Real Name: Steve Williams
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 252 lbs
Hometown: Victoria, Texas
Titles Held: WCW Television Championship(2), WCW Tag Team Championshhip, WCW United States Championship(2), 1996 WWF King Of The Ring, 1997 Royal Rumble Winner, 1998 Royal Rumble Winner, 2001 Royal Rumble Winner, WWF Intercontinental Championship(2), WWF Tag Team Championship(4), WWF Heavyweight Championship(5)
Federations Worked With: Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, World Wrestling Federation
Finishing Manuever: Stone Cold Stunner
Wrestling Aliases: "Stunning" Steve Austin, Ringmaster, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin


Career Sketch

Steve Austin is 1990's wrestling, Steve Austin brought wrestling out of the doledrums it was in and made it more popular than it ever was. He is a rags to riches story, going from getting fired at home to being the single most recocgnizable face in the sport, this is his story.

Steve Austin grew up in a small Texas town, he was always a great athlete. He left high school with a football scholarship to college. Unfortunatley, an injury cut his football career short and ended his college career as well.

Steve was working on the docks in Texas after his college days, he was always a fan of professional wrestling. He saw an ad for Chris Adams' wrestling school and decided to try his hand at the sport. He was a natural, he stormed through the school and actually beat his teacher Chris Adams in his time there.

Austin entered the world of pro wrestling with the USWA, sometimes teaming with Adams, sometimes fighting him. His manager was the man now known as Paul Bearer. Austin moved to Tennessee and began to feud with Jeff Jarrett over the Southern Title, Austin won the belt but was stripped of it because his feet were on the ropes.

Austin began to be disgusted with the low pay in USWA and got a job in WCW. He was known as "Stunning" Steve Austin and he won his first title when he defeated Bobby Eaton for the WCW TV title on June 3, 1991, Austin began to feud with Dustin Rhodes over the title. Austin entered a tournament for the United States title but lost to Sting in the finals, a match that would be considered a dream match today. Austin joined a stable called the Dangerous Alliance, managed by Paul E. Dangerously, it included Arn Anderson, Rick Rude, Larry Zybysko, Bobby Eaton, and Madusa.

Austin defended his TV title against many until he finnaly lost it to Barry Whindam on April 27, 1992. Austin gained the title back about a month later. Austin lost the title to Ricky Steamboat at the Clash of the Champions XX. Paul E. eventually left WCW and the Dangerous Alliance was broken up.

Austin then formed a tag team with Brian Pillman in 1993 called the Hollywood Blondes, some think it is one of the greatest tag teams ever. The Blondes won the Tag Team titles in March of 1993 when they defeated Steamboat and Shane Douglas in a great match. The Blondes were a great team and they began to feud with Ric Flair and Arn Anderson over the tag straps. They met at Clash of the Champions XXIII, and the Blondes retained the straps with the help of Barry Whindam. The team was strong, but Pillman got injured and Steve Regal had to take his place, Austin and Regal lost the belts to Arn Anderson and Paul Roma, and Austin began to concentrate on his singles career.

Austin feuded with Dustin Rhodes over the US Title, but couldent defeat him. Austin then set his sights on the returning Pillman, who had turned face. Austin defeated Pillman and got a new shot at the US title. Austin defeated Rhodes for the title at Starrcade 1993 in a controversial best 2 out of 3 falls match, Austin won the belt on a disqualification. Austin, Rude, and Paul Orndorf took on Sting, Rhodes, and Pillman at Superbrawl IV in a steel cage with Pillman's team coming out with the win, I would love to see this match if I could find a tape of it.

Steve lost his US title at Clash of the Champions XVIII to Steamboat, but it was still a great title reign, lasting about nine months. Austin was scheduled to take on Steamboat at Fall Brawl 1994, but due to a Steamboat injury, Austin was awarded the title for a second time. He lost in 35 seconds to Hacksaw Jim Duggan that night, Austin claims that it is the biggest embarasment of his wrestling career. With a career gone dry, Austin quit WCW in the spring of 1995, only to be lured back by Eric Bicshoff. Austin then emarked on a tour of Japan, where he was injured severley. In September of 1995, Bicshoff fired Austin over the phone from WCW.

When recovered from his injuries, Austin showed up in ECW. He began his ECW career doing parodies of Hulk Hogan and Eric Bicshoff. ECW is where the "Stone Cold" persona first emerged. Austin recieved two ECW World title shots, but lost both of them although expected to win the title by many. At November 2 Remember 1995, Austin took on Mikey Whipwreck for the title, he lost when Whipwreck held on to his tights. Austin was then involved in a three way dance vs Whipwreck and Sandman for the title. Austin pinned Whipwreck, but was later pinned by Sandman.

