The Steve Austin Show – SAS CLASSIC: Vampiro

Guest: Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro)
Date: February 10, 2026
Location: Hollywood, CA (Steve’s Home Studio, 316 Gimmick Street)

Overview

In this episode, Steve Austin welcomes Ian Hodgkinson, known as Vampiro from "Lucha Underground," for a no-holds-barred discussion on pro wrestling’s evolution, fundamentals, storytelling, and transitional lives outside the squared circle. The conversation, recorded over a couple of Broken Skull IPAs, dives deep into what makes wrestling work—selling, fire, logic, and authenticity—while also celebrating their shared passion for the craft and the bond that wrestling creates between performers. They swap tales about the glory days, analyze matches, discuss creative processes, and touch on martial arts and music.

Tone: Candid, passionate, reflective, and at times hilariously blunt—pure “Unleashed” Steve Austin.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Wrestling "Carrying" Discourse

[17:02]–[19:58]

• Steve opens with the controversy of him saying one wrestler “carried” another in a match, clarifying it’s not an insult but a truth in wrestling—vets should carry newer talent.
  • "Hell, I got carried by Bill Dundee, I got carried by Billy Travis, Gary Young, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart. ... So it wasn't an insult." — Steve, [17:40]
• Vampiro echoes: “You call a spade a spade, dude carried the match.” [18:15]
• Both bemoan how fans and "journalists" overanalyze, with Steve urging people to relax and enjoy the show.

2. The Erosion and Evolution of Kayfabe

[19:59]–[22:00]

• They discuss kayfabe's loss in pro wrestling and compare it to other forms of entertainment, like movies starring The Rock.
• Steve notes his dual vision: as both a fan and a critical insider.

3. Differences in Wrestling Styles and What Matters

[22:00]–[29:17]

• Vampiro and Steve contrast modern, high-flying athletic matches (e.g., Ricochet vs. Will Ospreay) with the hard-hitting, gritty style of earlier eras.
  • "I like that mid-80s, NWA Four Horsemen, Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes ... you're bringing a fight." — Steve, [24:12]
• They agree: logic, storytelling, and authentic physicality supersede acrobatics for the sake of acrobatics.
• Selling and character are crucial—they compare wrestling to boxing trilogies, saying moves are meaningless without stakes or context.

4. Authenticity: Selling, Fire, and the Lost Art

[35:20]–[45:37]

• Vampiro: "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." [35:20]
• Steve recounts his emotional WrestleMania 13 bout with Bret Hart as an example of earning audience buy-in through selling:
  • "That was the picture of what you're saying as far as selling. I passed out. That was the thing that made me." — Steve, [38:17]
• They agree that “fire”—the believable burst of fighting spirit—is a lost but vital element. Predictable or soulless comebacks ruin audience engagement.
  • "If a person has fucking held me down by cheating...I'm pissed off and I'm coming for your ass. ... And you've got to send that message out as a baby face..." — Steve, [43:57]

5. Storytelling Pace, Match Structure & Advice to Younger Wrestlers

[46:06]–[47:44]

• Steve: Modern matches often go too fast, squandering emotional impact.
  • "You punch a guy six times and before the fans can even digest that violence, you've already kicked him and spun, kicked ... you just wasted all that talent. You didn't tell a story." [46:54]
• Both praise the Vampiro vs. Pentagon Jr. match in Lucha Underground for its pacing, logic, and emotional investment—a modern classic.

6. Announcing, Music, and Creativity

[49:22]–[51:38]

• Vampiro discusses his approach to wrestling commentary—he sees himself as a musical "fill," inspired by rock musicians and the need for authenticity.
• Both are diehard Stevie Ray Vaughan fans, using the blues guitar legend as a metaphor for style and performance ("You gotta bring the 'soul' to the ring").

7. Behind Lucha Underground’s Cinematic Storytelling

[52:08]–[55:53]

• They discuss a memorable Lucha Underground season two vignette where Vampiro is in a mental institution—a segment shot with remarkable speed but cinematic impact.
  • "That vignette was so epic ... I thought you actually had a fucking series going. That’s how well that thing was shot." — Steve, [52:56]

8. Wrestlers Transitioning to Acting and Producing

[56:01]–[58:15]

• Vampiro: Enjoys acting but prefers the creative control of producing; recounts time doing paranormal TV in Mexico.
• Steve: Motivates Vampiro and others to keep evolving (even inspiring Vampiro to try podcasting).

