10 Ways Stone Cold Steve Austin Changed WWE FOREVER

10. Merch Money

It’s hardly breaking news, but Stone Cold Steve Austin is one of the most famous wrestlers ever to lace up a pair of boots. While he’s not quite on par with Hulk Hogan or The Rock in terms of household name recognition, Austin is only slightly behind them.

In terms of merchandise sales, and sheer money made in the business, however, he’s in a league of his own. A combination of right place, right time, and the charisma and popularity of the man meant that Austin’s merch sales remained unbeaten for a very long time, until John Cena came along.

It’s worth noting that the Cena well has been utterly drained, too, with Big John armbands, tea towels, and egg cups (probably) available for sale to demanding kids. In Austin’s day, things were a little more basic - even so, he shifted an incredible 12 million t-shirts during the Attitude Era, and that smoking skull design continues to move units to this day.

Money is important in the wrestling business no matter who your top guy is, but without Stone Cold, it’s safe to imagine that the merchandising arm of the WWE wouldn’t be where it is today.