10 WWE Careers That Were Transformed In One Year

10. Stone Cold Steve Austin - 1997

Any WWE documentary will tell you that Steve Austin strapped himself onto the rocket that the company then blasted into space following King Of The Ring 1996, but any episodic viewing on their very own Network service will rapidly do away with that mythology.

Not until Bret Hart identified him by name and helped elevate him in defeat at Survivor Series that year did 'The Rattlesnake' truly register as a possible main eventer. And not until 1997 did it become clear how going with absolutely anybody else would have been insane.

Austin made himself undeniable from the off in the year that transformed everything for WWE. His matches were of the highest standard, growing in quality with the babyface support he earned en route to turning 'The Hitman' heel.

When injury presented a hurdle, he turned his attention to authority figures and helped craft an idea of Vince McMahon as a character before the Montreal Screwjob solidified it as the natural heel foil for the fully-fleshed out version of the "next Hulk Hogan" the Chairman had spent years looking for.