Steve Austin arrived in the WWF in 1995 as a wrestler's wrestler who already had learned how to make money with anyone. By the time he ceased active in-ring competition in 2004, Steve Austin's body of work as a WWE performer was so strong that certain other stars that could've made this list don't make this list because without the work they did specifically with Steve Austin, they actually may have underwhelmed. Steve Austin also spent the better part of 18 months feuding with Vince McMahon in a way that significantly altered the face of professional wrestling and brought new fans into the business overall. In adding to pro wrestling's entertainment value via assaulting the man who signed his checks, McMahon owes Austin a considerable credit for being a smart enough wrestler to know that this groundbreaking concept (promotion owner actually wrestling the top babyface) was a smart idea. Between merchandise sales. legendary matches and more, Vince would be nothing without Austin 3:16.
Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.
