The Many Faces Of Steve Austin - Ranked From Worst To Best

Just when it looked like Austin was set for another big babyface run, Stone Cold reverted to the heel role nobody wanted. Turning his back on WWE at Invasion, Austin gave the justification that Vince was grooming Kurt Angle to take his spot, and felt underappreciated as a result. He was WWE Champion, and in his eyes, should have been treated like the most important man in the company.

His defection was a huge coup for the Alliance, and he soon assumed a leadership role within the group. The “What?” catchphrase (one of the more dubious elements of Austin’s legacy) was born in August, and by September, Austin had lost his belt to Kurt Angle. He regained it a few weeks later, but cracks were emerging in the Alliance’s facade, and Austin wound-up feuding with fellow faction member Rob Van Dam, who was being cheered in spite of the group’s villainy.

The Alliance lost in the end. The Rock pinned Austin in the decisive Survivor Series match, forcing the Alliance to disband, and throwing Austin’s status into dispute. Stone Cold eventually turned face again, but while his Alliance run had its moments, it was a failure on the whole. Booing the Attitude Era’s foremost hero was too big an ask for the fans, and while this run gave Austin the chance to briefly renew his comedic partnership with Angle, it stripped away everything that made him great in the first place.