[b]Steve Austin[/b] (born [b]Steven Anderson[/b] on December 18, 1964, later [b]Steven Williams[/b]),[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-truth10-2][3][/url][/sup] better known by his [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_name]ring name[/url] [b]"Stone Cold" Steve Austin[/b][sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-wwe.com-0][1][/url][/sup], is an American film and television [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actor]actor[/url] and retired [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_wrestling]professional wrestler[/url]. Austin wrestled for several well-known wrestling [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_wrestling_promotion]promotions[/url] such as [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Championship_Wrestling]World Championship Wrestling[/url] (WCW), [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extreme_Championship_Wrestling]Extreme Championship Wrestling[/url] (ECW) and most famously, the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Wrestling_Entertainment]World Wrestling Federation[/url]
(WWF), which later became World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2002.
In the late 1990s, Austin gained significant mainstream popularity in
the WWF as "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, a disrespectful, beer-drinking [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antihero]antihero[/url] who routinely defied his boss, [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vince_McMahon]Vince McMahon[/url].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-6][7][/url][/sup] This defiance was often shown by Austin flipping McMahon off and incapacitating him with the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stunner_%28professional_wrestling%29]Stone Cold Stunner[/url], his [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_professional_wrestling_terms#F]finishing move[/url].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-7][8][/url][/sup]
Austin had his first starring film role as Jack Conrad in the 2007 [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_%28genre%29]thriller[/url] [i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Condemned]The Condemned[/url][/i]. He will next star as "Dan Paine" in "[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Expendables_%282010_film%29]The Expendables[/url]" for director/star [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvester_Stallone]Sylvester Stallone[/url]. Austin recently wrapped production on "[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damage_%282010_film%29]Damage[/url],"
a hard-edged, bare-knuckles fight film that focuses on the tough
choices people make in times of recession. The film is the first in a
multi-picture deal between Austin, Nasser Entertainment, and Caliber
Media. Austin also recently signed a television development deal with
Original Media and Caliber Media.
Austin has won the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_Championship]WWF Championship[/url] six times, the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_the_Ring#1996]1996 King of the Ring[/url], and the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Rumble_%281997%29]1997[/url], [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Rumble_%281998%29]1998[/url] and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Rumble_%282001%29]2001 Royal Rumbles[/url],
and is the only man in WWE history to win the Royal Rumble three times.
He is widely regarded as the biggest star in the history of
professional wrestling, and has been described as such by prominent
industry figures such as [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vince_McMahon]Vince McMahon[/url], [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Heyman]Paul Heyman[/url] and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ric_Flair]Ric Flair[/url].Steve Williams began wrestling in 1989, after working as a dockworker in [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallas]Dallas, Texas[/url]. Williams saw an advertisement for [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Adams_%28wrestler%29]"Gentleman" Chris Adams[/url]' wrestling school. After training, Williams debuted as Steve Austin (to avoid confusion with [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22Dr._Death%22_Steve_Williams]"Dr. Death" Steve Williams[/url], although Austin initially hated the name due to sharing it with the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Austin_%28fictional_character%29]main character[/url] from the 1970s TV series [i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Six_Million_Dollar_Man]The Six Million Dollar Man[/url][/i].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-8][9][/url][/sup] In [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Class_Championship_Wrestling#USWA_Dallas]WCCW[/url], Austin feuded with [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Von_Erich]Chris Von Erich[/url] and Chris Adams as a member of [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skandor_Akbar]Skandor Akbar[/url]'s "Devastation, Inc." stable.
