WWE Almost Gave Steve Austin A Gimmick You DIDN'T Know About
Steve Austin was almost something else before becoming 'The Ringmaster' in WWE.
Steve Austin was almost 'The Sandman'.
No, not that Sandman. The future 'Stone Cold' wasn't about to start carrying a cane, smashing a beer can against his forehead or entering arenas to Metallica's classic 'Enter Sandman' track. In short, he wasn't going to be a homage to the ECW original at all.
Bruce Prichard revealed via his 'Something To Wrestle With' podcast that the then-WWF's idea was rather different. Back then, the creative nucleus (fronted by Vince McMahon) was interested in introducing a mechnical 'nuts n' bolts' style pro wrestler who'd work rings around his opponents.
That eventually blossomed (if that's even the right word) into the dreaded 'Ringmaster' gimmick.
Prichard had something else in mind. He wanted to call either Austin or Dustin Rhodes 'The Sandman', and have them "be a real smooth worker" who made winning matches seem effortless. This character would've deployed a humble sleeper as their finishing hold, and would've gone on quite the winning run.
Vince preferred 'The Ringmaster' over that plan, so it got changed. 'The Sandman' idea was ditched, and it'd go on to become synonymous with Paul Heyman's extreme fed instead.