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STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN!
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In 1989, Steve Austin was living in Texas and working on the loading docks unloading trucks. His football scholarship at North Texas State University had run out, and this was his only way of making some cash. During that time, he would often go to the Sportatorium in Dallas to watch the Von Erichs wrestle. Steve had always been a fan of the sport, having watched Paul Boesch?s Houston Wrestling on television while growing up. After work one day, Steve saw an ad for a wrestling school run by Chris Adams. He decided to take a shot at it, and five months later (in 1990), he had his first professional wrestling match for World Class Championship Wrestling. During his tenure in WCCW, Austin and Adams engaged in a bitter feud with the student eventually toppling his teacher. In 1991, "Stunning" Steve Austin debuted in World Championship Wrestling. Austin spent the next five years in the promotion. As a singles competitor, the Texan captured the organization?s Television Championship from Bobby Eaton on June 3, 1991, and went on to hold that title until April 27, 1992. Austin regained the title on May 23 from Barry Windham, and held it until September 2 when he lost it to Windham. The following year, Austin won the WCW United States Championship, defeating Dustin Rhodes on December 27, 1993. He held the belt for eight months, finally losing it on August 24, 1994, to Ricky Steamboat. He went on to hold the U.S. Championship for a second time later that year. Perhaps the highlight of Austin?s WCW tenure was his partnership with "Flyin" Brian Pillman. Vocal, tough and exciting, the "Hollywood Blonds" were truly a team ahead of their time. On March 2, 1993, the Blonds defeated Shane Douglas and Ricky Steamboat to become World Tag Team Champions. The Blonds quickly became the most recognizable tandem in the promotion. But after they lost their title belts on August 18, 1993, the powers-that-be at WCW decided that Austin wouldn?t get over without a gimmick. According to the front office, a wrestler in black boots and black trunks wasn?t marketable. During a tour of Japan in late 1994, the tough Texan tore his tricep and subsequently underwent surgery to repair it. While in rehab, the WCW hierarchy decided to fire him. But instead of bringing Steve into the front office to do it face to face, they took the cowardly way out and fired him over the phone. According to Austin, WCW treated him like a "complete jackass," and he was hell-bent on making them pay! After a brief run in ECW, Steve Austin signed a deal with the World Wrestling Federation in late 1995. Instead of letting the superstar "tear-ass" through the ranks, he was given the moniker of the "Ring Master" and was issued a mouthpiece in the form of Ted DiBiase. The Texan knew he was trapped and planned a swift escape.
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One day Austin was talking with his then-wife when she told him to drink his tea before it got "stone cold" and a name was born. A couple of months later, at the In Your House: "Beware of Dog" Pay-Per-View on May 16, 1996, Austin lost a Caribbean Strap Match to Savio Vega. Due to a match stipulation, DiBiase then had to leave the Federation. With the perfect nickname Austin now had the chance to stand on his own. And on June 23, 1996, he was given the forum to show what he could do in the squared circle. That was the night of the King of the Ring. Austin?s semifinal opponent was "Wildman" Marc Mero, who he quickly vanquished. During the course of the match, he accidentally bit his lip, and after the war, he needed over a dozen stitches! Still, he carried on, and stepped into the ring for the King of the Ring finals against Federation legend Jake "The Snake" Roberts. Roberts had his ribs injured earlier in the night, and Stone Cold capitalized, eventually pinning Roberts for the King of the Ring crown! During the coronation ceremony, the superstar was finally given the opportunity to speak his mind and the era of "Austin 3:16" was born! "You thump your Bible, talk about John 3:16," said Austin to Jake Roberts. "But Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass!" Over the next few months, Austin scored convincing victories over such superstars as Mero, Yokozuna and Triple H. But when gossip started to flare about Bret Hart possibly making a return to the Federation, Austin jumped on it. He verbally degraded the Hit Man, spitting on his Federation legacy. Finally, the Hit Man announced that he would indeed return to the Federation, and that he would face Austin at the 1996 Survivor Series. The two battled back and forth