Jonathan Coachman Reveals How “Stone Cold” Steve Austin Reacted to WWE Being Called ‘Fake’
Jonathan Coachman recalls how “Stone Cold” Steve Austin viewed WWE being called “fake” and explains why the wrestling legend took the business so seriously.
Jonathan Coachman has recalled how seriously “Stone Cold” Steve Austin viewed professional wrestling and explained why using the word “fake” around the WWE legend was not a good idea.
Coachman spoke exclusively to “Hard Rock Bet” about his time working alongside some of WWE’s biggest names, including Austin and The Rock. While discussing his experiences with the two legends, Coachman explained that working with them was a dream, even though becoming a sportscaster had always been his original goal.
The former WWE commentator then shared an insight into Austin’s mindset toward professional wrestling, particularly when it came to describing the business as “fake.”
“Stone Cold took his character very seriously, and if you use the word fake around him, oh, I would run for the hills.”
Jonathan Coachman continued:
“This guy, to him, he’s had neck surgery. This business is very, very difficult on your body. It can be to the point where you can’t walk again sometimes. We’ve seen some devastating injuries over the years. That’s how Stone Cold looked at wrestling.”
Steve Austin’s Career Was Shaped by Serious Injuries
(Photo by WWE/WWE via Getty Images)
Austin’s attitude toward wrestling was shaped by his own experience inside the ring. In 1997, he suffered a serious neck injury during a match with Owen Hart at SummerSlam after a botched sit-out piledriver.
The injury temporarily paralyzed “The Texas Rattlesnake” and eventually led to spinal fusion surgery in 1999. The damage also played a major role in shortening his full-time wrestling career, with Austin stepping away from regular competition in 2003 at 38 years old.
That history helps explain Coachman’s comments about Austin taking the business seriously. While the outcomes of professional wrestling matches are predetermined, the physical demands placed on performers are not.
Austin’s career involved years of intense matches, injuries and the physical strain that came with being one of WWE’s biggest stars. For someone who experienced those consequences firsthand, reducing the profession to simply being “fake” did not reflect the reality of what wrestlers put their bodies through.
Coachman’s story offers another glimpse into the mindset Austin carried throughout his career. The WWE Hall of Famer became one of the defining figures of the Attitude Era, and his commitment to making his character and performances feel authentic helped establish him as one of the most influential stars in wrestling history.