After the short stint in ECW, Austin signed with the WWF. Austin was given the persona of the Ringmaster and was managed by Ted DiBiase. Austin held DiBiase's million dollar championship belt. He made his WWF pay per view debut at the 1996 Royal Rumble, he was eliminated from the rumble by Rikishi Phatu, then known as the Sultan.

Austin's first real feud in the WWF was with Savio Vega. It began in a lottery tag tournament when Austin refused to tag Vega, thus letting Vega get killed by the Bodydonnas. The two locked up at Wrestlemania XII, with Austin coming out with a tainted victory. At Beware of Dog In Your House, Austin lost a carribean strap match to Vega. A stipulation in the match forced DiBiase to leave the federation. This may have been the best thing that ever happened to Austin. He soon changed his name officialy to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, and adopted the persona he has today.

Austin qualified for the 1996 King of the Ring when he defeated Bob Holly and Vega. He met Marc Mero in the first round of the tournament. Mero gave Austin a good injury to his mouth, but Austin came out on top. Austin took on born again christian Jake Roberts in the final, even with stiches in his mouth, Austin dominated Roberts and the match had to be stopped. In the corination, Austin mocked Roberts' bible references, and proclaimed "Austin 3:16," that is now the biggest monacre in wrestling today. Some say Hunter Hearst Helmsley was slated to win the '96 KOTR, but was punished due to the Madison Square Garden incident, its interesting to think that the incident changed the face of the WWF for the better forever.

A few months after his King of the Ring victory, Austin began to challenge the "retired" Bret Hart to a match, Austin began attacking people at any time, in attempt to lure the Hitman back. The two met at the 1996 Survivor Series, and Bret won when Austin could not apply Ted DiBiase's million dolllar sleeper hold. Austin was not done with Bret though.

At the 1997 Royal Rumble Austin, Bret, Vader, and The Undertaker were the fianl four left in the Rumble match. Austin was eliminated by Bret, but the referees did not see it, Austin snuck back in and won the match, eliminating all three men. Austin's victory was never really certified because of the way he won the match. A match was set up between the four at Final Four In Your House, after Shawn Michaels forfeited the WWF title, the match became for the WWF Championship, Bret Hart took the match, but his title reign would be short lived, Austin helped Sid defeat Bret for the title the next night.

Vince McMahon began to notice that, although Austin's character was heel oriented, Austin was getting a huge face response, McMahon decided to turn Austin face and Bret heel. This turn took place in one match at Wrestlemania XIII in a brutal submission match refereed by Ken Shamrock. Hart technically won the match due to stoppage, but it has always been percieved as a victory in the career of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

After the match, Bret formed the evil Hart Foundation to combat Austin. The two met again in a match at Taker's Revenge In Your House, Austin came away with a DQ victory when the Hart Foundation interfered. The next night on Raw, the two engaged in a street fight and Austin injured Hart's leg. Austin recieved a title shot at Cold Day in Hell In Your House, he hit the Stunner on then champion Undertaker, but the Hart Foundation came down and cost Austin the match.

The Hart Foundation's two arch enimies were Steve and Shawn Michaels, although the two hated each other, they found themselves watching each other's backs. On May 25 of 1997, Austin and Michaels defeated the Hart Foundation for the Tag Team titles on Raw, Austin's first WWF championship. At King of the Ring 1997, Austin and HBK met in a classic match that ended in a no-contest.

Michaels was involved in an infamous locker room fight with Bret and no-showed some events. Austin lost the tag straps, but was promised a rematch against the new champions if he could find a partner. Austin found a partner, Mick Foley in the persona of Dude Love. Austin and the Dudester defeated Owen Hart and the British Bulldog for the tag team titles.

At Summerslam 1997, Austin took on Owen Hart for the Intercontinental Championship, Owen botched a piledriver and severley injured Austin's neck, Austin still rolled over and won the match and the title, but he was severley hurt. Austin was a double champion, but was forced to vacate the belts, he was told by a doctor his career was over. Austin did not accept it though, and continued to improve in condition. At Ground Zero In Your House, Austin helped the Headbangers win the tag titles when he stunnered Owen, Austin could not wrestle, but he was back.

Austin helped Owen defeat Farooq at Badd Blood:IYH for the IC belt in order to get Owen himself for the belt. At the 1997 Survivor Series, Austin defeated Hart for the belt. When Vince McMahon returned after the Survivor Series incident(see Bret Hart bio), McMahon forced Austin to defend the belt vs. Rocky Maivia, or forfeit the belt. Austin chose to forfeit claming he wanted the WWF Title now.

