The legacy of Steve Austin sees him on the short list of names that could be called the biggest star in wrestling history. Austin had great moments as the top star, but he didn’t get along with everyone. Names like Marc Mero, Jeff Jarrett and others allegedly saw Austin shutting down plans to work together.
10 Backstage Tales About Steve Austin Fans Should Know
Let’s take a look at some of the most crucial tales from Steve Austin’s career, including the origins of both his ring name and his nickname.However, there were some talents to have close bonds with Austin before, during and after his stint as the most powerful star. Austin wasn’t like Hulk Hogan where he used power to get his friends pushed, but he enjoyed working with them. The following names were close with Austin in the wrestling industry.
Paul Heyman Made Austin One Of His First Major Clients
Austin Was An Original “Paul Heyman Guy” Before It Was Cool
- Heyman Was One Of First Wrestling Minds To Believe In Austin
- Dangerous Alliance Run Allowed Austin To Work With Bigger Names
- Heyman Gave Austin ECW Platform To Help Career While Injured
WCW paired Steve Austin with Paul Heyman as part of the Dangerous Alliance faction. Austin wasn’t a big name at the time, but the hope was that Heyman could help show his potential since Paul believed in his talent.
8 Wrestlers "Stone Cold" Steve Austin Couldn't Get Over
These wrestlers failed to get over with the crowd after working with Steve Austin.The Dangerous Alliance was a great group in the upper card thanks to Heyman’s leadership. Austin even joined ECW in between his WCW and WWE stints due to Heyman willing to use him in talking segments while hurt.
Kevin Nash Still Talks To Austin Regularly Today
Friendship From WCW Days Gave Them Lifelong Bond
- Became Friends Before Either Was Star In Early 1990s WCW
- Kept In Touch When Their Career Started To Wind Down
- Austin Listed Nash As Rare Wrestler He Still Calls Today
The careers of Steve Austin and Kevin Nash were both in the early stages when they developed a friendship. Nash and Austin worked in WCW at the same time when they were each trying to build a name to advance their careers.
The two stopped talking during time apart in the Monday Night Wars, but they remained closer in later years, especially working together on The Longest Yard movie. Austin even named Nash on a short list of former wrestlers during an interview question asking about which names he still talks to on the phone.
Bret Hart Helped Austin Get Signed By WWE
Became Close Working Legendary Rivalry Together
- Bret Helped Austin Get Hired By WWE Before Friendship
- Incredible Feud Made Them Close Friends Outside Of Ring
- Austin Credits Hart For His Epic Rise To Stardom In Late 90s
Bret Hart loved the work of Steve Austin in WCW and revealed that he talked Vince McMahon into hiring him. The desire to work with new rivals inspired Bret to convince Vince into hiring Austin and to book their feud.
Austin and Hart grew closer as friends while working together since the feud was pivotal to their careers and WWE’s history. Bret did a great job getting Stone Cold over to become the next top star while they’ve kept a close bond throughout the years.
Shawn Michaels Won Over Austin In Second Tenure
Austin Wasn’t Fond Of Michaels In 1990s Like Most Wrestlers
- Had Distant Respect For Each Other In 1990s Run
- Michaels Returning A Changed Man Led To Friendship
- Have Become Closer In Retirement Than During Careers
The WWE locker room mostly hated Shawn Michaels in the 1990s since he was viewed as a prima donna. Michaels would admit that he rubbed others the wrong way, but Steve Austin earned respect for him in 1998.
There was concern Michaels would get out of putting over Austin since he was dealing with a career-threatening injury. Michaels worked through the pain to put Austin over, but it was the 2000s return that turned that respect into a friendship with HBK now a changed man.
Ric Flair Was Austin’s Wrestling Hero Growing Up
Flair Coming To WWE Started Their Friendship In 2000s
- Austin Felt Flair Was The Greatest Wrestler Ever Getting Into Industry
- Became Friends Backstage While Having Bad On-Screen WWE Feud
- Flair & Austin Remained Close After Both Respectively Retired From Ring
Many interviews with Steve Austin will see him listing Ric Flair as his personal G.O.A.T with Shawn Michaels right behind him. Flair was the man that Austin viewed as the top performer when he entered the wrestling industry.
