Stone Cold Steve Austin labeled 'a nervous wreck' by WWE legend: "Stop with the attitude"

Stone Cold Steve Austin was the face of WWE during the Attitude Era and helped transcend pro wrestling into pop culture lore. However, a Hall of Famer recently called Austin " a nervous wreck" when he was given a huge push to the top.

In a recent interview with Inside the Ropes, Sgt. Slaughter shared a story of working with Steve Austin early in his push. Sarge was WWE's on-screen commissioner at the time and was in a feud with The Texas Rattlesnake. Things got chippy one night after the wrestling legend took a Stone Cold Stunner.

"There's this black pickup truck running with the door open and nobody there. I go to walk in and here's Steve coming out of the hotel. He's all fired up. He walks by me and hits my shoulder, almost knocking me over. He says, 'Try selling the Stunner next time, will you kid,'" Sgt. Slaughter said.

The WWE Hall of Famer added that he confronted Stone Cold Steve Austin after the incident and warned him about still being new to the business. Steve Austin was apologetic and explained that there were a lot of things going on.

Sgt. Slaughter attributed it to the "nerves" Steve Austin was feeling at the time:

"From that point on he was okay. He just couldn’t handle the pressure of being the top guy, he was a nervous wreck."

The 59-year-old ultimately regained his composure and helped WWE beat WCW to become the number-one pro wrestling company in the world.

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Stone Cold Steve Austin to sign with AEW?

One of the hypothetical questions asked on the latest edition of the Kliq This podcast with Kevin Nash was the possibility of Stone Cold Steve Austin signing with AEW.

Nash didn't believe that anyone could help AEW turn things around. He added that Steve Austin wouldn't be interested in joining the Tony Khan-led promotion.

"Number one, Steve [Austin] ain't doing anything every week nor is anybody in that realm in their life. (...) Well, what you got to do is you got to quit f***ing going on national television and sh**ing in the ring." [From 03:37 to 04:04]

Stone Cold Steve Austin last appeared on WWE television at WrestleMania 38. The Texas Rattlesnake returned to the ring to defeat Kevin Owens in a No Holds Barred Match. He also celebrated with Pat McAfee the next night, hitting him with the Stone Cold Stunner.