[b][[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin&action=edit§ion=3]edit[/url]] World Championship Wrestling (1991–1995)[/b]
Main article: [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hollywood_Blonds#Steve_Austin_and_Brian_Pillman]Hollywood Blonds[/url]
Austin debuted in [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Championship_Wrestling]World Championship Wrestling[/url] in 1991 as "Stunning" Steve Austin, initially managed by Vivacious Veronica.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-truth86-9][10][/url][/sup] Almost immediately after Austin's debut, [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeannie_Clark]Lady Blossom[/url] became his valet.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup][sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-truth86-9][10][/url][/sup] Austin defeated [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Eaton]Bobby Eaton[/url] for the WCW World Television Championship on June 3, 1991, just weeks after his debut. In late 1991, Austin joined [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Heyman]Paul E. Dangerously's[/url] [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous_Alliance]Dangerous Alliance[/url].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup][sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-PE-10][11][/url][/sup][sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-11][12][/url][/sup] Austin lost the WCW Television Championship to [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Windham]Barry Windham[/url] in a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_wrestling_match_types#Two_out_of_three_falls_match]Two out of three falls match[/url] on April 27, 1992. He regained the title from Windham on May 23, 1992. Austin enjoyed a second lengthy reign before losing to [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Steamboat]Ricky Steamboat[/url] on September 2, 1992. The Dangerous Alliance disbanded shortly thereafter.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-truth91-12][13][/url][/sup] At [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween_Havoc#1992]Halloween Havoc[/url], he replaced [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Gordy]Terry Gordy[/url], teaming with "Dr. Death" Steve Williams to wrestle [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dustin_Rhodes]Dustin Rhodes[/url] and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Windham]Barry Windham[/url] for the unified WCW and NWA World Tag Team titles.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-truth91-12][13][/url][/sup] The teams wrestled to a thirty minute time limit draw.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-truth91-12][13][/url][/sup]
In January 1993, Austin formed a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tag_team]tag team[/url] with [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Pillman]Brian Pillman[/url] known as [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hollywood_Blonds]The Hollywood Blonds[/url].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup] The Blonds won the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WCW_World_Tag_Team_Championship]WCW World Tag Team Championship[/url] on March 3, 1993, defeating Ricky Steamboat and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shane_Douglas]Shane Douglas[/url]. The Hollywood Blonds held the titles for five months.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup] At [i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clash_of_the_Champions#Clash_of_the_Champions_XXIII]Clash of the Champions XXIII[/url][/i] the Blonds faced [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ric_Flair]Ric Flair[/url] and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arn_Anderson]Arn Anderson[/url]
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.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-13][14][/url][/sup] At [i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clash_of_the_Champions#Clash_of_the_Champions_XXIV]Clash of the Champions XXIV[/url][/i], Austin and Pillman were scheduled to defend the titles against Arn Anderson and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Roma]Paul Roma[/url]. An injured Pillman, however, was replaced by [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darren_Matthews]Steven Regal[/url]. Austin and Regal lost to Anderson and Roma.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-14][15][/url][/sup] With Pillman still injured, Austin joined [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Fuller]Colonel Robert Parker's[/url] [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stud_Stable]Stud Stable[/url].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-Stud-15][16][/url][/sup] After Pillman returned, Austin betrayed and defeated him in a singles match at [i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clash_of_the_Champions#Clash_of_the_Champions_XXV]Clash of the Champions XXV[/url][/i].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-16][17][/url][/sup]
At [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starrcade_%281993%29]Starrcade[/url], in a two out of three falls match, Austin defeated Dustin Rhodes in two straight falls to win the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_United_States_Championship]WCW United States Heavyweight Championship[/url].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup][sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-17][18][/url][/sup]
Austin lost the title to Ricky Steamboat on August 24, 1994. Austin was
scheduled to face Steamboat in a rematch for the title at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_Brawl#1994]Fall Brawl[/url],
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, [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Duggan]Jim Duggan[/url] in a match that lasted thirty-five seconds.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-18][19][/url][/sup][sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-19][20][/url][/sup] Austin challenged Duggan for the United States Championship at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween_Havoc#1994]Halloween Havoc 1994[/url] and [i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clash_of_the_Champions#Clash_of_the_Champions_XXIX]Clash of the Champions XXIX[/url][/i]. On both occasions, Austin lost to Duggan by disqualification..[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-20][21][/url][/sup][sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-21][22][/url][/sup]
After returning from a knee injury in early 1995, Austin took part in a
tournament for the vacant WCW United States Heavyweight title, where he
defeated Duggan in the first round, but lost to [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Savage]Randy Savage[/url] in the quarterfinals.
