Stone Cold Steve Austin 356167 225869636 2008-07-15T19:57:49Z All about wrestling 3044889 {{Infobox Wrestler |name=Stone Cold |image=<!--Do not replace this image with a fair use one. This image is free and free images are favored on Wikipedia. See "Wikipedia:Image use policy" for more information -->Stone Cold Steve Austin.jpg |names='''"Stone Cold" Steve Austin'''<br>The Ringmaster<BR>"Superstar" Steve Austin<br>"Stunning" Steve Austin |height=6 ft 2 in (188 cm)<ref name=wwebio>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/stonecold/bio/|title=Stone Cold's bio|publisher=WWE.com|accessdate=2007-12-08}}</ref> |weight= 252 lb (115 kg)<ref name=wwebio/> |birth_date={{birth date and age|1964|12|18}}<ref name=truth10>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.10)</ref> |birth_place=[[Austin, Texas]]<ref>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.9)</ref> |death_date= |death_place= |billed=[[Victoria, Texas]]<ref name=wwebio/> |trainer=[[Chris Adams (wrestler)|Chris Adams]]<ref name=truth55/><ref name=slam>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/austin.html|title=Steve Austin Bio|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer|CANOE]]|accessdate=2008-06-06}}</ref> |weight= 252 lb (115 kg)<ref name=wwebio/> |debut=[[May 11]] [[1989]]<ref name=truth55>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.55)</ref> |retired=[[March 30]] [[2003]] }} '''Steven James Williams''' (born '''Steven Anderson''' on [[December 18]] [[1964]]),<ref name=truth10/> better known by his [[ring name]] '''"Stone Cold" Steve Austin''', is an [[United States|American]] [[film]] and [[television]] [[actor]] and retired [[professional wrestling|professional wrestler]]. Austin wrestled for several well-known wrestling [[Professional wrestling promotion|promotions]] such as [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW), [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] (ECW) and most famously, [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF), which became World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2002. In the late [[1990s]], in WWF, Austin gained significant mainstream popularity, comparable to that of [[Hulk Hogan]] in the [[1980s]], as Stone Cold, a disrespectful, [[beer]]-drinking [[tweener (professional wrestling)|anti-hero]] who routinely defied his boss, [[Vince McMahon|Mr. McMahon]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Steel Chair to the Head: The Pleasure and Pain of Professional Wrestling|last=Sammond|first=Nicholas|year=2005|publisher=Duke University Press|isbn=0822334380|pages=pp. 6}}</ref> This defiance was often shown by Austin [[finger (gesture)|flipping McMahon off]] and incapacitating him with the [[stunner (professional wrestling)|Stone Cold Stunner]], Austin's [[list of professional wrestling slang#F|finisher]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Heels|last=Oliver|first=Greg|year=2007|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=1550227599|pages=pp. 13}}</ref> He retired as a regular in-ring performer in 2003 due to neck, ankle and knee injuries sustained throughout his career.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} However, he still makes occasional in-ring appearances, often to only perform his finishing move, the Stone Cold Stunner, normally followed by an extended beer drinking session punctuated by him slamming two beer cans together in a distinctive style then pouring the beer over his face. Austin had his first starring film role as Jack Conrad in the 2007 [[thriller (genre)|thriller]] ''[[The Condemned]]''. Austin is a six-time [[WWE Championship|WWF/E Champion]], the [[King of the Ring#1996|1996 King of the Ring]], and winner of the [[Royal Rumble (1997)|1997]], [[Royal Rumble (1998)|1998]] and [[Royal Rumble (2001)|2001 Royal Rumbles]], and is the only man in WWE history to win the Royal Rumble three times. ==Early life and career== Steve Williams was born Steve Anderson on [[December 18]] [[1964]].<ref name=truth10/> He was the second eldest of four brothers and one sister.<ref name=truth10/> After his mother Beverly became pregnant with his brother Kevin, Steve's father left the family.<ref name=truth10/> After his parents' divorce, the family moved to [[Victoria, Texas]].<ref name=truth10/> Beverly eventually married a man named Ken Williams, who became a stepfather to Steve and his siblings, who adopted his last name.<ref>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.11)</ref> In middle school, Steve Williams was a member of the school band, where he played both the [[tuba]] and [[bass horn]].<ref>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.33)</ref> In high school, Williams played football, baseball, and ran track.<ref name=truth16>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.16)</ref> In [[baseball]], he played in the catcher position and was a part of the all-star team.<ref name=truth25>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.25)</ref> Williams earned good grades and was a part of the [[National Honor Society]].<ref>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.24)</ref> Williams was also voted "Most Popular" three years in a row.<ref name=truth25/> As a football player, he was a varsity starter for three years and an All-District [[running back]].<ref>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.43)</ref> He received an [[American football]] scholarship to Wharton Junior College and then a full football scholarship to [[North Texas State University]].<ref name=truth16/> He dropped out of college seventeen credit hours shy of graduating.<ref>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.47)</ref> After dropping out, Williams joined [[Chris Adams (wrestler)|"Gentleman" Chris Adams]]' [[professional wrestling school]].<ref name=truth55/><ref name=slam/> He had his first match in [[World Class Championship Wrestling]] on [[May 11]] [[1989]]<ref name=truth55/> defeating Frogman LeBlanc.<ref name=slam/> At the start of his early career, he used his real name for wrestling.<ref name=truth63>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.63)</ref> However, another wrestler of that name - [[Steve Williams (wrestler)|"Dr. Death" Steve Williams]] - was already nationally known, so he was then assigned the name '''Steve Austin''', in accordance with his hometown of [[Austin, Texas]].<ref name=truth65>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.65)</ref> At first he was reluctant because he did not want the fans to associate him with the hero from TV's ''[[The Six Million Dollar Man]]''.<ref name=truth65/> Later, he adopted the name "Stunning" Steve Austin and wrestled in the [[United States Wrestling Association]] (USWA) for the first year of his career.<ref>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.68)</ref> Most of the time, he either teamed up or feuded with his former trainer Adams, with the teacher/student aspect of their relationship being added into the angle.<ref name=slam/><ref name=truth76>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.76)</ref> During this time, Austin began dating Adams' ex-wife [[Jeannie Clark|Jeannie]], who, along with Adams' then-wife [[Toni Adams]], were brought in to their storylines.<ref name=truth79>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.79)</ref> [[Percy Pringle|Percival Pringle III]] was also added to the angle as Williams and Clark's [[Manager (professional wrestling)|manager]].<ref>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.80)</ref> ==Professional wrestling== ===World Championship Wrestling=== {{main|Hollywood Blonds#Steve Austin and Brian Pillman|l1=Hollywood Blonds}} Austin debuted in [[World Championship Wrestling]] in 1991 as "Stunning" Steve Austin, initially managed by Vivacious Veronica.<ref name=truth86>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.85-86)</ref> Almost immediately after Austin's debut, [[Jeannie Clark|Lady Blossom]] became his valet.<ref name=slam/><ref name=truth86/> Austin defeated [[Bobby Eaton]] for the [[WCW World Television Championship]] on [[June 3]] [[1991]], just weeks after his debut. In late 1991, Austin joined [[Paul Heyman|Paul E. Dangerously's]] [[Dangerous Alliance]].<ref name=slam/><ref>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.89)</ref> Austin lost the WCW Television Championship to [[Barry Windham]] in a [[two out of three falls match]] on [[April 27]] [[1992]]. He regained the title from Windham on [[May 23]] [[1992]]. He enjoyed a second lengthy reign before losing to [[Ricky Steamboat]] on [[September 2]] [[1992]]. The Dangerous Alliance disbanded shortly thereafter.