Thoughts on George "The Animal" Steele's recent shoot interview

[nbda1997]

George "The Animal" Steel Rips Bret Hart Over Events Leading Up To Montreal Screwjob

From the interview:

Lets be honest, who did Bret Hart beat to win the belt? They give him the belt and then he can’t drop the belt in his own country? Give me a frickin break.

Who did he beat?? Who did HE beat?! Holy shit, George, who the hell did you beat? In your entire friggin' career? I know we're all supposed to pretend that you're some sort of legend just because you were wrestling when TV was still in black and white, and I know Bret won't respond to your ignorant comments because he has too much respect for his elders in this business, but you? You need to have more respect for your betters. Bret accomplished more in the mid 90's alone than you did in your entire career. You were a glorified side show. You wrestled the popcorn match while the real stars of your day put asses in seats. Bret, on the other hand, had countless classic matches. Matches that were excellent both from a technical and a psychology perspective. You carried a stuffed animal with you to the ring.

And by the way, I know how the majority of people on this forum feel about John Cena, but where do you get off calling him "Johnny Come Lately"? What does that even mean? Like him or hate him, he works his ass off, and probably works more matches in a year than you did in your biggest decade.

Please George, fade back into obscurity where you belong.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I read this earlier in the week and I honestly laughed about it. Of all the various shoot interviews I've heard over the past several years, George Steele has absolutely zero credibility. I genuinely got a chuckle after reading about Steele tearing into guys like Bret Hart and John Cena.

Most of the various shoot interviews I've read, not all but most, have been by bitter has-beens that are angry over not making it to the level they thought they deserved to be. In George Steele's case, he doesn't even qualify as a has-been because he's a never-was. The highlight of Steele's career, what he's most remembered for, is for "eating" the turnbuckles prior to matches and basically playing the beast in a wrestling angle involving Miss Elizabeth back in the 80s. George Steele is nothing, was always nothing and will always be nothing. If Bret Hart heard about Steele's interview, I'd imagine he probably got a cheap laugh out of it. I mean...how can it hurt being insulted by someone that never accomplished a damn thing in his entire career?

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

Which title win is he talking about? If he's talking about Bret's first, then I can see where he's coming from.

 

[Owen 3:16 says I just stole your Slammy!!]

Im not a fan of John Cena, but this guy should not comment on Cena. Cena has been top of the WWE for decade. For the Bret comment, that is B.S. Bret Hart is one of the most popular wrestlers of all time. "Who did he beat?" thats stupid. Anyway, Bret, Vince, and Shawn buried the hatchet 3 years ago. This guy should not worry about it, since those three guy's burried the hatchet, he is probably stir some shit up or something.

 

[The Brain]

Who did he beat?? Who did HE beat?! Holy shit, George, who the hell did you beat? In your entire friggin' career?

I think you're missing the point. Bret Hart did not win the belt in a legit competition. Vince gave him the belt. Sure, Bret worked his way to the top and earned his spot but he did not "win" the belt. When it was time for Bret to leave he should have dropped the belt to whoever Vince wanted. It was never Bret's belt.

 

[nbda1997]

I think you're missing the point. Bret Hart did not win the belt in a legit competition. Vince gave him the belt. Sure, Bret worked his way to the top and earned his spot but he did not "win" the belt. When it was time for Bret to leave he should have dropped the belt to whoever Vince wanted. It was never Bret's belt.

Dude, first of all, why on earth does the fact that Bret won the title in a non-televised match make it not a legitimate title win? Secondly, hasn't Vince "given" the title to every WWF/E champion ever since it's not a sport based on real competition? And the "who did he beat?" comment; George must live in some sort of time capsule where real-life marks still exist or something. What an idiotic comment.

All that being said, you're right; Bret, politically, tried to go into business for himself that night in Montreal & got foiled. But Bret & Vince buried that hatchet basically a decade ago at this point, and this asshole decides he's going to try and stir shit up again? No matter how you look at it, George Steele is a whiny never-was.

