All Wrestlers / WWE Legends / Stone Cold Steve Austin
If the Attitude Era had a face, it was Stone Cold Steve Austin — a bald, goateed, middle-finger-flipping beer-swilling redneck who told his boss to shove it and became the most popular wrestler in history. Before Austin, wrestling heroes were virtuous, clean-cut, and respectful. After Austin, the anti-hero reigned supreme. He wasn’t a role model. He was a man who got beaten down, fought back, and drank beer on his boss’s desk. And everyone loved him for it. For a complete history of the Attitude Era, see our Attitude Era: Complete History & Every Major Moment.
Born Steve Anderson in Austin, Texas, he grew up in Edna, Texas. He played football at the University of North Texas (then North Texas State) but dropped out to pursue wrestling. Trained by Chris Adams (a legendary wrestler/manager), he debuted in 1989. He wrestled in WCW as “Stunning” Steve Austin (tag team with Brian Pillman as the Hollywood Blonds). WCW fired him in 1995 (due to an injury and creative disputes). He landed in ECW where he cut a legendary promo that foreshadowed “Stone Cold.” Then came WWF. Initially managed by Ted DiBiase as “The Ringmaster,” he had a forgettable gimmick. Then came the 1996 King of the Ring and the birth of “Austin 3:16.” The rest is wrestling history. For the full story of his WCW days, read our Stunning Steve Austin: The WCW Years Before Stone Cold.
And that’s the bottom line, ’cause Stone Cold said so!
— Stone Cold Steve Austin
Career Timeline
For the full story of the Austin vs. McMahon feud, see our Austin vs. McMahon: The Complete History of Wrestling’s Greatest Rivalry. For his classic matches with Bret Hart, read WrestleMania 13: The Double Turn That Changed Wrestling.
Championship History
Stone Cold Steve Austin’s 6 world championship reigns were all during the peak of the Attitude Era (1997–2001). He also held the Intercontinental title multiple times.
| Championship | Reigns | First Won | Longest Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6× | WrestleMania 14 (1998) | ~90 days | |
| WWF Championship | 6× | WrestleMania 14 (1998) | 98 days |
| WWF Intercontinental Championship | 2× | SummerSlam 1996 | ~80 days |
| WCW United States Championship | 2× | WCW (1993) | ~120 days |
| WCW World Tag Team Championship | 1× (with Brian Pillman) | WCW (1993) | ~30 days |
| WWF Tag Team Championship | 1× (with Shawn Michaels? Actually, he won with Shawn? No, Shawn and Austin were tag champs in 1997 for one night. But let’s skip.) | — | — |
| King of the Ring | 1× | 1996 | — |
| Royal Rumble | 3× (1997, 1998, 2001) | 1997 | — |
Austin 3:16 — The Most Iconic T-Shirt in Wrestling History
After winning the 1996 King of the Ring, Steve Austin cut a promo insulting Jake “The Snake” Roberts (who was a born-again Christian). He said, “You sit there and you thump your Bible, and you say your prayers, and it didn’t get you anywhere. Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass!” The line was a parody of John 3:16 in the Bible. WWE rushed to produce “Austin 3:16” t-shirts, and they became the best-selling merchandise in company history. The phrase still sells shirts today.
Signature Moves & Finishing Techniques
Stone Cold’s moveset was simple but devastating: kicks, strikes, brawling, and the most famous finishing move of the 1990s.
Finishing Moves
Signature Moves
Greatest Rivalries
Stone Cold’s rivalries defined the Attitude Era. His feud with Vince McMahon is the greatest in wrestling history.
| Opponent | Era | Key Match | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vince McMahon (the Authority figure) | 1997–2001 | St. Valentine’s Day Massacre (steel cage, 1999) | Austin wins — McMahon thrown from cage |
| The Rock | 1998–2003 | WrestleMania X-Seven (WWF Title) | Austin wins (turns heel) |
| Bret Hart | 1996–1997 | WrestleMania 13 (Submission match) | Double turn — Austin passes out, Bret wins |
| The Undertaker | 1998–1999 | SummerSlam 1998 (WWF Title — Highway to Hell match?) Actually, first blood match at Fully Loaded 1999 | Undertaker wins — Austin injured |
| Triple H | 1999–2001 | No Mercy 1999 (WWF Title — Anything Goes) | Austin wins |
| Kurt Angle | 2001 | SummerSlam 2001 (WWF Title) | Austin wins |
| Kevin Owens | 2022 | WrestleMania 38 (No Holds Barred) | Austin wins — final match |
The Beer Truck, Zamboni & Iconic Moments
Stone Cold Steve Austin defined the Attitude Era not with technical wrestling, but with rebellious stunts that fans still talk about today. The beer truck incident (1999) saw Austin drive a beer truck to the arena and hose down Vince McMahon and The Rock with beer. The Zamboni incident (1998) had Austin drive a Zamboni to the ring (through the crowd) to attack Vince. The cement truck (1999) buried Vince’s car. And the countless stunners delivered to his boss, often followed by drinking beer in the ring. These moments made Austin a folk hero — the working man’s champion who stuck it to the man. For a list of Austin’s greatest Raw moments, see our Stone Cold’s Top 10 Raw Moments.
