Yeah, but he opened for the Stray Cats. How about that?
- [51:29]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Well, that's interesting. That's back when he's paying his dues. Back in the dojo getting days.
- [51:33]
Steve Austin
Yeah, I. He was about to break. He was breaking. But the Stray Cats were the Stray Cats.
- [51:39]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Right, right, right.
- [51:40]
Steve Austin
But to see Brian Setzer and Stevie Ray together. Come on, man. If you're. I mean, maybe it's a little bit. If they're friends of the uk, of course. I mean, the stray cats started in the uk, right? They left New York, went to there.
- [51:50]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
God dang, man. None of my fans know who the stray cats are, man. That's. The stray cats had a good run. But, I mean, that's because we're two old dudes. I want to go back to Lucha Underground because of season two, y' all shot, and I send you a text message. As soon as I saw this thing, it was open to the season. You were in a. Like, an insane asylum. What would you call it? Insane asylum. Yeah.
- [52:09]
Steve Austin
I was in a center. Yeah. That was in the insane asylum.
- [52:12]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Yeah. Mental facility.
- [52:14]
Steve Austin
Yeah.
- [52:14]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
So anyway, you're at the end of the table, and the dude's talking to you, and, you know, in asking you all these questions, are you still having these visions?
- [52:21]
Steve Austin
Yeah.
- [52:23]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
No. And you're having these flashbacks, and so you lied to them because you are having the visions, and you're not thinking about, you know, doing these bad things to people. And there's a flashback like you really attacked the guy. So the dude slides you some pills across the table to take two a day, and it's always take two a day. But since you're a wrestler, you got to take, you know, whatever.
- [52:41]
Steve Austin
Yeah. 87 must be better.
- [52:44]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
My point is, after all this time and the asylum, he lets you out.
- [52:48]
Steve Austin
Yes.
- [52:48]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
And then there's Matt Stryker there to pick y' all up in a badass. What was a Cadillac, or is it Lincoln?
- [52:53]
Steve Austin
I think it was a Lincoln.
- [52:54]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Yeah. It was badass. Black car.
- [52:56]
Steve Austin
Yeah.
- [52:56]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
And so I sent you a text message. That vignette was so epic. I thought that you had got your own action adventure series. I said, dude, did you get a series? And you're like, what the fuck you talking about? I said, no, the thing on the tv. So I thought you actually had a fucking series going. That's how well that thing was shot. How long did that take? And what did you think when they. When they broke it down to you?
- [53:19]
Steve Austin
It took about two hours. It's pretty quick.
- [53:23]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
That's very quick.
- [53:24]
Steve Austin
Yeah, we kind of. Because we. They were like. I just said, guys, you know, they broke it down to me, and they were. We were going over it, and. And the gentleman who played the doctor, Anthony Jensen, he kited me. He said, listen, he's an actor, and he. And he's also an upper echelon in Luch Underground. It's one of the main bosses. And in all the vignettes, we have office people in cameos. So we did this thing, and, you know, he was on the Outsiders way. You know, he's. He's the real deal. So he said, just follow me. And I. And I thought to myself, you know, the director said, think of it as a song. You know, Boom, boom, boom, boom. And I was like, I got this. So basically what you're gonna do is tell me I got problems, and I'm gonna tell you I don't. I'm gonna go off. Are you. Are you sure? Yes. Okay, so you two are gonna kind of run in here, right? And. And they were like. They had this. This guy doing all. And I was like, no, no, no, no. I said, looking. Don't ask me why. I know, but I'm gonna tell you how this goes. And he came in. I was like, on a bang, boom, bing, boom, boom. And that's it, man. Do the gimmick. And I'm out. And they were like, you sure? And I was like, look, motherfucker, when you come and grab me and whatever I'm doing, don't get freaked out, because it's gonna go down. And. What are you talking about? And I was like, relax. He came in, gang.
- [54:41]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Boom, bam.
- [54:42]
Steve Austin
We did it, like, three takes. Yeah, it was quick.