 

[Wolf Pac]

I think the only reason why he didn't wanna drop it to Shawn is because Shawn told him he would never drop the WWF Title to him if he held it and that pissed off Bret since he did the job for him at WM12.

 

[The Brain]

Dude, first of all, why on earth does the fact that Bret won the title in a non-televised match make it not a legitimate title win?

Now you're missing my point along with Steele's. You're looking at this like kayfabe. Steele and I are not.

Secondly, hasn't Vince "given" the title to every WWF/E champion ever since it's not a sport based on real competition?

Yes. That's the point. Since Vince "gave" the title to every champion ever he should have the right to take it back and pass it on to the next guy.

And the "who did he beat?" comment; George must live in some sort of time capsule where real-life marks still exist or something. What an idiotic comment.

No offense but I think you're the one coming off as a mark. Steele meant that since Vince made Bret champion Bret should have given the title back however Vince wanted him to. He did not actually beat Flair, Taker, or anyone else for the title. He was booked to beat them so Bret shouldn't complain when someone else his booked to beat him.

All that being said, you're right; Bret, politically, tried to go into business for himself that night in Montreal & got foiled. But Bret & Vince buried that hatchet basically a decade ago at this point, and this asshole decides he's going to try and stir shit up again? No matter how you look at it, George Steele is a whiny never-was.

I highly doubt Steele is trying to stir anything up. He was giving an interview. He was asked a question and answered it with his opinion. What's the big deal? Why are you so sensitive about this topic? You're pretty harsh with a guy who was just answering a question in an interview.

 

[George Steele's Barber]

Brain is right again, everyone else is really getting carried away.

Maybe I'm biased because I clearly loved Steele's character as a kid but I liked what he had to say. He was asked questions and seemed to answer them quite frankly and honestly. Most guys would give some PC bullshit. He's not writing a book or trying to stir up shit, he was asked a question and answered it.

It's Vince's belt, Bret was his employee, Bret should have done what he was asked to do or walked. I have no idea what Steele means by Johnny come lately, it is a rapid fire question and I am not even sure the answer is meant to be taken in a negative context. Even if it is negative, Steele is not the first person to be critical of Cena.

 

[Chrome]

more from the interview

Memories of WrestleMania 3: "It was about twelve miles from home. The Savage/Steamboat thing was Not my kinda match. I heard them talk that match for three weeks, I was sick of hearing about it. They called the spots, it was a great match but there was no psychology. Andre was a very good friend, Vince and Hogan did not know what Andre would do when he got to the ring if he’d lay down. He sort of kayfabed them. I’m sitting watching, laughing my tail off because I knew what Andre would do. When Hogan slammed Andre, that made him."

Savage/Steamboat had no psychology? It was an emotional roller coaster!

 

[George Steele's Barber]

Savage/Steamboat had no psychology? It was an emotional roller coaster!

He is giving inside info about the preparation and execution of the match by talking about how they booked everything from start to finish ahead of time and it sounds like they stuck to the script without taking in to account the reactions of the audience. That is the definition of "No Ring Psychology".

The match clearly worked (even he says it was great). However it is generally accepted that in ring psychology is the ability to take the audience's reactions in to account. It doesn't sound like Savage and Steamboat did this. Granted, they didn't have to since the match worked as originally planned, but it it doesn't make Steele's comment incorrect.

 

[nbda1997]

He is giving inside info about the preparation and execution of the match by talking about how they booked everything from start to finish ahead of time and it sounds like they stuck to the script without taking in to account the reactions of the audience. That is the definition of "No Ring Psychology".

That's another thing. I am so sick and tired of people running down Macho because he liked to call his matches ahead of time. As far as I can remember, most of his matches were pretty friggin' good, so maybe some of the guys who give him shit could learn a thing or two from him.

Claiming that you're some prodigy because you're able to make up a match as you go along is bullshit. It's laziness & not wanting to do any homework. Hell, how would they get all the drinking and drugging in?