[b][[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin&action=edit§ion=4]edit[/url]] Extreme Championship Wrestling (1995)[/b]
[table:1083 style="" class="metadata plainlinks ambox mbox-small-left ambox-notice" cellspacing="0"][tr][td:1083 class="mbox-image"][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w.svg][img(20px,20px)]
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Wiki_letter_w.svg/20px-Wiki_letter_w.svg.png[/img][/url][/td][td:1083 class="mbox-text" style=""]This section requires [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin&action=edit]expansion[/url].[/td][/tr][/table]
In 1995, Steve Austin was fired by WCW Vice President [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Bischoff]Eric Bischoff[/url],
after suffering a triceps injury, while wrestling on a Japanese tour;
Bischoff and WCW did not see Austin as a 'marketable' wrestler.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup] Eventually, Austin was contacted by Paul Heyman, who had managed him in WCW.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup] Heyman told Austin that since he had a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_program]TV show[/url] and Austin had a grievance, it would be a good opportunity to go on [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extreme_Championship_Wrestling]Extreme Championship Wrestling[/url]
(ECW) television to air it. While in ECW, 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,[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup] referring to [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WCW_Monday_Nitro]WCW Monday Nitro[/url] as "Monday [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NyQuil]NyQuil[/url], where the big boys play with each other."
While with ECW, "Superstar" Steve Austin feuded with [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Fullington]The Sandman[/url] and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikey_Whipwreck]Mikey Whipwreck[/url]. Whipwreck, who was the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECW_Championship]ECW World Heavyweight Champion[/url] at the time, defeated Austin at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_to_Remember#1995]November to Remember[/url].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-22][23][/url][/sup] The Sandman defeated Steve Austin and Whipwreck in a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_wrestling_match_types#Basic_non-elimination_matches]Triple Threat match[/url] at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_to_Dismember_%281995%29]December to Dismember[/url] in 1995 for the ECW World Heavyweight Championship.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-23][24][/url][/sup]
[b][[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin&action=edit§ion=5]edit[/url]] World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment (1995–2009)[/b]
[b][[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin&action=edit§ion=6]edit[/url]] The Ringmaster (1995–1996)[/b]
In late 1995, Austin joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup] Initially, Austin wrestled as "The Ringmaster" and was managed by [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_DiBiase]Ted DiBiase[/url],[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup] who awarded him with the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Million_Dollar_Championship]Million Dollar Championship[/url][sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-24][25][/url][/sup]. The Ringmaster defeated [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savio_Vega]Savio Vega[/url] at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WrestleMania_XII]WrestleMania XII[/url].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-25][26][/url][/sup] During this time, Austin shaved his head bald, a look he has maintained since. At [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Your_House#In_Your_House_8:_Beware_of_Dog]In Your House: Beware of Dog[/url],
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.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-26][27][/url][/sup] Austin later told announcer [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Hayes_%28wrestler%29]Dok Hendrix[/url] (Michael P.S. Hayes) that he had purposely lost the match in order to rid himself of his manager.
[b][[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin&action=edit§ion=7]edit[/url]] Austin 3:16 and rise to superstardom (1996–1997)[/b]
[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin_in_1996.jpg][img(150px,417px)]
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin_in_1996.jpg/150px-Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin_in_1996.jpg[/img][/url][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin_in_1996.jpg][img(15px,11px)]http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png[/img][/url]Austin in 1996.
Austin's genuine rise to superstardom began at the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_the_Ring#1996]1996 King of the Ring[/url].