Even though they had a terrible feud in WWE, the 2002 stint of Flair allowed him and Austin to form a friendship. Flair has talked about texting Austin regularly and believes that the WWE return created more friendships than his WCW prime years.
Goldberg & Austin Shocked The World By Becoming Buddies
Were Viewed As Hated Rivals Representing WWE Vs WCW War
- Everyone Expected Them To Have Heat With Each Other
- Became Close Friends Behind The Scenes With Austin As GM
- Austin Officiated Goldberg's Infamously Bad Match Vs Brock
There were accusations that WCW and Goldberg tried to rip off Steve Austin with his presentation. Goldberg had a similar look of the bald head and all black gear. Fans and pundits compared the two and always hoped for a dream match.
10 Harsh Realities Fans Of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin Need To Realize
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin is one of the greatest WWE stars of all time, but there are a number of harsh realities his fans need to accept about him.WWE never booked the match since Goldberg arrived right after Austin retired. However, Austin taking a General Manager role led to them working together and developing the most unlikely friendship with similar interests.
Mick Foley Was Close To Stone Cold In Both WWE & WCW
Austin & Foley’s Careers Followed Each Other Every Step
- Became Travel Buddies Due To Both Being Cheap With Money In WCW
- Both Joined WWE Around Same Time For Biggest Breaks In Their Careers
- Foley Felt Like He "Made It" Main Eventing PPVs Vs Austin For WWE Title
Steve Austin and Mick Foley have been tight through each step of their legendary careers. Both guys were trying to make a name in WCW when they became close friends traveling the world together and saving money as roommates.
Foley joined WWE shortly before Austin, but they were each signed in the middle of the New Generation Era and became Attitude Era main eventers. Various book quotes and interviews from Foley expressed great pride of some of his first PPV main events coming against Austin.
DDP Has Been Tight With Stone Cold Since WCW
Austin & Mick Foley Played Epic Prank On High Strung DDP
- DDP Joined Austin & Foley On Their Road Escapades
- They Played A Tremendous Prank On DDP In Hotel
- Austin & Dalas Have Remained Close Throughout Years
Diamond Dallas Page was the third member of the WCW trio that roomed together. Steve Austin and Mick Foley both grew close to Dallas when he was in the rookie stages of his career trying to make a name with them.
However, their friendship is most fascinating to fans for a funny prank that Austin and Foley played on DDP. Both guys did things to annoy the more intense Page, including the moment that broke him. A nude DDP went into his hotel bed nude and found dozens of cookies all over to break him completely with anger.
Jim Ross Became Austin’s Biggest Confidant
WWE Even Used Their Relationship As Part Of TV
- Ross Was Austin's Biggest Supporter When He Joined WWE
- Became Known As Real Best Friends On & Off Screen
- WWE Told Stories Using Their History As Best Friends
Jim Ross played a role in Steve Austin getting hired since they were close friends from WCW. Austin even got over on WWE TV with Ross having some legendary calls and becoming known for his reactions to Stone Cold moments.
The two were best friends at one point despite having drastically different jobs. Ross was the one Austin told he was walking out in 2002 when too angry to speak to Vince McMahon. WWE even made this a part of JR’s character with Austin’s rivals picking on him.
Brian Pillman Became Close Friend As Tag Partner
WCW Forcing Them Together Created Longer Friendship
- Didn't Expect To Become Great Friends When Forced Into Tag Act
- Austin Loved Getting To Work With Pillman Again In WWE
- Brian Pillman Jr. Was Inspired By Austin To Start Wrestling Career
The Hollywood Blondes tag team act saw Steve Austin and Brian Pillman unexpectedly putting their singles careers on hold to pair up. WCW saw them becoming the best tag team in the company, but they broke up faster than fans expected.
Austin remained close to Pillman and enjoyed working with him again in WWE afterwards. Brian Pillman Jr. started his wrestling career when Stone Cold found his contact information to send some of his father’s items he owned that sparked the passion.
