Stunning to Stone Cold: A retrospective look at Steve Austin's career
Stone Cold Steve Austin. The most famous wrestler of the Attitude Era. The man who almost single-handedly won WWE the Monday Night Wars against WCW. The man who is beloved as one of the greatest to ever step foot into a wrestling ring. He is a living legend and a titan of the professional wrestling industry.
But, this wasn't always the case, of course. He came up as an unknown young talent like countless others before him. But, he had something special. He used that and channelled that to create one of the most iconic characters in wrestling history.
But, to understand Stone Cold Steve Austin, we have to go back a number of years. Before his days with Vince McMahon in the WWE, in fact. To the company that he destroyed in the Monday Night Wars. To WCW.
The early WCW Years
After his early days learning the art of professional wrestling and making a small name for himself, Steve Austin's big break came in the form of World Championship Wrestling. Or WCW as it is called, more often than not. The only wrestling promotion in the world that could rival WWE.
He signed for Ted Turner's company in 1991 and thus began the career of Steve Austin on the big stage. He was given a push right from the off and picked up the WCW Television Championship within weeks of debuting with the company.
This would lead to bigger things as he was then afforded the opportunity to join up with Paul Heyman – then going by the name of Paul E Dangerously – as part of The Dangerous Alliance, which contained the likes of The Ravishing Rick Rude and the legendary Arn Anderson.
The Dangerous Alliance was a short but sweet time for Austin before he dropped the Television Title and the group disbanded. Then came the first time the word Stun was used in connection with Steve Austin.
Stunning Steve Austin
Following a successful start to life at WCW, Steve Austin adopted the moniker Stunning Steve Austin and teamed up with Flyin’ Brian Pillman to form The Hollywood Blonds in January of 1993.
The duo would immediately capture the WCW Tag Team Championships against the legendary Ricky The Dragon Steamboat and Shane Douglas and proceed to defend it against the two men on numerous occasions.
This was followed by a high profile feud against the recently reformed Four Horsemen as Ric Flair made his return to the company. Unfortunately for The Blonds, an injury to Brian Pillman would force them to drop the titles.
Upon Pillman’s return, the reunion of The Hollywood Blonds would be shortlived as Austin turned on his former tag team partner and proceeded to make a move to singles wrestling.
Despite winning the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship twice during his singles run, Austin was fired after suffering an injury. He was actually deemed “unmarketable” by Eric Bischoff, as well as a pain to work with and this led to the blond-haired wrestler departing the WCW scene. Oh, what a mistake this would be...
ECW
This was a relatively short phase in Steve Austin’s career as he joined up with Paul Heyman’s Extreme Championship Wrestling for just a matter of months. He might not have done too much during his time in ECW, but it was the birthplace of one very special move.
This was where Austin learned his famed Stunner from a wrestler named Mickey Whipwreck who used the move – titled the Whipper-Snapper – as his finisher. Not long after this, he was contacted by WWE to come and work in Vince McMahon’s promotion at the urging of Jim Ross and Diesel. Now you know why Austin holds JR in such regard.
Also read: 5 Things we don’t miss from the Attitude Era
The Ringmaster and transformation into Stone Cold Steve Austin
Steve Austin debuted in WWE, under the moniker The Ringmaster, and was allied with The Million Dollar Man, Ted DiBiase, who handed him The Million Dollar Title. Despite a good start to life, Austin realised a few weeks in that The Ringmaster gimmick was weak. He then made a decision which would alter the course of his career forever.
Studying serial killer Richard Kuklinski - who was known as The Ice Man Killer - Austin decided to shave his head and adopt a no-nonsense attitude. He chose the name Stone Cold, after rejecting some atrocious suggestions from WWE Creative including Fang McFrost and Chilly McFreeze. Imagine if he was called Chilly McFreeze Steve Austin.
Thankfully, he went with Stone Cold and thus came the birth of Stone Cold Steve Austin. Surprisingly enough, Stone Cold’s first big break came thanks to a certain Hunter Hearst Helmsley, although, Triple H didn’t know it at the time
Austin 3:16 and the double turn
Due to the infamous Madison Square Garden Curtain Call incident, Triple H was stripped of his planned victory at King of The Ring 1996. Instead, the victory went to Stone Cold Steve Austin, who defeated Jake The Snake Roberts who was in the midst of a born-again Christian gimmick. In the post match interview, Stone Cold delivered these lines –
"You sit there and you thump your Bible, and you say your prayers, and it didn't get you anywhere! Talk about your Psalms, talk about John 3:16... Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass!"
And, just like that, one of the most famous catchphrases in the history of professional wrestling – Austin 3:16 – was born.
Now, entering into the birth of the Attitude Era, Austin set his sights on Bret Hart. A long and glorious feud with The Hitman would follow with both men impressing in their matchups. This feud also holds the distinction for the best double turn in wrestling.
In a submission match at Wrestlemania 13, Austin – the heel – and Hart – the face – put on a classic. With Austin busted open and bleeding profusely, he refused to tap out when locked in the Sharpshooter and chose to pass out from the pain instead. Hart may have won the match, but Austin had won the hearts of the WWE Universe.
The Canadian would attack Austin after the match cementing the double turn and the night ended with Hart leaving as the heel and Austin as the face. And, this led to the creation of the best anti-hero the WWE has ever seen.
Also read: How do millennials remember the Attitude Era
The feud with Vince McMahon
Stone Cold Steve Austin would ride on the back of his massive popularity to win his second straight Royal Rumble in 1998. This led to the first signs of a budding feud with Vince McMahon.
Austin would win the WWE Championship from Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania XIV, and the very next night on Raw, Vince warned The Texas Rattlesnake that the latter’s behaviour would have to improve as he was now the WWE Champion. Austin responded with a Stunner to kickstart the feud that won WWE the Monday Night Wars against WCW.
The Stone Cold Era
In the next five years between 1998 and 2003, Austin would win the WWE Championship 6 times, win another Royal Rumble in 2001, pick up Tag Team Titles teaming with The Undertaker and Triple H, and become the most popular superstar the world had ever seen.
He feuded with the likes of The Rock, Triple H, The Undertaker, and of course, Vince McMahon and there was nobody else on the roster who could reach the heights that he was hitting during his half a decade run on the top. Not even The Rock could match the popularity Stone Cold Steve Austin enjoyed.
But, it was also at this time that he butted heads with the owner of the WWE multiple times in real life and even walked out of the company which led to a $250,000 fine for The Texan. He eventually returned but not for very long as his health took a turn for the worst.
The Retirement
Stone Cold Steve Austin’s legendary in-ring career came to a halt at Wrestlemania XIX where he put over The Rock in one of the finest retirement matches the world has ever seen.
The very next night on Raw, Eric Bischoff “fired” Austin after reading out The Texas Rattlesnake’s actual real life doctor’s reports showcasing the extent of his injuries. While the firing was in kayfabe and most people didn’t buy into it seriously, Austin announced his retirement the next day stating that the doctor’s reports were all actually true.
Even though he saw out his contract as a Co-General Manager on Raw and enjoyed some light-hearted moments, it was well and truly the end of one of the greatest in-ring careers that the world ever had the pleasure of seeing.
The Hollywood Blond known as Stunning Steve Austin transforming into the ruthless Stone Cold Steve Austin is one of the greatest evolutions in professional wrestling. And the fact that it’s still a treat to see Stone Cold Steve Austin pop up on WWE programming from time to time, even nearly a decade and a half after his retirement, shows you how important that evolution was.
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