<ref name=truth91>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.91-93)</ref> At [[Halloween Havoc#1992|Halloween Havoc]], he replaced [[Terry Gordy]], teaming with [[Steve Williams (wrestler)|"Dr. Death" Steve Williams]] to wrestle [[Dustin Rhodes]] and [[Barry Windham]] for the unified WCW and NWA World Tag Team titles.<ref name=truth91/> The pair wrestled to a thirty minute time limit draw.<ref name=truth91/> In January 1993, Austin formed a [[tag team]] with [[Brian Pillman]] known as the [[Hollywood Blonds]].<ref name=slam/> The Blonds won the [[WCW World Tag Team Championship]] on [[March 3]] [[1993]], defeating Ricky Steamboat and [[Shane Douglas]]. The Hollywood Blonds held the titles for five months.<ref name=slam/> At [[Clash of Champions#Clash of the Champions XXIII|''Clash of the Champions XXIII'']] the Blonds faced [[Ric Flair]] and [[Arn Anderson]] in a two out of three falls tag team title match. Flair and Anderson defeated the Blonds, but were not awarded the titles as one fall had been determined by a disqualification.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash2.html#XXIII|title=Clash of the Champions XXIII results|accessdate=2008-07-15|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> At ''[[Clash of the Champions#Clash of the Champions XXIV|Clash of the Champions XXIV]]'', Austin and Pillman were scheduled to defend the titles against Arn Anderson and his new partner, [[Paul Roma]]. An injured Pillman, however, was replaced by [[Darren Matthews|Steven Regal]]. Austin and Regal lost to Anderson and Roma.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash2.html#XXIV|title=Clash of the Champions XXIV results|accessdate=2008-07-15|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> With Pillman still injured, Austin then joined [[Robert Fuller|Colonel Robert Parker's]] [[Stud Stable]]. After Pillman returned, Austin betrayed and defeated him in a singles bout at ''[[Clash of the Champions#Clash of the Champions XXV|Clash of the Champions XXV]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash2.html#XXV|title=Clash of the Champions XXV results|accessdate=2008-07-15|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> At [[Starrcade (1993)|Starrcade 1993]], in a [[two out of three falls match]], Austin defeated Dustin Rhodes in two straight falls to win the [[WWE United States Championship|WCW United States Heavyweight Championship]].<ref name=slam/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/ppv/wcw/december/1993.htm|title=WCW Starrcade 1993 results|accessdate=2008-07-15|publisher=PWWEW.net}}</ref> He lost the title to Ricky Steamboat on [[August 24]] [[1994]]. Austin was scheduled to face Steamboat in a rematch for the title at [[Fall Brawl#1994|Fall Brawl]], but Steamboat was unable to wrestle due to a back injury, and Austin was awarded the title by forfeit. His second reign ended just minutes later when he lost to Steamboat's replacement, [[Jim Duggan]] in a match that lasted thirty-five seconds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/fall.html#94|title=WCW Fall Brawl 1994 results|accessdate=2008-07-15|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/wcw/wcwfall.htm|title=WCW Fall Brawl 1994 results|accessdate=2008-07-15|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive}}</ref> Austin then challenged Duggan for the United States Championship at [[Halloween Havoc#1994|Halloween Havoc 1994]] and ''[[Clash of the Champions#Clash of the Champions XXIX|Clash of the Champions XXIX]]''. On both occasions, Austin lost to Duggan by disqualification..<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/havoc.html#94|title=WCW Halloween Havoc 1994 results|accessdate=2008-07-15|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash2.html#XXIX|title=Clash of the Champions XXIX results|accessdate=2008-07-15|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> After returning from his knee injury in early 1995, he took part in a tournament for the vacant WCW United States Heavyweight title, where he defeated Duggan in the first round, but lost to Randy Savage in the quarterfinals. ===Extreme Championship Wrestling=== {{Expand-section|date=December 2007}} In 1995, Steve Austin was fired by WCW Vice President [[Eric Bischoff]], after suffering a [[triceps]] injury, while wrestling on a Japanese tour.<ref name=slam/> Bischoff and WCW didn't see Austin as a 'marketable' wrestler.<ref name=slam/> Eventually, Austin was contacted by [[Paul Heyman]], who had managed him in WCW.<ref name=slam/> Heyman told Austin that since he had a [[television program|TV show]] and Austin had a grievance, it would be a good opportunity to go on [[Extreme Championship Wrestling|ECW]] television to air it. While in ECW, Steve Austin used the platform to develop his future "Stone Cold" persona as well as a series of vignettes running down WCW in general and Bischoff in particular,<ref name=slam/> referring to WCW's [[WCW Monday Nitro|flagship program]] as "Monday [[NyQuil]], where the big boys play with each other." While with ECW, "Superstar" Steve Austin feuded with [[Jim Fullington|The Sandman]] and [[Mikey Whipwreck]]. Whipwreck, who was the [[ECW Championship|ECW World Heavyweight Champion]] at the time, scored a win over Austin at [[ECW November to Remember#1995|November to Remember 1995]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1995d.html#111895|title=ECW November to Remember 1995 results|accessdate=2008-07-15|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> The Sandman defeated Steve Austin and Mikey Whipwreck in a [[Professional_wrestling_match_types#Basic_non-elimination_matches|Triple Threat match]] at [[December to Dismember#1995|December to Dismember 1995]] for the ECW World Heavyweight Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1995d.html#120995|title=ECW December to Dismember 1995 results|accessdate=2008-07-15|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> ===World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment=== ====The Ringmaster (1995)==== In late 1995, Austin joined the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF).<ref name=slam/> Initially, Austin used the moniker "The Ringmaster" and was managed by [[Ted DiBiase]],<ref name=slam/> who awarded him with his "Million Dollar Championship Belt." The Ringmaster defeated [[Savio Vega]] at [[WrestleMania XII]].<ref>{{cite news|author=PWI Staff|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts|work="Wrestling’s historical cards"|pages=88}}</ref> Also during this time, Austin shaved his head bald, a look he has maintained since. At [[In Your House#In Your House 8: Beware of Dog|In Your House 8: Beware of Dog]], Austin lost a "Caribbean Strap Match" to Savio Vega. In accordance to the pre-match stipulations, DiBiase was forced to leave the WWF, giving Austin the opportunity to forge his own path.<ref>{{cite news|title=2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts|work=Wrestling’s Historical Cards|pages=95}}</ref> He later told announcer [[Michael Hayes (wrestler)|Dok Hendrix]] that he had purposely lost the match in order to rid himself of his manager. ====Austin 3:16 and rise to superstardom (1996−1997)==== [[Image:Stone Cold Steve Austin in 1996.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Austin in 1996.]] Austin's genuine rise to superstardom began on [[June 23]] [[1996]] in [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin|Milwaukee]], where the [[King of the Ring#1996|1996 King of the Ring]] pay-per-view took place. Austin began using his trademark finishing maneuver, the Stone Cold Stunner, which had been taught to him by Hayes, and with this new technique he won the King of the Ring tournament,<ref name=slam/> receiving the [[push (professional wrestling)|push]] [[Clique (professional wrestling)#Curtain Call: The MSG Incident|originally intended for]] [[Triple H|Hunter Hearst Helmsley]]. After toppling [[Marc Mero]] in the semi-finals, Austin defeated [[Jake Roberts|Jake "The Snake" Roberts]] in the final.<ref name=slam/><ref>{{cite news|title=2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts|work=Wrestling’s Historical Cards|pages=95-96}}</ref> After the match, Austin cut a [[promo (professional wrestling)|promo]] during his coronation, telling Roberts:<ref>Foley, Mick. ''Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks'' (p.229)</ref> {{Cquote|''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!''}} "Austin 3:16" ultimately became one of the most popular [[catch phrase]]s in wrestling history<ref name=slam/> Austin later [[List of professional wrestling slang#T|turned]] face, as spontaneous fan support for him grew larger by the week.