Austin won the 1998 Royal Rumble and was slated to fight Shawn Michaels for the title. Mike Tyson was announceed as the special referee, but Tyson alligned himself with HBK's D-Generation-X stable. Austin fought D-X until Wrestlemania XIV, where he recieved his title shot against Shawn.

The match was a decient match with exciting moments, at the end, Tyson helped Austin defeat Michaels for the belt. It was all a swerve, Tyson and Austin were in cahoots all along. Austin was then pitted in a two and a half year battle with Vince McMahon. In the beginning, McMahon chose Dude Love to take the title from Austin, but that didnt work out.

Austin took on Kane in a first blood match for the title at the 1998 King of the Ring, Kane won when the Undertaker came down and nailed Austin with a chair. Austin asked for a rematch the next night vs. Kane and got it. Austin won the match with help from The Undertaker and regained the title. The summer of 1998's main theme was circled around the Undertaker, Austin, and Kane with the question being who was The Undertaker allinged with. At Fully Loaded:IYH, Austin and The Undertaker defeated Kane and Mankind for the tag team titles. They lost the straps to Kane and Mankind later that summer, however.

The stage was set for the big match at Summerslam 1998 between Austin and The Undertaker, it was a decient match with good moments, Austin pulled it out with the Stunner. McMahon then booked Austin to face Undertaker and Kane, who had alligned themselves, in a triple threat match at Break Down:IYH. The two brothers double pinned Austin and the title was vacated. Austin refed a match between the two for the title at Judgement Day:IYH, Austin refused to count either man, and was "fired" by McMahon.

Shane McMahon came in and rehired Austin, claiming he was coming out from his father's shadow. A tournament was booked at the 1998 Survivor Series for the WWF title. Austin defeated the Big Bossman in the first round, recieved a bye in the second, and took on Mankind in the third. Austin had the match won when Vince came down and pulled the ref. Shane then came down and began to count, but refused to count three and flipped Austin off, it was all a swerve to give the title to the McMahons' man, The Rock.

Austin fought The Rock the next night for the title, but was screwed by The Undertaker. This set up a Buried Alive match between the two at Rock Bottom:IYH, Austin won the match with Kane's help, celitifing a spot for Austin at the Royal Rumble.

Austin entered the 1999 Royal Rumble #1 and McMahon #2, both men left only to return in the end and be the final two men. With The Rock's help, McMahon won. The next night, McMahon forfeited his title shot, and thats where new commisioner Shawn Michaels comes in. He stated that if the winner forfeits his title shot, the runner up gets the shot. Austin said he would put his title shot up for grabs against McMahon in a steel cage match at St.Valentines Day Massacre:IYH, Austin won when a run in by the debuting Big Show Paul Wight backfired.

Austin took on The Rock at Wrestlemania XV for the WWF title, with a little help from Shawn and the referee Mankind, Austin pulled it out and became three time WWF champ. After the match, McMahon devised an evil plot using his family and The Undertaker to get the title from Austin. McMahon's Corporation stable combined with Undertaker's Ministry stable to form the Corporate Ministry.

Undertaker took the title from Austin at the tragic pay per view of Owen Hart's death, Over the Edge. McMahon then revealed his plot. McMahon's family then came down, and out of revenge, forfeited their 50% share of the company to Austin, maknig him the new C.E.O. Austin lost the company back to McMahon in a ladder match at the 199 King of the Ring, but not before he could book himself a title rematch.

Austin defeated Undertaker the next night for the title. A match was booked between the two at Fully Loaded with the stipulation that if Austin won the first blood match, McMahon would leave the WWF. With the help of X-Pac, Austin won and McMahon left.

The WWF then set Austin to lose the title to Triple H at Summerslam 1999, with Austin needing time to rest. Austin refused to lose to Helmsley though, and the WWF had to bring in Mankind to take the title from Austin and lose it to HHH the next night. Austin then took his time off.

He returned a month later to ref the 6 pack challenge for the WWF title at Unforgiven. Austin was forced to raise HHH's hand as the winner. Vince had also returned as a face, and gave Austin a title shot at No Mercy. Austin lost the match when a Rock sledgehammer shot meant for HHH hit Austin. McMahon then booked a mega-triple threat match at the 1999 Survivor Series between the three men.

Just before the match was about to happen, Austin re-injured his spine and was sidelined to have surgery, the Big Show came in and took the title from Triple H.