- [54:45]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
So what did I think? Because these guys were. They stunt guys.
- [54:47]
Steve Austin
Yeah. The one that, you know, Hollywood, right. God bless them, love them to death, right? But, you know, guys are trying to make it. They got that one day they're a tough guy, one day their male model, whatever, whatever they get called on to do. People are trying to make it in this world. So they came in with all the right intentions, and we're martial artists. And I was. Oh, yeah. And I was. And they were pulled up, my Jagermeister, slammed down a couple shots, grabbed a couple volumes. Vicodins. And I was like, all right, who's the martial artist? They're like, what are you doing? Come here, you. So what are you gonna do? You're gonna grab by the neck? You know, they're kind of stiff and. Because they. They see your.
- [55:23]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
What did you tell them you had, like, a crab back?
- [55:25]
Steve Austin
No, I was just, you know, I was being cool. And they were like, we're fans, and, you know, we work at a girl's gym. And I was like, okay. And I was like, how you gonna grab me? And I said, that's it? That's your big deal? And they were like, what the is going on? You know, I freaking them out with him. So he came in and just, you know, popped him. We knocked the wall down on the first shot. Took an elbow. So it's a good thing wrestling's fake, right? Everybody was like, let's just get this guy out of here. And. Yeah, so it was fun. It was fun, but it was. It was quick.
- [55:54]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Okay. That being said, man, you. You spent some time out here doing your voiceovers and stuff. You ever thought about delving into any acting or anything like that?
- [56:02]
Steve Austin
I've done some movies, stuff. I had a pair.
- [56:07]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Do you find the process enjoyable and what I just made. Amen. Making a dime. I mean, the process of. Because I'm watching you and you're doing. You're doing these martial arts things. You're cracking your knuckles. Yeah. So you're getting into this character because, okay, boom, boom, boom. You're equating the rock and roll song to it, and you're ramping yourself up. So did you enjoy the process? You obviously did for Lucha Underground. But in your other gigs, were you able to get into a character?
- [56:37]
Steve Austin
See, I've tried to. Hey, man, I mean, did you ever try to separate yourself from Stone Cold? You can't.
- [56:44]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
No. Turn volume up.
- [56:45]
Steve Austin
Exactly. You turn the volume up. It's. Take the earplugs out. Just put your head in the. In the amp. I came from a musical background, so I like it. What I really. My biggest acting thrill was when I had a paranormal TV show in Mexico. And it was. I got to do these weird, weird things because there's no limits in Mexico. So voodoo ceremonies and all these crazy ass things you can't put on TV up here. We did some deep shit, and I loved that acting. Yeah, I mean, I really, really like it so much. We did a movie in Mexico, was really bad, and don't be so hard on yourself.
- [57:25]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Well, why was this movie so bad? I've done a bunch of bad movies. Why was this movie bad, Steve?
- [57:29]
Steve Austin
It was bad. Yeah, it was just bad. It was an experience. Right, but that's the thing. I love the creative process better. I like producing better. But I think I have some acting in me. I'm gonna give it a try.
- [57:42]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
So what do you like about the producing part then?
- [57:45]
Steve Austin
Because you're so compassionate. Like, you, like. You just went off and cut that 85 minute promo and I thought you were gonna stun me on the table.
- [57:50]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
I had to get two episodes out of it.
- [57:52]
Steve Austin
I had to. I had to put the clocks on the floor because I thought you're gonna slam me and move your dog over I thought, fuck, here we go. Never happened in New York, baby. It's these house because you get so compassionate when you get a young man who's got that wide eyed dream and he's still innocent and he's not corrupted by this business and you can tweak it and you can give them something and they come back and they say, I learned so much from you, that's everything.
- [58:16]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
You got any more crazy dreams? I mean, I'm like, what's next as far as a goal you'd like to do well?