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} Austin spoke about [[Bret Hart]] constantly and taunted him relentlessly on TV (one quote had Austin saying "If you put the letter 'S' in front of 'Hitman,' you have my exact opinion of Bret Hart"). Hart finally accepted Austin's challenge and returned to the WWF in October 1996. At [[Survivor Series (1996)|Survivor Series 1996]], Hart pinned Austin in a match which helped create the foundations for the eventual intense year-long feud between the two.<ref>{{cite news|title=2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts|work=Wrestling’s Historical Cards|pages = 96-97}}</ref> The match came hot on the heels of a highly controversial incident broadcast live on ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]'', which saw Austin "break into" [[Brian Pillman]]'s house, with Pillman holding a [[gun]]. During the [[Royal Rumble (1997)|1997 Royal Rumble]] match, Austin was originally eliminated by Bret Hart, but the officials did not see it, and he sneaked back into the ring and eliminated Hart.<ref name="PS32">{{cite news | author = Martin, Finn | title = Power Slam Magazine, issue 32 | work = "Back on Top" (Royal Rumble 1997) | publisher = SW Publishing| date= 1997-02-25 | pages = 12-15}}</ref> This led to the first-ever [[pay-per-view]] main event of Austin's WWF career at [[In Your House#In Your House 13: Final Four|In Your House 13: Final Four]], which due to real-life events largely revolving around [[Shawn Michaels]], the match was for the suddenly vacant [[WWE Championship|WWF Championship]]. Austin was eliminated from the four-way match early after injuring his knee, but was involved in the finish which saw Hart win his fourth WWF Championship,<ref>{{cite news|title=2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts|work=Wrestling’s Historical Cards|pages = 97-98}}</ref> which he lost the next night on ''Raw'' to [[Sid Eudy|Sycho Sid]] due to Austin's interference, leading to the continuation of their feud. At [[WrestleMania 13]], in March 1997, Hart defeated Austin in a 'Submission' match that involved [[Ken Shamrock]] as a special referee (this match was later awarded five stars by [[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]). During the match Austin was cut so that he bled. In the end, Hart refused to release his patented Sharpshooter since Austin had refused to give up. The match ended in Austin passing out due to blood loss. Despite his wounds he refused any assistance back to the locker room, thus turning Hart [[heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] and Austin [[Face (professional wrestling)|babyface]] in a rare [[Turn (professional wrestling)|double-turn]].<ref name=pwi98>{{cite news|title=2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts|work=Wrestling’s Historical Cards|pages=98}}</ref> Austin eventually got his revenge on Hart when he injured Hart's leg in a no disqualification match on ''Raw'', which featured Austin refusing to let go of his own Sharpshooter and beating Hart while on a stretcher in the back of an ambulance. After his feud with Bret Hart, he had a WWF Championship shot against [[The Undertaker]] at [[In Your House#In Your House 15: A Cold Day in Hell|In Your House 15: A Cold Day In Hell]]. Austin had the Undertaker down with the [[Stunner (professional wrestling)|stunner]], but due to distraction from [[Brian Pillman]], Undertaker nailed Austin with a [[Piledriver (professional wrestling)#Tombstone piledriver|Tombstone Piledriver]] and got the victory.<ref name=pwi98/> ====Feud with Owen Hart (1997)==== Austin also had a brief tag team runs with both [[Shawn Michaels]] and [[Mick Foley]] where he had his first taste at WWF gold when he won the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|WWF Tag Team Championship]].<ref name=slam/> Then Austin challenged Bret Hart's younger brother, [[Owen Hart]].<ref name=slam/> The sight of a handcuffed Austin being led out of the arena by "policemen" while giving the finger - the "Stone Cold Salute" - to the fans is one of the resounding images of his career. After Owen pinned Austin in a 10-man tag match at [[In Your House#In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede|In Your House: Canadian Stampede]],<ref>{{cite news|title=2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts|work=Wrestling’s Historical Cards|pages=98-99}}</ref> Austin wanted to gain revenge on Owen and challenged him for his [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|Intercontinental Championship]] at [[SummerSlam (1997)|SummerSlam 1997]].<ref name=slam/> In that match, Austin suffered a near-career ending neck injury as a result of a botched [[Piledriver (professional wrestling)#Reverse piledriver|piledriver]] by Owen Hart.<ref name=slam/><ref name=pwi99>{{cite news|author=PWI Staff|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts|work="Wrestling’s historical cards"|pages=99}}</ref> Austin's head was seen to be six to eight inches lower than the safe level for a piledriver, and as a result, Austin was actually driven into the ground head first, taking the full force of his body weight into his neck. After being briefly paralyzed, Austin recovered and was able to win the match and the Intercontinental Title as planned, but the incident forced him to take time off for surgery in 1997. During that match, after realizing that Austin was hurt, Owen bought some time for Austin, prancing around the ring claiming Austin was going to "kiss his ass." This injury was played up on WWF TV afterwards, to explain why Austin did not wrestle for several months forcing him to forfeit the Intercontinental Championship. During this time, though, Austin was kept on television by way of vignettes and being an anti-authority nuisance to WWF officials during in-ring interviews, with all segments ending with the offending party receiving a Stunner. It was during this time that Austin had forfeited the Intercontinental Title, which was then won in a tournament by Owen Hart. Hart became champion thanks to interference from Austin, who whacked [[Ron Simmons|Faarooq]], the other finalist, with the belt. For the month that followed, Austin began interfering in Hart's title matches, usually Stunning Hart's opponents, all in a crusade to ensure that Hart would not lose the Intercontinental Championship before Austin could take it from him. At [[Survivor Series (1997)|Survivor Series 1997]], Austin got his shot. Owen Hart walked into Montreal's [[Bell Centre|Molson Centre]] wearing a T-Shirt mocking Austin's "3:16" moniker: "Owen 9:11" and the back said "I Just Broke Your Neck." Owen lost the WWF Intercontinental Championship that night again to Stone Cold.<ref name=pwi99/> Austin never harbored a grudge against Hart for injuring him.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} After winning the Intercontinental Title back from Owen, Austin briefly feuded with [[The Rock (entertainer)|The Rock]] over the belt. This was the first time the two men would cross paths in the WWF and marked the beginning of their bitter feud. This portion of their feud ended with The Rock winning the Intercontinental Title in December 1997 due to the fact that Austin forfeited the title while immediately declaring his intent to go after the WWF Title. He stunned The Rock and McMahon before taking the Intercontinental belt back before it could be presented to The Rock and proceeded to throw the belt off a bridge in Dover,NH during a live RAW telecast. ====Feud with Mr. McMahon (1998–1999)==== With Bret Hart's departure, Austin was clearly the top superstar in the company, and after managing to ruffle the feathers of every other WWF superstar, he entered and won the [[Royal Rumble (1998)|1998 Royal Rumble]], lastly eliminating The Rock.<ref name=pwi100>{{cite news|title=2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts|work=Wrestling’s Historical Cards|pages=100}}</ref> The next night on ''Raw'', Austin interrupted Vince McMahon in his presentation of [[Mike Tyson]], who was making a special appearance, over the objection of McMahon referring to Tyson as "the baddest man on the planet." Austin gave Tyson the double-bird (two middle fingers), which led to Tyson shoving Austin much to McMahon's embarrassment, who began to publicly disapprove of the prospect of Austin as his champion. Tyson was later announced as "the special enforcer" for the main event at [[WrestleMania XIV]], although he appeared to be aligning himself with [[WWE Championship|WWF Champion]] Shawn Michaels' stable [[D-Generation X]].<ref name=slam/> This led to Austin's WWF Championship match against Michaels at WrestleMania XIV, which he won with help from Mike Tyson, who [[List of professional wrestling slang#T|turned]] on DX by making the deciding three-count against Michaels.