5 WWE Superstar names and backstage stories behind them

#4 Stone Cold Steve Austin

Stone Cold

When fans discuss the Attitude Era and the Monday Night Wars, the first name that is bound to come in their minds is that of Stone Cold Steve Austin. Earlier known as The Ringmaster, Austin was once watching an HBO special at his residence, which featured a character named The Ice Man. It caught his eye and he ended up pitching the idea to WWE. In response, WWE sent him three pages consisting of possible names he could use.

They faxed me three pages of the worst names I’d seen in the history of my life. Otto von Ruthless…Ice Dagger…Fang McFrost… Man, it doesn’t get more s**k-a** than that!

Around that time, Stone Cold's now ex-wife uttered these words that would ultimately change the course of pro-wrestling:

As she turns to leave, ‘Go ahead and drink your tea,’ she says, ‘before it goes stone cold…'

Austin liked the idea and pitched it to WWE officials. The same was approved and he began using the name on WWE TV. Needless to say, this was possibly the biggest turning point in his career, as well as in pro wrestling.