Pro Wrestling Resource: Stone Cold Steve Austin

Showing posts with label Stone Cold Steve Austin. Show all posts

WWF Attitude Era: "The one thing "Stone Cold" Steve Austin can't stand..." [Videos]

"Stone Cold" talks to the crowd after the show

September 17, 2001

TNN

Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Attitude Era Bonus:

The previous time RAW was in Nashville was in 1998! See the complete broadcast below!

RAW IS WAR

WWF WAR ZONE

USA NETWORK

May 18, 1998

Nashville Arena

Nashville, Tennessee, USA

WWF RAW Event Card

May 18, 1998

Val Venis vs Scorpio

Marc Mero (with Sable) vs Terry Funk

LOD 2000 (Animal and Hawk) vs The Disciples of Apocalypse

Dude Love vs Dustin Runnels

The Head Bangers vs Kai En Tai

The New Age Outlaws (w/DX) vs The Nation (The Rock and Owen Hart)

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco in a Street Fight

WWF Tag Team Classic: The Hart Foundation vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin’s Team at Canadian Stampede [Videos]

Few professional wrestling matches in WWF history captured the power of a hometown crowd quite like the ten-man tag team main event at In Your House: Canadian Stampede, on July 6, 1997. Held in the red-hot environment of Calgary's Saddledome, the night felt less like a typical pay-per-view and more like a national rally.

Treated as conquering legends the instant they emerged from behind the curtain, Bret "Hitman" Hart, WWF Intercontinental Champion Owen Hart, WWF European Champion British Bulldog (Davey Boy Smith) with his wife "Mrs. Calgary" Diana Hart Smith, Jim "the Anvil" Neidhart, and the ever-unpredictable Brian Pillman were buoyed by an audience that was fully invested.

Opposing them were the rebellious "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, the no-nonsense Ken Shamrock, the bizarre and unsettling Goldust, and the intimidating powerhouse duo of The Legion of Doom. It was a clash of national identities, philosophies, and fan allegiances, colliding in one of the loudest and most unforgettable atmospheres the WWF ever produced.

"What a match this has been. What an unbelievable partisan crowd, J.R., we are witnessing here live tonight. I've never experienced anything like it.”
- Vince McMahon

“I don’t think I’ve ever been, in my twenty-five years, feeling anything that we’re feeling here, the genuine enthusiasm!”
- Jim Ross

In Your House: Canadian Stampede

July 6, 1997

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Commentary: Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, Jerry "the King" Lawler

Your WWF Ticket is also good
for admittance into the Calgary Stampede Rodeo!

Stu Hart (left), with his wife Helen and daughter Diana

—the wife of Davey Boy Smith—react from ringside.

RAW IS WAR

July 7, 1997

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Commentary: Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, Jerry "the King" Lawler

Royal Rumble 2001: The Attitude Era's best Royal Rumble Match

WWF Promotional poster by Mark Romanowski

WWF Royal Rumble

January 21, 2001

New Orleans, Louisiana

The 2001 Royal Rumble Match Entrants: Jeff Hardy, Bull Buchanan, Matt Hardy, Faarooq, Drew Carey, Kane (53 minutes 44 seconds), Raven, Al Snow, Perry Saturn, Steve Blackman, Grand Master Sexay, The Honky Tonk Man, The Rock (38 minutes 44 seconds), The Goodfather, Tazz, Bradshaw, Albert, Hardcore Holly, K-Kwik, Val Venis, William Regal, Test, Big Show, Crash Holly, The Undertaker (10 minutes 47 seconds), Scotty 2 Hotty, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin (9 minutes 37 seconds), Billy Gunn, Haku, Rikishi

🔥 Classic Feud Spotlight: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. Vince McMahon [VIDEOS]

"Stone Cold" over Vince, but the WWF fans the real winner

Classic Feud Spotlight: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. Vince McMahon

How one legendary rivalry redefined professional wrestling — and why its legacy still matters today.

