Two-time WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair was recently a guest on Stone Cold Steve Austin’s podcast, “The Steve Austin Show.” During the show, Flair explained why he thinks today’s WWE promos are so scripted. He also said he believes social media presents today’s stars more difficulty than generations past. Below are the highlights:
Why promos are so scripted in today’s WWE: “I have to believe, because I was there with [Austin] a lot, but [Austin] walked around and [he] collected [his] thoughts and [Austin] knew where [he] was going. [Austin] didn’t have 40 writers walking [him] to the gorilla [position] before [he] walked out the door. [Austin] had a gameplan.
“When you have that groove and the capacity to entertain the crowd, they have to let you run with it and I don’t see that much these days because I think they’re worried that the kids don’t have enough experience. It’s not that they can’t, but that they don’t have enough experience, so I think it’s harder these days from that standpoint.
“Do I think it’s any easier in terms of work? No. I think that the kids do a lot more high wire stuff right now and they incorporate so many things in their work. It’s not that they’re any more gifted as an athlete, but the business has raised the bar. Ultimately, it may mean something or it won’t mean something.”
Social media presenting today’s generation so many problems: “I think it’s harder because the kids on social media eat them alive. I don’t think the [pro wrestling] business is any harder. I think the days are longer. I think the scrutiny [is more intense]. But it’s equally hard physically, but it’s harder on them because they’re so effected by social media and the number of people trying to give them direction.”
H/T Wrestling Inc. for the transcriptions
