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 consider Breakker is about for larger 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 outstanding stamp of approval working with somebody as revered as Heyman, whose legendary consumer record consists of 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 must be speaking concerning the world heavyweight championship sooner or later,” Breakker informed CBS Sports activities. “Whether or not it is Gunther, Jey Uso, or whoever… As I proceed to rise and transfer in the proper course, 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 gained 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 primary 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 sport in all facets once you’re in that place,” Breakker stated. “If you’re going for the world heavyweight title, that is usually the primary storyline or a part of the present. You may have essentially the most alternative to see what you are product of. They’ve typically 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 “Large Poppa Pump” in 1998, a chainmail-wearing genetic freak with large muscle tissues and bleach blonde hair. By 1999, he was a fixture within the WCW United States heavyweight and world tv title races. He turned the WCW world heavyweight champion in 2000 by defeating Booker T. Strictly evaluating characters, the speedy rise of “Large Poppa Pump” shouldn’t be too dissimilar from Breakker’s, who is simply 14 months into his WWE essential roster tenure. Nonetheless, Breakker and Scott navigate very totally different environments.

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

Try the total interview with Bron Breakker under.

“I feel ‘Large Poppa Pump’ resonated a lot as a result of individuals 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, informed CBS Sports activities. “Each Monday of Nitro, I by no means knew what would occur. After 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 way of WCW’s irritating backstage surroundings taught him a universally relevant lesson, one he hopes Breakker takes to coronary heart.

“Be good to individuals going up since you’ll meet them taking place,” Steiner stated. “That is actually a real assertion in wrestling. And to get pleasure from it as a result of it goes by quick. It goes by approach 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 obtained considerable assist and assets alongside the way in which, 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, though he is solely been on TV for 2 years. From a younger age, he actually needed 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. Folks dream about WrestleMania or having a WrestleMania second.”

Breakker’s impending WrestleMania debut wields explicit 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 shall be current for his WrestleMania debut. Wrestling followers keen on seeing Scott and Rick in a extra private setting can achieve this early in WrestleMania week at Bicep Bash.

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