Austin faced The Rock in a rematch at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_Backlash#1999]Backlash[/url],
in which Shane McMahon was the referee. During the match, McMahon
approached the ring, only to hand Austin back his Smoking Skull belt
and take Shane out of the proceedings. Austin won the match when
another referee made the count. The Undertaker, however, won the WWF
Championship from Austin at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over_the_Edge_%281999%29]Over the Edge[/url]. Due to events revolving around Vince McMahon, [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephanie_McMahon]Stephanie[/url] and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_McMahon]Linda McMahon[/url] made Stone Cold the Chief Executive Officer of the company. Vince and Shane McMahon challenged Austin to a Handicap [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladder_match]Ladder match[/url] at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_the_Ring#1999]King of the Ring[/url] with the CEO title on the line, which the duo of father and son won. The next night on [i]Raw[/i],
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 [i]Raw[/i] and defeated The Undertaker to win his fourth WWF Championship. Austin held on to the Championship belt until [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SummerSlam_%281999%29]SummerSlam[/url] when he lost it to Mankind in a Triple Threat match also featuring [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_H]Triple H[/url].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup] Austin would get his rematch at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Mercy_%281999%29]No Mercy[/url] against Triple H but lost after [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwayne_Johnson]The Rock[/url] accidentally struck him with a sledgehammer that was meant for Triple H. By [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivor_Series_%281999%29]Survivor Series[/url],
Triple H was still champion. Austin was booked into a triple threat
match for the WWF championship that also included Triple H and The
Rock. Instead, however, Austin was run down by a car in the parking lot.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup] [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wight]The Big Show[/url] would replace Austin in the match and would win the WWF championship. What followed was neck surgery by Dr. [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Youngblood]Lloyd Youngblood[/url] and a nine-month rehabilitation with the car angle as his reason for leaving.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup] In reality, Austin had needed neck surgery since the Owen Hart incident in 1997.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup]
[b][[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin&action=edit§ion=9]edit[/url]] The Two–Man Power Trip (2000–2001)[/b]
Main article: [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_Trip]The Power Trip[/url]
At [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_Backlash#2000]Backlash[/url], Austin attacked Triple H and Vince McMahon, helping The Rock reclaim the WWF Championship. At [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_Unforgiven#2000]Unforgiven[/url], Austin made his official return and tried to find out who ran him down at Survivor Series the previous year.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup] [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solofa_Fatu]Rikishi[/url] finally admitted to being the driver because "he was the most stupid candy ass around[i].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup] At [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_No_Mercy#2000]No Mercy[/url],
Austin was back to face Rikishi in a No Holds Barred Match. During the
match, Austin motioned he was going to drive his truck into Rikishi,
who by that time was a bloody mess. Before he could, he was stopped by
officials and the match was deemed a no contest and Austin was
(kayfabe) arrested and later bailed by Commissioner [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Foley]Mick Foley[/url]. During a handicap match against Rikishi and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Angle]Kurt Angle[/url],
Triple H came down with the apparent intention of teaming with Austin.
After clearing the ring, Triple H smashed his sledgehammer over
Austin's head, and revealed it was actually him behind the whole
scheme, devised to shield the WWF Championship from Austin and end his
career. At [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivor_Series_%282000%29]Survivor Series[/url],
Triple H had plotted to run Austin down again during their match (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.[/i]
Austin won his third [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Rumble_%282001%29]Royal Rumble[/url] in January 2001,[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-37][38][/url][/sup] last eliminating Kane. His rivalry against Triple H ended at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Way_Out_%282001%29]No Way Out[/url] in a Three Stages of Hell match, with Triple H beating Austin two falls to one. Then, at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WrestleMania_X-Seven]WrestleMania X-Seven[/url], Austin turned [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heel_%28professional_wrestling%29]heel[/url] by hitting The Rock with a steel chair several times to win the WWF Championship.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup]
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 [i]Raw[/i], after teasing a quick face turn, the heel
turn continued. He also altered his character considerably over the
next few months, in a deliberate turn from the rebellious and
anti-establishment character beloved by the fans, Austin became a
whiny, temperamental prima donna who would complain incessantly when he
felt he was not getting the respect from the fans and wrestlers that he
deserved. He also developed an infatuation with McMahon, going to great
lengths to impress him and even going so far as to hugging him and
bringing him presents. McMahon, though visibly uncomfortable and wary
by the attention, was still grateful to have Austin with him instead of
against him. During a cage match with The Rock in a rematch for the
title, Triple H came down to the ring with a sledgehammer and together
with Austin viciously attacked The Rock and put him out of action.