<ref name=slam/> This victory ushered in the Austin Era,<ref name=slam/> and with it, the Attitude Era.<ref name=pwi100/> [[Image:Austinentrance.jpg|left|thumb|"Stone Cold" Steve Austin's trademark ring entrance.]] On the ''Raw'' after Austin won the WWF Title, Vince McMahon presented him with a new title belt and warned Austin that he did not approve of his rebellious nature and that things could be done "the easy way or the hard way." Austin gave his answer in the form of another Stunner. This led to a segment a week later where Austin had pledged a few days prior in a meeting to "play ball" with McMahon, appearing in a suit, tie and loafers, with a beaming McMahon taking a picture of himself and his new corporate champion. The entire thing was a ruse by Austin who in the course of the segment proceeded to tear off the suit, tell McMahon it was the last time he'd see Austin dressed like this, punch his boss in the "[[testicles|corporate grapefruits]]," and take another picture of the two of them while McMahon was doubled over in pain. In April 1998, it appeared Stone Cold and Vince McMahon were going to battle out their differences in an actual match, but the match was declared a [[No contest (boxing)|no contest]] when [[Mick Foley|Dude Love]] made an appearance. This led to a match between Dude Love and Austin at [[In Your House#Over the Edge|Over the Edge: In Your House]] for the WWF Championship. Austin managed to retain the title despite McMahon acting as the referee and his "Corporate Stooges" ([[Gerald Brisco]] and [[Pat Patterson (wrestler)|Pat Patterson]]) as timekeeper and ring announcer, respectively. McMahon continued to do everything he could to ruin Austin, and he finally scored a big victory for his side at the [[King of the Ring (1998)|1998 King of the Ring tournament]].<ref name=slam/> There, Stone Cold lost the WWF Championship to [[Glen Jacobs|Kane]] in a First Blood match.<ref name=slam/> Stone Cold further infuriated his nemesis by winning back the championship the next night on ''Raw''.<ref name=slam/> Stone Cold also emerged victorious against [[The Undertaker]] at [[SummerSlam (1998)|SummerSlam 1998]]. In response, Mr. McMahon set up a triple threat match at [[Breakdown: In Your House]], where The Undertaker and Kane pinned Austin at the same time. Mr. McMahon decided to vacate the WWF Championship<ref name=slam/> and award it based on a match between the Undertaker and Kane, in which Austin was the guest referee. Austin refused to count for either man and attacked both towards the end of the match. Mr. McMahon later fired The Rattlesnake, although Austin got a measure of revenge by kidnapping McMahon and dragging him to the middle of the ring at "gunpoint," which ended up being a toy gun with a scroll that read "Bang! 3:16." Stone Cold was later re-signed by [[Shane McMahon]]. In the semifinals of a tournament to award the vacant championship, Austin lost to [[Mick Foley|Mankind]], thanks to a double-cross by Shane. The next night on ''Raw'', [[Judge Mills Lane]] ruled that The Rock had to defend his newly won WWF Championship against Austin that night. The Undertaker interfered and hit Austin with a shovel, earning Austin a disqualification victory. At [[In Your House#Rock Bottom|Rock Bottom: In Your House]], Steve Austin defeated The Undertaker in a Buried Alive match after Kane tombstoned Undertaker into the grave. With this victory, Stone Cold had qualified for the [[Royal Rumble (1999)|1999 Royal Rumble]]. The Rattlesnake’s next definitive chance to exact revenge on Mr. McMahon came during the 1999 Royal Rumble match. On ''Raw'', McMahon drew Austin's entry number with the obvious intention of screwing him over. Stone Cold drew entry No. 1, while McMahon drew No. 2 thanks to WWF Commissioner Shawn Michaels. During the Rumble match, McMahon slipped out of the ring and into the crowd as Austin chased him down. It turned out to be a trap as McMahon led Austin into the lobby restroom where he was ambushed by members of [[The Corporation (professional wrestling)|The Corporation]]. Austin was injured and taken away in an ambulance. With Stone Cold gone and not in the Rumble match, Vince joined the announce table in calling the match. Later on, however, Austin returned in an ambulance and re-entered the Royal Rumble. After Austin delivered a Stunner to the [[Ray Traylor|Big Boss Man]] and eliminated him, it was back to just him and Mr. McMahon. With the assistance of the Corporation and a last minute interference from The Rock, Stone Cold was eliminated by McMahon himself, and Vince won the 1999 Royal Rumble.<ref name=slam/> With McMahon turning down his number-one contender spot against The Rock, WWF Commissioner Shawn Michaels awarded Austin the title shot during ''Raw'' the next night. At [[In Your House#St. Valentine's Day Massacre|St. Valentine’s Day Massacre]], Stone Cold got a one-on-one match against Mr. McMahon in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Cages|Steel Cage]], with the WWF Championship opportunity at [[WrestleMania XV]] at stake.<ref name=slam/> During the match, [[Paul Wight|The Big Show]] made his debut, breaking through from under the ring and attacking Stone Cold. Show’s attack propelled Stone Cold into the side of the cage forcing the cage to give way and dropping Austin to the floor first, making him the victor.<ref name=slam/> Stone Cold made the most of his chance, defeating "The Corporate Champion" The Rock at WrestleMania XV for his third WWF Championship.<ref name=slam/> Austin faced The Rock in a rematch at the following pay-per-view, [[WWE Backlash#1999|Backlash]], in which Shane McMahon was the referee. During the match, Mr. McMahon approached the ring, only to hand Austin back his Smoking Skull belt and take his son out of the proceedings. Austin won the match when another referee made the count. The Undertaker, however, won the WWF Championship from Austin at [[Over the Edge (1999)|Over the Edge]]. Due to events revolving around Vince McMahon, [[Stephanie McMahon|Stephanie]] and [[Linda McMahon]] made Stone Cold the [[Chief executive officer]] of the company. Vince and Shane McMahon challenged Austin to a [[Ladder match|Handicap Ladder match]] at [[King of the Ring#1999|King of the Ring]] with the CEO title on the line, which the duo of father and son won. The next night on ''Raw'', however, Austin made it clear that while he was the CEO of the company, he could have a title shot at any time and place to be determined by himself. Austin made the WWF Championship match that night on ''Raw'' and defeated The Undertaker to win his fourth WWF Championship. Austin held on to the Championship belt until [[SummerSlam (1999)|SummerSlam 1999]] when he lost it to Mankind in a Triple Threat match also featuring [[Triple H]].<ref name=slam/> By [[Survivor Series (1999)|Survivor Series]], Triple H was champion. Instead of getting a rematch, Austin was run down by a car in the parking lot.<ref name=slam/> What followed was neck surgery by Dr. [[Lloyd Youngblood]] and a nine-month rehabilitation with the car angle as his reason for leaving.<ref name=slam/> In reality, Austin had needed neck surgery since the Owen Hart incident in 1997.<ref name=slam/> ====The Two-Man Power Trip (2000)==== {{Main|The Power Trip}} In April 2000 at [[WWE Backlash#2000|Backlash 2000]], Austin appeared during the main event, attacking [[Triple H]] and [[Vince McMahon]], helping The Rock reclaim the WWF Championship. At [[WWE Unforgiven#2000|Unforgiven 2000]], Austin made his official return from surgery and tried to find out who ran him down at Survivor Series the previous year.<ref name=slam/> [[Solofa Fatu|Rikishi]] finally admitted to being the driver.<ref name=slam/> At [[WWE No Mercy#2000|No Mercy 2000]], Austin was back to annihilate Rikishi, but in the process of beating him down, Stone Cold learned that it was actually Triple H behind the whole scheme, devised to shield the WWF Championship from Austin and end his career. At [[Survivor Series (2000)|Survivor Series 2000]], Triple H had plotted to run Austin down again (thus repeating the events of the previous year's Survivor Series) but his plot failed when Austin lifted Triple H's automobile with a forklift, then let it drop 20 feet. Austin also competed in his second [[Hell in a Cell]] match at [[WWE Armageddon#2000|Armageddon 2000]]. This was a six man Hell in a Cell involving [[WWF Championship|WWF Champion]] [[Kurt Angle]], The Rock, Rikishi, Triple H, and The Undertaker. Kurt Angle retained his championship. Austin won his third [[Royal Rumble (2001)|Royal Rumble]] in January 2001,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20010128/ai_n9605892|title=Stone Cold rumbles to Houston aiming to sell out Astrodome|author=Blackjack Brown|publisher=Chicago Sun-Times|accessdate=2007-12-06|date=2001-01-28}}</ref> last eliminating [[Glen Jacobs|Kane]]. His rivalry against Triple H ended at [[WWE No Way Out#2001|No Way Out 2001]] in a 3 Stages of Hell match (a regular match, a [[Professional wrestling match types#Street Fight|Street Fight]], then a [[Professional wrestling match types#Cages|Cage match]]), with Triple H beating Austin 2 falls to 1. Then, at [[WrestleMania X-Seven]], Austin made a [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] turn, by hitting The Rock with a steel chair to win the [[WWE Championship|WWF Championship]].