[superboy]

Austin promotes Raw anniversary!

1996, Stone Cold Steve Austin began his career in World Wrestling Entertainment and eventually became a top attraction on Monday nights.

While developing his skills in WCW and the beginnings of the Stone Cold character in ECW, Austin saw the rise of technical marvel Bret Hart and high-flyer Shawn Michaels. He knew to reach that next level or even surpass their success he had to try his luck in WWE.

As Ted DiBiase's Ringmaster, Austin scored early victories over Matt Hardy and Marty Jannetty on WWE's revolutionary Monday Night Raw program. Since its inception in 1993, Raw attracted audiences on the USA Network with its unique mix of interesting storylines and exciting action, primetime.

''I remember when it first started it was a different kind of wrestling show,'' said Austin during a conference call ushering in his appearance at the three-hour Raw 15th anniversary show set for 8 p.m. EST Monday Dec. 10.

``It was a different kind of energy. It really reinvented the sports entertainment business.''

After leaving behind the Ringmaster gimmick, Austin feuded with the Hart Foundation, especially Bret Hart. His interaction with Bret Hart and his late brother Owen, as well as Austin's former Hollywood Blondes tag partner Brian Pillman, ignited Raw and the birth of Stone Cold Steve Austin and the Attitude era.

The fans really started to rally around Austin when he began a long-standing rivalry with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. Wrestling fans tuned into the USA Network each Monday night to watch Austin defy authority and stick it to his boss.

''I had so many classic moments with Vince McMahon,'' said Austin, who brought WWE into the Attitude era along with other characters who pushed the envelope like Degeneration X, Val Venis, Sable and The Rock.

``I think all the vehicles I got to drive were great, but one of my favorite moments was knocking Vince McMahon with a bedpan in the hospital.''

Austin, 42, retired from the ring in 2003 at WrestleMania against another popular adversary, The Rock. Although he will make an appearance on occasion, Austin is content deer hunting and working on his Hollywood movie career.

``I'm pretty much done with wrestling," said Austin, who has some projects lined up in January. ``I had a blast, and it was the best job I had in my entire life. When you had my type of style, which was very aggressive, you're going to have wear-and-tear, but I feel really good.

``If I really wanted to and needed to I can probably get two more hard years in the ring, but at this point it's not worth it. After 10 years, when I'm in my 50s, I want to feel this good. So it's time to hang it up.''

With a future release of a DVD chronicling his more than 13 years in the pro wrestling business, Austin will get to crack open a beer and enjoy some of his career highlights. However, Austin likes to scout the guys who are making an impact on Raw and the company's other programs.

''John Cena, you just don't get any better in the ring, but unfortunately he's sidelined with an injury,'' said Austin. ``Ken Kennedy was doing well for a while, but I think he lost track a little bit. I think it was too many people giving him too much advice. He needs to go back to what he was doing, and I think he's going to get there.

``MVP is still a physically good mechanic in the ring. I like the guy, but he needs to think about the entertainment part of it. Randy Orton is really good in the ring. I'd like to see him a little bit better on the microphone still and have an extra gear in his work. He would be one of the top guys.

``Umaga has really impressed me. All of the Samoan guys have been really great workers in the ring. He is no different. He's a good big man, and I wish they would keep pushing him and using him even more than they are.''

Recently, Austin confronted upstart Santino Marella whose character was constantly berating Austin and his starring role in the WWE Films release The Condemned. ''I knew who he was, but I really didn't take notice of him,'' said Austin. ``He's a great talker. He got better in the six or seven weeks, and I think he's very entertaining. I enjoy doing business with him. I think he has a really bright future ahead of him.''

• Stone Cold Steve Austin will participate in the Raw three-hour special 15th anniversary show 8 p.m. EST Monday, Dec. 10 on the USA Network.

• Austin had a number of entertaining moments on Raw during his time.

Austin drove a Zamboni machine to the ring in an attack against Vince McMahon. In 1999, Austin gave The Rock and the Corporation the first of many beer baths throughout the years.

Those are clear standouts, but here are a few more:

1. Nov. 4, 1996: The USA Network and WWE received a lot of angry phone calls when Raw featured a segment involving Stone Cold breaking into Brian Pillman's residence. It ended with Pillman pulling a gun on Austin.

2. May 26, 1997: In the weeks before they squared off at the 1997 King of the Ring, the unlikely team of Shawn Michaels and Austin defeated the British Bulldog and Owen Hart for the tag team titles.

3. July 14, 1997: Mick Foley debuted the Dude Love persona when he teamed with Austin to beat Owen Hart and the British Bulldog for another run with the tag titles.

4. April 13, 1998: The Stone Cold-McMahon storyline reached a fever pitch when the two were set to main event the show in their first 1-on-1 encounter. It is the night often credited with Raw taking over WCW's Monday Nitro in the ratings.

5. June 29, 1998: Austin defeated Kane to win the heavyweight championship he lost a night prior at the King of the Ring.

6. June 28, 1999: Austin regained the heavyweight title against the Undertaker.

7. April 2, 2001: The night after his WrestleMania heel turn and aligning himself with McMahon, Austin formed the Power Trip with Triple H for a beat down on The Rock.

8. Aug. 20, 2001: Kurt Angle put a spin on Austin's past beer baths when he brought a milk truck to the ring. Angle sprayed Austin and the Alliance with milk.

9. March 3, 2003: Austin returned to Raw after walking out on the company over differences in 2002. Austin began the road to his final in-ring WrestleMania appearance against The Rock.

10. Nov. 5, 2007: After weeks of ridiculing and calling out Austin, Santino Marella and Maria fell victim to an Austin beer bath.
courtesy MiamiHerald.com