Over the years many WWE Superstars have tried to break through the glass ceiling, only to be pushed back down. WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray recently discussed what it takes to make it to the top of the ladder in WWE, and he shared his thoughts on why the company only pushes wrestlers to a certain point will speaking with Jim Ross on The Jim Ross Report.
Bully used Steve Austin, The Rock and John Cena as examples, and he noted that all 3 became so big that they could do whatever they wanted without Vince McMahon’s approval.
“Seth Rollins has done it all and can do it all. But how come Seth Rollins is not at Cena level? How come he’s not at Rock level? How come he’s not at Austin level? It’s because I don’t think they will ever allow anyone to get to that level again.” Bully explained, “if you take the three biggest stars over the last 20-some-odd years, would you say that Cena, Austin, and The Rock are the three biggest ones? Okay, so those three guys in their own way do what they wanted to do without Vince’s approval. Listen, Steve was able to walk out and still come back and have a job. [Ross] helped out a lot, but not a lot of people walk out and come back in the next day. Rocky was able to walk away and become the biggest star in Hollywood. And John, my God! He just won the Muhammad Ali Award. He [has] granted more wishes than anybody on the planet. I mean, he walks on water when it comes to the WWE. And he was able to tell Vince, ‘I’m not [going to Saudi Arabia].’ I don’t think they’re ever going to let anybody get to that level again where they have control or say.”
He also went on to say that he learned a very important lesson from Vince McMahon about having leverage in the wrestling business.
“I learned a very important lesson from Vince McMahon one day, JR, that he taught me one-on-one. I don’t remember the arena we were in, but we were in a hallway and he said, ‘Bubba, it’s very rare that the boys have leverage on me, but when they do have leverage on me and they don’t use it, shame on them.’ What a lesson to learn from Vince McMahon and I apply that lesson to what’s going on in the WWE today. They’re creating their stars, they’re letting their stars get as big as they possibly want them to be, but then there’s a ceiling. And I think Roman [Reigns] is at the top of that ceiling. I think Ronda [Rousey] is at the top of that ceiling. I think Charlotte is at the top of that ceiling. I’m not sure who will ever get passed that.”
Who do you think has the potential to make it to the same level as Austin, Rock & Cena? Sound off in the comments below.
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