Author: When Steve Austin arrived at the WWF in 1996, he was the hottest free agent on the market. However, things would fizzle out quickly as “The Ringmaster.” It wouldn’t be long until a stone-cold cup of tea changed Austin’s life forever!
Why is Steve Austin called Stone Cold?
When Steve Austin arrived in the WWE in 1996, he was the hottest free agent on the market.
He was poised to become a major player in the business, but things wouldn’t go well under his initial nickname, “The Ringmaster.
However, it wasn’t long before Austin reinvented himself to become one of the most popular professional wrestlers of all time.
After being fired from WCW via fax, Steve Austin had a chip on his shoulder and something to prove.
Soon, he would compose one of the greatest promos of all time during his short stint in ECW.
He was the hottest free agent on the market. However, things did not work out as Austin would have liked in the then WWF under the guise of “The Ringmaster.”
In his book, Stone Cold Steve Austin: The Bottom Line on the Most Popular Superstar of All Time, Austin revealed how he ditched The Ringmaster gimmick to become “Stone Cold.”
“I went up to Vince, and I said, ‘I’m not The Ringmaster,'” Austin remembered.
“[Vince] said, ‘Well, who are you then?’
“I said, ‘I don’t know yet… but I’m not The Ringmaster.’
“I went home, and I was drinking a few beers at the house.
“I was watching this special on HBO about Richard Kuklinski – he was called the Ice Man.
“The Ice Man was a hitman for hire for the mob [in the New Jersey and New York City area]. Totally remorseless, just a ruthless individual, a guy didn’t give a s*** about anything.
“He was very cold, no emotion about him, and I said, ‘Man, this guy… There’s something about this guy that’s really got my gears going…’
“So I pitched my idea to the office, and they said, ‘Okay, Steve, we’ll think about it.’
“They faxed me three pages of the worst names I’d seen in the history of my life.
“Otto von Ruthless, Ice Dagger, Fang McFrost…
“Man, it doesn’t get more suck-a**s than that!
“And so I’m thinking, ‘You kidding me? These creative geniuses are the guys that make superstars?’
“You know, back in the day, you’d just think, ‘If you go to WWE, soon as you walk in the door, they’ll put a gimmick on you, and they’ll make you a star…’
“No, that’s not the case. I mean, it’s a crapshoot at best.
“So anyway, I’m sitting there frustrated, and you know, my wife at the time, Jeannie – who was from England – makes me a cup of hot tea.
“She sets that tea on the table, and she goes, ‘Ah, don’t worry about it. You’ll think of something.’
“As she turns to leave, ‘Go ahead and drink your tea,’ she says, ‘before it goes stone cold.'”
And the rest, as they say, was history!
Steve Austin’s tenacity and hard work paid off, and as “Stone Cold,” he turned into a global phenomenon. His iconic nickname is now synonymous with the WWE.
Watch Steve Austin Get Referred to as “Stone Cold” for the Very First Time on March 11, 1996:
These stories may also interest you:
- Eric Bischoff Firing Steve Austin: ‘Totally Disrespectful’ How It Went Down
- Steve Austin – The Night He Composed the Greatest Promo of All Time
- Steve Austin – Baby Oil Mishap Eliminates Him from the Royal Rumble
Can’t get enough pro wrestling history in your life? Sign up to unlock ten pro wrestling stories curated uniquely for YOU, plus subscriber-exclusive content. A special gift from us awaits after signing up!
Want More? Choose another story!
Be sure to follow us on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, TikTok, and Flipboard!
"Evan Ginzburg’s stories are a love letter to wrestling, filled with heart, humor, and history. A must-read for any true fan." — Keith Elliot Greenberg
Wrestling Rings, Blackboards, and Movie Sets is the latest book from Pro Wrestling Stories Senior Editor Evan Ginzburg. 100 unforgettable stories—from sharing a flight on 9/11 with a WWE Hall of Famer to untold moments in wrestling history. A page-turner for fans of the ring and beyond. Grab your copy today! For signed editions, click here.
"Evan Ginzburg’s stories are a love letter to wrestling, filled with heart, humor, and history. A must-read for any true fan." — Keith Elliot Greenberg
Wrestling Rings, Blackboards, and Movie Sets is the latest book from Pro Wrestling Stories Senior Editor Evan Ginzburg. 100 unforgettable stories—from sharing a flight on 9/11 with a WWE Hall of Famer to untold moments in wrestling history. A page-turner for fans of the ring and beyond. Grab your copy today! For signed editions, click here.
Pro Wrestling Stories is committed to accurate, unbiased wrestling content rigorously fact-checked and verified by our team of researchers and editors. Any inaccuracies are quickly corrected, with updates timestamped in the article's byline header.
Got a correction, tip, or story idea for Pro Wrestling Stories? Contact us! Learn about our editorial standards here. Ever wanted to learn more about the people behind Pro Wrestling Stories? Meet our team of authors!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us provide free content for you to enjoy!
