What Happened to Stone Cold Steve Austin?

7 months ago
102K

In the summer of 1996, the World Wrestling Federation held their annual King of the Ring tournament. After weeks of matches, the semis and finals were set for June 23rd, 1996, with Stone Cold Steve Austin facing Jake “The Snake” Roberts for the crown later in the night. Roberts, then known for working in a Christian angle, would cut a promo prior to the match doing just that. Just before Austin took the ring and pinned Roberts, he was tipped about the promo’s contents.
After the five-minute match, Austin stood next to the same man who tipped him off, Michael Hayes. And it was there that a legend and a catchphrase were born, and an entire industry born again. With a mouth full of blood, Stone Cold Steve Austin told his defeated opponent: “You sit there and you thump your Bible, and you say your prayers, and it didn't get you anywhere! Talk about your Psalms, talk about John 3:16...Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass!”

But it could have never happened. Stone Cold wasn’t supposed to win; neither was Jake Roberts. The King of the Ring prestige – a launching point for a budding career – was meant to go to Hunter Hearst Helmsley, but this was yanked when he took the fall for the infamous “Curtain Call” incident, paving the way for a revolution in the WWF.

From there on out, Stone Cold Steve Austin would take what was his. But that’s hardly the bottom line...So let’s find out: What Happened to...STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN?

Loading 30 comments...