Could Steve Austin v. Mike Tyson Ever Worked as a Match?

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Jeff Jarrett randomly talking about this in the NWA invades WWF version of his podcast made me think of this.

Tyson was the king of PPV buyrates. Just adding his name to be involved in the main event of WM 14 helped out tremendously.

As a match though? I don’t see how it would have worked.

Tyson is obviously very athletic, even to this day. He’s also obviously very volatile. I think Tyson could compartmentalize to an extent. Given his criminal record and success in boxing he kind of had to be capable of this.

The only way it works though and is beneficial to the WWF is if Austin goes over Tyson. And Vince had to throw a bunch of money at Tyson just to get him on board and not even wrestle a match. One could imagine how much it would cost 1998 Tyson to not only wrestle, but lose.

[pinja]

Vs. Austin? Yes.
Vs. Roderick Strong however, Tyson wouldn't dare.

[cornettesracket]

I don’t think it would have worked. I’m reminded of the Richard Pryor joke from his standup about sparing with Ali and him asking his corner whether Ali understood that this isn’t a real fight. Now take it with a silo of salt, but in the wrestlemania book released in 2001, there is a bit about bringing Tyson in and wwf having to make it very clear to the boxing authorities that Tyson wouldn’t be in a match at WM 14.

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

The Attitude Era Podcast are going through the timeframe of the Tyson/Austin/Michaels thing now, and they brought up a good point about the build in how they were stringing things along with Tyson for so long about what his actual role at WM14 was going to be, that it may have been possible that, when the role was finally revealed, fans felt they were getting a raw deal that he was just going to be a ringside enforcer and not actually have a match with Austin.

Anyone here that was watching at the time get that same impression and possible letdown?

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Jan 21, 2022 9:32:23 GMT -5 EoE: Well There's Your Problem said:

The Attitude Era Podcast are going through the timeframe of the Tyson/Austin/Michaels thing now, and they brought up a good point about the build in how they were stringing things along with Tyson for so long about what his actual role at WM14 was going to be, that it may have been possible that, when the role was finally revealed, fans felt they were getting a raw deal that he was just going to be a ringside enforcer and not actually have a match with Austin.

Anyone here that was watching at the time get that same impression and possible letdown?

I was watching at the time, but can’t say I was let down we didn’t get Austin/Tyson.

Austin was white hot at the time and shows had a “you can’t miss a minute” kind of atmosphere about them. Most of my friends just wanted to see Austin win the title.

[Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story]

Tyson vs. Michaels, yes.

Tyson vs. Austin, no. I don't see Tyson being willing to job and I don't see the match being any good. It would have thrown a cold bucket of water on Austin's momentum.

[4TheGlory]

If Tyson was able to work a Tag match against DX years later, I think him and Austin could of pulled it off, when they were in their physical primes. It would've done big business

[fg]

Jan 21, 2022 10:04:46 GMT -5 Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story said:

Tyson vs. Michaels, yes.

Tyson vs. Austin, no. I don't see Tyson being willing to job and I don't see the match being any good. It would have thrown a cold bucket of water on Austin's momentum.

Plus Austin would have lost one of his ears…WHAT?…I said he would lose one of his ears…WHAT?

As far as the ears go, those of you who know about what Tyson did to Holyfield in 1997 will get the reference.

[Kevin Hamilton]

Physically? Yeah, Tyson is still in pretty damn great shape now, let alone then.

Mentally and emotionally, probably not, dude was not at all in a good place then. I don't think he'd refuse to lose or anything but he might just flake out and no show or something.

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

Pre 1997 neck break Austin might have been willing to take a bunch of worked punches from a very dangerous boxer trying to pull them.

But once his neck was bad? I doubt he would take one.

[Ganon83]

I did a few TEW run through 1998 WWF a few years ago, and Austin vs Tyson in a match style mixed with brawling and hardcore (to hide Tyson's weaknesses) was the main event of my King of the Ring card.

[johnnyk9]

Tyson can box I doubt even with training he could wrestle

[Deleted]

No way Prime Tyson would lose.

Maybe in the mid 2000s.

[tafkaga]

I don't see Tyson being much of a wrestler.

If he were able to wrestle and make it look convincing, I still don't see it being a good combination.

[SHAKEMASTER TV9 is Don Knotts]

Not Vs each other. In a tag together against DX or something, that could have been fun.

[fw91]

Nah. Austin wasn't that far removed from his neck injury. Carrying an outsider would have been too much to ask.

[Natural Born Farmer]

Would YOU feel comfortable having a worked fight with a guy as volatile as Tyson?

[Cranjis McBasketball]

From all accounts, Tyson is a giant wrestling nerd and was always very, very excited to be there. As far, as match, Jericho stated he put the sparring gloves on the wrong hands which Tyson found hilarious and then was throwing half hearted punches Jericho said still hurt. Tyson is a big enough name, just him being there is more than enough.

[THE FVNKER]

So I actually took a minute to think about this to see if I could come up with anything that would make sense, and to be honest I really can't think of a way that they pull this off, and it be worth the investment really.

I think the biggest problem here is obviously to get Tyson even ready for maybe even just a 10 minute match and it not look like total hell would take at least a few months of solid training.  The only thing similar about boxing and pro wrestling is that it takes place in a ring.  Reason I bring this up, is that Austin allegedly turned down a match with Hogan (I know we all know this already) at Wrestlemania 18 or whatever due to him thinking their styles were too far apart.  Put Tyson in the mix, and realistically you're gonna get probably eight minutes of smoke and mirrors to cover up Tyson's inability to wrestle.  Plus, Austin absolutely would've wanted to go over, but they can't make Tyson look weak or it kills his aura (in the wrestling sense).  If Austin can beat Tyson that fast how is he 'the baddest man on the planet'?  I will say this though, as far as Tyson working punches.. a guy that knows how to hit that hard, can certainly 'work' a punch.

It would've been something to see for sure, if somehow they knew like two years earlier that they would wanna do the angle, but I'd say thats the only way it works.

[wankah]

Back when it would've been the money match(late 90's)? No. Later on when both of them weren't taking themselves so seriously anymore? Yes. Though having said that, the most recent time I saw Tyson in the wrestling biz was Jericho naming him to be the honorary member of his "everything that's cool to me" -gang, so I second doubt my latter opinion as well now.