Austin dissapeared from the wrestling scene for a few months. He made his first TV appearence during halftime of Super Bowl XXXVI on the WWF's Halftime Heat 2000. He explained his injury and other things, it was also revealed that he and WWF valet Debra were engaged. On April 17, 2000, Linda McMahon announced that Austin would be in The Rock's corner at the PPV Backlash as Rock challenged Triple H for the WWF title. Much speculation was made that Austin would screw Rock at Backlash. A few weeks later, Austin returned as on the Smackdown before Backlash, Austin used a crane to destroy the D-X/McMahon bus. When Backlash came, Vince McMahon, who had turned heel since Austin's departure, that Steve would not be at the PPV. However, Austin stormed the ring in the middle of the match, and nailed D-X and all of McMahon's associates, helping The Rock win the WWF title.

Austin then returned home after the brief appearence to rehab dilligently. Soon after Summerslam 2000, Austin was ready to return. The landscape of the WWF had drastically changed since Backlash. Rock had lost the belt to Triple H, only to gain it back. Triple H was in the midst of a face turn. The top stars of the WWF now included Chris Benoit, Kurt Angle, and Chris Jericho, many wondered if the Austin would be able to come back, he was no longer the #1 man, Rock was.

On a Smackdown a couple weeks after Smackdown, an Austin feed was aired. Austin announced that he would give the man who hit him until the Unforgiven PPV to come forward, if no one did, Austin would come to Unforgiven and get the man himself.

Unforgiven rolled around, and no assailant had been revealed, so Austin showed up. He attacked anyone in his way, including Angle. Shane McMahon then blamed the attack on Steve Blackman, but Austin didnt believe him. Austin stunnered Blackman, and then Shane many times. It appeared Austin had returned to the character he had in 1997, the "heel everyone loves." After Unforgiven, Austin continued his rampage, questioning everyone.

Austin then got into a battle with Commisioner Mick Foley about Foley interfering in Austin's investigation. Austin then began interfering in matches and attacking Foley, which brought Foley to suspend Austin. The next week on Raw, Foley began to conduct his investigation. He flew many people in, from Billy Gunn, to Shawn Michaels, to Linda McMahon, questioning all of them, even questioning Austin's wife Debra. Gunn revealed that the assailant had blonde hair, the others all told Foley they believed it was Rock.

That night, Raw's main event was Rikishi and Rock vs Kane and Angle. After the match, as Rikishi and Rock celebrated, Foley came to the ring. He began to list all the reasons why Rock should be the assailant, he then however said he didnt believe it was Rock, but it was Rikishi. Rikishi then confessed to being the one who hit Austin. Rikishi said he did it for Rock, because Rock was one of the "island boys," and they were always held back in the WWF. With Austin out of the picture, Rock could be the #1 man in the WWF. The next week on Smackdown, Austin and Rikishi were booked to face each other at WWF No Mercy PPV. At No Mercy, Austin kicked Rikishi's ass all over the arena, and then tried to run him over with a truck, but was arrested by the police.

After taking care of Rikshi at No Mercy, it was revealed that HHH, who had seemed to had turned face was Rikishi's accompliace in taking out Austin. WHich set up HHH and Austin at Survivor Series 2000. Austin/HHH wasnt a particularly good match, but it wasnt the main event, so it didnt mean that much, and the actual match ended up not being the main encounter of this battle. In the back, as Triple H tried to get away in a car, Austin was able to get the car on a forklift and drop it very far.

Soon after Survivor Series, Mick Foley booked Austin as well as Triple H, Undertaker, Rock, and Rikishi to take on WWF Champion Kurt Angle in a 6-Man, Hell in the Cell match for the title. The match was billed as the WWF's most brutal ever, and both HHH and Rikishi suffered injuries that put them out for a while, however, Angle finagled a win out of the match, even though he got a ass-whooping from Austin after the fact.

After this, Austin stepped up as the #1 Contender to the WWF Title, and soon got his match with Angle. It was a pretty good match for Raw, and Austin had it won after delievering the Stunner, but Triple H returned from his Armaggeddon injuries to stop the match. This brought a pretty good fight after the match. After that battle, Austin concentrated on winning the 2001 Royal Rumble, which he, in grand Rattlesnake fashion did, setting him up at the main event for Wrestlemania X-Seven.

After clinching the main event at WMX7, Triple H started up with Austin again. The two were soon booked into a match at No Way Out 2001, they even signed a contract where neither would touch the other or risk losing either Austin's title shot, or Triple H getting a 6 month suspension, HHH even got a good beating in right before signing on SCSA.

