Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Stone Cold Steve Austin

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Stone Cold Steve Austin made an impact.

Steve "Stone Cold" Steve Austin is a retired professional wrestler, actor, and media personality. He is widely considered the greatest professional wrestler of all time and an ambassador for WWE. Austin was crucial to the World Wrestling Federation's success during the Attitude Era, which was a boom period for wrestling in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His persona and in-ring performances significantly contributed to wrestling's peak mainstream popularity.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

September 18, 1995: ECW Debut at Gangstas Paradise

On September 18, 1995, Steve Austin, newly nicknamed "Superstar", debuted in ECW at Gangstas Paradise after being hired by Paul Heyman to do promos and in-ring interviews while recovering from an injury.

December 18, 1995: WWF Debut as The Ringmaster

On December 18, 1995, Steve Austin debuted in WWF (later WWE) as "The Ringmaster", managed by Ted DiBiase, and was awarded the Million Dollar Championship.

January 8, 1996: Raw Debut

On January 8, 1996, the episode of Raw that featured Steve Austin's WWF debut as The Ringmaster on December 18, 1995, was broadcast.

1996: King of the Ring Victory and "Austin 3:16" Promo

At the 1996 King of the Ring tournament, Steve Austin won by defeating Jake "The Snake" Roberts. During his post-win coronation, Austin ad-libbed the now-iconic catchphrase "Austin 3:16" and "And that's the bottom line, cuz Stone Cold said so."

1996: Ending the Title Reign

In 1996, Stone Cold Steve Austin had the longest title reign since then, holding the WWF Championship for 175 days before losing to Kurt Angle.

May 1997: Best Selling T-Shirts

In May 1997, it was reported that Austin 3:16 merchandise t-shirts had become the best-selling WWF t-shirts since Hulkamania.

1997: Intercontinental Championship Win and Neck Injury at SummerSlam

During SummerSlam 1997, Steve Austin faced Owen Hart for the Intercontinental Championship. Austin won the title but suffered a severe neck injury due to a botched piledriver.

1997: Heel Turn

Steve Austin shook hands with Vince McMahon, turning heel for the first time since 1997 at WrestleMania X-Seven on April 1, 2001.

1998: Royal Rumble Win and WrestleMania XIV Victory

In 1998, Steve Austin won the Royal Rumble and then defeated Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XIV for the WWF Championship, marking the beginning of the "Austin Era".

January 4, 1999: Austin helps Mankind win WWF Championship

On January 4, 1999, Steve Austin interfered in a match between Mankind and The Rock, striking The Rock with a steel chair to help Mankind win the WWF Championship.

June 28, 1999: Highest-Rated Raw Segment

On June 28, 1999, the 12-minute match between Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker drew a 9.5 rating, marking it the highest-rated segment in Raw history.

April 30, 2000: Appearance at Backlash

On April 30, 2000, Steve Austin made a one-off appearance at Backlash, attacking Triple H and Vince McMahon to aid The Rock in reclaiming the WWF Championship.

January 21, 2001: Third Royal Rumble Win

On January 21, 2001, Steve Austin won his third Royal Rumble match, last eliminating Kane.

August 2001: Popularization of "What?" Catchphrase

In August 2001, Stone Cold Steve Austin began using his catchphrase "What?" to interrupt wrestlers during their promos, encouraging audience participation and chants.

January 20, 2002: Royal Rumble Elimination

On January 20, 2002, at the Royal Rumble, Stone Cold Steve Austin entered at number nineteen and lasted until the final four before being eliminated by Kurt Angle.

2002: Michaels Hiatus

In 1998, Steve Austin won the Royal Rumble and then defeated Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XIV for the WWF Championship, marking the beginning of the "Austin Era". This was Shawn Michaels last match until 2002 due to injuries.

2002: Rift with Triple H

In 2002, Stone Cold Steve Austin had a major rift with Triple H's role in the company, which they resolved by 2003.

2002: Low Profile and Reconciliation

Throughout 2002, Stone Cold Steve Austin maintained a low profile. By the end of 2002, he and Vince McMahon reportedly resolved their differences and agreed to his return.

