DVD Review: The Legacy of Stone Cold Steve Austin

The newest offering from the WWE takes a look at the career of one of the most popular and charismatic Superstars in professional wrestling. It follows his early career at the Sportatorium in Dallas, Texas, home of World Class Championship Wrestling, where Austin was trained by "Gentleman" Chris Adams and debuted as Steve Williams (his given name), but when he went to Memphis and the USWA, Dutch Mantel came up with his new nickname, Steve Austin (later "Stunning" Steve Austin). He moved on to WCW and won the TV title, and matches with Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat are shown as well, along with tag matches (and matches against) Brian Pillman (he and Pillman were known as The Hollywood Blondes). After an injury, Austin is fired from WCW and is given a call by ECW founder Paul Heyman, and he goes to ECW and cuts some promos, targeting former boss Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan, and having a match with Mikey Whipwreck and the Sandman for the ECW title (which he lost). Austin is next shown in WWE, where he faces Savio Vega in a Caribbean Strap Match and loses, thereby sending his manager Ted Dibiase packing from the organiation. He moves on to win the King of The Ring 1996, then enters into a feud with Bret "Hitman" Hart, losing a match at Survivor Series '96, then is seen facing the Undertaker in a title match and losing thanks to the Hart Foundation. He also wins two WWE tag team titles with Shawn Michaels and Dude Love (Mick Foley), but also faces off against Michaels and Foley later down the road. He also faces Owen Hart and is given what is called a "stinger" which is a temporary paralysis caused by a neck injury (Hart gave him a Tombstone Piledriver), but Austin pins Hart for the Intercontinental Title but is forced to give it up due to his neck injury. He is out for a few weeks but returns and reaks vengeance on Hart, and enters into a feud with Mr. McMahon, who attempts to make him his corporate champion after Austin finally wins the WWE title. In a First Blood Match at King of The Ring 1998, Kane defeats Austin for his first and only WWE Title, but Austin regains it one night later on Raw. The Rock enters the sights of Austin next, and they trade the WWE Title back and forth, then Austin targets the man who co-conspired to take him out of action permanently, Triple HHH, in two violent matches. This DVD set is really quite well-done and gets a rating of 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.