12 Signings That Changed The Wrestling World
3. Steve Austin (To WWE)
Before he was stunning the world with his bad attitude and willingness to beat up his boss, this eventual legend was simply 'Stunning' Steve Austin over in WCW.
He was a solid enough worker in-between the ropes, but this Hollywood Blond didn't seem like the sort of bloke destined to become the most popular performer of all time. And after feeling that he just didn't know how to market this former United States Champion, according to Austin himself, Eric Bischoff eventually fired him in September 1995 while he was out injured.
That would turn out to be the greatest thing that could have happened for both the wrestler and his eventual home of the WWF.
A captivating little run in ECW post-WCW exit gave Austin the platform to start creating a 'Stone Cold' character that would soon take the entire business by storm.
And while he wasn't given the chance to unleash his inner 'Texas Rattlesnake' right away after eventually signing with Vince McMahon's organisation in late '95, after finally shrugging off The Ringmaster gimmick and shaving his head the following year, an icon was born.
Were it not for Jim Ross and Kevin Nash convincing McMahon to take a punt on this reliable worker with the potential to be so much more, Austin 3:16 wouldn't have helped the WWF see off their WCW competition and turn the Attitude Era into one of the greatest spells in wrestling history.