Austin began using his trademark finishing maneuver, the Stone Cold
Stunner; with this new technique, he won the King of the Ring
tournament,[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup] receiving a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Push_%28professional_wrestling%29]push[/url] originally intended for [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_H]Triple H[/url]. After defeating [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Mero]Marc Mero[/url] in the semi-finals, Austin defeated [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Roberts]Jake "The Snake" Roberts[/url] in the finals.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup][sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-27][28][/url][/sup] At the time, Roberts was portraying a born-again Christian, so after the match, Austin cut one of the most important [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_professional_wrestling_terms#P]promo[/url] in professional wrestling history during his coronation, telling Roberts, [sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-28][29][/url][/sup] [i]"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 [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_3]John 3:16[/url]... Austin 3:16 says I just whooped your ass!"[/i]. "Austin 3:16" ultimately became one of the most popular catch phrases in wrestling history.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup]
Austin spoke about [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bret_Hart]Bret Hart[/url] constantly and taunted him relentlessly (one quote had Austin saying [i]"If you put the letter 'S' in front of 'Hitman,' you have my exact opinion of Bret Hart"[/i]). Hart finally accepted Austin's challenge and returned to the WWF in October 1996. At [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivor_Series_%281996%29]Survivor Series[/url], Hart pinned Austin in a match which helped create the foundations for the eventual intense year-long feud between the two.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-29][30][/url][/sup] The match came hot on the heels of a highly controversial incident broadcast live on [i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_Raw]Raw[/url][/i], which saw Austin "[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Pillman#.22Pillman.27s_Got_a_Gun.22]break into[/url]" Brian Pillman's house, with Pillman holding a gun. During the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Rumble_%281997%29]1997 Royal Rumble[/url]
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
by throwing him over the ropes.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-PS32-30][31][/url][/sup] This led to the first-ever [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pay-per-view]pay-per-view[/url] main event of Austin's WWF career at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Your_House_13:_Final_Four]In Your House 13: Final Four[/url], which due to real-life events largely revolving around [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawn_Michaels]Shawn Michaels[/url], the match was for the suddenly vacant [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_Championship]WWF Championship[/url].
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,[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-31][32][/url][/sup] which he lost the next night on [i]Raw[/i] to [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_Eudy]Sycho Sid[/url] due to Austin's interference, leading to the continuation of their feud. At [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WrestleMania_13]WrestleMania 13[/url], Hart defeated Austin in a 'Submission' match with [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Shamrock]Ken Shamrock[/url]
as a special referee. During the match, Austin was cut so that he bled,
and Hart refused to release his 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 [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heel_%28professional_wrestling%29]heel[/url] and Austin [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Face_%28professional_wrestling%29]babyface[/url] in a rare [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_professional_wrestling_terms#T]double-turn[/url].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-pwi98-32][33][/url][/sup] Austin eventually got his revenge on Hart when he injured Hart's leg in a no disqualification match on [i]Raw[/i],
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 Hart, he had a WWF Championship shot against [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Undertaker]The Undertaker[/url] at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Your_House#In_Your_House_15:_A_Cold_Day_in_Hell]In Your House 15: A Cold Day In Hell[/url]. Austin had the Undertaker down with the Stunner, but due to a distraction from Brian Pillman, Undertaker nailed Austin with a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piledriver_%28professional_wrestling%29#Tombstone_piledriver]Tombstone Piledriver[/url] and got the victory.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-pwi98-32][33][/url][/sup]
During this time, Austin found a way to win the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Tag_Team_Championship_%28WWE%29]WWF Tag Team Championship[/url] on two separate occasions. On May 25, 1997, Austin and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawn_Michaels]Shawn Michaels[/url] defeated Owen Hart and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davey_Boy_Smith]The British Bulldog[/url] for the title. They held the title until July 14, before Michaels was forced to vacate due to an injury.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-33][34][/url][/sup]
That same night a tournament was held to determine who would face
Austin and a partner of his choosing for the vacant championship. Hart
and Bulldog won the tournament, with Austin refusing to pick a partner
and choosing to wrestle the former tag team champions by himself.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-thehistoryofwwe.com-34][35][/url][/sup] Late in the match, a debuting [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Foley]Dude Love[/url] came out to offer assistance and Austin became a two-time tag team champion.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-35][36][/url][/sup] He then feuded with Owen Hart over Hart's [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_Intercontinental_Championship]WWF Intercontinental Championship[/url].
