5 WWE gimmicks that were reworked and became successful

#2 WWE reworks The Ringmaster into Stone Cold Steve Austin

The evolution of Stone Cold Steve Austin made history. Photo / Sportskeeda

Throughout the earlier part of his career, the man known as Stunning Steve Austin showed a great deal of promise. When the WWE Hall of Famer first competed he had long flowing locks and wore a robe to the ring. When he arrived in WWE, his hair was nearly shaved clean and he was known as The Ringmaster.

With the Millon Dollar Man, Ted DiBiase, at his side, Austin had no real identity. When Austin and DiBiase went their separate ways, we began to see the birth of the Stone Cold Steve Austin character. It was his infamous Austin 3:16 promo where fans saw the transformation become complete. In his own words, former WWE Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin recalls how it all came about.

I could hear the RF microphone, Vince was doing commentary. I knew I needed to shut the F up and take it home, but I needed a button. So as I’m hearing Vince I’m saying to myself, ‘I need a go home line, I need a go home line.’ That’s when I sh*t: ‘And that’s the bottom line cause Stone Cold said so.’”

“That’s when Michaels Hayes told me that Jake The Snake cut a religious-based promo on me and that’s when the Austin 3:16 was born.”

This transformation proved to be a masterstroke as Stone Cold Steve Austin became one of the most recognised WWE Superstars of all time and his Hall Of Fame career is a proof of it.