Scott Steiner Reveals Why His WCW Solo Run Needed a ‘Drastic’ Transformation

Scott Steiner, known for his larger-than-life persona as “Big Poppa Pump,” recently reflected on his decision to transition from tag team wrestling with his brother Rick Steiner to becoming a singles star. In an interview with Monopoly Events, the WWE Hall of Famer shared insights into his calculated move to break away and create his iconic heel character.

Steiner explained that while he enjoyed teaming with his brother and proving their dominance as a tag team, he felt the need to explore his potential as a singles competitor. The opportunity to showcase his individual talents came at a time when he was growing increasingly frustrated with the politics within the wrestling industry. “I was at the point in my career where I was really pissed off,” he revealed.

Following his decision to go solo, Steiner made a dramatic transformation, including bleaching his hair immediately after betraying his brother at SuperBrawl. This drastic change caught many by surprise, with even the announcers struggling to recognize him the next day at WCW Nitro. Steiner emphasized the importance of this radical shift in appearance to distance himself from his previous babyface persona and fully embrace his new heel character.

In addition to altering his appearance, Steiner also made changes to his in-ring style, abandoning moves like the Frankensteiner in favor of adopting the Steiner Recliner submission hold. His goal was clear: to elicit a negative response from the audience and ensure they viewed him as a villain. “I basically didn’t want the fans to cheer for because in my mind [if you’re a heel] and you get cheered, you should be fired,” Steiner remarked.

Steiner’s deliberate reinvention as Big Poppa Pump marked a pivotal moment in his career, cementing his status as one of the most memorable and divisive characters in wrestling history.

What factors contributed to Scott Steiner’s decision to transition from tag team wrestling with his brother Rick Steiner to pursuing a singles career? How did he go about reinventing himself as the iconic heel character “Big Poppa Pump,” and what specific changes did he make to differentiate himself from his previous persona? Let us know in the comments below.