Fansided

5 most iconic WWE wrestlers of all time

By Chad Porto

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 23: Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker battle it out at the WWE SummerSlam 2015 at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on August 23, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 23: Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker battle it out at the WWE SummerSlam 2015 at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on August 23, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – JANUARY 08: Actor and WWE personality “Stone Cold” Steve Austin appears at a news conference announcing the WWE Network at the 2014 International CES at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on January 8, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The network will launch on February 24, 2014 as the first-ever 24/7 streaming network, offering both scheduled programs and video on demand. The USD 9.99 per month subscription will include access to all 12 live WWE pay-per-view events each year. CES, the world’s largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 10 and is expected to feature 3,200 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to about 150,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JANUARY 08: Actor and WWE personality “Stone Cold” Steve Austin appears at a news conference announcing the WWE Network at the 2014 International CES at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on January 8, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The network will launch on February 24, 2014 as the first-ever 24/7 streaming network, offering both scheduled programs and video on demand. The USD 9.99 per month subscription will include access to all 12 live WWE pay-per-view events each year. CES, the world’s largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 10 and is expected to feature 3,200 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to about 150,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Stone Cold Steve Austin

Stone Cold Steve Austin is another flawed megastar in the history of pro wrestling. Getting most of his initial attention in WCW, Austin was stuck in a floundering tag team with Brian Pillman and going nowhere fast. After getting let go by WCW, Austin found himself in a stopover in ECW where he got to stretch is creative freedom. It was there that glimpses of his revolutionary charisma would start to show through.

Austin went on to then named WWF soon after and started to see his hard work falling apart around him. Despite having a look that Vince McMahon Jr. loved, Austin was having difficulty getting over. A hair cut and some facial hair, as well as a new nickname of Stone Cold would change everything for the Austin, TX native.

Austin became the centerpiece of the WWE’s new “Attitude Era”, a period in pro wrestling marked by outlandish wrestling angles, over the top characters, with a focus on adult-oriented material and not-so-kid friendly antics. Austin became the beer-chugging, boss-hating, everyday redneck. Motivated by his love of fighting and angering his bosses.

Eventually, Austin would cement himself as an all-time great, winning the WWF Championship from Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XIV. He’d start a run as champion so successful that it actually eclipsed any several years of Hulk Hogan’s run as the companies top guy. During this time he’d start a feud with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, that would see the duo headline three different WrestleManias, two of which they were in the main event of.

Unfortunately, a neck injury that Austin suffered several months before his crowning achievement at WrestleMania 14 would have long-lasting and devastating effects. At the age of just 38, Austin would wrestle his last official match against The Rock at WrestleMania XIX, opting to retire after the match, quietly and without fanfare. His neck became unable to sustain the wear and tear any longer and Austin would not risk his health any further for wrestling.

While most professional wrestlers are just hitting their peak runs in their late 30’s, Austin was folding up the chair, so to speak. Austin has been apart of WWE television here and there the nearly two decades since retirement but never again has he wrestled a real match.

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