In a recent appearance on WWE’s The Bump, Steve Austin reflected on his rivalry with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon during The Attitude Era.

“Vince always wanted to be an in-ring performer, but his dad wouldn’t let him, and so he turned into the greatest performer of all time,” said Austin. “This window of opportunity opens up organically so that we may start feuding together, he puts himself in the ring. So Vince is not the most graceful human being in the world, and I say that with all due respect because I loved working with him. 

“And there’s something about him. What I feel for the business was reciprocated 100%, as much from him to me, and you have to have that energy that goes back and forth for things to work like they do. People loved to hate him, and they loved to love me at the time because I was working [babyface], but it was a match made in heaven and an angle that transcended the business.” (Quote WrestleZone).