for a while, before Austin locked the Hit Man in DiBiase?s "Million Dollar Dream" sleeper hold. But Bret managed to reverse the hold to capture the victory. As Hart celebrated, Austin cursed his former manager?s name and vowed to never make the same mistake again. Two months later at the 1997 Royal Rumble, Austin vowed to throw the 29 other superstars over the top rope to earn a Federation Championship match at WrestleMania 13. Although Austin managed to pull out a controversial Rumble win, Hart?s whining about the outcome cost the Rattlesnake his title shot. The Federation Championship was up for grabs heading into February?s In Your House: "Final Four" Pay-Per-View, and Austin and Hart were put into a Fatal Four Way Match, along with the Undertaker and Vader. Again, Hart cost Austin the match and took the title for himself. But this time, Austin didn?t take it sitting down. The following night on RAW, Hart defended the championship against Sycho Sid. Late in the match, Hart had Sid in the Sharpshooter when Austin smashed the Hit Man over the head with a steel chair, costing Hart the championship. The stage was set for a showdown at WrestleMania 13. But a regular match wasn?t enough. Federation officials booked the match to be a Submission Match, and even went so far as to name submission specialist Ken Shamrock as the special guest referee. The winner of the match would be the man to make his opponent say, "I quit!" Leading up to the Pay-Per-View, Austin swore that he would never utter those two words. Indeed, the match at the Pay-Per-View stole the show, and Austin never did say "I quit." Late in the match, Austin was bleeding profusely, and Austin passed out from the pain. Shamrock stopped the match. But as Austin left the ringside area, the sold-out crowd at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago began to chant "Austin, Austin." The following month, Austin again faced Bret Hart at the In Your House: "Revenge of the Taker" Pay-Per-View. Austin won by disqualification, and the next night on RAW, he again challenged Hart, this time to a No Holds Barred Street Fight. During that match, Austin brutalized Bret?s knee, putting the Hit Man in his own Sharpshooter. Hart had to be taken off in an ambulance, but Austin wasn?t finished yet. He hid in the ambulance and once again attacked Hart, disabling the Canadian for the next three months. In May 1997, Austin finally received his first shot at the World Wrestling Federation Championship, when he took on the Undertaker at In Your House: "A Cold Day in Hell." Austin had the match won, but Brian Pillman rang the bell early, which made the referee stop his count. Pillman then distracted Austin, allowing the Undertaker to Tombstone piledrive the Rattlesnake to successfully defend his title. Austin was irate. He declared war on the Hart Foundation the faction that included Pillman, Bret, Owen Hart, the British Bulldog and Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. On the May 25 episode of RAW, Austin reluctantly teamed with Shawn Michaels to take on Owen and the Bulldog, the reigning tag team champions. Although Austin and Michaels had their problems, they managed to upset Owen and the Bulldog for the belts, and Austin had his first taste of Federation gold. But there was no joy in Mudville Austin and Michaels just couldn?t get along! The two co-holders of the Federation Tag Team Championship actually squared off one on one at the King of the Ring on June 8, 1997! The match ended in a double disqualification.Due to an injury to Michaels, the duo was stripped of the Federation Tag Team Championship. A tournament was held, with the winners to face Austin and a partner of his choice on the July 14 edition of RAW. But before that, Austin was involved in a huge 10-man showdown at In Your House: "Canadian Stampede." Austin who by this point was as hated in Canada as he was loved in the United States teamed with the Legion of Doom, Ken Shamrock and Goldust to take on the Hart Foundation. After a 30-minute war, Austin was pinned by Owen Hart. The Rattlesnake swore revenge on Owen, the then Intercontinental Champion. Owen and the Bulldog wound up winning the Tag Team Tournament, but when Austin came to the ring on the July 14 RAW, he was alone. Suddenly, music started to play and Dude Love one of Mick Foley?s alter egos strutted his way to the ring. A few minutes later, Stone Cold stunned the Bulldog, and Dude pinned the Bulldog for the win and the Tag Team Championship. One belt just wasn?t enough for Austin. The Rattlesnake?s next target was the Intercontinental Championship, in part because he wanted more gold, and also because the championship was around Owen Hart?s waist. Austin challenged Owen Hart to a championship match at