Bron Breakker is headed to WrestleMania for the primary time. Defending his intercontinental championship at WWE’s largest annual present is not any small feat, however many imagine Breakker is ready for greater issues. 

The intercontinental title traditionally serves as an audition for superstars with potential to hold the model as world heavyweight champion or WWE champion. Gunther and Jey Uso, who each held the intercontinental title not too long ago, are set to compete for the world heavyweight title at WrestleMania 41. A peek backstage suggests Breakker is being molded for such success.

WWE Corridor of Famer Paul Heyman works carefully with Breakker behind the scenes on the behest of WWE chief content material officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque. It is a exceptional stamp of approval working with somebody as revered as Heyman, whose legendary consumer record contains Roman Reigns, CM Punk and Brock Lesnar.

“It is laborious to foretell the place I will be on the finish or center of this yr, however I feel we should be speaking in regards to the world heavyweight championship sooner or later,” Breakker advised CBS Sports activities. “Whether or not it is Gunther, Jey Uso, or whoever… As I proceed to rise and transfer in the appropriate path, it is solely going to be so lengthy earlier than I am up there too.”

Depth is Breakker’s most defining trait. Breakker wields arguably essentially the most vicious spear in skilled wrestling historical past, rivaled solely by WWE and ECW alum Rhino. He wields the identical depth on the microphone. Although Breakker didn’t undertake his father’s surname, the odes to dad Rick Steiner and uncle Scott Steiner are seen in his ring gear and moveset. 

Breakker’s trajectory differs from his father and uncle, who had been most outstanding as a tag group earlier than splitting. The Steiner Brothers received 9 tag group championships between WCW and WWE. Rick and Scott every loved a number of midcard singles title reigns, however solely Scott graduated to the principle occasion. As Breakker prepares for his eventual ascent, he sources Scott’s knowledge.

“He and my dad have taught me the severity of elevating your recreation in all facets whenever you’re in that place,” Breakker stated. “If you’re going for the world heavyweight title, that is usually the principle storyline or a part of the present. You will have essentially the most alternative to see what you are made from. They’ve usually pressured the magnitude of that chance and the way I must capitalize on it. I’ve to be an overachiever if I can, so I can keep there.”

Scott reinvented himself as “Huge Poppa Pump” in 1998, a chainmail-wearing genetic freak with large muscular tissues and bleach blonde hair. By 1999, he was a fixture within the WCW United States heavyweight and world tv title races. He grew to become the WCW world heavyweight champion in 2000 by defeating Booker T. Strictly evaluating characters, the fast rise of “Huge Poppa Pump” is just not too dissimilar from Breakker’s, who is simply 14 months into his WWE essential roster tenure. Nevertheless, Breakker and Scott navigate very completely different environments.

Office tradition has shifted dramatically for the reason that ’90s. The fashionable WWE backstage scene may be very polished. You are extra prone to see wrestlers throwing tantrums over online game tournaments than throwing fists in a bar. Politics are unavoidable in most careers, however WWE does not endure as a lot from the “inmates working the asylum” environment that WCW did, as high-profile stars influenced storylines with their inventive management clauses.

Try the total interview with Bron Breakker under.

“I feel ‘Huge Poppa Pump’ resonated a lot as a result of folks may inform I was pissed off. I used to be really pissed off,” Scott Steiner, who hosts the Bicep Bash arm wrestling occasion in Las Vegas on April 15 throughout WrestleMania week, advised CBS Sports activities. “Each Monday of Nitro, I by no means knew what would occur. Once I came upon, I used to be pissed as a result of it by no means made sense to me. Connecting with the followers, they may inform I used to be legit pissed.”

Scott’s experiences steering by WCW’s irritating backstage surroundings taught him a universally relevant lesson, one he hopes Breakker takes to coronary heart.

“Be good to folks going up since you’ll meet them taking place,” Steiner stated. “That is actually a real assertion in wrestling. And to take pleasure in it as a result of it goes by quick. It goes by manner too quick.” 

Breakker’s success is extraordinary in comparison with his contemporaries’ expertise ranges. Breakker has not too long ago feuded with Penta, Finn Balor, Jey Uso and Sami Zayn, all of whom made their professional wrestling debuts between 2001 and 2007. Breakker, 27, is lower than 5 years into his professional wrestling journey. Breakker acquired plentiful assist and assets alongside the best way, however Scott says his nephew labored for this second longer than is documented.

“Bron has been coming over and recreating my interviews with me,” Scott stated, reflecting on Breakker’s childhood. “I feel that is one of many causes he is so forward of the sport proper now, although he is solely been on TV for 2 years. From a younger age, he actually wished to get into wrestling.”

Breakker defends his intercontinental title towards Penta, Balor and Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania. Listening to roughly 50,000 followers bark in honor of Breakker and his household is a surreal bucket record accomplishment for the defending champ.

“It is a dream come true to be a part of WrestleMania…” Breakker stated. “It is an enormous milestone for my profession. Individuals dream about WrestleMania or having a WrestleMania second.”

Breakker’s impending WrestleMania debut wields specific sentimental worth for the Steiner Brothers. Rick and Scott made their WrestleMania debuts at WrestleMania 9, defeating the Headshrinkers in Las Vegas. 32 years later, Breakker makes his WrestleMania debut in the identical metropolis.

Breakker’s household might be current for his WrestleMania debut. Wrestling followers concerned with seeing Scott and Rick in a extra private setting can achieve this early in WrestleMania week at Bicep Bash.

“My brother might be there, Ron Simmons and males’s and ladies’s world arm-wrestling champions,” Scott stated. “There might be 4 or 5 aggressive matches with giveaways between every pull-off. I feel the followers will actually take pleasure in it.”