Without being allowed to wrestle each other, they wanted to get their own stipulations for the match. A match was booked between Chris Jericho and Billy Gunn, if Jericho won, Trip got the stips, Gunn, Austin got his. Jericho won and Triple H soon annonced his stips, a 2 out of 3 falls match, the first two being a traditional match and a street fight, and if the third was nescessary, a steel cage match.

No Way Out came, and so did the big match between HHH and Austin. Austin took the first fall, but then Triple H came back to get the second. The cage was lowered and HHH and SCSA went at it, this was by far the best of the three matches, however, it ended with Triple H getting the third fall and the overall win. Later in the night, The Rock defeated Kurt Angle to win the WWF Championship setting up a rematch of Wrestlemania XV with Rock defending against Austin.

It was very interesting because Austin and Rock were far away the two top faces in the WWF. Vince McMahon even threw a wrench in the works when he made Debra, Austins wife, Rock's manager. Although at first they seemed to be on good terms, as Wrestle Mania neared, Austin and Rock were exchanging finishing maneuvers at the end of each show.

Wrestle Mania XVII came and it had been a great show as the main event approached, Austin and Rock. The match started out much like the match back in 1999 at WMXV, Vince McMahon then showed his face. The match then came to its climax. Vince brought a chair in, and chair shots flew and the unthinkable came to fruition, Austin was with Vince! Austin then was able to pin Rock and win the WWF Championship for the 5th time, but the fans were not pleased at all. Vince and Austin exchanged a handshake, and some beers and WMXVII closed.

The next night, Austin had some explaining to do. However he did none, all he said was he did what he had to. That night, Austin was booked to defend for the first time in a steel cage match against Rock. All night, Triple H had been on a tirade, pissed that he didnt know about the McMahon/Austin deal. So when Trip showed up in the middle of the cage match, all figured Austin was in trouble, think again. HHH nailed Rock, and Austin had no problem grabbing a W over Rock. HHH, Vince, and Austin then celebrated. Rock was then suspended indefinetley by Vince.

HHH soon won the Intercontinental title from Chris Jericho and then subsequently lost it to Jeff Hardy. A match was booked for the next Raw with Hardy defending against HHH. It was a good match, with Austin in HHH's corner, and Matt Hardy and Lita in Jeff's. On the outside, the parties began to go at it, meanwhile in the ring, HHH scored the victory on Hardy. Eventually it was Austin and HHH alone in the ring with Lita, and just as they seemed ready to do something to her, the lights went out, and Undertaker and Kane came to the ring and stopped Steve and Hunter.

Austin and Triple H were pissed, and UT and Kane soon took the tag belts off of Edge & Christian. A main event for Backlash was then booked, Austin, the World Champ, and Triple H, the IC Champ vs Undertaker and Kane, the Tag Team champs, all four titles would be on the line. This match came, and to no suprises, Austin and Triple H retained their belts, and also walked away the new tag team champions.

After this, the feud split into Austin vs Taker, and Kane vs HHH. Austin was booked to defend his WWF Title against Taker at Judgement Day 2001. This was a poorly executed feud, the match came and went and Austin remained champ. However, the next night on Raw, Austin and Trip defended against Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit. This was a very good match, HHH even legitimetley tore muscles in his leg, but continued. Eventually, Benoit scored the pin on Austin, taking the straps off of Trips and Austin.

Triple H, with his injuries sustained in the tag match, he was out, and Austin was alone. The next few weeks, Austin faced numeous defenses against Jericho and Benoit. Over the next few weeks, Linda McMahon coaxed Steve Regal into booking Austin defending at King of the Ring 2001 against Jericho and Benoit in a triple threat match. Austin was livid, he got a petition going, but Spike Dudley ripped it up, and recieved a subsequent ass beating from Austin for it.

The week before KOTR, McMahon served Austin with an ultimatum, walk out of KOTR with the belt, or lose Vince's support. Austin went wild that week, consulting Tajiri for advice, and costing Jericho and Benoit the tag belts. Austin walked into KOTR and the match worried without Vince there. He began to participate in a great match, at one point, WCW's Booker T tried to stop Austin, but he recovered. In what was an anticlimatic finish, with both Chris' down, Austin rolled up Benoit to retain.


That brings me to today where Austin is back in the WWF, kicking ass again. Without Steve Austin, the WWF would not be where it is today, and Austin has elevated the sport to new highs and genres it had never reached before. Austin is still the top draw in the WWF as a heel, without the Rattlesnake, the WWF and WCW would both suck, so we owe Austin a lot as pro wrestling fans.

Pat McGregor
Send feedback to PatMcGregor@tpww.net

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