- [58:22]
Steve Austin
And I've said it to you off the mic, I'm going to say it to your face on the mic. You know, there's a few things in my life, in my career that have put me over the top. The Sting match was something that was really famous. Being the first guy of the new generation to work. Ric Flair going to Japan, being with Muda, being a Canadian going to Mexico, getting over all that. There are certain things that people have carried me and put me on top of. Your podcast got me more publicity in that hour and a half or two hours or whatever it was than I had in five years of wcw. You inspire me, you motivate me. Why? Because you left the business intact. You suffered in wcw. A lot of people know that you suffered in WCW and you paid your dues and they told you weren't gonna make it and they didn't have plans for you. And you know how it is, Van. I'm your fan, dude. I watched all your shit. And to see, to hear the kids talk about your podcast, how passionate you are, and then see a Steve Austin fucking promo right in front of me. Drinking your beer in your house. Holy shit, do I have any wild dreams, dog? I'm telling you, the work that you do for guys like me and the people who listen to your shit. I told you I want to do a podcast because of you. I don't got no fucking desire to sit there and type and read and down sit, study and talk to people. And that's like that, man. I did my time in wrestling. You make me believe again, man.
- [59:49]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
What would the podcast be about?
- [59:51]
Steve Austin
I don't know, just gonna get a bunch of Steve Austin beer and look at the clock and see what happens.
- [59:56]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
I can get a beer place to sponsor you. I got that covered.
- [59:58]
Steve Austin
Call it in the ring.
- [59:59]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Probably about a million cats out there fixing to get started podcast. I can call it in the ring.
- [60:03]
Steve Austin
No, go yourselves. All you guys don't steal that. Call it in the ring, bro. What's it gonna be about in the.
- [60:07]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Ring of Vampiro and the ring could be anything. The ring could be the world. I mean, I mean, if you didn't want to talk about wrestling, you could talk about pop culture, you could talk about anything. A movie you could talk about. You can talk to a bunch of paranoia.
- [60:18]
Steve Austin
Where you from?
- [60:20]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Born in Austin, grew up in Victoria and Edna and then moved out to San Antonio and then out here in la.
- [60:26]
Steve Austin
I was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario. What do you and I have. What the fuck told me 30, 40 years ago that I would be sitting here with you? It's that brotherhood, man. It's that love. It's that, it's that thing that this business has done to us, man. We ain't never going out. We're. We're doing life, man, and we're living life.
- [60:49]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Okay. You said you'd like to have another match.
- [60:51]
Steve Austin
Yeah, I thought it was gonna happen about half an hour ago. And you're all pumped up and vein's coming out, fist was squeezing that microphone and some of them knuckles turning white. I was like, God damn, I'm gonna tap out even before he stands up.
- [61:01]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
But hell yeah, see now see that, that was like. If WrestleMania 33 was tomorrow, that could be. Be the match. But, but anyway, let me just do.
- [61:10]
Steve Austin
I want to do another match.
- [61:11]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
I'm going retract that because I'm not selling anything as far as me and a WrestleMania. Not anything, Stacy. Leave that in. But I was just making a point. Yeah, I got, I got caught up in a moment. But yeah, I mean, so in a match and Luch on the ground, who would your opponent be?
- [61:25]
Steve Austin
It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. Again, you know, you know what? I'd like to. Just because he's my friend and I respect him so much. I just want to, I, I'm. But I wouldn't do it because I would embarrass him. He's too good. Johnny Mundo. I'd like to be in the ring with him just because he. Just because he's so fucking good. But I wouldn't do it because I would look bad. He's just on another level. PJ Black. I'd like to work him just because we're old school guys and I just would just be a good vibe, man. I'd love to do a job for a new up and comer. I'd like another program and give somebody the launching board they need to go. I'd do with anybody, man.
- [62:07]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
But then again, when you said doing the job I understand where your heart is. But then if you think about the business, what if you did two matches and that's me being selfish. And so then you go over the first time and then go under or do the favors for on the way out because you don't want to go into the program now just saying, hey, you know, paying the price or doing the favors just to get this guy over, come in there, get something for yourself and then return it.
