Ken Shamrock Says Steve Austin Thought It Was An Honor To Wrestle Him

Ken Shamrock made his WWE debut in 1997. He competed in the ring for nearly two years, winning the Intercontinental Title and the Tag Team Championship with Big Boss Man. Shamrock, though, left the company in 1999 to pursue a career in mixed martial arts. However, Shamrock recently discussed his experience in the company, revealing his relationship with WWE Hall of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Steve Austin and Shamrock have shared the ring a few times. When discussing his time with the Texas Rattlesnake, he said to Wrestling Shoot Interviews that Austin felt at ease with him.

“I thought he [Steve Austin] felt real comfortable with me. I felt like he was already in a position at that point where his role was, he was the guy, period. And me going in there [RAW main event match against Austin in 1998], obviously he had a tremendous amount of respect for me. And I think in his own mind it was like, it was an honor for him to wrestle me in this stage because of who I was. It was a feather in his cap per se.”

Shamrock said that he thought it was “awesome” to fight the WWE Hall of Famer inside the ring. He also feels Austin had the same experience.

“So, when we went in there and did that, we had a tremendous amount of respect for each other. And I had a tremendous amount of respect for him on what he was able to do in pro wrestling. So for me to be in there with him, I was like, ‘okay, this is awesome. This is great.’ But I think in reverse it was the same with him being in there with me being the original World’s Most Dangerous Man and legitamate World’s Most Dangerous Man being able to work with me.”

In less than two years, Ken Shamrock rose to the position of King of the Ring, won two championships, but then chose to leave the WWE. He admitted that he quit because he believed the company was unsure of what to do with him.