The Steve Austin Show – WWE Hall of Famer "World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry (Part 1 – SAS Classic)

Release Date: October 28, 2025
Host: Steve Austin
Guest: Mark Henry
Location: IHeart Studios, Austin, TX

Episode Overview

In this special episode, Steve Austin sits down in Austin, Texas, with WWE Hall of Famer and "World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry. Though they've crossed paths for over 20 years, this is their first in-depth conversation. The episode dives deep into Mark's extraordinary journey from being one of the most accomplished drug-free strength athletes on the planet, to a 20-plus year career in WWE, and his transition into broadcasting—covering struggles with locker room acceptance, mentorship, resilience, personal values, and untold locker room stories, including emotional and humorous moments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Getting Mark Henry on the Show

• Austin describes how a serendipitous text from Mark Henry about Earl Campbell led to this episode.
  • “One thing leads to another... I flew down to Austin, Texas... did his radio show ‘Busted Open’...” [01:08]
• Steve expresses excitement for finally having a long-form, candid conversation with Mark, someone he’s admired for two decades.

Mark Henry’s Journey Into Radio

• Mark shares how his childhood in poverty and listening to sports on an old radio shaped his dream of broadcasting.
• Mark recounts calling into "Busted Open" (SiriusXM) as a fan, then being invited by Dave LaGreca to join, which led to his radio career post-wrestling.
  • “I grew up listening to baseball games and football games... I was like, man, I want to do that when I grow up.” [18:49]
• Emphasizes the importance of positive wrestling coverage, not “exposing the business”.

Transitioning from Wrestling to a New Life

• Steve asks about the challenging transition most wrestlers face after leaving wrestling.
  • “Running ropes in a 20 by 20 ring doesn’t really train you to do anything else in the real world...” [17:41]
• Mark reveals his plan was to avoid “burning through” his savings—a fate common to many retired wrestlers.

Mark Henry’s Real Retirement—Injuries and Vince McMahon

• Mark discusses wrestling through debilitating pain (knee injuries, stenosis).
  • “I wrestled for probably the last four years with torn meniscus in two places... I would wake up, and I would be like a 70 year old man...” [22:32]
• Describes Vince McMahon’s persuasive tactics to delay Mark's retirement—offering new contracts and encouraging him to keep going.
  • “Oh hell, you still a young man...You got plenty of time left.” (Vince McMahon, per Mark) [22:32]
• Mark crafted his famous “fake” retirement speech (vs. John Cena) as his real retirement; says it was deeply personal and planned, though WWE later pulled him back for a final run.

Locker Room Culture & Acceptance

• Mark candidly shares about not fitting in and facing hazing and skepticism, despite his world-class powerlifting background.
  • “It took me getting banished to Canada because I threatened to kill Shawn Michaels...” [35:48]
• Austin and Henry discuss how the wrestling locker room is a unique culture, where outside accolades and real-world toughness hold little weight unless absorbed into “the business.”
  • “You have got to love that and put everything else aside...” [28:23]
• Mark's tenure training in Canada with Bret Hart and the Hart family, and stints in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), played crucial roles in his wrestling education.

Mentorship, WWE Fraternity, and the Nation of Domination

• Mark talks about being mentored (and sometimes tormented) by Ron Simmons, Bradshaw, and others, learning the basics and advanced psychology of wrestling.
• Mark credits The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) and Ron Simmons for critical lessons, both in and out of the ring.
  • On The Rock: “There’s never been a wrestler that was more studied than Dwayne... He was overprepared.” [42:44]
  • On Ron Simmons: “In the dictionary under man, there’s a picture of Ron Simmons... there’s a lot of men, but it ain’t many grown men. Ron Simmons is a grown man.” [49:05]
• Mark discusses his time in the Nation of Domination, learning group dynamics and the path to finding his own identity in wrestling.

Locker Room Stories & Hazing

• Detailed stories of WWE hazing; Mark reveals frustrations and fights that nearly derailed his career, including a notable threatened physical altercation with Shawn Michaels.
• Tells of being sent to train in the Hart Dungeon, where he grew close to the Hart family.
  • “I was up there for nine and a half months...” [37:08]
• Mark discusses psychological games among wrestlers, and the role of Danny Davis, Jim Cornette, and others in his gradual acceptance as “one of the boys.”

