Why Did Stone Cold Steve Austin Suddenly Retire from WWE After Losing to The Rock at WrestleMania XIX?

There’s no other WWE superstar that is more popular than the man himself, Stone Cold Steve Austin. Before joining Vince McMahon’s company, Steven Anderson was known as “Stunning” Steve Austin in WCW from 1991 to 1995. So, when he joined the WWE in 1996, he remodeled his gimmick as “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

It was just his character, who was an anti-hero; however, Steve Austin was loved by the fans on a different level. Unfortunately, Austin’s wrestling career was cut short because of injuries. He was forced to retire from in-ring competition in 2003 after he wrestled Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson at WrestleMania XIX. 

What happened with Stone Cold Steve Austin at SummerSlam 1997?

Stone Cold Steve Austin’s primary reason behind his retirement was a neck injury he suffered in a battle against Owen Hart. In 1997, Owen Hart went head to head with The Rattlesnake at the SummerSlam pay-per-view.

During this match, “The Rocket,” Owen Hart hit Stone Cold with a sit-out Tombstone Piledriver. As a result of the Tombstone Piledriver by Hart, Steve Austin had his neck broken. This was the neck injury that haunted Austin for the rest of his wrestling career.

READ MORE: Who Ended The Career Of Stone Cold?

However, Stone Cold still hung around in the WWE after the neck injury for almost six years until it all caught up to him. Austin also suffered from various knee injuries during his time in wrestling.

The Texas Rattlesnake went through multiple neck surgeries; however, the damage was made, and the doctors advised him to hang his boots from wrestling. Stone Cold’s body took a lot of damage, and to a great extent, he retired for good.

The Texas Rattlesnake’s astonishing wrestling career!

Stone Cold Steve Austin was a staple of the WWE Attitude Era, as his gimmick allowed him to be the beer-loving anti-hero. However, The Texas Rattlesnake attained mainstream popularity because of the usage of foul language, disrespecting other wrestlers, and having a rivalry with The Big Man, Vince McMahon. As a result, the company owner created a Stone Cold Steve Austin that was rebellious and a villain.

When Austin arrived in the WCW, just in a few weeks, he defeated Bobby Eaton for his first WCW World Television Championship. He has been a World Tag Team Champion twice with Brian Pillman in WCW and NWA. The Texas Rattlesnake rose to prestige when he won the 1996 WWE King of the Ring tournament. He defeated Jake Roberts in the final and introduced the most fabulous promo of all time, known as ‘Austin 3:16.’

Stone Cold Steve Austin is the first man ever to win the WWE Royal Rumble thrice in his career. We have witnessed this achievement in the Guinness World Record for most Royal Rumble wins. A record that may never be broken!

Even though Stone Cold did not enjoy a lengthy career, he remains one of the most iconic names in the history of WWE. The Rattlesnake has also won the WWE Championship six times. He has squared off against the best in the business, such as The Rock, Bret Hart, Owen Hart, The Undertaker, Triple H, Vince McMahon, and many others.

Sharing the ring alongside WWE legends has elevated Steve Austin’s presence in professional wrestling.

Fasten your seatbelts, Stone Cold is returning to The Stupendous WrestleMania

Stone Cold Steve Austin retired from the company 19 years ago. He hasn’t wrestled for almost two decades since he faced The Rock at WrestleMania XIX. In 2022, Stone Cold Steve Austin will return for one last time against Kevin Owens. Fight Owens had been prompting and talking smack about the great Texas state on WWE programming for the past weeks.

Finally, Kevin Owens has invited Stone Cold to The Stupendous WrestleMania 38. The Texas Rattlesnake will appear at this year’s WrestleMania to humble Kevin Owens. Will the WWE witness a ‘Stunner vs. Stunner’ match?