2003: Release of Autobiography The Stone Cold Truth

In 2003, Stone Cold Steve Austin released his autobiography, "The Stone Cold Truth", co-written with Jim Ross, detailing his life and career experiences.

2003: Feud with The Rock and Final Match

In 2003, Stone Cold Steve Austin returned at No Way Out, feuded with The Rock, and ultimately lost to The Rock at WrestleMania XIX on March 30, which would be his last match for 19 years.

2003: Return Announcement and Regrets

In early 2003, Stone Cold Steve Austin announced his return to WWE. He expressed regret over his departure and addressed speculations about grudges against other wrestlers, also expressing displeasure with WWE storylines.

2003: Co-General Manager and Firing

Throughout 2003, Stone Cold Steve Austin served as the co-general manager of the Raw brand, engaging in physical altercations and feuding with Eric Bischoff. He was "fired" after Survivor Series on November 16, but returned later in the year.

2004: Special Guest Referee at WrestleMania XX

In 2004, Stone Cold Steve Austin made on-and-off appearances, culminating in him being the special guest referee for the Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg match at WrestleMania XX on March 14, where he attacked both with Stone Cold Stunners.

April 3, 2005: WrestleMania 21 Appearance

On April 3, 2005, Stone Cold Steve Austin appeared at WrestleMania 21 on Piper's Pit with Roddy Piper. They were interrupted by Carlito, who received a Stone Cold Stunner, followed by Austin stunning Piper himself after celebrating with beer.

2005: Motion Picture Debut in The Longest Yard Remake

In 2005, Stone Cold Steve Austin made his motion picture debut in a supporting role as Guard Dunham in the remake of "The Longest Yard".

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2007: Starring Role in The Condemned

In 2007, Stone Cold Steve Austin had his first starring film role as Jack Conrad in the action film "The Condemned".

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October 26, 2008: Cyber Sunday Guest Referee

On October 26, 2008, Stone Cold Steve Austin was the special guest referee at Cyber Sunday during a match between Batista and Chris Jericho for the World Heavyweight Championship.

January 12, 2009: Hall of Fame Induction

On January 12, 2009, Stone Cold Steve Austin was announced as the first member of the Hall of Fame class of 2009, inducted by Vince McMahon, where he announced the end of his wrestling career.

2010: Appearance in The Expendables

In 2010, Stone Cold Steve Austin appeared in "The Expendables" as Dan Paine, the right-hand man to the film's primary antagonist.

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2011: Tough Enough Host and WrestleMania Referee

In 2011, Stone Cold Steve Austin was announced as the head trainer and host for the revival of Tough Enough. He also became the special guest referee for the Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler match at WrestleMania XXVII on April 3, replacing JBL.

2011: Release of Stone Cold Steve Austin: The Bottom Line

In 2011, a documentary about Stone Cold Steve Austin's career, titled "Stone Cold Steve Austin: The Bottom Line on the Most Popular Superstar of All Time", was released.

June 2012: Premiere of Redneck Island on CMT

In June 2012, Stone Cold Steve Austin hosted the reality competition show "Redneck Island" on CMT, where contestants competed on a deserted island.

July 2012: WWE '13 Cover Star

In July 2012, Stone Cold Steve Austin was announced as the cover star of the special edition of the video game WWE '13, leading to a brief feud with CM Punk.

April 2013: Launch of The Steve Austin Show Podcast

In April 2013, Stone Cold Steve Austin launched a weekly family-friendly podcast named "The Steve Austin Show".

July 2014: Premiere of Steve Austin's Broken Skull Challenge

In July 2014, Stone Cold Steve Austin's reality competition show, "Steve Austin's Broken Skull Challenge", premiered on CMT.

2014: Release of Broken Skull IPA

In 2014, Steve Austin released his first beer, Broken Skull IPA, in collaboration with El Segundo Brewing Company in California.

2014: Support for Same-Sex Marriage

In 2014, Steve Austin voiced his support for same-sex marriage on his podcast.

2014: Podcast Revelation

In 2014, Stone Cold Steve Austin revealed during an interview on Vince McMahon's podcast that McMahon had initially fined him $650,000 upon his return, which was later reduced to $250,000.