Before Austin vs. McMahon, wrestling had good guys and bad guys. After it? Wrestling had revolutions.

"Stone Cold" and Vince McMahon ready to battle

Steve Austin has often said it himself:
"Without Bret Hart, there may not be a 'Stone Cold.' Our feud changed everything."
And he’s right. What Bret Hart did for Steve Austin — helping shape his rise into the rebellious anti-hero — he also unknowingly did for Vince McMahon.

When Hart left WWE in late 1997, he exposed McMahon for who he truly was, cracking open the door for the creation of the iconic "Mr. McMahon" evil boss character.
In many ways, Austin simply picked up the torch that he and Bret had lit during their brutal battles in 1996 and 1997 — battles defined by defiance, no-nonsense grit, and anti-authority fire.
But no one brought it to life — or took it to another level — quite like Austin and McMahon.

In the late 1990s, professional wrestling changed forever — and it wasn't because of a title match or a flashy gimmick.
It was because "Stone Cold" Steve Austin took on the ultimate villain: his boss, Mr. McMahon.

This wasn't just a storyline; it was a movement. Fans lived through Austin’s fists, middle fingers, beer baths, and unstoppable rage, watching him rebel against corporate power in a way that felt raw, real, and impossible to ignore.

Austin vs. McMahon didn’t just fuel the Attitude Era — it became the symbol of it, tapping into the frustrations of an entire generation.
In a world where millions dream of standing up to their boss, "Stone Cold" did it every Monday night... and the world not only cheered him on — they wanted more.

SETTING THE STAGE

By the end of 1997, WWE’s audience wasn’t just ready for change — they were demanding it. And Stone Cold was ready to lead the charge.

RAW

September 22, 1997

Vince McMahon receives his first Stunner from "Stone Cold" Steve Austin

EXPLOSION: THE FEUD IGNITES

When Stone Cold Steve Austin captured the WWF Championship at WrestleMania XIV in 1998, the landscape shifted overnight. No longer just a rebellious outsider, Austin was now the face of the company — and that made him Vince McMahon’s biggest problem.

The sparks turned into a wildfire on April 13, 1998, when McMahon tried to force Austin into a corporate mold, demanding he conform or face the consequences. That night on Raw, McMahon and Austin were set to face off — the boss in his street clothes, the champion full of fury. But chaos reigned instead.

Austin didn’t just attack Vince — he humiliated him. He made it clear that no amount of fines, firings, or threats would ever tame “Stone Cold.”

RAW

Austin vs McMahon

April 13, 1998

It wasn't about winning matches — it was about humiliation, rebellion, and survival.

From there, the chaos escalated:

Austin invaded McMahon’s hospital room, smashing him with a bedpan.
He drove a Zamboni to the ring, leaping onto Vince before being hauled away in handcuffs.
He doused Vince, Shane, and the Corporation with beer straight from a beer truck.

Each week, Austin found a new way to humiliate the boss — and fans couldn’t get enough of it.
Every punch, every beer bath, every Stunner echoed a simple message:

"You don't have to bow down to anyone."

The Austin vs. McMahon feud wasn’t just must-see TV — it became a cultural phenomenon, dragging millions of new viewers to WWE and reshaping what professional wrestling could be.

The Legacy: Changing Wrestling Forever

The feud between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Mr. McMahon didn’t just create must-see moments — it rewrote the DNA of professional wrestling.

Before this rivalry, WWF storylines mostly centered around good guys chasing championships.
After Austin vs. McMahon, wrestling became about characters, emotion, and personal rebellion on a level it had never reached before.
It wasn’t just a quest for titles anymore — it was a battle of ideology: the rebel versus the establishment.

The success of Austin vs. McMahon helped WWF defeat WCW in the Monday Night Wars, saving the company at its most vulnerable time.

Raw became the hottest show on television, not because of matches alone, but because fans tuned in every week to see if "Stone Cold" would get one over on his tyrannical boss.

