Steve Austin: From "Stunning to Stone Cold" Quiz

Answer: Steve Anderson

Although known as Steve Williams for most of his life, the man known as "Stone Cold" Steve Austin was born in 1964 as Steven James Anderson. While still a child his parents divorced and his mother remarried with Steve being legally adopted by his step father and thus taking the last name of Williams.

In 2007 Steve Williams legally changed his name to that of his wrestling name, Steve Austin.

Answer: Chris Adams

After working construction jobs for several years a young Steve Williams decided to embark on wrestling career. In late 1988 he began training under legendary WCCW star the late "Gentleman" Chris Adams who ran a wrestling school out of the famed "Dallas Sportatorium". Just after his debut he changed his wrestling name to Austin to avoid confusion with the late "Dr Death" Steve Williams, a popular star of the era.

He also began a feud with his former mentor Adams which had some real life crossovers as Steve was dating Jeannie Clark, Adams' former wife! Right from the get go Austin was literally made for "The Attitude Era".

Answer: Joey Maggs

In the spring of 1991 Austin and Clarke aka "Lady Blossom" arrived in WCW and within weeks of their arrival Steve defeated "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton for the WCW Television Title. On the June 12, 1991 "Clash of Champions" Austin defeated preliminary wrestler Joey Maggs. That fall Austin's career really took off as he became a member of Paul E Dangerously's "Dangerous Alliance".

Answer: Ricky Steamboat

During his time in WCW Austin developed quite the rivalry with the legendary Ricky Steamboat, as "The Dragon" was a constant thorn in his side. In September 1992 Steamboat ended Austin's second reign as WCW Television Champion. Then almost two years later Ricky, now in the twilight of his career, defeated Steve for The United States Title on August 24, 1994. Ironically when Austin and the late Brian Pillman aka "The Hollywood Blonds" won the WCW Tag Team Titles in March 1993 they defeated the duo of Shane Douglas and Ricky Steamboat.

Answer: Mikey Whipwreck and The Sandman

In the spring of 1995 while recovering from an injury Steve Austin was fired from WCW via Fed Ex and a telephone call. This did not sit well with Austin who harbored a longtime grudge against then WCW head Eric Bischoff for not firing him face to face which after four years with the promotion would have only been courteous. Immediately contacted by his former manager Paul Heyman who also had heat with Bischoff and WCW, Austin went to ECW. During his brief time in Philly he was known as "Superstar" Steve Austin and cut many promos belittling Eric Bischoff and WCW. On December 9, 1995 at "December to Dismember" The Sandman defeated Austin and Mikey Whipwreck to win the ECW Heavyweight Title.

Answer: A badly lacerated lip

Many claim that June 23, 1996 was the night that "Stone Cold" Steve Austin was born as a WWF star. On that night Austin defeated an aging Jake Roberts and won the "1996 King of the Ring" Tournament. After the match he cut his the famous "Austin 3:16" promo which literally jump started his career. Steve did not have an easy time of it as he fought Marc Mero in a very tough semi final match where his lip was lacerated very severely.

After the match, Austin was taken across the street, to a Hospital where his lip was stitched up.

The final match between Jake and Austin was kept short not because of Jake's "storyline" rib cage injury but because many feared Steve's lip would burst open again.

Answer: "Fat Ass"

In one of my all time favorite segments of "Raw" Steve Austin comes to ringside where Vince McMahon, his goons, and Paul Bearer are celebrating Kane's WWF Title win the previous night at the 1998 "King of the Ring". Austin immediately challenges for a rematch and true to form the cowardly McMahon passes the buck off to manager Paul Bearer. Austin then tells the obese manager "Spit the cupcakes out and tell me I got the rematch". Absolutely priceless! This off the cuff remark and those like them are what made "The Attitude Era" so memorable.

Answer: He was run over by a truck

In the fall of 1999, at the height of his popularity and the height of "The Attitude Era", Austin had to leave because a nagging neck injury required surgery. The injury actually happened some two years prior at "Summerslam '97" when the late Owen Hart delivered a botched pile driver on Austin. To explain his absence Austin became the victim of a "Hit and Run" accident in which he was run over by a truck.

In the fall of 2000 Austin, now recovered, returned to exact revenge on those responsible. Although Rikishi was revealed to be the driver of the truck it later was revealed that Triple H was the mastermind of the whole plot.

Answer: Twice

One of the best rivalries to come out of "The Attitude Era" was the legendary feud between "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Rock. Even though Austin was the premiere star of the promotion, by 1999 The Rock's popularity had earned him the moniker of "The People's Champion". On March 28, 1999 Austin defeated The Rock at "Wrestlemania XV" to win his third WWF Heavyweight Title. Just over two years later at "Wrestlemania XVII" on April 1, 2001 Austin once again defeated his nemesis to win another WWF Heavyweight Title.

It was not until "Wrestlemania XIX" on March 30, 2003 that The Rock was able to best his rival in the "Flagship" event of the WWF.

Answer: Vince McMahon

In 2009, with his wrestling career now over, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin was honored by the WWE with an induction into their "Hall of Fame". It is said that every good guy needs a villain to fight in order to endear himself to his fans. Well for much of his WWF superstar days the foil for Steve Austin was the evil Mr Vince McMahon and his henchmen and children.

In reality it was McMahon who took a chance on Austin becoming a mega superstar and the man that would pioneer the new vision for his promotion. Together Austin and Vince took the WWF to new heights and succeeded in driving all competing promotions out of business by March 2001.