Austin and Triple H became a team and called themselves [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_Trip]The Two-Man Power Trip[/url].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup]
Austin and Triple H were the top heels in the company feuding with
The Undertaker and Kane. After defeating Kane and The Undertaker for
the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Tag_Team_Championship_%28WWE%29]WWF Tag Team Championship[/url] at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_Backlash#2001]Backlash[/url],
they held the Tag Team Titles, the WWF Championship (Austin), and the
WWF Intercontinental Championship (Triple H) all at once. At [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judgment_Day_%282001%29]Judgment Day[/url], Triple H lost his Intercontinental Title against Kane. Then, the following night on [i]Raw[/i], Austin and Triple H wrestled against [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Jericho]Chris Jericho[/url] and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Benoit]Chris Benoit[/url] with the Tag Team Titles on the line. Midway through the match, Triple H tore his quadriceps muscle.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup]
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.
Austin had a minor injury for a month.
[b][[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin&action=edit§ion=10]edit[/url]] The Invasion (2001)[/b]
See also: [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invasion_%28professional_wrestling%29]The Invasion[/url]
Austin was paired with Kurt Angle and feuded against Jericho and Benoit. This culminated with a Triple Threat match at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_the_Ring#2001]King of the Ring[/url], in which Austin faced the former tag team champions. Although WCW's [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booker_Huffman]Booker T[/url]
interfered, 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.
In July 2001, 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 [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invasion_%28professional_wrestling%29]The Invasion[/url].
As The Invasion storyline began and progressed, McMahon, was watching
helplessly as his empire was crumbling around him due to [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Alliance_%28professional_wrestling%29]The Alliance[/url]
luring more and more talent away from the WWF, and his biggest allies,
Austin and Angle, too busy sucking up to him and bickering amongst
themselves to successfully counter the Alliance. Austin made it known
that he was against teaming with Angle, whom Austin saw as both a
threat to his title, as well as an annoying tag along. A frustrated
McMahon appealed to Austin to return to his old Texas Rattlesnake
persona, even imploring him to give him a Stone Cold Stunner. Though
intending to fire up Austin, it backfired and only seemed to hurt his
feelings, as he promptly left the arena, dejected. But the week before [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWF_Invasion]InVasion[/url],
the old Stone Cold Steve Austin "returned," delivering stunners to the
Alliance members. This was all part of the setup for a swerve at the
event, where Austin betrayed the WWF team and partner Angle to help the
Alliance win, as Austin assumed leadership of the group.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup]
The reason why Austin did this was because he felt that McMahon was
grooming Angle to take over his spot, and that he was "unappreciated"
when McMahon insisted he return to the old Austin.
Austin lost and regained his title in a feud with Angle, who was put
over by Austin as a threat. Austin lost the title to Angle at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_Unforgiven#2001]Unforgiven[/url] before regaining it on the October 8, 2001 episode of [i]Raw[/i].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup] Angle then joined the Alliance.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-slam-5][6][/url][/sup]
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 [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivor_Series_%282001%29]Survivor Series[/url].
Austin and his team lost after Angle betrayed him, thus ending the
Invasion angle. The next night on Raw, as McMahon was about to award
Angle with the WWF Championship for actions at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivor_Series_%282001%29]Survivor Series[/url],
Ric Flair came out and announced that he owned half of the WWF. Austin
came out and attacked Angle and McMahon, thus regaining the WWF
Championship. Austin then 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 [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vengeance_%282001%29]Vengeance[/url]
due to interference from Booker T. Jericho defeated both The Rock and
Austin consecutively that night, winning the WCW World Title and later
the WWF Title and combining them to create the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_Championship]WWF Undisputed Championship[/url].
After that, Austin continued another feud with Booker T. In one angle,
Austin and Booker T fought in a grocery store which Austin won.
