Stone Cold Steve Austin simply defined the popularity of WWE in the Attitude Era. The charismatic anti-hero from Texas rose to fame with his character work, promos, and rebellious attitude to become one of the greatest in the industry.
RELATED:Why Steve Austin Vs. Vince McMahon Is The Greatest Feud In WWE History (& Why It Is Overrated)
During his peak years in the late 1990s, The Texas Rattlesnake produced some incredible rivalries against various opponents. From headlining big pay-per-views to winning titles, Stone Cold Steve Austin continued to achieve great things until an unfortunate neck injury forced him to hang up his boots in 2003. Despite his early retirement, Stone Cold Steve Austin did so many things that most wrestlers can only dream of.
10 King Of The Ring Win & Austin 3:16
Stone Cold Steve Austin's journey to superstardom in WWE embarked on with his win at the King of the Ring tournament in 1996. He won the prestigious tournament by beating Jake Roberts, but the victory speech followed by the win became iconic.
Mocking Jake Roberts' character, Austin stated the words 'Austin 3:16'. That catchphrase ended up being the most famous line ever, and Stone Cold's merchandise with 'Austin 3:16' written on it is still among the best-selling wrestling t-shirts.
9 The Feud With Vince McMahon
While Vince McMahon created the Stone Cold Steve Austin character, he also personally helped to elevate the character. His feud with the boss became the talking point of the Attitude Era, helping WWE to win the rating war with WCW.
Vince McMahon, the evil boss, put many obstacles in front of Stone Cold Steve Austin, but he overcame them with his seditious gimmick. The amazing rivalry was voted feud of the year by Wrestling Observer Newsletter and Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
8 WCW US Champion
Before WWE, Stone Cold Steve Austin wrestled in WCW, where he wasn't more than a mid-career. But his accomplishments there initially put a spotlight on him as a wrestler.
While Stone Cold never won the United States Championship under the WWE banner, he won the prestigious belt in WCW. He became a WCW United States Heavyweight Champion not once but twice, making it one of his greatest wrestling achievements.
7 Intercontinental Champion
Even though Stone Cold Steve Austin never won the United States Championship under the WWE banner, he did win the Intercontinental Championship twice in his career.
RELATED:10 Most Important Heels Of Steve Austin's WWE Career
Winning one of the most prestigious mid-card titles in wrestling history is certainly among the greatest achievements of Stone Cold Steve Austin.
6 WWE Hall Of Famer
Getting into the WWE Hall of Fame is a gigantic accomplishment for any wrestler. Every year, wrestlers who have contributed significantly to WWE get the honor to be in the Hall of Fame.
Considering Stone Cold Steve Austin is possibly the most popular wrestler ever, it is no surprise that he has been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. The Texas Rattlesnake was in the Hall of Fame batch of 2009.
5 Rookie Of The Year By PWI & WON
While the fans are well aware of Stone Cold Steve Austin's accomplishments after being in WWE, he still had noteworthy achievements in his pre-WWE days.
Austin debuted in the wrestling ring in 1989 in the indies. But Pro Wrestling Illustrated and Wrestling Observer Newsletter voted him the 'Rookie of the Year' seeing his exceptional talent, which was his first biggest accomplishment in wrestling as a rookie.
4 Most Royal Rumble Wins
Overcoming twenty-nine other men in the ring is a herculean task, which is why winning a Royal Rumble match is among the big accomplishments of any wrestler. Over the years, many wrestlers have won the battle royal match to secure a spot at WrestleMania, but Stone Cold Steve Austin has done it more than any wrestler in history.
During his heyday in the Attitude Era, Stone Cold Steve Austin became a Royal Rumble winner a record three times. He won the Royal Rumble matches in 1997, 1998, and 2001.
3 Four WrestleMania Main Events
While being at WrestleMania to begin with is a big deal, main eventing the Showcase of Immortals symbolizes the status as the biggest star of the company. Being the biggest draw in the Attitude Era, it's no surprise that Stone Cold Steve Austin has closed WrestleMania four times in his career.
RELATED: Every Steve Austin WrestleMania Match Ranked, According To Dave Meltzer
Stone Cold's maiden WrestleMania main event was against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 14. Then he closed WrestleMania 15 and 17 against The Rock. His final WrestleMania main event was against Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38, where the bout closed the first night of the event.
2 His Winning Percentage In 1998
1998 was a big year for Stone Cold Steve Austin and WWE because the ratings war's momentum began shifting from WCW to WWE in the same year. WCW's eighty-three weeks of winning streak was broken in 1998, and Stone Cold played a major role in it.
Consequently, Stone Cold's winning percentage in 1998 was a great accomplishment. After competing in 138 matches in 1998, he won a whopping 124 matches with a winning percentage of nearly 90 percent. He just lost 7 bouts that year out of 138.
1 WWE Champion
The WWE Championship is arguably the most sought-after world title in professional wrestling, and every wrestler yearns to wear it one day. Therefore, winning it is the biggest achievement for any wrestler.
Stone Cold Steve Austin remained in the WWE Championship picture for the majority of his WWE career, winning the coveted gold six times.
