Source: Busted Open Radio — Inside the Attitude Era from the Person Who Created It
Duration: 46 min
Attitude Era origins
I decided to put the word 'Attitude' at the bottom of that spot. That's the first time it was used. I just decided to put that word there, and that ignited the whole Attitude Era.
Stone Cold Steve Austin's career
Vince McMahon held a meeting in Titan Towers. He wanted to kill the [Stone Cold] character. He wanted to turn him back into like the Ringmaster type of character where he was wearing powder blue shorts and he had stubbly hair.
WWE backstage retaliation
They held a meeting in Kevin Dunn's office... How do we get back at Sahadi? Well, he doesn't work anymore. How do we do it? Someone said... let's take away his father's paycheck, let's get legend Vincent and take away the legends paycheck that he gets.
Vince McMahon emotional reaction
I walk outside the studio and Vince is sitting in a suit on the concrete floor and he's crying hysterically. He went from angry to being so happy that tears come out of his eyes and he's saying thank you, thank you.
Vince McMahon's relationship with his father
I don't think I knew why it resonated with Vince so much until many years later. I think the reason why is, to me, this spot was a passing of the torch from the old generation to the new guys. I think for Vince, though, there's a passing of the torch from his father to him.
WWE backstage politics
I think Kevin Dunn spun it away to make Kevin Dunn look good that David just gave a few days notice because it makes Kevin look bad if one of the top guys is leaving under Kevin's watch.
Stone Cold Steve Austin promos
We get there and we're rolling cameras in this warehouse and Stone Cold is rambling on saying just complete nonsensical stuff... Chris and I act like oh my god this is a disaster. We decided to write these one-liners... and we hit gold.
TNA Spike TV deal
I promised I'd get a TV deal with [TNA] in a few months. And sure enough, we got one on Spike TV when WWE was losing. And we got one because I knew Kevin Kay, the president.
Bully Ray heel turn
Half of them screamed in anger, Bully. Half of them screamed like, gosh, I can't believe this. I mean, there was raw emotion in the truck from seasoned veterans that have done pro wrestling for 10 or 15 years.
TNA Lockdown crowd reaction
Guess who threw the first bottle? Dave LaGreca. He started a revolution. He started a riot.
