Biggest Takeaways from 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin's Podcast with Paul Heyman

Steve Austin drew out road stories, sage advice and eventually a WrestleMania challenge from Paul Heyman in their live sitdown.

After Chris Jericho twice took over for him, Austin returned to the WWE Network on Monday night to grill Heyman in a podcast interview. This was as much a meeting of old friends as it was a chance to peek into Heyman's mind. 

In terms of entertainment value, there was plenty to enjoy here. Heyman's impression of Dusty Rhodes was spot-on. He told tales of riding with The Samoan Swat Team and recalled the first $50 he made from Vince McMahon Sr. The most noteworthy takeaways, though, came when Heyman brought up Brock Lesnar, CM Punk and the art of the promo.

These moments offered a glimpse behind the curtain in regards to when Lesnar chose WWE over UFC, as well as a better understanding of Punk and his own journey into the Octagon.

Lesnar's Feelings on WWE, UFC

The Beast Incarnate stood at a fork in the road and was unsure which path to take. Before he re-signed with WWE in March, Lesnar was torn by the decision in front of him.

Heyman says that the potential move to UFC was not leverage to get a better deal with WWE; the powerhouse was indeed prepared to go back to MMA. Lesnar even began a mini training camp to prep for the possibility of going the UFC route again.

For the first time in years, Lesnar is healthy. He wonders what he would be able to do against top UFC competition now that his diverticulitis is behind him.

At the same time, as Heyman tells us, Lesnar "loves the business" that is pro wrestling.

He chose WWE partly because this latest run has been the most enjoyable of his career. Heyman says that Lesnar is savoring his time in the squared circle.

And it won't be long before fans get to savor Lesnar's special brand of in-ring destruction. Heyman told Austin that Lesnar would return "fairly soon."

Heyman's Eye for Talent

Heyman's track record for spotting future stars is mighty impressive. He was the one pushing for WWE to showcase Punk during his ECW days. He saw bright futures for Edge and Eddie Guerrero when he held the reigns for SmackDown. 

His reminiscences about his early interactions with Austin revealed more of Heyman's scouting ability.

Austin immediately impressed Heyman. The manager says that he saw the Texas native hit the ropes with a ferocity beyond what other wrestlers were doing. Austin was even electric doing something as mundane as a lockup.  

When both men worked for WCW, Heyman pushed for Austin to join the Dangerous Alliance. There was resistance to the idea from higher-ups, as Austin was seen as a newcomer and not on Rick Rude and Company's level.

Heyman kept pushing, though. He said he told WCW brass that Austin is "going to become the next big thing." 

He couldn't have been more right. Austin, of course, became one of the most massive stars the industry has ever seen. He credits Heyman for some of that, saying that he helped to up his confidence with promos.

Insight Into CM Punk's Mindset

As close as he is with Heyman, it was inevitable that Punk was going to come up during this interview. 

Austin asked him how much the two communicate. Heyman told him that he texts with Punk nearly every day. He explained that their "friendship is not based on the business."

That relationship is why Heyman is such a good source for peering into Punk's thoughts. He proved that on Monday night when he talked about Punk's new career.

Heyman says that Punk is mentally prepared for the possibility of being knocked out when he steps into the Octagon. His goal is to go in there and shock the world, and he isn't afraid of losing.

Punk, as Heyman tells us, has been pining to do MMA for a long while. He says that Punk probably wishes he went into it four or five years earlier. 

Still, he's putting on his fighting gloves now because of the challenge that comes with it. That motivates him more than the money involved.

Thoughts on Promos

When a master of a craft speaks about the art, you listen. So when Austin asked Heyman, a dynamo on the mic, what he thought about the current state of wrestling promos, it was time to start taking notes.

Heyman told a story in which Dusty Rhodes critiqued one of his performances. The American Dream apparently said the promo was fine, but asked "Where's the money?" This is where Heyman said that some wrestlers miss the mark.

He talked about being sure to sell the next event. Whether it's WrestleMania or SummerSlam, one has to focus on hyping what's to come. Every promo has to have a purpose and can't just be an exercise in preaching or pontificating.

That's certainly a lesson many of today's stars should take to heart. Bray Wyatt, for one, is a tremendous speaker, but his speeches often lack focus. There are too many promos from the bulk of the roster that lack life, that fail to connect with the crowd.

As Heyman puts it, engaging is a lost art.

"Stone Cold" Would Consider WrestleMania Match with Brock Lesnar

As the interview began to wrap up, Heyman threw a question Austin's way. He chose that single query well.

He asked Austin whether he would be willing to take on Lesnar at WrestleMania 32. Surprisingly, Austin didn't give his usual "Who knows? Maybe if I'm healthy" answer. He seemed genuinely interested in the idea.

"We can discuss it," he said.

And while he said he would have to think about it, he already has a gimmick in mind—a Texas Death Match.

Just talking about the potential bout got Austin worked up. He said he would kick Lesnar's ass. Eventually, he seemed to revert to wrestling-promo mode and began to talk about whipping Heyman and brawling with The Beast Incarnate, his face growing red the whole time. 

McMahon's ears had to perk up at this moment. That's a money match waiting to happen. Expect the WWE boss to follow Heyman's lead and try to goad The Texas Rattlesnake into a return. 

As much as McMahon loves the traffic Austin brings in with these podcasts, having Austin face off against Lesnar would instantly make WrestleMania 32 even more massive than it is set to be.