Debra had been an onscreen character in WWE for a couple years, serving as Jeff Jarretts manager and Mick Foleys lieutenant commissioner, before she began appearing alongside her real-life husband, Austin. In some ways, the decision to have them appear together and incorporating their marriage into the program was baffling Austin had always been a loner character, preaching Dont trust anyone, and stunning his own tag-team partners from time to time. Suddenly, there was a Mrs. Austin accompanying him on Raw and Smackdown, and the Rattlesnake had a family life. On the other hand, the incorporation of Debra helped solidify Austins heel turn in 2001, showing him to need a crutch in the form of his wife. He also could use his treatment (or mistreatment) of her to keep the heat turned up.Still, this was a strange move by WWE, one that semi-backfired after Austins domestic assault of Debra in 2002. Although Austin had walked away from WWE at that point, he would return several months later, sans Debra.