SummerSlam, and he said that if he couldn?t beat the Hart Foundation member, he would "kiss his ass" right in the middle of the ring! The 1997 SummerSlam will go down in history as a memorable night in Austin?s career for two reasons. One, he pinned Owen to win his first singles title. The second reason is because at one point in the match when Owen attempted to execute a piledriver, he landed awkwardly and Austin landed right on his head. Austin suffered a "stinger," and was unable to move for more than a minute before he miraculously was able to roll Owen up for the 1-2-3. Because of the impact of the piledriver, Austin was declared ineligible to compete and stripped of both the Intercontinental Championship and the Tag Team Championship. Both titles were put up for grabs, the Tag Team Championship in a Fatal Four Way Match and the Intercontinental Championship in a tournament. The Tag Team Championship was decided at September?s In Your House: "Ground Zero" in a match between Owen and the Bulldog, the Headbangers, the Godwinns and the Legion of Doom. With only the Headbangers and Owen and the Bulldog remaining, it seemed that the Hart Foundation members would regain their titles. But Austin made his way to ringside, delivered a Stone Cold Stunner to Owen and helped the Headbangers become Federation Tag Team Chane month later at October?s In Your House: "Badd Blood," Owen met Faarooq in the finals of the Intercontinental Title Tournament. But this time, Austin was instrumental in helping the Hart Foundation member win the title, as he smashed Faarooq across the face with the title belt, allowing Hart to capture the pinfall and the title. But why would Austin help his archrival win the title? Simple. Mere weeks later, Austin was proclaimed fit to compete, and he challenged Owen to a title match at the Survivor Series! Austin had helped Owen to win the title so he could once again take it from him! The cocky Hart still confident after the damage he?d inflicted at SummerSlam agreed to a match. At the 1997 Survivor Series, Austin made quick work of Owen, taking just over four minutes to win the Intercontinental Championship for a second time. The era of Austin, which had been on hold three months earlier, was now right back on track. At December?s In Your House: "Degeneration X," Austin retained the title from The Rock. But the following night on RAW when Austin was forced to once again defend the title against the third-generation superstar, Austin refused and instead forfeited the belt! According to Austin, he had bigger fish to fry his pursuit of the World Wrestling Federation Championship! Heading into the 1998 Royal Rumble, Austin knew he was a marked man. So he took every opportunity he could to attack his fellow superstars! At the Pay-Per-View, as soon as the glass broke in Austin?s entrance music, every superstar battling in the ring stopped and awaited Austin?s entry into the ring. But the Rattlesnake surprised everyone by attacking from behind. At the end of the Rumble, Austin was the one man left standing, earning a WrestleMania title match against the "Heartbreak Kid," Shawn Michaels! Austin?s world was in a tailspin in the weeks leading up to WrestleMania XIV. First, it was announced that Mike Tyson would be the special enforcer for the match. Then, Tyson revealed that he had joined D-Generation X, the faction led by Michaels! And then, World Wrestling Federation owner, Vince McMahon, revealed that he didn?t want to see Austin become champion, much to the surprise of Federation fans everywhere! The Rattlesnake went into Boston?s FleetCenter for WrestleMania XIV, and pinned Michaels to win the World Wrestling Federation Championship! To add insult to Michaels? injury, it turned out that Austin and Tyson had been in cahoots all along! The win ushered in a whole new era of "Attitude" in the Federation! It took "eight long f?n years" for Stone Cold Steve Austin to make it to the top and now that he was there, it seemed that everybody wanted to knock him off! Steve Austin was on top of the world. Little did he know that his greatest enemy was waiting in the wings, ready to take him down.Although the relationship between Austin and Federation owner Vince McMahon had always been less than cordial, the hatred between the two men intensified after Stone Cold won the Federation Championship. Austin did not fit McMahon?s idea of a champion, and he tried to mold Stone Cold into some kind of "corporate suit," but the Rattlesnake spat on his every attempt. So, the Federation owner immediately set out to take the title away from the Rattlesnake. The first competitor to step up to the plate was Dude Love, who attacked Austin when he was set to take on McMahon on RAW. Dude was unable to defeat Austin for