Editor’s Note: This story was originally published on March 16, 2020. She was updated with Austin’s appearance at WrestleMania 38.
Stone Cold Steve Austin has been one of the most popular wrestlers in the world since his breakthrough in the mid-1990s. He has won six WWE Championships in his career and is the only WWE Superstar to win the Royal Rumble three times.
Austin’s popularity skyrocketed at the 1996 King of the Ring when he performed his famous “Austin 3:16” promo. This promo developed into a catchphrase that Austin would be known for throughout his career, and merchandise bearing the Austin 3:16 sign can still be seen in virtually any wrestling audience to this day.
Due to the fact that it was March 16 (3/16), we’re looking back at some of the most memorable Texas rattlesnake moments.
June 23, 1996: Birth of Austin 3:16.
At the King of the Ring pay-per-view event in 1996, fresh from defeating Jake “The Serpent” Roberts in the tournament final, Stone Cold Steve Austin mocks Preacher Roberts’ ploy by omitting “John” in John 3:16 and instead Austin added—sending the dot home to interviewer Doc Hendrix.
“Talk about your psalms, you talk about your John 3:16 – well, Austin 3:16 says I just kicked your ass.”
September 22, 1997: Austin stuns Mr. McMahon for the first time.
The Stone Cold stunner changed the world of wrestling forever. After suffering a legitimate neck injury, Austin is medically barred from competition and stripped of the Intercontinental Championship and WWF tag team championships. He bursts into the ring, where he is confronted by four “NYC cops”.
Vince McMahon exits the commentators table to confront Austin, leading to Austin stunned McMahon for the first time. Austin is led away in handcuffs, and a rivalry flares up between Austin and McMahon that will last for many years.
January 19, 1998: “Tyson and Austin!”
When Mr. McMahon is about to announce Mike Tyson as the special guest enforcer at WrestleMania 14 for the match between Austin and Shawn Michaels, Austin, who had just won the Royal Rumble the previous day, comes out and confronts Tyson.
“I respect what you have done in the boxing world, but Jesus Christ, son, when you enter this ring, you play with stone cold Steve Austin, and you don’t do that. Let me do it. Short and sweet – I’m telling you I want a piece of Mike Tyson’s ass.”
Austin continues to escalateand just as Austin salutes Tyson with his signature double middle finger, Tyson shoves Austin and a fight breaks out.
March 29, 1998: Austin wins the first WWE (then known as WWF) championship.
Two months later, Tyson assists Austin in the main event of WrestleMania 14. After Austin dodges Michaels’ Sweet Chin Music, Austin blocks his stunner and then catches Michaels’ leg in his second attempt at Sweet Chin Music. The second time, Austin connects with a stunning one and Tyson counts 1-2-3, giving Austin his first WWE Championship.
After the match, Tyson, who has supported Michaels and D-Generation X for weeks, puts Michaels on and rips off his DX shirt to reveal Austin’s 3:16 shirt.
September 28, 1998: Austin enters the arena in a Zamboni.
On Monday Night Raw, Mr. McMahon and company attempt to award the WWE Championship belt to The Undertaker or Kane after the brothers simultaneously pinned Austin the night before at the WWE Breakdown pay-per-view.
Texas rattlesnake crashes the party driving Zamboni into the ring and attacking McMahon, and he is eventually led away in handcuffs.
“I’m not done with you yet Vince, I’m not done with you by any means.”
October 5, 1998: Austin visits Mr. McMahon in the hospital.
A week after the Zamboni incident, which ended with neither Kane nor The Undertaker becoming WWF Champions, the Brothers of Destruction broke McMahon’s leg in retaliation, McMahon is in the hospital. After McMahon is visited by Mankind and the Clown “Yurple” in his room, Austin, disguised as a doctor, pays a visit to McMahon and turns the ship into a dangerous weapon.
October 12, 1998: Austin pours on McMahon’s car.
An injured Mr. McMahon proudly arrives on Monday Night Raw at the Nassau Coliseum in a brand new white Corvette and then isolates himself from Austin. However, this did not stop Stone Cold from getting to his boss again. Austin arrives at the arena in a cement truck and pours its contents over the open roof of McMahon’s “$50,000 car”.
March 22, 1999: Be afraid of beer
As Mr. McMahon and WWF Champion The Rock discuss The Rock’s next match with Mankind, Austin drives the Coors Light truck up the ramp, climbs to the top, and addresses the crowd. After mocking the McMahon family and the Rock, Austin goes downstairs and includes beer hoseimpregnating the Corporation and the corporate champion with lager.
April 4, 2009: Austin is inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The six-time WWE Champion was inducted by his nemesis Vince McMahon. Austin leads the class, which includes Ricky “Dragon” Steamboat and Coco B. Ware.
January 22, 2018: Austin returns on Raw 25th Anniversary.
After Mr. McMahon receives the plaque, Stone Cold returns to Monday Night Raw during the 25th anniversary show. He delivers a stunning spectacle to Shane McMahon and drinks beer with Vince. However, as expected, it’s only a matter of time before Austin stuns Mr. McMahon to throw the audience into hysterics.
April 3, 2022: Stone Cold returns at WrestleMania 38, meets Mr. McMahon again.
After much effort by Kevin Owens calling on Stone Cold Steve Austin in preparation for the event, the two finally came face to face on the first night of WrestleMania 38. The “KO Show” turned into a match, but not just a match. – uncompromising competition. Stomps were made, foreign objects were used, and eventually Stunners were everywhere.
Beer was plentiful both during and after the match, which ended with Owens hitting himself with a steel chair and taking the Stunner from the icon.
But Austin hasn’t finished his WrestleMania performances yet. The following night, Austin returned to face the new Austin, Austin Teori, after his match with Pat McAfee. The theory was accompanied to the ring by Vince McMahon, who ended up lying on his back after a few more beers and a Stone Cold Stunner.
Source: www.espn.com