9. Dreams, Friendships, Brotherhood

[58:22]–[61:01]

• Vampiro reflects on the unique brotherhood wrestling creates, regardless of backgrounds.
  • "We ain’t never going out. We're doing life, man, and we're living life." — Vampiro, [60:48]

10. One More Match?

[61:09]–[64:39]

• Would Vampiro return? Maybe, but he’d prefer passing the torch than stealing the show—suggests teaming with younger talent for a meaningful rub:
  • "I'd love to do a job for a new up and comer. ... I don't need another match, man. That was my match. You know what I mean?" — Vampiro, [64:16]
• Steve and Vampiro riff on fantasy booking—joking about brawling in a Walgreens or winning their dream match in the produce aisle.

11. Krav Maga and Life Beyond Wrestling

[65:55]–[69:52]

• Vampiro talks about earning his Krav Maga black belt, his love for teaching, and the discipline’s seriousness.
  • "Krav Maga is made to ... stop people and make them not move again. ... Our mindset is—it's go and finish." — Vampiro, [69:19]
• Steve asks about real-life applications and self-defense—Vampiro’s protocol is to only act if flight crews need him.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Being "Carried":
  • "I've been carried a million times in my career in professional wrestling matches. ... So it wasn't an insult." — Steve Austin, [17:40]
• On Kayfabe’s Demise:
  • "The mystique and the romantic part ... is kind of slowly being exposed. ... The average fan should know there's about 10 or 12 other people who have their fingerprints on that match." — Steve Austin, [19:22]
• On Modern Match Style:
  • "If it's just put together like a video game, it's like, what are we doing here?" — Steve Austin, [23:05]
• On Selling:
  • "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." — Vampiro, [35:20]
  • "The act of passing out is the ultimate price of selling." — Steve Austin (on WrestleMania 13), [38:17]
• On Fire:
  • "Fire is a lost art or lost emotion...if a person has fucking held me down by cheating...I'm pissed off and I'm coming for your ass." — Steve Austin, [43:57]
• On Pacing:
  • "You punch a guy six times and before the fans can even digest that violence, you've already kicked him ... you just wasted all that talent. You didn't tell a story." — Steve Austin, [46:54]

Highlighted Timestamps

• [17:02] – Discussion of being "carried" and wrestling mentorship.
• [22:49] – Comparing fandom/critique and watching wrestling as a pro.
• [25:54] – Lucha Underground’s efforts at authentic violence & storytelling.
• [29:17] – Long-term storytelling, logic, and the evolution of workrate.
• [35:20] – "You gotta sell" – the bedrock of wrestling believability.
• [38:17] – Steve details the legendary Bret Hart match & the famous pass-out finish.
• [43:56] – "Fire"—the art and emotion of a comeback, and why it matters.
• [46:54] – The dangers of rushed, high-spot-laden matches.
• [52:08] – Lucha Underground’s cinematic mental institution vignette.
• [58:22] – On wrestling brotherhood and personal dreams.
• [63:44] – The importance (and humility) of passing the torch and mentoring.
• [65:55] – Vampiro’s personal journey with Krav Maga.

Episode in a Nutshell

This lively, introspective episode is a masterclass in wrestling philosophy and nostalgia. Steve Austin and Vampiro dissect what makes wrestling special, from the necessity of good selling and logical storytelling, to the passion and scars that only lifelong pros know. Both share wisdom about mentorship, legacy, and authenticity—not just in wrestling, but in life. For fans or wrestlers, it’s a must-listen for uncompromising truths, inside banter, and classic “Stone Cold” fire.

Recommended Match

• Lucha Underground, Ultima Lucha: Vampiro vs Pentagon Jr. ("Cero Miedo" match), Season 1
  • “They sell like a motherfucker. Lots of logic in this match, and it’s just an instant classic.” — Steve Austin, [70:41]

(End of summary. All timestamps in MM:SS format.)