At [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SummerSlam_%281991%29]SummerSlam[/url],
Austin and Hart faced each other with the Intercontinental Championship
on the line and an added stipulation that Austin would have to kiss
Hart's [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buttocks]buttocks[/url] if he lost.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-thehistoryofwwe.com-34][35][/url][/sup]
During the match Hart botched a piledriver and dropped Austin on his
head, resulting in a legitimate broken neck for Austin and temporary
paralysis. As Hart baited the audience, Austin managed to crawl and pin
Hart using a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pin_%28professional_wrestling%29#Roll-up]roll-up[/url]
to win the Intercontinental Championship. A visibly injured and dazed
Austin was helped to his feet by a number of referees and led to the
back. Due to the severity of his neck injury, Austin was forced to
relinquish the Intercontinental title. Austin was sidelined until [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivor_Series_%281997%29]Survivor Series[/url]. However, in the interim he made several appearances, one being at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_Bad_Blood]Badd Blood[/url] where he was involved in the finish of a match between Hart and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Simmons]Faarooq[/url],
which was the final match in an Intercontinental Championship
tournament. Austin hit Faarooq with the Intercontinental Championship
belt while the referee's back was turned, causing Hart to win the match.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-thehistoryofwwe.com-34][35][/url][/sup]
Austin's motives were to keep the Intercontinental Championship around
Hart's waist, and were proven when he interfered in Hart's matched on
the October 20 and 27 editions of [i]Raw[/i].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-thehistoryofwwe.com-34][35][/url][/sup] Austin would regain the Intercontinental Championship from Hart at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivor_Series_%281997%29]Survivor Series[/url].
With Hart out of the way, Austin set his sights on [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwayne_Johnson]Rocky Maivia[/url], who stole Austin's belt on the November 17 edition of [i]Raw[/i] after a beating by his [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nation_of_Domination]Nation of Domination[/url] stablemates.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-thehistoryofwwe.com-34][35][/url][/sup]
In the weeks to come, Maivia began referring to himself as "The Rock"
and declaring himself to be "the best damn Intercontinental Champion"
ever.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-thehistoryofwwe.com-34][35][/url][/sup] The Rock kept possession of the belt until [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Your_House#D-Generation_X:_In_Your_House]D-Generation X: In Your House[/url], when Austin defeated him to retain the title and get his belt back.
As Austin had used his pickup truck to aid in his victory, McMahon
ordered him to defend the title against The Rock the next night on [i]Raw[/i].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-thehistoryofwwe.com-34][35][/url][/sup] However, Austin decided to willingly forfeit the title to The Rock, citing his desire to chase the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_Championship]WWF Championship[/url]
that his former tag team partner Shawn Michaels was holding. Austin
then attacked both The Rock and McMahon following the incident, which
set Austin's pursuit in motion.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-thehistoryofwwe.com-34][35][/url][/sup]
[b][[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin&action=edit§ion=8]edit[/url]] Feuding with Mr. McMahon (1997–1999)[/b]
On September 22, 1997, on [i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_Raw]Monday Night Raw[/url][/i],
Owen Hart was giving a speech to the fans in attendance. During his
speech, Austin entered the ring with five NYPD officers following, and
assaulted Hart. As if it looked Austin was going to fight the officers,
Vince McMahon ran into the ring to lecture Austin about why he couldn't
be "physically" able to compete. After telling McMahon that he respects
the fact that he and the WWF cared, Austin attacked McMahon with a
Stone Cold Stunner, leaving McMahon in shock. Austin was then arrested
on charges of trespassing, assault, and assaulting a police officer.
This marked the beginning of the Austin-McMahon rivalry.
With Bret Hart's departure, Austin and Shawn Michaels were the top superstars in the company. Austin won the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Rumble_%281998%29]1998 Royal Rumble[/url], lastly eliminating The Rock.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-pwi100-36][37][/url][/sup] The next night on [i]Raw[/i], Austin interrupted Vince McMahon in his presentation of [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Tyson]Mike Tyson[/url],
who was making a special appearance, over the objection of McMahon
referring to Tyson as "the baddest man on the planet." Austin flipped
off Tyson, 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 [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WrestleMania_XIV]WrestleMania XIV[/url], although he appeared to be aligning himself with WWF Champion Shawn Michaels' stable [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Generation_X]D-Generation X[/url].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup]
This led to Austin's WWF Championship match against Michaels at
WrestleMania XIV, which he won with help from Tyson, who turned on DX
by making the deciding three-count against Michaels.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup] This victory ushered in the Austin Era,[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup] and with it, [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Attitude_Era]The Attitude Era[/url].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-pwi100-36][37][/url][/sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Austinentrance.jpg][img(180px,252px)]
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Austinentrance.jpg/180px-Austinentrance.jpg[/img][/url][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Austinentrance.jpg][img(15px,11px)]http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png[/img][/url]"Stone Cold" Steve Austin's signature ring entrance.
