Steve Austin
Real Name - Steve Williams
Aliases - Steve Williams, Ringmaster
Athletic background - Football (North Texas State)
Teachers - Chris Adams; Dutch Mantell
Professional background - WCCW(`89-`91), USWA(`90-`91), WCW(`91-`95), ECW(`95), WWF/WWE(`95-`01), WWE(`02-)
Groups - Dangerous Alliance, The Alliance
Peak Years - `96-`01
Career Highlights -
- Wins his first of two WCW TV titles and reigns for 10-months
- Defeats Jake Roberts to win the 1996 King of the Ring by and coins "Austin 3:16"
- Wrestles Bret Hart in "I Quit" match at Wrestlemania XIII that might be the company's best match
- Beats Shawn Michaels to win his first of five WWF World titles at Wrestlemania XIV
- Becomes the biggest wrestling star ever, feuding with Vince McMahon and grossing millions
Finisher(s) -
- Stonecold Stunner
- Million Dollar Dream (Cobra Clutch)
- Stungun (Hotshot)
Favorites -
- Thesz Press with Punches
- Spinebuster
- "Mudhole" Stomping in the corner
- Lariat
- Punch
Ringwork Rating -
move set - 7
science - 3
aerial - 1
power - 6
strikes - 9
Intangible Rating -
entertainment - 10
selling - 10
bumping - 9
carrying - 9
heat - 10
legacy - 10
Serious Injuries - Knees & Neck (Required Surgeries)
Place in History - "Stone Cold" Steve Austin is amongst the biggest superstars that the wrestling world has ever seen. While numerous men were big draws in the territorial days and Hulk Hogan was the biggest star when the WWF went national, Steve Austin was the biggest star went pro-wrestling in the United States hit its peak. His career started simply and he was just a hungry kid who worked hard and became a real blue chipper. WCW picked him up and while they might not have pushed him as well as many might think, he was definitely one of the top workers in the company and after just becoming stale they let him go. After heading into ECW and showing shades of his great charisma, the WWF snatched him up. Opposite of WCW, they did not know how to push him initially and it wasn't until he cut his memorable King of the Ring promo that he truly arrived. Even after that the company just did not push him as well as you'd expect giving him a slow, but steady build. Austin eventually became a huge star with his numerous catchphrases, cutting edge attitude and excellent, yet simple ringwork. The company made him a unique babyface and after winning the WWF title he began a feud with Vince McMahon that turned the company around and put them ahead of WCW, made him a marketing goldmine and made him, in many ways, the biggest superstar pro-wrestling had ever seen. Austin pushed himself hard through those years and the injuries, personal problems and creative aspects began to take their toll. As the WWF began to decline quickly following the purchase of WCW, Austin began to get frustrated. The XFL distracted Vince from this sinking ship and Austin was struggling to keep it afloat as the heel fan hated to boo. After walking out, being buried for it, further personal problems, Stone Cold returned to the WWE and realized he could no longer work. He may now be a main character in a struggling company, but his legacy is set in stone.