5 WWE Superstars who turned their career around after a major injury

#4. Stone Cold Steve Austin

Stone Cold Steve Austin is a name that still strikes fear into the hearts of the WWE Universe, but The Texas Rattlesnake may never have become the legendary figure in WWE history that he now is if he didn't overcome a career-threatening injury.

Steve Austin's 1996 King of the Ring victory was the beginning of his rise in the company after Austin 3:16 was born following the match. This rise hit a huge setback at SummerSlam when Austin legitimately broke his neck in a match against Owen Hart.

Austin was able to win the match with the help of Owen Hart, but the injury caused him to be sidelined for more than a month and meant that The Rattlesnake had to change his entire in-ring style. Austin went from being a technical wrestler to a brawler and after settling his issues with Hart at Survivor Series in 1997, Austin went after The Rock and in turn Vince McMahon.

It was the storyline with Vince McMahon throughout the late 1990s that defined Austin and his WWE career. In the end, the injury did cut Austin's career short, but the former World Champion had already become a living legend at that point.