If you weren't a wrestling fan, you could still probably name a handful of big name superstars: Andre the Giant, Macho Man Randy Savage, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, etc. If you were around in the 90's, though, you might add a couple of names to that list, like the Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. Austin made his mark in the late 90's as a defiant, foul-mouthed redneck known affectionately as the Texas Rattlesnake. And as he brought the WWF to new heights in his prime, one might think he would have a chip on his shoulder. But does the host of CMT's Broken Skull Challenge think he's actually better than Hulk Hogan? Perhaps.
One of the biggest stars in wrestling history, Stone Cold Steve Austin is known for his loud-mouthin', beer drinkin', monster truck driving S.O.B antics, but behind the character is an intelligent, thoughtful business mind with a keen insight into the psychology of professional wrestling.
Honestly, it's not a stretch to imagine that Austin could compete for such a title. He had a similar crossover appeal that reached audiences outside of the world of wrestling, even if for different reasons (via New York Post):
"If you're talking to me, it's going to be Stone Cold Steve Austin. If you guys are talking to Hulk, it's going to be him. I respect Hulk Hogan because his career lasted some 30 odd years. I think I lasted about 15, but during my peak years, I took the business to a height it never seen before."
Hulk's longevity aside, Austin came to represent the ideals of a repressed working class. He embodied toughness, defiance and street smarts, emerging as an anti-hero in an age where good guys and bad guys all started to meld together, reflecting a realistic complexity that hadn't been explored before in pro wrestling, or even mainstream culture at that time.
Wherein Hogan represented the classic American values of hard work and integrity, Austin was more of a modern everyman whose morals were a tad more ambiguous than what would be considered ideal. And for that, he may have eclipsed Hogan in relevance both in wrestling, and in public consciousness.
Check out Austin's show Broken Skull Challenge on CMT Sundays at 9p.m.
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