| Human Profile | |
| Name: | Steve Austin |
| Birthday: | December 18, 1964 (age 61 years), Born in Austin, Texas |
| Height: | 6'2" (188 cm) |
| Education: | Edna High School (Diploma) Wharton County Junior College (No Degree), Physical Education University of North Texas (No Degree), Physical Education Chris Adams' Wrestling School, Professional Wrestling |
Overview
Steve Austin is an American professional wrestler, actor, television host, and podcaster, widely recognized as “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, an iconic anti-authoritarian persona who became a pivotal figure of the WWF’s “Attitude Era,” distinguished by his “Austin 3:16” catchphrase, six WWF Championship reigns, and WWE Hall of Fame induction, and who has also pursued acting roles, television hosting, and a long-running podcast.
Latest News (Feb 20, 2026): Steve Austin has been confirmed as a headlining guest for the WWE World 2026 fan convention during WrestleMania 42 weekend in Las Vegas, where he will hold autograph and photo sessions on April 18 and 19. Additionally, his podcast recently released classic episodes featuring Hornswoggle and Robbie Knievel as fans speculate about a potential on-screen role at the upcoming premier event.
Early Life and Education
Steve Austin was born Steven James Anderson on December 18, 1964, in Austin, Texas. His parents divorced when he was about a year old, and his mother, Beverly, moved with him to Edna, Texas. She later remarried, and Steve was adopted by his stepfather, Ken Williams, at which point his name was legally changed to Steven James Williams. He grew up with three brothers, Scott, Kevin, and Jeff, and a sister, Jennifer.
Austin attended Edna High School, where he was a running back for the football team and a member of the National Honor Society. After graduating, he received a football scholarship to Wharton County Junior College and later attended the University of North Texas on a full scholarship, playing as a defensive end. He left college just a few credits short of a degree in physical education and began working on a freight dock.
Career Beginnings
Developing an interest in professional wrestling from a young age, Austin began formally training in 1989 at a school run by Chris Adams at the Dallas Sportatorium. He made his in-ring debut that same year in World Class Wrestling Association (WCWA) using his birth name. His first televised match was against Frogman LeBlanc, which he won for a $40 payday. Early in his career, he was advised to change his ring name from Steve Williams to avoid confusion with “Dr. Death” Steve Williams and subsequently became known as Steve Austin.
He wrestled in the United States Wrestling Association (USWA), where he had an early feud with his former trainer, Chris Adams. In 1991, Austin signed with World Championship Wrestling (WCW).
Rise to “Stunning” Steve
In WCW, he was initially given the moniker “Stunning” Steve Austin. Weeks after his debut, on June 3, 1991, he defeated Bobby Eaton to win the WCW World Television Championship. He later joined Paul E. Dangerously’s (later known as Paul Heyman) Dangerous Alliance stable. Austin would hold the Television Championship for a second time in 1992.
In 1993, he formed a successful tag team with Brian Pillman known as The Hollywood Blonds. The pair won the NWA and WCW World Tag Team Championships in March of that year and held them for five months. Following the team’s split, Austin captured the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship from Dustin Rhodes in December 1993. He won the title for a second time in 1994 before being fired from the company by WCW Vice President Eric Bischoff in 1995, following a triceps injury.
After his departure from WCW, Austin had a brief but impactful stint in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) under the guidance of Paul Heyman. In ECW, he was encouraged to develop his microphone skills and began to cultivate the anti-authoritarian persona that would later define his career.
The “Stone Cold” Era
Austin signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) in late 1995. He debuted as “The Ringmaster” and was managed by Ted DiBiase, who awarded him the Million Dollar Championship. Dissatisfied with the gimmick, Austin shaved his head and grew a goatee. The “Stone Cold” moniker was suggested by his then-wife, who told him to drink his tea before it got “stone cold.”
His breakthrough moment came at the 1996 King of the Ring tournament. After defeating Jake “The Snake” Roberts in the final, Austin delivered his famous “Austin 3:16” promo, which became one of the most popular catchphrases in wrestling history. This victory marked the beginning of his ascent to superstardom and was a key catalyst for the WWF’s “Attitude Era.”
A defining rivalry with Bret Hart followed, which included a critically acclaimed match at WrestleMania 13 in 1997. The match, noted for its dramatic “double-turn,” saw Hart become a villain and Austin a fan favorite. A severe neck injury sustained in a match against Owen Hart at SummerSlam in 1997 temporarily sidelined him but did not derail his momentum.
Austin’s popularity skyrocketed with his feud against the tyrannical WWF owner, Mr. McMahon. This storyline, which portrayed Austin as a blue-collar anti-hero rebelling against his boss, became the central focus of WWF programming and a major driver of the company’s success in the “Monday Night Wars” against WCW. He went on to win the WWF Championship six times and became a three-time Royal Rumble winner. His major rivalries during this period included memorable feuds with The Rock, The Undertaker, Triple H, and Kurt Angle.
Post-Wrestling Career and Personal Life
Due to mounting neck and knee injuries, Steve Austin retired from in-ring competition after WrestleMania XIX in 2003. Following his retirement, he made sporadic appearances for WWE, including serving as an on-screen authority figure. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009. In an unexpected return, Austin competed in one final match against Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38 in 2022.
Outside of wrestling, Austin has pursued a career in acting and hosting. His film credits include roles in The Longest Yard (2005), The Condemned (2007), and The Expendables (2010). He has also hosted several reality television series, such as Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge and Straight Up Steve Austin. Additionally, he hosts the long-running podcast, The Steve Austin Show.
Steve Austin has been married four times and has two daughters, Stephanie and Cassidy, from his second marriage to Jeanie Clarke. He also adopted Clarke’s daughter, Jade.