<ref name=slam/> After the match Austin shook hands and shared a beer with [[Vince McMahon]]. With the victory, Austin became a five-time WWF Champion. The next night on ''Raw'', after teasing a quick face turn, the heel turn continued. During a cage match with The Rock in a rematch for the title, Triple H came down to the ring with a sledgehammer. Many thought he was coming to aid The Rock, due to the hatred between Austin and Triple H (and an argument with Vince earlier in the night), but it transpired that he had joined the Austin/McMahon partnership by hitting The Rock instead. Austin and Triple H became a Tag Team and called themselves The Two-Man Power Trip.<ref name=slam/> The WWF positioned Austin and Triple H as the top heels in the company and had them feud with Undertaker and Kane for April and May 2001. After defeating Kane and Undertaker for the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|WWF Tag Team Titles]] at [[WWE Backlash#2001|Backlash 2001]], they held the Tag Team Titles, the WWF Championship (Austin), and the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|WWF Intercontinental Championship]] (Triple H) all at once. The glory was short lived, however. At the next pay-per-view, [[WWE Judgment Day#2001|Judgment Day]], Triple H lost his Intercontinental Title against Kane. Then, the following night on ''Raw'', Austin and Triple H faced off against [[Chris Jericho]] and [[Chris Benoit]] with the Tag Team Titles on the line. The match was going along without a hitch until a spot midway through where Triple H tore his quadriceps muscle.<ref name=slam/> As planned, the team lost the Tag Team Title at the end of the match when Triple H accidentally hit Austin in the stomach with a sledgehammer, but the injury to Triple H, which kept him out for the remainder of the year, forced the WWF to go in another direction. ====The Invasion (2001)==== {{see also|The Invasion (professional wrestling)|l1=The Invasion}} Steve Austin was paired with [[Kurt Angle]] and feuded against Jericho and Benoit. This culminated with a triple threat match at [[King of the Ring#2001|King of the Ring]], in which Austin faced the former tag team champions (who had just been dethroned by [[Dudley Boyz|The Dudley Boyz]] three days earlier). In a match which saw all three men beat each other severely and eventual outside interference from [[World Championship Wrestling|WCW]]'s [[Booker Huffman|Booker T]], Austin scored the victory and retained his championship. The feud ended at that point, as Benoit had neck surgery after the match, sidelining him for the following year. As soon as July 2001 began, with Benoit out for surgery, the Austin/Jericho feud was dropped without a mention. With Triple H out and The Rock still away making movies, the WWF desperately rushed out the plans for The Invasion. As The Invasion storyline began and progressed, Vince McMahon had been begging for Stone Cold to return to his old Texas Rattlesnake persona. Austin refused though, as he was developing into a more comedic character. But the week before the [[WWF Invasion|InVasion]] pay-per-view, the old Stone Cold Steve Austin "returned," delivering stunners to the Alliance members. This was all part of a swerve at the event, where Austin betrayed the WWF team and partner Kurt Angle to help the Alliance win, as Austin assumed leadership of the group.<ref name=slam/> The reason why Austin did this was because he felt that WWE didn't care about him anymore, especially Vince McMahon and Kurt Angle. Austin lost and regained his title in a feud with Kurt Angle, who was put over by Austin as a legitimate threat. Austin lost the title to Kurt Angle at [[WWE Unforgiven#2001|Unforgiven 2001]] before regaining it on the [[October 8]] [[2001]] episode of ''Raw''.<ref name=slam/> Angle then joined the Alliance.<ref name=slam/> As the Invasion angle dragged on, it was ultimately decided to bring the plot line to an end with Austin and a group of ECW and WCW wrestlers facing The Rock and a group of WWF wrestlers at that year's [[Survivor Series (2001)|Survivor Series]]. Austin and his team lost after Angle betrayed him and that was the end of the Invasion angle. The next night on Raw, Mr. McMahon was about to award Kurt Angle with the WWF Championship for actions at [[Survivor Series (2001)|Survivor Series]] when [[Ric Flair]] came out and announced that he owned half of the WWF and Austin came out and attacked Angle and McMahon, regained the WWF Championship and had a beer bash with Flair, turning Austin face once again. Austin would hold the WWF Championship for another month before losing it to Chris Jericho at [[Vengeance (2001)|Vengeance 2001]]. Jericho beat both The Rock and Austin consecutively in that night winning the WCW World Title and later the WWF Title and combining them to create the WWF Undisputed Championship. ====Backstage issues (2002−2004)==== By 2002, Austin's spot as top face in the WWF was not as secure as it had been in previous years, as Triple H was set to return from injury. At the time, Vince McMahon had re-signed [[Hulk Hogan]], [[Scott Hall]] and [[Kevin Nash]] for a storyline that would bring the [[New World Order (professional wrestling)|nWo]] back. They feuded with Austin and The Rock. Austin was originally intended to be the one to challenge Hogan at ''WrestleMania'', but because of their inability to agree on a finish, Austin refused, and The Rock took his place and defeated Hogan. At [[WrestleMania X8]], Austin defeated [[Scott Hall]] instead. Austin took a week long break following WrestleMania, refusing to show up for the following night's ''Raw''. Austin returned on the [[April 1]] [[2002]] episode of ''Raw'', the first of the new "[[WWE Brand Extension|brand extension]]" era. The show was centered on which show he would sign with, and he ultimately chose ''Raw''. Austin's last appearance was on [[June 3]], when he defeated [[Ric Flair]] in a match where Flair became Austin's servant. After Austin [[no-show]]ed an episode of ''Raw'', the angle was dropped.<ref name=trip>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_3_4/ai_91561860|title=Austin's power trip|author=Alex Gordon|publisher=Wrestling Digest|accessdate=2007-12-06|date=October 2002}}</ref> Austin had decided to walk out again because of bad storylines that were presented to him by the creative team.<ref name=trip/> This time though, he did not return for almost 9 months. Bored and run down, Austin began to create problems backstage as the WWF rehired [[Eddie Guerrero]] for Austin to feud with, while prepping Austin for a feud with [[Brock Lesnar]]. Austin, however, vetoed any matches that would result in him losing and ultimately walked out of the company when the writing staff wanted Austin to lose to Lesnar.<ref name=trip/> Austin later explained that he thought hot-shotting a victory did no favors to either side, as it made Austin look weak losing to a rookie, and did not give Lesnar a proper stage for such a big win over a star of the magnitude that Austin held. Austin later publicly stated that at the time, his anti-social attitude behind the scenes were the result of him dealing with chronic knee and neck injuries that had never properly healed. Further fanning the flames amongst Austin's growing number of detractors was a well-publicized domestic dispute incident between Austin and his wife [[Debra Marshall|Debra]].<ref name=trip/> Austin served probation time for the offense and has not discussed it publicly since. [[Image:Rockaustinxix.