[b][[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin&action=edit§ion=11]edit[/url]] Backstage issues and departure (2002–2004)[/b]
By 2002, Austin's spot as top face in the WWF was not secure as it
had been, as Triple H was set to return from injury. At the time, Vince
McMahon had re-signed [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulk_Hogan]Hulk Hogan[/url], [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Hall]Scott Hall[/url] and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Nash]Kevin Nash[/url] for a storyline that would bring the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_World_Order_%28professional_wrestling%29]New World Order[/url]
(nWo) into the WWF. 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 [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WrestleMania_X8]WrestleMania X8[/url],
Austin defeated Scott Hall instead. Austin took a week long break
following WrestleMania, refusing to show up for the following night's [i]Raw[/i].
Austin returned on the April 1, 2002 episode of [i]Raw[/i], the first of the new "[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_Brand_Extension]brand extension[/url]"
era. The show was centered on which show he would sign with, and he
ultimately chose Raw. Austin entered a feud with the Undertaker that
resulted in a number one contenders match for the WWF Undisputed
Championship at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backlash_%282002%29]Backlash[/url],
which Austin lost. He would later be betrayed by Big Show, who went on
to rejoin the nWo, and Ric Flair. Austin then defeated Big Show and
Flair in a handicap match at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_Judgment_Day#2002]Judgment Day[/url]. Austin's last appearance was on June 3, when he defeated Flair in a match where Flair became Austin's servant. After Austin [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_professional_wrestling_terms#N]no-showed[/url] an episode of [i]Raw[/i], the angle was dropped.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-trip-38][39][/url][/sup] Austin had decided to walk out again because of bad storylines that were presented to him by the creative team.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-trip-38][39][/url][/sup]
This time though, he did not return for almost nine months. Bored and
run down, Austin began to create problems backstage as the WWF rehired [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Guerrero]Eddie Guerrero[/url] for Austin to feud with, while prepping Austin for a feud with [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brock_Lesnar]Brock Lesnar[/url].
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.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-trip-38][39][/url][/sup]
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. Further fanning the flames amongst
Austin's growing number of detractors was a well-publicized domestic
dispute incident between Austin and his wife Debra.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-trip-38][39][/url][/sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rockaustinxix.jpg][img(200,144)]
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Rockaustinxix.jpg/200px-Rockaustinxix.jpg[/img][/url][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rockaustinxix.jpg][img(15,11)]
http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png[/img][/url]Austin faces off against [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwayne_Johnson]The Rock[/url] at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WrestleMania_XIX]WrestleMania XIX[/url] in Austin's last match.
In February 2003, Austin returned to WWE at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Way_Out_%282003%29]No Way Out[/url]
in a short match against Eric Bischoff. Austin would wrestle only one
match between then and WrestleMania in another short match against
Bischoff on [i]Raw[/i], but was then defeated by The Rock at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WrestleMania_XIX]WrestleMania XIX[/url],
who returned about the same time as a smug, "sell out" villain, which
ultimately became Austin's last official match in WWE to date. The
night after on [i]Raw[/i], Bischoff "fired" Austin on medical grounds,
however he was brought back by Linda McMahon as the Co-General Manager
of 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 due to
long running injuries wearing him down throughout his career. On the
November 17, 2003 edition of [i]Raw[/i], Austin was "fired" from Raw as the result of a stipulation in a match at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivor_Series_%282003%29]Survivor Series[/url]
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 the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_Tribute_to_the_Troops#2003]WWE Tribute to the Troops[/url] taped live in front of U.S. troops in [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq]Iraq[/url], posing and stunning Mr. McMahon. He finally came back on [i]Raw[/i] on December 29 as its "Sheriff."
Austin appeared on and off as 2004 began, culminating in him being
the special guest referee for the infamous match between Brock Lesnar
and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Goldberg]Goldberg[/url] at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WrestleMania_XX]WrestleMania XX[/url].
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 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.[sup][[i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed]citation needed[/url][/i]][/sup]
[b][[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin&action=edit§ion=12]edit[/url]] Part–time WWE appearances (2005–2009)[/b]
Austin made his first appearance on WWE programming in a year at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WrestleMania_21]WrestleMania 21[/url] where he was confronted by "Rowdy" [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roddy_Piper]Roddy Piper[/url] in [i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piper%27s_Pit]Piper's Pit[/url][/i] until [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carly_Col%C3%B3n]Carlito[/url] interrupted to insult both. This resulted in Carlito receiving a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stunner_%28professional_wrestling%29]Stone Cold Stunner[/url]
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.
