Steve Austin’s Advice to Young Talent: ‘Start Planting Those Seeds Right Now’
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin had a notoriously difficult transition out of the wrestling business, a period he admits he didn’t handle well. Speaking on the DJD Classics podcast, Austin explained that his own struggles, born from a lack of planning, are why he now strongly advises the current generation to prepare for their exit long before it happens.
Austin, who was forced to retire at 38, was candid about the fallout. “When I got out, I didn’t really have an exit strategy,” he said. “And for about three years, I drank, I hunted and I fished and did a lot of stupid stuff… I sidetracked myself three years of nothing… I could have planned it a lot better.”
When asked if he specifically advises younger wrestlers to plan their “end or their exit,” Austin’s response was immediate. “Oh, absolutely,” he stated.
Austin’s Exit Strategy Advice
Austin’s advice is for talent to use their current platform to build future opportunities, all while remaining loyal to their primary job.
“I just say, ‘Hey, man… always keep your loyalty, and your main job is with WWE. But if you’ve got some feelers out there and you’re trying to network other things, you know, based on the fact that you’ve got a high Q rating or a lot of television exposure, and you can get you get your hands into different things, do it.'”
“Come Out with Momentum”
He stressed that planning ahead is the key to avoiding the aimless period he endured.
“But you know, right now, this is your bread and butter. But start planting those seeds right now. So when you spin out of this, you come out with momentum,” Austin urged. He contrasted this with his own experience, where he had to start from scratch after his career abruptly ended.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit DJD Classics with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription. You can watch the full interview on the DJD Classics YouTube channel.