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Austin's final match against [[The Rock (entertainer)|The Rock]] at [[WrestleMania XIX]].]] In February 2003, he returned to WWE at [[WWE No Way Out#2003|No Way Out]] in a short match against [[Eric Bischoff]]. Austin was finally defeated by The Rock at [[WrestleMania XIX]], which ultimately became his last official match in WWE to date. The night after on ''Raw'', Bischoff "fired" Austin on medical grounds, however he was brought back by [[Linda McMahon]] as the "Co-General Manager" for ''Raw''. The move to the role of "Co-General Manager" was a way to keep Austin on-camera while limiting Austin's in-ring performance. On the [[November 17]] [[2003]] edition of ''Raw'', Austin was "fired" from ''Raw'' as the result of a stipulation in a match at [[Survivor Series (2003)|Survivor Series 2003]] where Austin's hand-picked team of wrestlers failed to beat Bischoff's team of wrestlers. Austin quickly returned to WWE television before the end of 2003 when he was part of a [[Christmas]] special taped live in front of U.S. troops in [[Iraq]], posing as Santa Claus and stunning Mr. McMahon. He finally came back on ''Raw'' on [[December 29]] as its "Sheriff." Austin appeared on and off as 2004 began, culminating in him being the special guest referee for the match between [[Brock Lesnar]] and [[Bill Goldberg|Goldberg]] at [[WrestleMania XX]]. Then, on [[April 17]], WWE put out a press release on their website claiming that Steve Austin and WWE were unable to settle long-running contract disputes and had again parted ways. This was reportedly over a contract dispute about WWE's control of Austin's non-WWE projects, such as [[film|movies]]. Austin could thus no longer use "Stone Cold" to promote himself, as that name is trademarked by WWE. Austin had to correct many people in interviews to ensure they did not refer to him by that moniker.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} ====Part-time appearances (2005−2007)==== Steve Austin made his first appearance on WWE programming in a year on [[April 3]] [[2005]] at [[WrestleMania 21]] where he was confronted by [[Roddy Piper|"Rowdy" Roddy Piper]] in [[Piper's Pit]] until [[Carly Colón|Carlito]] interrupted to insult both. This resulted in Carlito receiving a [[Stunner (professional wrestling)|Stone Cold Stunner]] from Austin and Piper throwing him out of the ring. The segment ended with Austin and Piper celebrating with beer until Austin gave Piper a Stone Cold Stunner as well. Then, at ''[[WWE Homecoming]]'' in October, Austin again returned to ''Raw'', delivering Stunners to all four members of the McMahon family.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/051003.html|title=Raw results - October 3, 2005|accessdate=2007-05-25 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> An angle including [[Jim Ross]] being fired led to a match in which Austin agreed to face Ross's replacement, [[Jonathan Coachman]], at [[Taboo Tuesday (2005)|Taboo Tuesday]], with the stipulation of Ross regaining his announcing job if Austin were to win and Austin losing his own job if he lost the match. Austin balked at the decision for Coachman to win, however, and once again walked out on the company after storyline disagreements. To explain away his failure to appear at Taboo Tuesday Vince McMahon said on ''Raw'' that Austin had been involved in an accident, thus preventing him from competing. A substitution for Austin was made in the form of [[Dave Batista|Batista]], who faced the Coach along with [[Big Van Vader|Vader]] and [[Dustin Rhodes|Goldust]], who was brought in to generate some last minute interest in the match. The stipulation was dropped due to Austin not competing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/ppv/wwf/november/taboo2005.htm|title=Taboo Tuesday 2005 Results|accessdate=2007-09-17|publisher=PWWEW.net}}</ref> Austin returned to WWE briefly to face [[John Layfield|JBL]] in a beer drinking contest at ''[[WWE Saturday Night's Main Event]]'' in March 2006. The feat was declared a no contest when Austin saw JBL cheating by pouring the beer down his clothes. Austin gave a stunner to JBL and then celebrated with the Stone Cold "beer salute." Austin then inducted Bret Hart into the [[WWE Hall of Fame]] on [[April 1]] [[2006]].{{fact|date=May 2008}} Austin returned to WWE programming (appearing on ''Raw'', ''ECW'', and ''SmackDown!'') in March 2007, partially to promote his starring role in the release of WWE Films' production, ''[[The Condemned]]''. On [[March 31]] [[2007]], Stone Cold inducted his friend Jim Ross into The WWE Hall of Fame. At [[WrestleMania 23]], Austin, as a [[Professional wrestling match types#Special referee|special guest referee]], officiated the match between [[Bobby Lashley]] and [[Eddie Fatu|Umaga]]. In the course of the event, Austin delivered stunners to Umaga, [[Vince McMahon]], [[Shane McMahon]], and [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/ppv/wwf/march/xxiii.htm|title=WrestleMania 23 Results|accessdate=2007-09-17|publisher=PWWEW.net}}</ref> He then appeared in a video on the [[June 11]] edition of ''Raw'' as part of Mr. McMahon Appreciation Night, where he shared his thoughts on his past feuds with Mr. McMahon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070611.html|title=Raw results - June 11, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-22|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> Stone Cold appeared on the [[August 18]] [[2007]] edition of [[WWE Saturday Night's Main Event|Saturday Night's Main Event]], as a possible illegitimate child of Mr. McMahon and stunned Mr. McMahon and Jonathan Coachman. Stone Cold appeared at [[SummerSlam (2007)|SummerSlam 2007]] where he was the replacement for [[Matt Hardy]] to battle [[Montel Vontavious Porter|MVP]] in a Beer Drinking Contest. The match ended in a no contest decision after Austin handed a beer to MVP and gave him the Stone Cold Stunner.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/ppv/wwf/august/2007.htm|title=SummerSlam 2007 Results|accessdate=2007-10-22|publisher=PWWEW.net}}</ref> On the [[November 5]] [[2007]] edition of ''Raw'' Steve Austin made an appearance to confront [[Santino Marella]] for bashing ''[[The Condemned]]''.<ref name="santino beer bath">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/11052007/articles/stonecoldsantino|title=‘Stone Cold’ drops a box-office bomb on Santino|date=November 5, 2007|author=Corey Clayton|accessdate=2007-12-31|publisher=WWE}}</ref> The argument ended as Marella received a [[Stunner (professional wrestling)|Stone Cold Stunner]] from Austin, who then walked backstage only to return with a [[Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch)|Budweiser]] beer truck to hose down Marella and [[Maria Kanellis|Maria]] with beer.<ref name="santino beer bath"/> On [[December 10]] [[2007]] during the ''Raw 15th Anniversary Spectacular'', Steve Austin returned after [[Vince McMahon]] received the [[Mandible Claw]] from [[Mick Foley|Mankind]] and a [[Chokeslam]] from [[The Undertaker]] for proclaiming himself "the greatest Raw superstar of all time." Shortly after, McMahon received a Stone Cold Stunner as Austin called out all WWE stars in attendance to the ring to celebrate the 15th anniversary of ''Raw''. The show closed as Austin and [[Triple H]] poured beer on McMahon, who was knocked out of the ring.<ref name="Rhodes and Holy golden on Raw's 15th Anniversary">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/12102007/articles/greatestsuperstarinrawhistory|title=‘Here's to the Greatest Superstar in Raw History|date=December 15, 2007|author=Corey Clayton|accessdate=2007-12-15|publisher=WWE}}</ref><!--DO NOT ADD WEEK BY WEEK EVENTS, RUMORS OR SPECULATION. WIKIPEDIA IS NOT A NEWS SITE BUT AN ONLINE ENCYCLOPEDIA. Please see the articles "Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not" and "Wikipedia:Guide to writing better articles" for more information. --> ==In wrestling== *'''Finishing and signature moves''' *'''As "Stone Cold" Steve Austin''' **'''''Stone Cold Stunner''''' ([[Stunner (professional wrestling)|Seated three-quarter facelock jawbreaker]]) <!--Do NOT change the order of the moves, as they comply with Wikipedia's Manual of Style--> **[[Professional wrestling throws#Catapult|Catapult]] **[[Professional wrestling attacks#Seated senton|Leapfrog body guillotine]] to an opponent draped over the second rope **[[Professional wrestling attacks#Lou Thesz press|Lou Thesz press]] followed by multiple [[Professional wrestling attacks#Punch|punches]] **[[Piledriver (professional wrestling)#Texas piledriver|Piledriver]] **[[Professional wrestling attacks#Elbow drop|Pointed elbow drop]] with theatrics **[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Axe handle elbow drop|Second rope axe handle elbow drop]] **[[Professional wrestling throws#Spinebuster|Spinebuster]] **''Stompin' a Mudhole'' (Repeated [[Professional wrestling attacks#Stomp|stomps]] against a cornered opponent, followed by a middle finger to the opponent and a final stomp) **[[Suplex#Superplex|Superplex]] **[[Professional wrestling attacks#Stomp|Stomp]] to the opponent's [[groin]] *'''As "Stunning" Steve Austin''' **'''''[[Stun gun|Stun Gun]]''''' ([[Professional wrestling throws#Flapjack|Throat first flapjack onto the top rope]]) <!