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Stone Cold Steve Austin is arguably the greatest WWE Superstar in the history of the company, and a name that a lot of people even outside the wrestling bubble are aware of. And it is because of the same reason that every time he makes a reappearance in the roster, the pop is absolutely thunderous.
You could always make the argument that Hulk Hogan is the greatest of all time. You can say that someone like John Cena has carried the company on his back for a considerably longer period of time, as compared to the Texas Rattlesnake as well.
But there is just something special about the Texas Rattlesnake that echoes with fans to this very day. His rivalry with Vince McMahon changed the course of wrestling history and ensured that WWE wasn't vanquished by its competition- WCW back during the Attitude Era.
As a result, WWE has tried to create the next Stone Cold Steve Austin on five subsequent occasions. In every case, they've had a varied measure of success.
#5 CM Punk
Even though CM Punk was his own man and his own (cult of) personality, he developed a connection with the fans that nobody had since Stone Cold Steve Austin. He spoke the truth and did not shy away from insulting his bosses, which is something Stone Cold was known for. And as a result of everything that he achieved in his WWE run, especially during the whole Pipe Bomb, fans still clamor for CM Punk to come back to the company, to this day.
Oh, and what was he wearing when he cut the pipe bomb that shook the world to its core?
Yes, that's right. He was seated on the ramp, clad in a Stone Cold Steve Austin shirt.
#4 Kevin Owens
The biggest thing that comes to mind when you look at Kevin Owens' current babyface persona is that he ends his matches with The Stunner, Stone Cold's iconic move. Moreover, when he did become a babyface, he was embroiled in a long rivalry with Shane McMahon, the son of the man who is the heart and soul of WWE, and the antagonist to Stone Cold Steve Austin, Vince McMahon.
Even though Kevin Owens hasn't had nearly the same kind of impact on the business that Stone Cold Steve Austin has had, the sequel is rarely as impactful as the original. Kevin Owens has been very vocal about his appreciation for Steve Austin and also the fact that growing up, he loved Stone Cold a lot more than Goldberg, on WCW.
Were he born in the Attitude Era, and not had the restrictions of today, who knows just how far Kevin Owens may have gone with regard to being immortalized in the pro wrestling annals. That said, he remains a top WWE star even today, and that's saying something.
#3 Ronda Rousey
It only lasted for a very brief spell, but Ronda Rousey and Stephanie McMahon tried their best to recreate the whole Stone Cold Steve Austin and Vince McMahon rivalry on RAW. It would lead to a mixed tag team match at WrestleMania that many still consider the best debut match of any performer in the history of WWE.
I know that you're thinking at this point that Ronda Rousey's character is based a lot more on Rowdy Roddy Piper as compared to Stone Cold Steve Austin. And yet, if you were to look at her initial run and the rivalry she had with Stephanie McMahon, there's a very Stone Cold vs. Mr. McMahon vibe to the whole thing, in my opinion.
Of course, Ronda Rousey would realize soon after that she is a far better heel than she is a babyface leading to her program against Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch at WrestleMania last year. Maybe the issue was that she was ill-equipped for such a big role on such a big stage, but we saw glimpses of Stone Cold in her initial persona.
#2 Becky Lynch
But where WWE failed with Ronda Rousey, they seem to be succeeding with perhaps her toughest opponent yet. Becky Lynch went from a goody-two-shoes persona to a rugged Irish tough girl, and the character of 'The Man' was born striking an instant connect with fans across the world. The fact that this week's episode of RAW would end with Stone Cold Steve Austin drinking a few cold beers with Becky Lynch is a testament to the fact that even he believes in Becky Lynch.
Even though Kevin Owens does the Stunner, I would have to say that Becky Lynch has a lot more in Stone Cold Steve Austin, than Owens does. The way she carries herself and does not back down from competition, the way that her promos don't shy away from the topic at hand, and the way that she can engage with the crowd is in the same ballpark as the Texas Rattlesnake, to an extent.
One has to see how her persona develops in the years to come if she still clings on to the same gimmick.
#1 Dean Ambrose
I know that it's hard to remember a time before Dean Ambrose pulled his pants down in the doctor's office, to receive shots on live television, but there was a point in time when he was Stone Cold lite. He carried himself with a swagger that was reminiscent of the Texas Rattlesnake and cleared out heels without breaking a sweat, as you can see in the clip linked above.
The only issue that Ambrose faced is that he was burdened with the whole 'Lunatic Fringe' gimmick that completely underwhelmed his character and took away what made it special and what made it cool for fans. One could go so far as to say that his AEW persona is a look at what Dean Ambrose could have been.
But there were certain points during his WWE run where Dean Ambrose had some kind of an edge, and one could almost see a latent Stone Cold Steve Austin within him, wanting to emerge and showcase to the world that he was much better than booking essentially allowed him to be.
