| Stone Cold Steve Austin | |
|---|---|
| Stone Cold Steve Austin in his prime |
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin, born Steven James Anderson (later Steven Williams), is a retired American professional wrestler, actor, and television host. He rose to superstardom in the late 1990s as the rebellious anti-hero of WWE’s Attitude Era and is widely regarded as one of the most influential and popular wrestlers of all time.
Early Life
- Born on December 18, 1964 in Austin, Texas
- Played college football at North Texas State University
- Trained as a professional wrestler in 1989 by Chris Adams in Texas
Wrestling Career
- Started in World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) and WCW, where he was known as "Stunning" Steve Austin
- Joined WWE in 1995 and rebranded as "Stone Cold"
- Breakthrough came at King of the Ring 1996 with his famous promo:
> "Austin 3:16 says I just whooped your!"
Signature Traits
- Known for his anti-authority character and feud with Vince McMahon
- Famous catchphrases include:
- “And that’s the bottom line, ‘cause Stone Cold said so!” - “What?”
- Trademark actions:
- Smashing beer cans in the ring - Delivering the Stone Cold Stunner finisher
Achievements
- 6-time WWE Champion
- 3-time Royal Rumble winner (1997, 1998, 2001)
- WWE Hall of Fame inductee (2009)
- Main-evented several WrestleManias, including iconic matches vs. The Rock and Bret Hart
Retirement and Legacy
- Retired due to neck and knee injuries in 2003
- Remains involved with WWE through guest appearances, podcasts, and hosting roles
- Starred in movies like The Condemned and hosts reality shows like Broken Skull Challenge
- Widely considered the face of the **Attitude Era** and a major contributor to WWE's 1990s boom
Personal Life
- Known for his blue-collar Texan persona, Austin owns a ranch called the “Broken Skull Ranch”
- Runs the Steve Austin Show podcast and his Broken Skull IPA beer line
Legacy
- Consistently ranked among the greatest WWE superstars of all time
- Credited with helping WWE defeat WCW in the “Monday Night Wars”
- Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Vince McMahon himself