--Do NOT change the order of the moves, as they comply with Wikipedia's Manual of Style--> **''[[Hollywood and Vine]]'' ([[Professional wrestling holds#Reverse figure four leglock|Reverse figure four leglock]]) **[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Diving knee drop|Second rope diving knee drop]] **''Stun Gun Suplex'' ([[Suplex#Slingshot suplex|Slingshot suplex]]) **''That's a Wrap'' ([[Professional wrestling holds#Standing figure four leglock|Standing figure four leglock]]) *'''As The Ringmaster''' **'''''[[Ted DiBiase#In wrestling|Million Dollar Dream]]''''' ([[Professional wrestling holds#Cobra clutch|Cobra clutch]])<ref>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.149)</ref> *'''Signature taunts''' **''Stone Cold Salute'' ([[Finger (gesture)|Middle finger]] to the opponent) **Opening two beer cans, knocking them together, and chugging them *'''[[Manager (professional wrestling)|Managers]]''' **[[Percy Pringle|Percival Pringle III]] **[[Jeannie Clark|Lady Blossom]] **[[Paul Heyman|Paul E. Dangerously]]<ref>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.119)</ref> **[[Robert Fuller|Colonel Robert Parker]] **[[Ted DiBiase]] **[[Debra Marshall|Debra]] **[[Vince McMahon]] *'''[[Nickname]]s''' **'''"Stone Cold"''' **'''The Texas Rattlesnake'''<ref>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.8)</ref><ref name=bol20>{{cite book|title=The WrestleCrap Book of Lists!|last=Reynolds|first=R. D.|year=2007|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=1550227629|pages=pp. 20}}</ref> **The Toughest S.O.B. in the WWF / WWE **[[Steve Austin (fictional character)|The Bionic Redneck]]<ref name=bol20>{{cite book|title=The WrestleCrap Book of Lists!|last=Reynolds|first=R. D.|year=2007|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=1550227629|pages=pp. 20}}</ref><ref name=bol19>{{cite book|title=The WrestleCrap Book of Lists!|last=Reynolds|first=R. D.|year=2007|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=1550227629|pages=pp. 19}}</ref> **The Extreme Superstar **The World's Toughest S.O.B. ==Championships and accomplishments== *'''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]''' **[[PWI Feud of the Year]] (1998, 1999)<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwifoty.htm|accessdate=2008-07-01|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Feud of the Year|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive}}</ref> <small> vs. [[Vince McMahon]]</small> **[[PWI Match of the Year]] (1997)<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwimoty.htm|accessdate=2008-07-01|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Match of the Year |publisher=Wrestling Information Archive}}</ref> <small> vs. [[Bret Hart]] at [[WrestleMania 13]] in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Submission match|Submission match]]</small> **[[PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year]] (2001)<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwimhoty.htm|accessdate=2008-07-01|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Most Hated Wrestler of the Year|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive}}</ref> **[[PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year]] (1998)<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwimpoty.htm|accessdate=2008-07-01|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Most Popular Wrestler of the Year|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive}}</ref> **[[PWI Rookie of the Year]] (1990)<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwiroty.htm|accessdate=2008-07-01|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Rookie of the Year|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive}}</ref> **[[PWI Wrestler of the Year]] (1998, 1999, 2001)<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwiwoty.htm|accessdate=2008-07-01|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Wrestler of the Year|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive}}</ref> **PWI ranked '''#1''' of the Top 500 singles wrestlers in the [[Pro Wrestling Illustrated#PWI 500|PWI 500]] (1998, 1999)<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi50098.htm|accessdate=2008-07-01|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 - 1998|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive}}</ref><ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi50099.htm|accessdate=2008-07-01|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 - 1999|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive}}</ref> *'''Texas Wrestling Federation''' **TWF Tag Team Championship (1 time)<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/tttwf.html|accessdate=2008-07-01|last=Duncan|first=Royal|title=TWF - TEXAS WRESTLING FEDERATION TWF TAG TEAM TITLE HISTORY|pubisher=Solie}}</ref> - with The California Stud *'''[[World Championship Wrestling]]''' **[[WWE United States Championship|WCW United States Heavyweight Championship]] ([[List of WWE United States Champions|2 times]])<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/unitedstates/|accessdate=2008-07-01|title=WWE United States Championship official history|publisher=WWE}}</ref> **[[WCW World Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of WCW World Tag Team Champions|1 time]])<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/ttwcw.html|accessdate=2008-07-01|last=Duncan|first=Royal|title=</r WCW - WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING WCW WORLD TAG TEAM TITLE HISTORY|publisher=Solie}}</ref> - with [[Brian Pillman]] **[[WCW World Television Championship]] ([[List of WCW World Television Champions|2 times]])<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/tvwcw.html|accessdate=2008-07-01|last=Duncan|first=Royal|title=WCW - WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLINGWORLD TELEVISION TITLE HISTORY|publisher=Solie}}</ref> *'''[[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]]''' **[[Million Dollar Championship]] ([[Million Dollar Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/wwf/mildolbt.htm|accessdate=2008-07-01|title=$$ Million Dollar Belt Title History $$|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive}}</ref> **[[WWE Championship|WWF Championship]] ([[List of WWE Champions|6 times]])<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/|accessdate=2008-07-01|title=WWE Championship official title history|publisher=WWE}}</ref> **[[WWE Intercontinental Championship|WWF Intercontinental Championship]] ([[List of WWE Intercontinental Champions|2 times]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322540|title=Stone Cold Steve Austin's first Intercontinental title reign|accessdate=2007-09-17|publisher=WWE.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322548|title=Stone Cold Steve Austin's 2nd IC title reign|accessdate=2007-09-17|publisher=WWE.com}}</ref> **[[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|WWF Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of World Tag Team Champions (WWE)|4 times]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwf/wwf-t.html|title=W.W.W.F./W.W.F./W.W.E. World Tag Team Title|accessdate=2007-09-18|publisher=wrestling-titles.com}}</ref> - with [[Shawn Michaels]] (1), [[Mick Foley|Dude Love]] (1), [[The Undertaker]] (1), and [[Triple H]] (1) **[[King of the Ring|WWF King of the Ring]] ([[King of the Ring#1996|1996]])<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/korwwf.html|accessdate=2008-07-01|last=Duncan|first=Royal|title=WWF - WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION KING OF THE RING TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS |publisher=Solie}}</ref> **[[Royal Rumble|WWF Royal Rumble]] ([[Royal Rumble (1997)|1997]], [[Royal Rumble (1998)|1998]], [[Royal Rumble (2001)|2001]])<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/rrwwf.html|accessdate=2008-07-01|last=Duncan|first=Royal|title=WWWF - WORLD WIDE WRESTLING FEDERATION/WWF - WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION Royal Rumble Champions|publisher=Solie}}</ref> **[[Triple Crown Championship#WWF/E Triple Crown|5th Triple Crown Champion]] *'''[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards]]''' **[[Dave Meltzer#Rating system|5 Star Match]] (1992) <small>with [[Rick Rude]], [[Arn Anderson]], [[Bobby Eaton]], & [[Larry Zbyszko]] vs. [[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]], [[Nikita Koloff]], [[Ricky Steamboat]], [[Barry Windham]], & [[Dustin Rhodes]] (May 17, [[WarGames match]], [[WrestleWar#1992|WrestleWar]])</small> **5 Star Match (1997) <small>vs. [[Bret Hart]] (March 23, Submission match, [[WrestleMania 