- [62:34]
Steve Austin
Okay.
- [62:35]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
You see what I'm saying?
- [62:36]
Steve Austin
Yeah. If I did that, it would be two matches.
- [62:37]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
I know, that's what I'm saying.
- [62:38]
Steve Austin
I did it the other way.
- [62:39]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Yeah.
- [62:40]
Steve Austin
And I got four seasons out of it.
- [62:42]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Dude, that deal with Pentagon junior, that was off the charts.
- [62:46]
Steve Austin
But dude, I'm gonna do something this year.
- [62:47]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
I think Mundo, dude, I don't know, too good, he's awesome. But I think, I think you guys have great chemistry together.
- [62:54]
Steve Austin
Well, here's what I mean. He's so phenomenal right now. He's at his best where he is as a young man. He's at the right age, he's at his peak. I don't want to waste his time. He doesn't need me. I'm too respectful.
- [63:07]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Dude, he'd be into a big time match. That's a big time match.
- [63:10]
Steve Austin
Well, yeah, okay.
- [63:12]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Name me a bigger name than you. If you stand there's not blowing smoke up your ass, but looking at what you've created, looking at how people perceive you, you stepping back, you know it's gonna be a special match. So it has to be a special person. You're a made guy. So when you say that, yeah, he's at the top of his game. Well, you were at the top of your game as far as your in ring stuff, much like me many years ago. But as far as perception and being over, dude, you bust out the wrestling gear and boom, you're at the top of the food chain.
- [63:44]
Steve Austin
Yeah, I understand that. I think it would be more interesting to be a partner with somebody and let them get the rub and then turn on you, do an angle and make it a long term deal. Give some credibility. Let that kid get his authenticity by being in with older, established. Maybe I, I don't know, man, I would rather get a mid sized car and a bunch of junk food and just drive around a bunch of indie shows and just show up and say, hey man, who needs, who needs to work tonight? That to me would be a cool thing to do right now to have that one more big match to hold. Look at me. Shit, I Don't need it, dude. I don't really need it. I, I. The last weekend, two weekends of taping, all the younger guys have come up to me and said, you're like a big brother, and thank you. And I've learned so much that. Fuck, I don't need another match, man. That was my match. You know what I mean? I don't know. Does that make sense?
- [64:40]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Yeah, it makes sense to me.
- [64:41]
Steve Austin
I mean, you can give me stunner right here, right now, and I'd be pretty fucking happy with that. I see you looking at.
- [64:46]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
I see you tighten up the face, dude. If I wasn't 10 weeks. If I wasn't 10 weeks out of rotator cuff surgery and another beer, I might do it. But I, Man, I'm gonna, I'm gonna take my time.
- [64:55]
Steve Austin
What would happen right now? We took a small iPhone and we went to the soup. The pharmacy down there, and we just got into it. Steve Austin, Bamfiro. Just like you did with Booker. Same thing. Oh, God, how people wouldn't even know what to do if we went to a Latino community right now.
- [65:12]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Well, we, well, first of all, we rented out that store, so we had carte blanche.
- [65:16]
Steve Austin
I'm kidding, man. I see, I. But see, I like the, the wrestler, the one of the boys is coming out on you tonight. You kind of promo, and you're already thinking about doing a high spot.
- [65:24]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Oh, dude, I mean, talking about the business has got to be real. We'd be arrested so damn quick, it'd be. It'd make your head spin.
- [65:31]
Steve Austin
Yeah, but hey, man, all the other.
- [65:32]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Calamity going on in the United States of America, just all of a sudden we're trying to shoot an angle, we both get arrested.
- [65:38]
Steve Austin
Yeah, but out of that angle, I'd probably get a movie, so I'd take the bump.
- [65:43]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
That's not a bad idea, man.
- [65:44]
Steve Austin
Don't even think about it.
- [65:45]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
There's a Walgreens down the road. All right, I'm cutting that idea off. So you're here now. You're at the crib. You're back to Thunder Bay tomorrow. What's up?