May 2015: Podcast Download Statistics

As of May 2015, Stone Cold Steve Austin's podcasts averaged 793,000 downloads a week and had nearly 200 million overall downloads, highlighting the success of his podcasting venture.

April 2016: Conclusion of Redneck Island

In April 2016, the fifth season of "Redneck Island", hosted by Stone Cold Steve Austin, concluded its run on CMT.

September 2017: Fifth Season of Steve Austin's Broken Skull Challenge

In September 2017, the fifth season of "Steve Austin's Broken Skull Challenge" premiered on CMT, featuring physical challenges at the "Broken Skull Ranch".

January 22, 2018: Raw 25th Anniversary Appearance

On January 22, 2018, Stone Cold Steve Austin appeared on Raw's 25th anniversary episode and delivered a Stone Cold Stunner to both Shane and Vince McMahon.

February 2018: Podcast Format Change

In February 2018, Stone Cold Steve Austin announced that the "Unleashed" version of his podcast was being dropped and merged with the family-friendly version to attract more sponsors.

July 22, 2019: Raw Reunion Appearance

On July 22, 2019, Stone Cold Steve Austin made an appearance on the Raw Reunion episode. He shared a toast with Triple H, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, and other wrestlers from his era.

November 2019: Debut of Broken Skull Sessions on WWE Network

In November 2019, Stone Cold Steve Austin began an interview segment on the WWE Network called "Broken Skull Sessions", named after his ranch. The premiere episode featured The Undertaker.

2019: Premiere of Straight Up Steve Austin

In 2019, Stone Cold Steve Austin began hosting "Straight Up Steve Austin," a show where he and a celebrity guest traveled across the country, sharing stories about their lives and careers; it aired on the USA Network.

March 16, 2020: Raw Appearance to Promote 3:16 Day

On March 16, 2020, Stone Cold Steve Austin appeared on Raw to promote "3:16 Day" as a holiday. During the appearance, he shared a beer and delivered a Stone Cold Stunner to commentator Byron Saxton, followed by sharing a beer with Becky Lynch and The Street Profits before giving The Street Profits Stone Cold Stunners.

2021: End of Straight Up Steve Austin

In 2021, "Straight Up Steve Austin", hosted by Stone Cold, finished airing on the USA Network after featuring Austin and celebrity guests traveling across the country.

March 7, 2022: Invitation to the KO Show

On March 7, 2022, Kevin Owens invited Stone Cold Steve Austin to be a special guest on the KO Show at WrestleMania 38, following Owens' disrespectful promos about Texas, Austin's home state where WrestleMania 38 was scheduled to take place. The following day, Austin accepted the invitation.

March 2022: Release of Broken Skull American Lager

In March 2022, Steve Austin and El Segundo Brewing Company released another collaboration, Broken Skull American Lager.

2023: Desert Racing Debut

In 2023, Steve Austin began competing in desert racing with a UTV and co-owns GFI Racing, driving the No. 316 car.

2023: Debut of Stone Cold Takes on America

In 2023, Stone Cold Steve Austin starred in "Stone Cold Takes on America" which aired on A&E, showcasing Austin taking on challenges from fans.

2024: Valley Off Road Racing Association Championship

In 2024, Steve Austin won the Valley Off Road Racing Association championship in the Sportsman UTV class.

2024: Subject of Biography: WWE Legends Episode

In 2024, Stone Cold Steve Austin was the subject of season 4, episode 7 of "Biography: WWE Legends", highlighting his career and impact on professional wrestling.

April 20, 2025: WrestleMania 41 Appearance

On April 20, 2025, Stone Cold Steve Austin made his first appearance in three years at Night 2 of WrestleMania 41, crashing his ATV into the barricade.

2025: Mint 400 Debut and Grand Marshal Role

In 2025, Steve Austin raced in the Mint 400 for the first time, also serving as the grand marshal.

2025: Match Receives Immortal Moment Award

In 2025, the WrestleMania 13 match between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Bret Hart received the inaugural "Immortal Moment" Award at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, recognizing its lasting impact and significance in professional wrestling history.