The Many Faces Of Steve Austin - Ranked From Worst To Best
6. "Superstar" Steve Austin
Austin wrestled just a handful of matches for ECW in 1995, but his short period with Paul Heyman’s company was one of the most important of his career. Cut loose by Eric Bischoff, Austin was still recovering from his triceps injury, and wasn’t cleared to wrestle. Heyman brought him in to do in-ring interviews initially, and ECW proved to be a valuable launchpad for what would come later.
He was known as “Superstar” Steve Austin, but ECW was where Austin started honing his “Stone Cold” persona. He was given ample promo time to develop his microphone skills, and did so in a fiery series of vignettes aimed at Bischoff. “Superstar” was far closer to the character everyone associates with Steve Austin today than any of his previous personas, and Austin still credits Heyman as the man who taught him how to cut a promo.
Austin was eventually able to step into the ring, and immediately entered ECW World Heavyweight Title contendership. Mikey Whipwreck was champion at the time, and successfully defended the belt against Austin at November to Remember. It was here that Austin learned Whipwreck’s finisher, the Whipper-Snapper, and later adopted it as the Stone Cold Stunner. One more ECW Title shot later, however, and Austin was on his way to WWE.