WWE Legend Steve Austin Opens up About Post-Wrestling Life, addiction, and Finding Purpose in Mentorship
In a candid reflection on his life after retirement from professional wrestling, Steve Austin revealed a pivotal moment of self-assessment that spurred a significant life change. Austin recounted waking up one morning and realizing his lifestyle was unsustainable, stating, “Dude, the things you’re doing are not conducive to living a long life. You need to slow your ass down.”
Having previously worked as a forklift driver, Austin didn’t aspire to return to that life after achieving success in wrestling. He made a deliberate decision to pursue opportunities in the entertainment buisness, relocating to Los Angeles. This transition wasn’t immediate, as Austin lived with Diamond Dallas Page for approximately a year while “searching for the bottom of a lot of bottles,” but eventually led to involvement in low-budget film projects.
years later, Austin found a renewed connection to WWE through hosting the reality series Tough Enough on the USA Network, beginning in 2009 or 2011. Initially, he admitted being too distraught over his retirement to remain involved with wrestling, stating, “If I can’t be the main guy, I don’t want to be any guy anywhere around.” However, after time away, he welcomed the opportunity to mentor aspiring talent. “I wanted to help people learn the trade,” Austin explained.
Despite Tough Enough‘s positive ratings, it was canceled after one season.Austin afterward hosted Broken Skull Challenge, wich was also later canceled-a decision he still finds perplexing. He ultimately discovered a passion for connecting with people through his podcast, enjoying the spontaneous nature of the conversations.
