Matt Hardy: Stone Cold Steve Austin Changed WWE’s Direction Forever
Matt Hardy credits Stone Cold Steve Austin’s arrival in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as a pivotal moment that fundamentally altered the trajectory of the organization and professional wrestling as a whole. Speaking on his “Extreme Life of Matt Hardy” podcast, Hardy asserted that WWE’s success during the Attitude Era, and beyond, was inextricably linked to Austin’s character and the authenticity of the performer portraying him.
Hardy specifically highlighted the combustible rivalry between Austin and WWF chairman Vince McMahon as a watershed event. “WWE does not end up taking the direction it does if you do not have Stone Cold Steve Austin, that character and the human being that played him, come into WWE at the time and create that crazy, hot feud and program with the evil Mr. McMahon character,” Hardy said. (h/t WrestlingNews.co for the transcription)
According to Hardy, Austin’s appeal stemmed from a relatable, universal sentiment. He described the enthusiastic reactions Austin consistently elicited from audiences, noting the unprecedented level of fervor he inspired. “People would always want to hear Stone Cold pop every single night, just to notice how the crowd would react to him, how rabid they would be,” Hardy explained. “They had never seen a character like this, an anti-hero that was so edgy. At the end of the day, they kind of simplify it to the degree of, like, everybody’s boss at some point has pissed them off. And to be able to go and kick your boss’s ass is everyone’s dream. Stone Cold was living that week in and week out.”
Hardy also discussed the impact of Austin’s 1997 neck injury, an event that threatened to derail his career. He suggested that the limitations imposed by the injury ultimately forced Austin to refine his approach, strengthening his connection with fans. “Sometimes you have to get a very serious injury, or get hurt, to smarten up the way you function,” Hardy stated. “He changed things, he kept it simple, and he really leaned into the character. He was Stone Cold Steve Austin, this badass brawler. They did not necessarily give a shit if he went out there and put on a five-star wrestling classic. They just wanted to see him perform and whip ass and stun people.”
The dynamic between Austin and McMahon, Hardy argued, broke established conventions within professional wrestling. He emphasized the novelty of a non-wrestler, McMahon, engaging in a compelling feud with a top performer, and the financial success it generated. “It set up one of the most amazing rivalries to ever take place in wrestling, and it changed the course of the business in many ways,” Hardy said. “You could see someone that was not a legit wrestler working with a legit wrestler and drawing big money. They pulled it off.”