10 Most Shocking Stone Cold Steve Austin Controversies

6. Austin Turns Heel, Sides With Mr. McMahon

Some of the incidents on this list are controversial from an in-ring standpoint, and some of them are controversial from a reality standpoint. This specific incident manages to be controversial from both. WrestleMania X-Seven ended when Vince McMahon handed Stone Cold a steel chair, and Austin used it to help win the WWF Championship from The Rock. From an in-ring standpoint, this is controversial because Austin was THE guy in the WWF, and he turned his back on this fans. It was their Bash at the Beach 1996, with Stone Cold in the Hulk Hogan role. Austin had become obsessed with the WWF Championship to the point of siding with his arch-nemesis Vince McMahon, and for the first time in four years, he was a full blown heel again. From a reality standpoint, this was controversial because no-one really bought it. Bash at the Beach '96 worked because many WCW fans were sick of Hulk Hogan, and they were ready to boo him. WrestleMania X-Seven is seen by many as the victory lap for WWF. They beat, and bought WCW, and Vince McMahon ruled wrestling. This victory was largely thanks to Steve Austin, and fans just didn't want to boo him. On top of that, they were in Texas, a place where Stone Cold can do no wrong. All of that, coupled with an unbelievable alliance with McMahon led to an angle that fans just did not accept. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM8kNZfv3cU