the title at either April?s "Unforgiven" or May?s "Over the Edge." Next up was Kane, who actually defeated Stone Cold for the championship in a First Blood Match at the 1998 King of the Ring. But the Big Red Machine lost the title back to Austin just one night later on RAW! Austin was able to successfully defend the title for the next three months, and even had a brief Tag Team Championship reign with the Undertaker as his partner. But Austin could never fully trust the Undertaker, as he felt he was in cahoots with his brother, Kane. Austin?s theory proved correct. Mr. McMahon knew he needed a plan, so he hired the Undertaker and Kane to take the title from Austin. At September?s "Breakdown," Austin fought the Undertaker and Kane for the championship in a Triple Threat Match. Even the Rattlesnake himself could not overcome these seemingly insurmountable odds, and he lost the title when the Undertaker and Kane simultaneously pinned him. At October?s "Judgment Day," Austin was named the special guest referee in a match between the Undertaker and Kane to determine the undisputed Federation Champion. Austin vowed that he would not award the belt to either man. McMahon promised that if he didn?t, he would fire Austin on the spot! At "Judgment Day," both Undertaker and Kane lay unconscious on the mat. Austin counted both of their shoulders to the mat, and declared himself the new World Wrestling Federation Champion! McMahon was livid, and screamed, "Screw you, you?re fired!" The next night on RAW, McMahon declared that there would be a 14-man "Deadly Game" tournament at the ?98 Survivor Series to crown an undisputed Federation Champion. Later that same night, an irate Austin took the owner of the company hostage, placing a gun over his head. The Rattlesnake promised Vince that he wouldn?t feel a thing. Finally, with Vince on his knees in the middle of the ring, Austin shoved an envelope into his pocket, put the gun to McMahon?s head and pulled the trigger. A little flag with the words "Bang 3:16"popped out of the gun! Austin had threatened McMahon with a toy gun and caused the owner to wet himself.The following week, it was revealed that the envelope Austin put in McMahon?s pocket was a brand-new contract guaranteeing Stone Cold at least one title shot! Austin revealed that Shane McMahon tired of living under his father?s intense scrutiny had signed the contract behind his father?s back. Irate at Shane, Mr. McMahon demoted his son to a lowly referee. At the Survivor Series, Stone Cold earned a disqualification win in the opening round against the Big Boss Man. In the second round he was pitted against Mankind, a superstar who many fans thought was Mr. McMahon?s choice to win the tournament. Austin hit a Stunner on his opponent, but before the referee could count Mankind out, Mr. McMahon pulled the ref out of the ring and knocked him out cold. Shane soon ran down the aisle, seemingly coming to the aid of the Rattlesnake. But after smacking the mat a second time, the younger McMahon simply smiled and flipped Austin the middle finger. It had been a conspiracy all along! As Austin chased Shane, Mankind leveled the Rattlesnake with a chair and pinned him to move on in the tournament. As it turned out, the McMahons were just using Mankind, and The Rock became the corporate champion that night. But invoking a clause in his new contract, the Rattlesnake got a title match against The Rock the very next night on RAW! In this confrontation, Austin hit a Stunner on the "Great One," but Corporation member Ken Shamrock pulled the ref out of the ring, earning Stone Cold a win via disqualification. In the following weeks, McMahon made it known that the only way Austin would qualify for the Royal Rumble was if he were to defeat the Undertaker in a Buried Alive Match! Austin did exactly that at December?s "Rock Bottom"! Mr. McMahon made Austin a promise heading into the Royal Rumble: There was "No Chance In Hell" that Austin would win the 30-man spectacular. McMahon even announced that Austin would be the first superstar to enter the ring, meaning that to win, the Rattlesnake would have to survive for over an hour! Commissioner Shawn Michaels threw a wrench into McMahon?s plan, however, when he announced that McMahon himself would be the second entrant into the Rumble, meaning that the owner of the company would have to face off against Stone Cold! At the Rumble, Austin and McMahon battled furiously for the first two minutes of the contest. After a Stunner, Stone Cold had the opportunity to throw McMahon over the top rope, but elected instead to inflict more pain onto the Federation owner. The two battled through the crowd and into a restroom, where the Corporation was waiting for Austin. It had been a trap all along!
