10 WWE Stars Who Turned Into EVERYTHING They Hated

2. Steve Austin

Brock Lesnar Roman Reigns Paul Heyman
WWE.com

Steve Austin is remembered today as the ultimate rebel/hell-raising badass. His hijinks opposite Vince McMahon are stuff of legend, and millions of people get borderline teary when reminiscing about the glory days of 'Attitude'. There's a reason why folks don't hold Austin's heel turn and alliance with Vince in the same regard.

It's even something Steve considers a mistake looking back.

Austin went from taking pleasure in upsetting the boss and his corporate chosen ones to unthinkable corporate suck-up stooge in 2001. Almost overnight, 'Stone Cold' stripped away everything that had made him a fan favourite. He became cowardly instead of fearless, comedic instead of strait-laced, and desperate instead of proud.

In retrospect, Steve actually took the corporate suck-up thing further than the likes of The Rock or Mick Foley had before him. That seemed impossible when he was riding high as a beer-drinking, Stunner-giving anti-authority monster who shifted t-shirts by the truckload.

Hell yeah? More like hell no.

Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.