- [65:55]
Steve Austin
No, man, I'm here all week. I'm doing my pre exam for Krav Maga. My black belt. It's a big deal. I'm sure people aren't really fans of martial arts, but to get your black belt in Krav Maga from a school that's sanctioned by the Wingate University, which is the IDF training Center in Israel, it is a big deal, especially being a foreigner Right. So, yeah, I'm at that level and it's been a lifelong journey. It's 25 years in the making and I'm going for it. Yeah. So I'm gonna, I'm studying here all week. Go back to Thunder Bay and I got a. A school full of students and I'm gonna take on. There's a new project developing. I'm starting all that. So, yeah, that's it, man. Basically.
- [66:33]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Dude, what's the deal with the Krav Maga stuff? What's it akin to? I mean, it's. It's basically the Israeli military fighting system. Is that a bad way to describe it? I mean.
- [66:44]
Steve Austin
No, no, it's not. You got to remember Israel, when it was made a state, it's surrounded by, in their terminology, enemies are. They're constantly under attack. So every single person in Israel needs to do time in the military. Every single person, doesn't matter of your age, your gender or your physical ability needs to, to learn the fighting system. So if the country needs to go to war, they will. And it's a pretty extreme thing because it's made to do bad things. It's not made to. It's not a martial art. It's really made to do bad things. It's been toned down for the public. I'm certified to teach military. I ran the SWAT unit in Mexico for a while in the city that I was living in. I do a lot of police stuff and the civilian and now I have a huge kids program. It's just one of those things that came natural to me. I get it, I see it, I'm very good at it, I love it. And I'm pretty much dedicated to that. That's my life goal, is to become a great Krav Maga instructor.
- [67:44]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Alright, so dude, you're flying on your airplane. Somebody gets up, drunk and disorderly, you sit there with your seatbelt on and wait for the flight attendants to take care of this person. Or because you're in a tube with wings on it and they're putting your safety in peril, would you engage this person?
- [68:02]
Steve Austin
I give a card to the steward or stewardess and the card says if you need help, the signal is this. And it's either a movement or an eye thing or a word because I know for a fact, being a wrestler, I got a great job. If I go, it's going to. And I don't know if I really want to go to jail for that. So it's got to be for real. And most times it's not. They're just drunk and stupidness. But I do let the pilot know and the stewardess know or the steward that if it does go down, that this is what's going on.
- [68:43]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
See, that's cool, though. I dig it. But that takes me back because I'm in my wrestler mindset talking about that comeback. Talking about that comeback with fire. You just said if you. And it's not a comeback, but it's, but it's in the same.
- [69:00]
Steve Austin
Yeah, yeah.
- [69:00]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
It's fire. And dude, you ain't gonna half ass.
- [69:04]
Steve Austin
It can't.
- [69:05]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Because I would imagine in Krav Maga you would. You've been trained. The physical things that, you know, the, the holes, the techniques on all the technical stuff that I can't even speak of. You know that you never underestimate anybody.
- [69:20]
Steve Austin
Yeah. Krav Maga is made to, to, to do what it is made to do. Krav Maga was, was, was, was, was made to stop people and make them not move again. So you there. In Krav Maga, there is no. I'm going to twist your arm a little more. It's. You're. I, I, you're, you're going down, right? Yeah. So there is you, you, you go. Our mindset is. It's, it's, it's 150. It's, it's not 10, 20. It's, it's go and finish.
- [69:53]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
All right, let's shut down. I got time for one more beer. I've enjoyed talking to you.
- [69:57]
Steve Austin
I hope so. We've just been all guarantee.
- [70:01]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
I damn near was going to beat your ass while ago or get my ass beat in the process. We damn near had the match of the century. Dana White, Vince McMahon. The damn phones on the damn board was lighting it up because they could hear this promo through this screen right here.
- [70:15]
Steve Austin
I was, I was. I'll go. I'm down. I'm. You want to just put your do the Hulk Hogan Jeff Jarrett just step on my chest.