On the [i]Raw[/i] 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 and tie, 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 would see Austin dressed like
this, punch his boss in the "corporate grapefruits," and take another
picture of the two of them while McMahon was doubled over in pain. In
April 1998, it appeared Austin and McMahon were going to battle out
their differences in an actual match, but the match was declared a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_wrestling#No_Contest]no contest[/url] when [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Foley]Dude Love[/url] made an appearance. This led to a match between Love and Austin at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over_the_Edge:_In_Your_House]Over the Edge: In Your House[/url]
for the WWF Championship. Austin managed to retain the title despite
McMahon acting as the referee and his "Corporate Stooges" ([url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Brisco]Gerald Brisco[/url] and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Patterson_%28wrestler%29]Pat Patterson[/url]) 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 [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_the_Ring_%281998%29]1998 King of the Ring tournament[/url].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup] There, Austin lost the WWF Championship to [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Jacobs]Kane[/url] in a First Blood match.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup] Austin further infuriated McMahon by winning back the championship the next night on [i]Raw[/i].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup] Austin also emerged victorious against The Undertaker at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SummerSlam_%281998%29]SummerSlam[/url]. In response, McMahon set up a Triple Threat match at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakdown:_In_Your_House]Breakdown: In Your House[/url], where The Undertaker and Kane pinned Austin at the same time. McMahon decided to vacate the WWF Championship[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup]
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. McMahon later fired
him, although Austin got 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." Also the segment was very
"embarrassing" to McMahon as it showed he was so scared that he
urinated his pants. Stone Cold was later re-signed by [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shane_McMahon]Shane McMahon[/url].
In the semifinals of a tournament to award the vacant championship,
Austin lost to Mankind, after Shane double-crossed Austin. The next
night on [i]Raw[/i], [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mills_Lane]Judge Mills Lane[/url]
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 [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Your_House#Rock_Bottom]Rock Bottom: In Your House[/url],
Steve Austin defeated The Undertaker in a Buried Alive match after Kane
Tombstoned The Undertaker into the grave. With this victory, Austin
qualified for the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Rumble_%281999%29]1999 Royal Rumble[/url].
Austin's next definitive chance to exact revenge on Mr. McMahon came during the 1999 Royal Rumble match. On [i]Raw[/i],
McMahon drew Austin's entry number with the obvious intention of
screwing him over. Austin drew entry number one, while McMahon drew
number two 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 [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Corporation_%28professional_wrestling%29]The Corporation[/url].
Austin was injured and taken away in an ambulance. With Austin gone and
not in the Rumble match, McMahon 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 [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Traylor]Big Boss Man[/url]
and eliminated him. With the assistance of the Corporation and a last
minute interference from The Rock, Austin was eliminated by McMahon
himself, and McMahon won the 1999 Royal Rumble.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup]
With McMahon turning down his number-one contender spot against The
Rock, WWF Commissioner Michaels awarded Austin the title shot during [i]Raw[/i] the next night. At [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Your_House#St._Valentine.27s_Day_Massacre]St. Valentine's Day Massacre[/url], Stone Cold got a one-on-one match against McMahon in a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_wrestling_match_types#Cages]Steel Cage match[/url], with the WWF Championship opportunity at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WrestleMania_XV]WrestleMania XV[/url] at stake.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup] During the match, [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wight]Paul Wight[/url]
made his debut, breaking through from under the ring and attacking
Austin. Wight's attack propelled Austin into the side of the cage
forcing the cage to give way and dropping Austin to the floor first,
making him the victor.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup] Austin defeated The Rock at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WrestleMania_XV]WrestleMania XV[/url] for his third WWF Championship.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup]
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