He may not be a full-timer in the squared circle anymore, but Stone Cold Steve Austin is still as ornery as ever.

The former WWE superstar is on a media tour promoting his new DVD set, "The Legacy Of Stone Cold Steve Austin." Even though the three-disc set is packed with great stuff (especially Austin's early days in WCW and ECW), he's not entirely happy with it. True to form to rile his old boss, Vince McMahon, the Texas Rattlesnake said the video package is interesting -- but it could have been better.

Podcast: 'Old School, New School' -- Episode 66

"It kind of fills the gap with some of the other DVDs that I've done," Austin said. "But I think there could have been more comments from WWE Superstars. There could have been some more extras in there."

Brutally Honest
In other words, he hasn't changed a bit since he's been in the ring full-time. The wrestler-turned-actor is still brutally honest, even when it comes to the special appearances he now makes on WWE programming.

"I feel like I'm ripping the people off," Austin said. "These days when I do and do an appearance for WWE, it's a lighthearted affair. I cut a cute promo, crack a few beers together and give somebody a Stone Cold stunner. That's not what I want to be remembered for. I want to be remembered as that guy who brought all that grey area into a black and white business of good and bad."

Before a serious neck injury basically forced Austin to hang up his full-time wrestling boots, he was perhaps the biggest fan favorite of the modern wrestling era -- even bigger than Hulk Hogan.

"When he got hot, he was the ultimate babyface," Austin said of Hogan. "Stone Cold Steve Austin was completely different. (So) I don't really care if you think Hogan was the biggest babyface -- or Stone Cold -- I could care less. I had one of the best runs in the history of the business and that's what I'm proud of."

'WrestleMania' Appearance?
That pride may keep him away from "WrestleMania 24" this year. Austin said WWE pitched him an idea, but he turned it down.

"A bad idea is a bad idea," he said. "It doesn't have to be big and grandiose. It just has to be smart. I don't want people to remember (me) as a limited performer, and that's why I'm picky."

Don't rule anything out just yet, but at this writing, Austin, 43, feels the WM24 dance card is just fine without him.

"'WrestleMania' is always a good time," Austin said. "But it's not my desire to go back in the ring. It's time for those (other) guys and girls to have the spotlight and proceed with their careers."

Mr. Kennedy!
One guy Austin is mentoring behind the scenes is Ken Kennedy. The two struck up a friendship after Austin watched Kennedy wrestle Dave Batista one night, and the Rattlesnake liked what he saw.

"I would say we're pretty good friends," Austin said of Kennedy. "(But) I think there's too many voices up in his head over there at WWE. They need to stand back and let him do exactly what he wants to do. He's going to be a big star. They just need to let him be a big star and stop messing with him."

So what's Austin's bottom line on advice for young stars seeking an identity? Simply be yourself -- but turn it up a few notches.

Bottom Line Advice
"The best I can say is don't pretend to be anything you're not," Austin said. "You gotta be who you are. So many guys -- they're cutting a promo unfortunately that's been written for them -- and they don't believe it. They could say it a million times, but I could look in their eyes and I could listen to their delivery and I know it's not coming from their gut or their heart. It's not even coming from their brain."

Austin said when he's out there, he's himself -- turned up to "Volume 10." Otherwise, he claims he's just a quiet guy in everyday life. Someone who loves hunting and fishing and making action movies. As for those many runs as WWE champ, the Rattlesnake said it was humbling time in his life – to a point.

"When you raise that belt above your head for the first time, you don't know what to expect," Austin said. "Who would have known how big (my success) would have gotten? I never in a million years figure it would get that big. Once you're doing it (however), it's nothing. I'm waking up every day, I'm putting my pants on like everybody else and I'm going to work entertaining people. So I never let it get out of perspective."

Lucky Man
And now, looking back on a great career, Austin considers himself extremely lucky -- and grateful -- especially when it's his turn to make one of those spot appearances on national television.

"As soon as that glass breaks and those people explode and come off their seats, the whole way down (the aisle), I'm saying, 'Thank you very much.' I can't say that (while on the air). I can't lip synch that -- because that's not Stone Cold Steve Austin. But every time that happens, I appreciate it. I just wish that when I go out, I could give the people more."

(Professor Wrestling is a masked employee of Internet Broadcasting, hailing from Parts Unknown. Got a question, comment, complaint? E-mail him right here. He also has a fabulous weekly podcast. Listen to the latest episode right here.)