Stone Cold Steve Austin visited a sneaker store in Reno, Nevada, with Joe from Complex, where they discussed his past and present relationship with sneakers. Austin talked about his early days wearing Sketchers, which were considered the latest technology at the time. He also mentioned that he almost landed a deal with High-Tech, but his agent blew it, and he ended up not getting a sneaker deal.
Austin mentioned that he's a fan of the A6 brand and has worn them for many years, but has recently switched to Brooks. He also talked about how wrestlers used to wear boots, but now many wear sneakers, and how John Cena was one of the first to popularize sneaker culture in wrestling.
The conversation also touched on how athletes like Damian Lillard and Stefan Diggs have paid homage to Austin by featuring his name or catchphrases on their shoes. Austin found it flattering and appreciated the recognition.
During the visit, Austin tried on several pairs of shoes, including Jordans, but ended up choosing a pair of Del Sur 13s and a pair of Kobe "Undefeated" shoes. He spent a total of $1,883.81, which is the most he's ever spent on shoes.
Throughout the conversation, Austin shared stories about his past, including his time in the WWE, and his interactions with other wrestlers and athletes. The visit ended with Austin purchasing his new shoes and thanking the staff for their help.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Stone Cold Steve Austin is a WWE Hall of Famer and pop culture icon.
2. He was a guest at Global Goods in Reno, Nevada, where he went sneaker shopping.
3. Austin used to wear Shocks in the early 2000s, which was the latest technology in tennis shoes at the time.
4. He has a niece who is going to law school in New York City and recently passed the bar.
5. Austin's niece once came across a Stone Cold t-shirt at a store and was offered a discount if she could prove that Austin was her uncle.
6. Austin has a shoe deal with Brooks, and he exclusively wears their shoes.
7. He has been approached by other shoe companies, including Nike, but has never signed a deal with them.
8. Austin was offered a deal with High Tech, but his agent advised him to hold out for a better offer from Nike, which never came.
9. Austin thinks that sneaker culture in wrestling is cool, but it's not something that he got into until later in his career.
10. He remembers John Cena wearing Reebok Pumps during his matches, which was one of the early examples of sneaker culture in wrestling.
11. Damian Lillard has an Adidas deal and created a custom shoe with the number 316, which is a reference to Austin's finishing move.
12. Austin is flattered that athletes like Lillard and LeBron James pay homage to him through their shoes and clothing.
13. Austin has never owned a pair of Jordans, but he is a fan of Kobe Bryant and owns several pairs of his shoes.
14. Austin spent $1,883.81 on shoes during his visit to Global Goods, which is the most he has ever spent on shoes in his life.