[Don Draper]

Many here feel that Austin is the greatest performer the industry has ever seen so I want to know what was your favorite gimmick of his. Mine was the post Ringmaster heel Austin, that was when he had classic matches with Bret Hart and cut great promos (His KOTR speech obviously)

He's had many different characters throughout the years but what was your favorite?

 

[coopieroLCFC]

Ive gone for the obvious of 97-2000 run however his heel run 96-97 was pretty entertaining and his work with ECW was fucking hilarious

 

[IAmNotAJ]

Face 1997-2000, and it's not even close.

 

[soxfan93]

MY personal favorite is heel Austin 1996-1997. Great matches, great promos, and he wasn't limited yet.

 

[MOBELS]

His Heel run in 1996, because he had great matches and great promos and was in one of my favourite feuds ever (Bret Hart vs Steve Austin)

 

[coopieroLCFC]

MY personal favorite is heel Austin 1996-1997. Great matches, great promos, and he wasn't limited yet.

yeah his match with Bret at survivor series 1996 was awsome he pulled out all the tricks in that one, I seem to remember him slapping a texas clover leaf on the Hitman

 

[soxfan93]

yeah his match with Bret at survivor series 1996 was awsome he pulled out all the tricks in that one, I seem to remember him slapping a texas clover leaf on the Hitman

Yup lol. It was a hell of a match. I wonder how many other great technical matches he would have had had he not been injured by Owen at Summerslam '97.

 

[Da Alliance]

My favorite was the Two man power trip

 

[FLAW]

Face 1997-00

 

[Bobby Brainbuster]

I went with heel 1996-1997. This was when Austin was nearly there but just hadn't quite made it to legend status yet. Around this time he was involved in the brilliant feud with Bret Hart from his excellent Survivor Series 1996 match, his one man Royal Rumble performance in 1997, The Final Four PPV, and climaxing with the famous Wrestlemania 17 submission match between Hart and Austin. The Canadian Stampede PPV after Wrestlemania was a highlight too.

 

[SHIRLEY]

Hollywood Blondes / Stunning Steve

 

[D17]

Leader of the alliance, generally the most entertaining.

 

[JEFF.JARRETT]

Heel 1996-97

 

[apokalypse]

i like his heel run 96-97/2001 more than his face just so badass, funny in 2001 and better promos.

 

[Hazzard]

nuff said

edit: this is from 1996 I think, I voted for 1997-00 by accident, nevermind.

 

[SpearAndJackhammer]

WHAT?

WHAT?

WHAT?

WHAT?

Best chant ever.

 

[nazzar]

nuff said

edit: this is from 1996 I think, I voted for 1997-00 by accident, nevermind.

There was so much intensity of those promos. One line always stuck with me from that feud, it was something like:
"put an s in front of hitman and that's my opinion of Bret Hart"

 

[666_The_Game_666]

Face 1997-2000 and Two Man Power Trip are a tie for me such great runs it's a shame the Power Trip didnt last longer

 

[TripleG]

I liked Austin the most from 97-00 as a babyface. He was an unpredictable and bombastic personality that made the show that much more exciting to watch. He was an over the top and fantastic character that was easy to get behind. The feuds with McMahon & The Rock are easily two of the greatest feuds in the history of pro wrestling, bar none. That was Austin at his best. He was on top of the world during this period.

I HATED HATED HATED the heel turn in 2001 and I felt like his character never fully recovered from it. After that debacle, the character became very stale & repetitive. He went from being very unpredictable to being the most predictable character on the show.

 

[wrestlingfan91]

I voted 96-97. But i have to say i liked watching Austin the most on his 96-99 run, even when he turned he was vicious, didn't care for anybody and did what he wanted, in 99 he started showing emotions more, he respected ccertain guys and stuff, and that's ok but he was a beast 96-98 didn't care what or who he was simply Stone Cold Steve Austin he didn't really change his behavior.