The feud also changed how authority figures were used in wrestling permanently:

Every evil general manager, commissioner, and corporate overlord in wrestling since owes a debt to McMahon’s portrayal of the ultimate boss villain.
Stars like The Rock, Becky Lynch, and CM Punk have all tapped into that same spirit of rebellion Austin defined. Even Bret Hart return in 2010 and got his shot at Mr. McMahon at WrestleMania. This all would not have been possible without the Austin vs. McMahon feud.

In short, without Austin vs. McMahon, there is no Attitude Era.

And without the Attitude Era, WWE — and maybe professional wrestling itself — might look very, very different today.

The Stone Cold Truth: A Revolution Born in Rebellion

In every chair shot, every beer toast, and every middle finger raised high, fans saw more than just a wrestler standing up to his boss — they saw a reflection of their own frustrations, their own dreams of rebellion.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin didn’t just fight Vince McMahon — he fought every unjust boss, every rigged system, every corporate machine that tried to grind people down.

And every time Austin stunned McMahon, the world cheered, because it wasn’t just Stone Cold winning —it was all of us winning, even if only for a moment.

"That's the bottom line... 'cause "Stone Cold" said so!"

🔥 Classic Feud Spotlight: Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Brian Pillman — Wrestling’s Most Dangerous Rivalry That Never Fully Happened [VIDEOS]

SPOTLIGHT: Austin vs Pillman

Classic Feud Spotlight: Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Brian Pillman — Wrestling’s Most Dangerous Rivalry That Never Fully Happened

Before "Austin 3:16" changed wrestling forever, and before Brian Pillman cemented himself as the unpredictable Loose Cannon, these two former allies collided in what should have been one of the Attitude Era’s defining feuds. It was personal. It was chaotic. And it was cut short — but the impact remains.

This wasn’t about five-star classics — it was about raw, unfiltered heat. With segments unfolding throughout the fall of 1996, the tension between Austin and Pillman escalated to one of the most controversial moments in Raw history: the infamous “Pillman’s Got a Gun” segment.

Though we never saw a definitive one-on-one match on live WWF television between the two, their feud offered a glimpse into the reality-blurring edge the WWF was about to lean fully into during the Austin Era that was going to take shape in the coming years.

Austin and Pillman, October 1996, Monday Night RAW

THE AUSTIN VS PILLMAN TIMELINE

🗓️ Summer 1996: Austin’s King of the Ring victory sparks his solo rise.
🗓️ Fall 1996: Pillman and Austin’s tensions boil over on Monday Night Raw through promos and wild backstage segments.

🗓️ October 1996: Austin sends Pillman to the hospital

🗓️ November 4, 1996: The infamous home invasion segment airs — “Pillman’s Got a Gun” shocks fans and pushes boundaries.
🗓️ Summer 1997: Pillman returns to action and briefly crosses paths with Austin in tag matches.

🗓️ June 16, 1997: WWF WAR ZONE — Pillman vs Austin

🗓️ October 5, 1997: Pillman is found dead the morning of WWF Badd Blood, ending the feud before it ever concluded.

LEGACY: A FEUD TOO REAL FOR 1996

This feud influenced the rise of the Attitude Era and blurred lines between story and reality culminating in the "Pillman's got a gun" moment a month later.

Stay tuned to Pro Wrestling Resource for the eventual spotlight on the segment that pushed TV wrestling to its most controversial edge: Pillman’s Got a Gun. 🎯

The Heat Built Up Between Bret "The Hitman" Hart and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin [Videos]

In the lead-up to their first pay-per-view clash at the 1996 Survivor Series, Bret “Hitman” Hart and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin ignited one of the most intense rivalries of the era.
Their war of words and mind games laid the foundation for a legendary feud that would shape the future of WWE. As seen in the videos featured in this post, the tension was palpable—highlighted by Austin boldly declaring:

“It’s Austin’s house now!”

A power shift was underway, and the battleground was set.

"Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig interviews Bret Hart

Monday Night Raw

Aired on August 12, 1996

Long Edit

"Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig interviews Bret Hart

while aboard the Wrestle Vessel

Filmed July 1996

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin

LIVEWIRE

Austin talks TRASH about Bret Hart, Mr. Perfect, fans, etc.

Aired Live on October 19, 1996

Bret Hart accepts Austin's Survivor Series challenge

WWF MONDAY NIGHT RAW

Aired on October 21, 1996

Brian Pillman interviews his friend "Stone Cold"

WWF SUPERSTARS

Aired on October 27, 1996

Commentary Mr. Perfect and Jim Ross

"Stone Cold" tells Bret Hart,

"I'm the best there is, I'm the best there was, I'm the best there ever will be."

WWF MONDAY NIGHT RAW

Aired on October 28, 1996

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin Vignette

WWF SUPERSTARS

November 1996

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin during the lead up to his WWF Royal Rumble victory [Videos]

In May 1996, an incident known as the "Curtain Call" involving Hunter Hearst Helmsley—later known as Triple H—led to changes in booking plans, removing him from the finals of the 1996 King of the Ring tournament. As a result, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin took his place in the finals, where his victory sparked the legendary "Austin 3:16" promo.

"..Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass!"

Austin carried that momentum into an excellent match against Bret "The Hitman" Hart at the 1996 Survivor Series on November 17. In the months that followed, anticipation built for the next "major" pay-per-view, the WWF Royal Rumble, where the winner would earn a shot at the WWF World Championship at WrestleMania 13. However, due to backstage drama, beyond Austin's control involving Shawn Michaels, Austin wouldn’t receive his title match until WrestleMania XIV the following year.

Despite this, Austin showcased his talent and made a major impact at the 1997 Royal Rumble, controversially eliminating the "rightful" winner to claim victory. This set the stage for one of the most iconic matches in WrestleMania history—his No Disqualification Submission Match against Hart at WrestleMania 13. A match that would later be honored at the 2025 WWE Hall of Fame with the inaugural WWE Immortal Moment award.

WWF SUPERSTARS

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs "The Stalker" Barry Windham

Filmed on November 19, 1996

Aired on USA Network on December 15, 1996

Springfield, Massachusetts

IN YOUR HOUSE 12

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs Goldust (Dustin Rhodes)

December 15, 1996

Palm Beach, Florida

WWF MONDAY NIGHT RAW

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs Vader

Aired on December 16, 1996

Tampa, Florida

WWF SUPERSTARS

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs Jason Ahrndt

Aired on December 22, 1996

Daytona Beach, Florida

WWF SUPERSTARS

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin in a Two-on-One Handicap Match

Aired on December 29, 1996

Daytona Beach, Florida

WWF MONDAY NIGHT RAW

Bret Hart & Savio Vega vs Steve Austin & Faarooq

Aired on December 30, 1996

Albany, New York

WWF MONDAY NIGHT RAW

Filmed on December 30, 1996

Aired on January 6, 1997

WWF SUPERSTARS

Appearance by The Iron Sheik

Filmed on December 17, 1996

Aired on January 12, 1997

Daytona Beach, Florida

WWF MONDAY NIGHT RAW

The British Bulldog vs The Rock

with "Stone Cold" Appearance

Aired on January 13, 1996

Albany, New York

Commentary: Vince McMahon and Bret Hart

Bret Hart and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin to receive "WWE Immortal Moment" Award at the WWE Hall of Fame [Videos]

In what many consider one of the greatest WRESTLEMANIA matches of all time, the match between Bret Hart and Steve Austin will be honored at the 2025 WWE Hall of Fame with the inaugural WWE Immortal Moment award. Hart and Austin will be on hand to receive the award in person, making Hart the first three-time WWE Hall of Fame Inductee, as he was inducted prior in 2006 as a singles wrestler, and in 2019 as a member of The Hart Foundation with Jim Neidhart.

RAW IS WAR

Bret Hart Promo

Aired on Monday, March 17, 1997

WWE HALL OF FAME IMMORTAL MOMENT

Promo Video