The Stone Cold Truth (WWE) by Austin Steve & Ross J.R

Author:Austin, Steve & Ross, J.R. [Austin, Steve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: World Wrestling Entertainment
Published: 2009-11-24T08:00:00+00:00

19

Michael Hayes and the Stone Cold Stunner

When I was attending college and going down to the Sportatorium or Reunion Arena in Dallas to watch professional wrestling, Michael P.S. Hayes was one of my favorite wrestlers. He was a badass heel with a big mouth, who could be a coward when the moment called for it.

Hayes knew his role. And he wasn’t a great wrestler, but he could cut a hell of a promo and he could really make you hate his guts. I enjoyed watching him and understand now how much of an influence he had on my career.

Hayes was one of the Fabulous Freebirds, along with “Barn-Bam” Terry Gordy (who was the badass muscle of the group) and Buddy Roberts, who was a pile-of-trash heel. I remember Michael Hayes getting up on the turnbuckle with that Rebel robe on and he’d dance and shake his hips, flipping his long hair. And I was just thinking, Damn … that’s cool as hell.

Of course, as a mark I hated Hayes’s guts. But that was his job as a heel, to make me hate him.

Then, once I got into the business, I got to know the guy in person and he was entertaining as all hell. More importantly, Michael P.S. Hayes is the guy who gave me the Stunner finish to my matches.

As The Ringmaster, my finishing hold had been the Million-Dollar Dream, which was my manager Ted DiBiase’s finish—a submission-type hold also known in the business as the cobra clutch. After I came up with the Stone Cold Steve Austin gimmick, I was still using that finish.

It was okay. It was starting to get over with the fans. But one day at a TV in Fayetteville, North Carolina, I remember Michael Hayes came walking up to me and said, “Hey, kid, come here. You got a second?”

I said, “Yeah.”

He said, “I’ve been trying to think of a good finish for you. You know, that cobra clutch deal is okay, but if you do this other finish, it would be better,” and he showed me what he was talking about.

Wrestler Johnny Ace, who now works with J.R. in Talent Relations, was doing a version of it in Japan, called an Ace Crusher. Hayes said, “It’s different from Ace’s finish, because you put the guy’s chin on your shoulder, jump up and then you land on your ass.”

We got some of the local wrestlers together in the ring and said, “Hey, do you guys mind helping us with this?”

So I started practicing the Stunner that day. I did it about six times, and Hayes said, “Pretty cool, huh?”

I said, “Yeah, I like it.”

I started using the Stunner as my finishing hold that day, and J.R. called it the “Stone Cold Stunner.” I was thinking of something else, but that was a perfect name for my new finisher. It said it all. Thanks, J.R.

A few months later, in one of my first few Pay-Per-View shows using that finish, King of the Ring, I was going to go straight for the Stunner.

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