Ron Simmons & Wrestler Hierarchies

• Fascinating stories about Ron Simmons’ immense real-world strength, physical dominance, and influence.
• In-depth retelling of the infamous Ron Simmons vs. Ahmed Johnson incident, explaining backstage politics and the end of Ahmed's WWE run.
  • “It was like watching a tiger or a lion or something attack some helpless animal in the wild...he got killed off in one night.” [55:20]

Mark Henry’s Personal Code & Values

• Mark describes living a drug and alcohol-free life—despite temptations on the road.
  • “That’s a guy that’s based my whole life on being drug free, and you gonna give me… you try to pill me?” [57:26]
• Shares a shocking incident with Ahmed Johnson attempting to spike his drink, underscoring Mark’s lifelong integrity and the dangers wrestlers sometimes faced from their peers.
• On resisting road temptations: “Man, I was a fool, man. I used to hit… those shake clubs… and then you gotta grow up.” [59:10]

Addressing Accusations

• Mark takes time to discredit untrue rumors about Steve Austin, specifically allegations of racism floated by Ahmed Johnson.
  • Mark: “Out of all the people on earth that’s of Caucasian persuasion, I would attest that you are not a racist.” [59:49]
  • Steve: “That’s a completely fabricated story and complete horseshit; I’ve maintained my silence and this is the first time I’ve ever addressed it.”* [60:14]
  • Mark: “The source it came from was not valid enough for anybody to believe it anyway.”* [60:23]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Steve Austin:
  “You sit down and start talking with Mark Henry... man, when he starts telling stories… you can just feel the energy and passion coming out.” [01:08]

• Mark Henry (on Ron Simmons):
  “In the dictionary under man, there’s a picture of Ron Simmons... He’s the only person I think I ever been scared of in my life, like that’s a grown man.” [49:05]

• Mark Henry (on Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson):
  “He would carry a VCR on the road with him. He’d watch tapes at night... and always was writing promos. He would practice the promos on you in the car.” [42:44]

• Mark Henry (on starting in wrestling):
  “I was told, ‘You need to forget about all that (strength accolades) and just absorb this and go on.’ That's like me saying, hey, you need to stop being Black, you need to stop being Christian, and you need to become a vegan. Ain’t no way.” [30:37]

• On locker room hazing:
  “It took me getting banished to Canada because I threatened to kill Shawn Michaels.” [35:48]

• On Personal Integrity:
  “This is a guy that’s based my whole life on being drug free, and you gonna give me…you try to pill me?” [57:26]

Timestamps of Important Segments

• Steve’s Introduction & Context: [01:08 – 07:33]
• Mark Henry: How He Got Into Radio: [12:33 – 18:49]
• Transitioning Out of WWE / Their Difficulties: [17:29 – 22:32]
• Mark’s Injury Battles & Retirement Negotiations: [22:32 – 25:23]
• Mentoring, Locker Room and Hazing Stories: [25:28 – 35:48]
• Sent to Train with the Harts in Canada: [35:48 – 39:45]
• Finding Acceptance & Validation (Ricky Steamboat): [39:45 – 41:45]
• Learning Under The Rock & Ron Simmons (Nation Era): [42:35 – 48:27]
• Ron Simmons: Strength & Respect: [49:05 – 55:20]
• Ahmed Johnson Conflict & Locker Room Betrayal: [55:51 – 59:10]
• Mark Confronts Slander About Steve Austin: [59:49 – 60:23]

Episode Tone & Style

• Conversational, honest, and reflective—Steve and Mark riff on shared experiences, digress into funny side stories, and discuss painful or formative moments with candor and emotional depth.
• Mark Henry’s speaking style is humble, direct, sometimes self-deprecating, and always grounded in a strong personal code.
• Steve Austin is humorous, supportive, and open, encouraging Mark to deliver the real, unfiltered versions of his stories for the audience.

Summary:
This episode is a compelling, deeply human look at one of wrestling's most unique and respected figures. Mark Henry’s journey from small-town radio dreams, to Olympic-level achievements, to overcoming locker room adversity and emerging as a locker room leader and global ambassador, is told through emotional, often hilarious anecdotes and timeless lessons. It's a must-listen for wrestling fans and anyone interested in perseverance, personal growth, and the real inner workings of the wrestling world.