Legendary WWE superstar "Stone Cold" Steve Austin crowned The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild the champion of the video game series.
During a promotional teaser for Steve Austin's Broken Skull Sessions, Austin asked fellow wrestler Cody Rhodes to name the "best Zelda game." Rhodes, a long-time fan of the series who has referenced Zelda inside and outside the ring, responded with the beloved 1998 classic The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Austin quickly disagreed with the American Nightmare's pick and named Breath of the Wild the best. Rhodes smiled and called Austin's favorite "a bold choice."
Other fans of the series might agree with Austin's pick, considering the astounding success of the latest entry in The Legend of Zelda. Released in 2017, Breath of the Wild was received with widespread critical acclaim, with many heralding the title as a masterpiece. Multiple publications ranked it as one of the best releases of its year, praising the game's expansive open world, distinctive art style and its evolution of the Zelda formula. The Japanese TV network, TV Asahi, even conducted a survey in 2021 wherein 50,000 Japanese gamers elected Breath of the Wild as the greatest video game of all time.
Unsurprisingly, Breath of the Wild's wild success earned it a sequel, which was announced during E3 2019's Nintendo Direct. Though initially slated for a 2022 release, Breath of the Wild 2 was delayed to spring 2023 due to unspecified reasons. Series producer Eiji Aonuma apologized for the prolonged wait but assured fans that the sequel will go on to be bigger and better than its predecessor. "The adventure in this sequel will take place not just on the ground as in the previous game but also in the skies above," said Aonuma.
Rhodes previously hid another Easter egg referencing his favorite Zelda game after his return to WWE. On the first night of Wrestlemania 38, commentator Corey Graves snuck in a couple of familiar lines during Rhodes' match against Seth Rollins. "The flow of time is always cruel and a thing that doesn't change with time is just a memory of younger days," commented Graves. The quote itself appeared to be referencing a cutscene in Ocarina of Time, wherein Sheik recited a similar phrase.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is available for Nintendo Switch.
Source: YouTube