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THE NAME "STONE COLD" WAS BORN!
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AUSTIN WAS TAKEN AWAY IN AN AMBULANCE!
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Austin was taken away in an ambulance. The Rumble match continued, and later in the match, Austin returned to the arena! The Rattlesnake got back in the ring and opened up a "can of whoop-ass," eliminating numerous superstars before finally eliminating the Big Boss Man, making the final participants himself and McMahon! The two tussled back and forth before the Corporate Champion The Rock made his way to ringside. The Rock distracted Austin, allowing McMahon to throw him over the top rope. Vince McMahon had won the Royal Rumble. The next night on RAW, McMahon relinquished his rights to the position of number-one contender, saying that he didn?t want to fight The Rock. Big mistake! Austin and Commissioner Michaels appeared on the TitanTron, citing a clause in the Federation rulebook which states that "if the Rumble winner relinquishes his rights to the WrestleMania title shot, then the runner-up gets the shot!" Austin also issued Vince a challenge: If Vince could defeat him in a Steel Cage Match, then Austin would give up his title shot. The two met at "St. Valentine?s Day Massacre." Austin took advantage of his opportunity, brutalizing McMahon, at one point throwing him off the cage through a table! Austin seemingly had the match at hand, when seven-foot, 500-pound Paul Wight came out from under the ring! Showing allegiance to McMahon, Wight attacked Austin. But the plan backfired Wight threw Austin into the cage with such force that the cage broke, and Austin fell to the floor and won the match! The scene was set for a WrestleMania XV showdown with The Rock. Austin vowed to check into Room 316 at the SmackDown Hotel, and to "burn the son of a bitch to the ground!" Indeed, Austin came out of the title match in Philadelphia?s First Union Center as a three-time World Wrestling Federation Champion, much to the dismay of Mr. McMahon! The next night on RAW, Austin demanded the return of his "Smoking Skull" championship belt, which Shane McMahon refused. Shane instead gave the belt, which is Austin?s personal property, to The Rock! Also, Shane announced that he would be the special referee for the rematch between the two adversaries at April?s "Backlash." At the Pay-Per-View, Shane?s biased officiating was almost able to strip the title from the Rattlesnake. But thanks to Vince McMahon?s assistance, the Rattlesnake was victorious! The next superstar to set his sights on the Rattlesnake was the Undertaker. Besides vowing to take his title, the Undertaker promised to sacrifice Austin?s body, mind and soul to his "Greater Power." With the help of Shane McMahon, who again named himself the special guest referee, Undertaker was able to win the title from Austin. Weeks later, the Undertaker revealed his "Greater Power" to the Rattlesnake Vince McMahon! The man who Austin thought had changed his colors had been plotting against him all along! But Austin was one step ahead of the male McMahons, and thanks to help from the female McMahons, Austin was named the new Chief Executive Officer of the World Wrestling Federation! Although Austin soon lost his standing as CEO, he regained the Federation Championship, a title which he continues to hold to this day. Many people consider Stone Cold Steve Austin to be the greatest Champion in Federation history... amazing, since there are still countless chapters left to be written in the book of Austin 3:16!!!
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