13]])</small> **[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Best Box Office Draw|Best Box Office Draw]] (1998, 1999) **[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Best Gimmick|Best Gimmick]] (1997, 1998) **[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Best Heel|Best Heel]] (1996) **[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Best Interviews|Best Interviews]] (1996-1998, 2001) **[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Best Non-Wrestler|Best Non-Wrestler]] (2003) **[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Feud of the Year|Feud of the Year]] (1997) <small>vs. [[The Hart Foundation]] </small> **Feud of the Year (1998, 1999) <small>vs. Vince McMahon</small> **[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Match of the Year|Match of the Year]] (1997) <small> vs. Bret Hart at [[WrestleMania 13]] in a Submission match </small> **[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Most Charismatic|Most Charismatic]] (1997, 1998, 2001) **[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Rookie of the Year|Rookie of the Year]] (1990) **[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Tag Team of the Year|Tag Team of the Year]] (1993) <small>with Brian Pillman as [[Hollywood Blonds#Steve Austin and Brian Pillman|The Hollywood Blondes]]</small> **[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Worst Worked Match of the Year|Worst Worked Match of the Year]] (1991) <small>with [[Terry Taylor|Terrance Taylor]] vs. [[Bobby Eaton]] & [[Paul Neu|P.N. News]] at [[The Great American Bash#1991|The Great American Bash]]</small> **[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Lou Thesz/Ric Flair award (Wrestler of the Year)|Wrestler of the Year]] (1998) **[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame|Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame]] ([[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame#2000 inductees|Class of 2000]]) ==Other media== ===Film=== Following the end of his in-ring wrestling career, Austin began pursuing a career in acting. In January 2005, Austin signed a three picture deal with [[WWE Films]]. Austin has also appeared on several television series, and, along with fellow wrestlers [[Bill Goldberg|Goldberg]], [[Kevin Nash]], [[Bob Sapp]] and [[The Great Khali]], appeared in the [[The Longest Yard (2005 film)|2005 remake of ''The Longest Yard'']]. 2007 saw the release of ''[[The Condemned]]'' which starred Austin as "Jack Conrad." The movie failed to meet box office expectations.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.prowrestling.com/article/news/4885 | title = WWE Writes of COndemened As Money Loser? | publisher = ProWrestling.com | accessdate=2007-07-13 | date= June 2007}}</ref> Austin has also been in a number of [[WWE Home Video]]s, including ''Cause Stone Cold Said So'' (1997), ''Austin 3:16 Uncensored'' (1998), ''Austin vs. McMahon: The Whole True Story'' (1999), ''Hell Yeah: Stone Cold's Saga Continues'' (2000), ''Stone Cold Steve Austin: Lord Of The Ring'' (2001), ''Stone Cold Steve Austin: What?'' (2002), ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (2004), and ''The Legacy of Stone Cold Steve Austin'' (2008). ===Television=== Austin has also made various appearances on television. In 1998, he appeared on the series ''[[V.I.P. (TV series)|V.I.P.]]'' in an episode entitled "Scents and Sensibility." He also appeared on ''[[Dilbert (TV series)|Dilbert]]'' in the 2000 episode "[[The Delivery (Dilbert episode)|The Delivery]]." He was also a regular guest commentator on the satirical MTV program ''[[Celebrity Deathmatch]]''. Also in 2000, Austin appeared in six episodes of ''[[Nash Bridges]]'' as "Detective Jake Cage." His other credits include ''[[MADtv]]'' (2002), ''[[The Bernie Mac Show]]'' (2003), ''[[Punk'd]]'' (2005), ''[[MSG, NY]]'' (2007), ''[[The Big Ten]]'' (2007), ''[[Road Rules 2007: Viewers' Revenge|Road Rules: Viewer's Revenge]]'' (2007), and ''[[Live with Regis and Kelly]]'' (2007). ===Books=== In 2003, Austin's autobiography ''The Stone Cold Truth'' was released. The book features excerpts written by his good friend, [[Jim Ross]]. ==Personal life== Williams dated a woman named Kathryn Burrhus throughout high school and college, and the duo were set to be married.<ref name=truth76/> Although they did marry on [[November 24]], [[1990]], Williams pursued a relationship with [[Jeannie Clark]], whom he was working with. Subsequently his marriage to Kathy was quickly annulled on [[August 7]], [[1992]].<ref name=truth79/> Williams married [[Jeannie Clark]] on [[December 18]], [[1992]]. Together, they had two daughters, Stephanie (born in 1992)<ref>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.95)</ref> and Cassidy (born in 1996).<ref name=sct97>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.97)</ref> He also adopted Jeannie's daughter, Jade.<ref>Stone Cold Steve Austin. ''The Stone Cold Truth'' (p.98)</ref> They divorced on [[May 10]], [[1999]] and their daughters now live in [[England]] with Jeannie.<ref name=sct97/><ref>[Stated in ''The Stone Cold Truth'' video]</ref> On [[September 13]] [[2000]], Austin married [[Debra Marshall]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/stonecoldcert1.html|author=TheSmokingGun|title=Steve Williams and Debra's Marriage Certificate|accessdate=2007-04-08}}</ref> On [[June 15]] [[2002]], however, police were called to their residence in [[San Antonio, Texas]].<ref name=trip/> They found a hysterical Debra with bruises.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/stonecold1.html|author=TheSmokingGun|title=Stone Cold surrenders to authorities|accessdate=2007-04-08|date=August 14, 2002}}</ref> Austin had left the house and was asked by police not to return. On [[August 14]] [[2002]], Austin was arrested and charged with [[domestic abuse]]. He pled [[Nolo contendere|no contest]] on [[November 25]] [[2002]] and was given a year's [[probation]], a $1,000 [[fine]] and ordered to carry out eighty hours of [[community service]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/stonecoldplea1.html|author=TheSmokingGun|title=Stone Cold Plea|accessdate=2007-04-08}}</ref> Debra would later claim that Steve Austin was a steroid user and this incident was the result of [[Anabolic steroid|Roid Rage]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,287361,00.html|author=Fox News|title=Exclusive! Debra Marshall, Ex-wife of Stone Cold Steve Austin Tells What Really Goes on in Pro-Wrestling World|accessdate=2007-06-29}}</ref> Austin filed for divorce from Debra on [[July 22]], [[2002]] and the divorce was finalised on [[February 5]], [[2003]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/stonedivorce1.html|author=TheSmokingGun|title=Stone Cold Divorce Papers|accessdate=2007-04-08}}</ref> ==Notes== {{Reflist|2}} ==References== *{{cite book|author=[[Mick Foley]]|title=Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks|publisher=HarperCollins|date=2000|isbn=0061031011}} *{{cite news|author=PWI Staff|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts|work="Wrestling’s historical cards"|publisher=Kappa Publishing|date=2007|language=English}} *{{cite book|author=Stone Cold Steve Austin and Jim Ross|title=The Stone Cold Truth|publisher=Pocket Books|date=2003|isbn=0743477200}} ==External links== {{Portal|Professional wrestling|break=yes}} {{wikiquote}} *[http://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/stonecold/ WWE.com Profile] *{{imdb name|id=0042524|name=Stone Cold Steve Austin}} *[http://sidewalkstv.com/webclips/a/steveaustin.html Steve Austin 2007 Interview] on ''[[Sidewalks Entertainment]]'' {{Celebrity Deathmatch}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Austin, Steve}} [[Category:1964 births]] [[Category:American adoptees]] [[Category:American film actors]] [[Category:American professional wrestlers]] [[Category:American television actors]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:North Texas Mean Green football players]] [[Category:People from Austin, Texas]] [[Category:People from San Antonio, Texas]] [[Category:People from Victoria, Texas]] [[Category:Professional wrestling executives]] [[ar:ستون كولد ستيف أوستن]] [[bar:Steve Austin]] [[da:Steve Austin]] [[de:Steve Austin]] [[es:Steve Austin]] [[fr:Stone Cold Steve Austin]] [[gl:Stone Cold Steve Austin]] [[it:Stone Cold Steve Austin]] [[he:סטיבן ויליאמס]] [[la:Stephanus Augustinus Frigidus Lapis]] [[ms:Stone Cold Steve Austin]] [[nl:Stone Cold Steve Austin]] [[ja:ストーン・コールド・スティーブ・オースチン]] [[no:Stone Cold Steve Austin]] [[pl:Steve Austin]] [[pt:Stone Cold Steve Austin]] [[ro:Stone Cold Steve Austin]] [[fi:Stone Cold Steve Austin]] [[sv:Steve Austin]] [[vi:Stone Cold Steve Austin]] [[tr:Steve Austin]]