At [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECW_One_Night_Stand_%282005%29]ECW One Night Stand[/url] Austin came to the ring following the show's main event. Wearing a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas_Outlaws]Las Vegas Outlaws[/url] (of the failed [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XFL]XFL[/url]), Austin came to the ring to give [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Fullington]The Sandman[/url]
a beer which he had asked for. However, Austin invited the whole locker
room to the ring for a Beer Bash. However, before the bash he demanded
the WWE Crusaders come to the ring for a fight. [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tazz]Tazz[/url] came to the ring, which started the brawl. After Taz applied the [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kata_ha_jime]Tazmission[/url] to [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Angle]Kurt Angle[/url] the brawl ended. ECW stood alone in the ring after throwing all of the Crusaders out of the ring. [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Foley]Mick Foley[/url] (as Cactus Jack) then dragged [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Bischoff]Eric Bischoff[/url] to the ring. The [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dudley_Boyz]Dudley Boyz[/url] gave him a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_wrestling_double-team_maneuvers#Death_Drop]Dudley Death Drop[/url], followed by [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Benoit]Chris Benoit[/url] giving him a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_wrestling_aerial_techniques]Diving Headbutt[/url], [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rey_Mysterio,_Jr.]Rey Mysterio[/url] followed that with a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_wrestling_attacks#Tiger_feint_kick]619[/url].
When Austin then asked Bischoff about his feelings on the night, he
responded with "F**K ECW", which promted Austin to give Bischoff a
stunner. As the Dudley Boyz took Bischoff outside, and loaded him onto
a WWE production truck, the remaining ECW Originals took place in a
"'Stone Cold' Steve Austin Beer Bash" as the show went off the air.
Then, at [i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_Raw#Special_episodes]WWE Homecoming[/url][/i], Austin again returned to [i]Raw[/i], delivering Stunners to all four members of the McMahon family.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-39][40][/url][/sup] An angle including [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Ross]Jim Ross[/url] being fired led to a match in which Austin agreed to face Ross's replacement, [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Coachman]Jonathan Coachman[/url], at [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taboo_Tuesday_%282005%29]Taboo Tuesday[/url],
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 [i]Raw[/i] that Austin had been involved in an accident, thus preventing him from competing. [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Batista]Batista[/url] substituted for Austin defeating the Coach along with [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Van_Vader]Vader[/url] and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dustin_Rhodes]Goldust[/url]. The stipulation was dropped due to Austin not competing.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-40][41][/url][/sup]
Austin returned to WWE briefly to face [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Layfield]John "Bradshaw" Layfield[/url] in a beer drinking contest at the March 5, 2006 edition of [i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturday_Night%27s_Main_Event]Saturday Night's Main Event[/url][/i].
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 [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_Hall_of_Fame]WWE Hall of Fame[/url] on April 1, 2006.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-41][42][/url][/sup]
Austin returned to WWE programming (appearing on [i]Raw[/i], [i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECW_on_Syfy]ECW[/url][/i], and [i]SmackDown![/i]) in March 2007, partially to promote his starring role in the release of WWE Films' production, [i][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Condemned]The Condemned[/url][/i]. On March 31, 2007, Austin inducted his friend Jim Ross into the WWE Hall of Fame. At [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WrestleMania_23]WrestleMania 23[/url], Austin, as a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_wrestling_match_types#Special_referee]special guest referee[/url], officiated the match between [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Lashley]Bobby Lashley[/url] and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Fatu]Umaga[/url]. In the course of the event, Austin delivered stunners to Umaga, Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon, and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump]Donald Trump[/url].[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-42][43][/url][/sup] He then appeared in a video on the June 11 edition of [i]Raw[/i] as part of "Mr. McMahon's Appreciation Night", where he shared his thoughts on his past feuds with McMahon.[sup][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin#cite_note-43][44][/url][/sup]
The June 25, 2007 edition of [i]Raw[/i] was scheduled to be a
three-hour memorial to "Mr. McMahon" (as part of McMahon's "death"
storyline). However, due to the actual death of Chris Benoit, the
original show was cancelled and was followed by a tribute to Benoit
that filled the three-hour timeslot. Austin was one of the superstars
who discussed Benoit, and stated that he missed him and would not
forget him.
Home 
Calendar