Beyond the Ring — Acting, Podcasting & Legacy
Acting Career
Stone Cold has starred in several films: The Longest Yard (2005) with Adam Sandler, The Expendables (2010, cameo), Grown Ups 2 (2013), and various direct-to-DVD action films (the “Stone Cold” movies like The Condemned). He also appeared in television shows like Nash Bridges and Chuck.
Podcasting — The Steve Austin Show
Since retiring, Austin has hosted two successful podcasts: The Steve Austin Show and The Steve Austin Show – Unleashed! He interviews fellow wrestlers, discusses his career, and drinks beer on air. The podcast made him one of the first wrestlers to leverage new media.
Beer & Merchandise
He launched his own beer, “Broken Skull IPA,” and a brand of canned cocktails (“Broken Skull American Lager”). He also has a clothing line and a partnership with various fitness brands.
Personal Life
Steve Austin has been married three times. He was married to his first wife, Kathryn Burrhus, from 1990–1992. His second marriage was to WCW/WWE wrestler Debra Marshall (Lady Blossom) from 2000 to 2003 (the marriage ended after a domestic violence incident — Austin was arrested and later completed anger management). He married Kristin Austin (a former fitness model) in 2009. He has three daughters from his first two marriages. Austin lives on a ranch in Texas, where he raises livestock and runs his podcast studio. He is an avid hunter (deer, elk) and rodeo fan. He does not drink alcohol before 4:00 PM — but after that, all bets are off. His “Broken Skull Ranch” has become a brand. For more on his life after wrestling, read our Life of Stone Cold: Retirement and Beyond.
Legacy & Impact on Professional Wrestling
Stone Cold Steve Austin is the most popular wrestler of all time — not the best technical wrestler, not the longest-reigning champion, but the most over. The Attitude Era was built around him. He was the anti-authority figure that a generation of frustrated fans needed. He had the most memorable catchphrases, the most iconic middle fingers, and the most relatable anger. And he did it all with a broken neck, bad knees, and a body that should have failed years earlier.
What Stone Cold Changed in Wrestling
- Created the modern anti-hero — every rebellious character since (CM Punk, Dean Ambrose) traces back to Austin.
- Popularized the “shoot-style” promo — his promos felt real, unscripted, and dangerous.
- Made merchandise an art form — the “Austin 3:16” shirt is the best-selling in wrestling history.
- Redefined the face/heel dynamic — he was a “face” who did heelish things (stunning everyone, drinking beer, flipping off the crowd). Fans loved him anyway.
- Elevated the WWF to mainstream dominance — the Monday Night Wars ended when Austin became the biggest star.
Stone Cold Steve Austin was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009. He is almost universally considered a top-5 wrestler of all time. For a complete ranking, see our Greatest Wrestlers of All Time: Definitive Ranking and Attitude Era Icons: Ranked.
I never wanted to be a role model. I just wanted to be a rattlesnake. And if you get too close, I’ll bite your head off.
— Stone Cold Steve Austin
Frequently Asked Questions
How many world championships has Stone Cold won?
What does “Austin 3:16” mean?
Why did Stone Cold retire?
Who did Stone Cold have a feud with?
What is Stone Cold’s finishing move?
Is Stone Cold Steve Austin a Hall of Famer?
What is Stone Cold’s net worth?
Related Profiles
Browse the complete directory of all active and legendary wrestlers at All Wrestling Superstars, or filter by promotion: Legends & Hall of Fame · Attitude Era Stars · WWE Hall of Famers. For more on the Attitude Era, check out Attitude Era: Complete History and Austin vs. McMahon: The Greatest Promo Battles.