Austin Praises Booking of Royal Rumble Finish, Cena vs. Styles, Says Reigns Still Needs Promo Work

– During the 400th edition of his Podcast, Steve Austin spoke about the Royal Rumble PPV (transcript via wrestlinginc.com), here are the highlights…

On Cena vs. Styles From The Rumble: “Man, Cena and AJ went out there and had about a 24-minute match and it was just a bust-ass performance by both guys. And what I appreciated about it, and really the whole pay-per-view, was the pacing of the match, completely satisfying everything that I needed to happen, just to believe and buy in because they sold everything to the degree it needed to be sold.”

On Cena’s Run: “When you look at the run that Cena [has] had, it’s one of the best in the history of the [professional wrestling] business. And when you look at the body of work, I’ve said it, he has had more high profile, big, big pressure matches than I have. He has been around a lot longer and he [has] delivered in about 99% of those matches.”

On Cena as a Worker: “Cena can flat out work. Bottom line.” Austin said, “the guy can flat out work. He’s not the smoothest guy in the ring, he’s not Brad Armstrong, [but] he ain’t got to be. He’s John Cena. He’s built like a brick s–thouse. He’s strong as an ox. That finishing sequence… the dude is one of the hardest working guys in the business. He [has] always got a smile on his face.”

On Reigns Entering The Rumble at 30: “Everything made sense for me, so I enjoyed the s–t out of it.” Austin continued, “a lot of people s–t on Roman Reigns in the 30 spot. I popped because I’m thinking, ‘dude, here’s the setup, guys. Something’s up.’ And then, [Chris] Jericho gets out, so there’s the three [remaining entrants, Reigns, Randy Orton, and Bray Wyatt], so you got two heels and a baby. You know it’s going to be a double-team. You know Roman Reigns is somehow going to defeat two heels again and he’s going to win the f–king Rumble. Setup. I smelled a rat from the beginning and I just couldn’t believe what I was going to end up seeing. He goes to charge Randy Orton, spear, and, of course, Randy Orton connects with an RKO. Boom. Over the top rope. Randy wins. I thought Roman Reigns in the 30 spot was a fantastic idea and great booking.”

On Roman Reigns Improving: “I think he’s coming into his own though. And I don’t think he’s where he needs to be right now. I just still maintain, man, he’s just a good looking guy, great body, he [has] got presence. Needs to work on the promos, but I think his words are coming a little bit more [naturally]. I think he’s starting to finally get a sense… and finally, lets not get lost on the fact that the kid [has] only been in the [professional wrestling] business five years. So it took me five years trying to get it, and by seven-and-a-half, I really started talking when Paul E. [Heyman] gave me a shot down there in ECW. So then, seven-and-a-half when they really started pushing ‘Stone Cold’. Then, I was a well-rounded mechanic. I could work heel or baby. Then, I started putting the promo together.”