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Happy 3:16 day! Let's celebrate the baddest SOB on the planet... STONE COLD!!

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Browny

Banned
Today is 3:16 (for youse Americans anyway - for the rest of the world, it's 16/3 - but let's not get ahead of ourselves), and so what better time to celebrate the colossus that is Stone Cold Steve Austin. A man who almost single-handedly brought professional wrestling to the forefront of popular entertainment, resurrecting the fortunes of WWF (now WWE) after years of sluggish and uninspiring work.

Steve Austin's first push came in the early 90's in WCW, where he appeared as Stunning Steve Austin. Note the glorious flowing locks:

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With well-received stints in the Stud Stable and Paul E Dangerously's Dangerous Alliance, Austin would have a number of mid-card title reigns, and would also form a classic tag team with the late Brian Pillman as The Hollywood Blonds.

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Many believed he would be the next man to take the step up to the main event in WCW - as a hard worker, very competent and flexible in his ring style, and not too shabby on the mic, he was expected to lead the upper card for many years. But with the defection of Hulk Hogan and his merry band of ex-WWF colleagues, Austin found himself de-pushed and dropping down the card, culminating with a brutal jobbing to Hacksaw Jim Duggan.

Austin negotiated his release, and after re-inventing himself at Heyman's ECW (check out one of his promos here, Austin would take his next step in the wrestling world in the WWF. He would debut under the tutelage of The Million Dollar Man, Ted Dibiase, as his hand picked Million Dollar Champion - The Ring Master. Slightly less hair:

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After a memorable feud with the legendary Savio "4 Matches In One Night" Vega past him, Austin would move to his now-infamous persona - Stone Cold Steve Austin. The beer-swilling, Stunner-throwing, baddest SOB on the planet would take the wrestling world by storm - compelling storylines, intensive promo work, wild brawling and hard-hitting matches would be seen for years. His resume of rivalries is unsurpassed - Shawn Michaels (and his shoot with Mike Tyson), Triple H, Booker T, Kurt Angle to name but a few. But his most well known would be:

Bret Hart

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The Rock - check out possibly the best WWE promo video of all time, My Way

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Vince McMahon

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Let's take the time to share our favourite stories, quotes, gifs and videos of a man who did so much for the sport of professional wrestling - and still does through his occasional appearances on the WWE flagship show, RAW, and his ever popular podcast, The Steve Austin Show.

Raise a beer for the working man:

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siddx

Magnificent Eager Mighty Brilliantly Erect Registereduser
I had been watching WWF since around 91 and had always found it fascinating and fun but Austin turned it into an obsession. I remember watching his match against the Rock where he drove his truck down to the ring and then flung D-Lo brown onto the hood before giving him a stunner on the roof. That match was like nothing I had ever seen. They barely did any actual wrestling moves and yet it was entertaining from start to finish.
 
I really enjoyed 2001 Heel Austin.

It was fun to see him back as a heel (96/97 heel Austin is the best wrestling character ever) but ultimately 2001 heel Austin led to the WWE being terrified to ever turn their top faces again so it's a tainted run.

His "What?" gimmick also completely ruined WWE audiences to this day.
 
That Rock/Austin promo from Mania 17 is the GOAT promo. I'm not a big fan of the song, but the way it was edited with the clips. It was perfect.
 

Defuser

Member
His outside ring antics is more entertaining than his actual wrestling.

-Destroying Vince's vehicles.
-Attacking Vince in the hospital.
-Chasing down the nwo.
-Attacking Booker T in the supermarket.
 

Couleurs

Member
Life Pro Tip: if Austin ever offers you a beer, do not turn it down or else you'll get stunned. Also do not accept it since you'll still get stunned.
 

BFIB

Member
His feud with Bret is one of my personal top 3 of all time. Austin was on fire, and this is before the neck injury that would limit him in the ring. His match with Bret at SS '96 is my favorite WWF match of his.
 

Penguin

Member
Hmm watching one of these clips, he still had the Ringmaster theme at SummerSlam 96 when did he get the whole glass break theme song?
 
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