In the world of professional wrestling, few names resonate as loudly as The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin, especially when recalling the zenith of WWE’s popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Marc Mero, a notable figure in his own right during that era, recently shared some intriguing insights from his time in the squared circle. Mero, who was married to former WWE Diva Sable from 1994 to 2004, discussed a pivotal moment on the May 11, 1998, episode of RAW, where the storyline between him and Sable reached a climax. Sable delivered a powerbomb to her then-husband, signaling a turning point after months of growing on-screen tension.
During a conversation with James Romero of WSI, Mero reflected on the missed opportunity to enter a program with Austin, stemming from his storyline with Sable. He expressed no regrets, recognizing the impact of that moment: “Yeah, I blew a run with Steve Austin. But, you know what, looking back I have no regrets because it got her over so big. That powerbomb, when people saw that she could do that to me, or I could do it to myself, people were just amazed.” This event significantly boosted Sable’s profile among fans and furthered her career in the industry.
The narrative surrounding Mero’s character at the time was one of villainy, driven by jealousy over Sable’s burgeoning popularity. The crowd’s reaction to Sable’s powerbomb was immense, solidifying her status as a formidable presence in WWE. However, this storyline development led to an unforeseen consequence regarding Mero’s potential feud with Steve Austin. Despite having no personal issues with Mero, Austin was reportedly reluctant to engage in a storyline with him post-Sable segment, seeking a more credible opponent to maintain his own narrative as a top-tier competitor.
Mero, looking back on the situation with the benefit of hindsight and after conversations with Austin, understands the rationale: “Of course, I can understand, looking back, and Steve and I have talked about this. I can understand. Why would you want to wrestle someone that just got beat up by a girl? When you really think about the logic of our fans and stuff like that. But, again, I would have done it a million times only because I knew it was going to get us over as a team.” Mero eventually departed from WWE in 1999, but his legacy in wrestling, including his time as Johnny B. Badd in WCW, remains a topic of interest for fans and commentators alike.
The question of whether Stone Cold Steve Austin should have feuded with Marc Mero is one that continues to intrigue wrestling aficionados. As the industry reflects on these historical what-ifs, the discussions contribute to the rich tapestry of professional wrestling’s storied past.