- [70:21]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
No, dude, I was gonna Pentagon junior Reverse it and take the L. By the time you get to hit me, hit me in the head with this pearl beer neon clock. And I'm always talking about by the.
- [70:30]
Steve Austin
Time both of you, you and I got our broken old asses up to do that, you would have been. It would have been time to go to bed.
- [70:38]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Hey, man, good talking to you.
- [70:40]
Steve Austin
Good talking to you too, brother.
- [70:41]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
All right, everybody give me to go home. Q. It's time to wrap up his podcast and ride off in the sunset. But Before I do, I want to thank, in Hodgkinson, Vampiro of Lucha Underground on the El Rey network. Ultima Lucha 2 is happening right now all the way through the 20th. Hey, folks, it was good to talk to Vampiro live and in living color. And the match I'm going to recommend you guys watch today is one that I've recommended before, but to my new listeners who might not have seen that match, this is from season one, I guess, of Lucha Underground. And it's ultima Lucha, Vampiro vs Pentagon Junior. The Cerro Miedo match. And it's the full match. If you go to YouTube and type that in, you'll see Van Pyro, my guest today in Hodgkinson, make a return to the ring from I don't know how many years and take on one of the guys. Hell of a damn worker in Pentagon Junior. And I consider the Pentagon Junior to be probably one of the best gimmicks going in pro wrestling right now. And Vampiro comes dressed up, I don't know if it's like a priest, and he's got this gimmick with smoke coming out of it. It's just a badass presentation, man. A highly entertaining match. They used logic in this match because of where N was coming from. Hadn't wrestled in a long time. Of course, Pentagon Junior has been working his ass off. They sell like a motherfucker. Lots of logic in this match, and it's just an instant classic. Vampiro and Pentagon Junior from Ultima Lucha 2. So anyway, Sierra Miedo, whatever you call it, match. God damn it. That chick's doing all the announcing. She does a good job, that young lady. She does a good job announcing the guys. I like her style. Hey, folks, couple of plugs real quick. All the T shirts from Broken Skull Ranch, they're on broken skull ranch.com My Broken Skull IPA. If you want it delivered to your house and your state allows it to be delivered, you can find a link for it@brokenskullranch.com if you in LA, go by 140 Main street here in El Segundo, California. Tell them Austin sent you and stop by the brewery and have a cold one. Hey, if you want a Steve Austin Broken Skull Knife from Cold Steel, go to broken skull ranch.com anything Steve Austin you can find on my website. Hey, I appreciate you guys supporting the sponsor of the Steve Austin podcast. They're the ones that let me do this for you. Free twice a week. So big thanks to ddpyoga.com go to ddpyoga.com Austin to get 20% off anything you purchase for a limited time, including the new collector's edition of the Resurrection of Jake the Snake documentary thanks to TrueCar and of course, big shout out to Amazon. They've been supporting this podcast since day one. Use my Amazon links whenever you're doing any online shopping and Amazon will kick back a couple of bucks to the podcast. Don't cost you nothing extra. Ain't no hidden fees or charges. You can buy whatever you plan on buying and help out the podcast in the process. We got bills to pay and that's how we pay our production cost. You can find my Amazon links by going to podcast podcastone.com clicking on the killer Deals button on the top right corner of the page and then hitting the Steve Austin show button. I got Amazon links for usa, UK and Canada. If you bookmark it, you can find it in one click. Hey folks, I want to say thank you very much for all the emails I got concerning our lab Shona. We sure miss her, but we're getting by. I appreciate all the emails. Y' all keep listening. The 62nd AP news headlines are coming up next. Until next time, my name is Steve Austin and I will catch your ass down the road. Download new episodes of Steve Austin Unleashed every Thursday@podcast1.com that's podcastone.com. Here at the Zebra Research shows the average person would rather endure a root canal than search for auto and home insurance.
- [74:46]
Steve Austin
Just try to relax, okay?
- [74:48]
Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
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