"Stone Cold" Steve Austin is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. Throughout his career, he had several allies and enemies in the ring, both in storylines and in real life. His feud with Vince McMahon turned wrestling into a television phenomenon during the Attitude Era. Austin also had a career at WCW before he became the face of the WWE.
Austin was not with his friends and foes. Some of his allies helped him achieve his greatest success, while his enemies pushed him to become the "Texas Rattlesnake" that he was known for. This list will examine the 5 biggest allies (and biggest foes) of Steve Austin's entire wrestling career.
10 Biggest Ally: Brian Pillman
Steve Austin's success in the WWE in the 1990s was the result of several factors falling into place. One of the key events was WCW's mistake of firing Austin in 1995 while he was recovering from injury. WCW did not recognize Austin's potential and considered him a lower mid-card talent at best.
However, Austin was part of the successful tag team The Hollywood Blondes with Brian Pillman, winning tag team gold in WCW. Pillman was one of Austin's most interesting feuds during Brian Pillman's short career in the WWE, but Pillman will always be remembered as one of Austin's best in-ring allies.
9 Biggest Enemy: The Rock
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Stone Cold Steve Austin were two of the biggest stars in the WWE during the Attitude Era of the late 1990s and early 2000s. They faced each other in numerous high-profile matches and had a long-standing rivalry, which helped to establish both wrestlers as top draws in the industry. Their Wrestlemania matches defined an entire era of wrestling.
The Rock and Stone Cold were two of the most charismatic and popular figures in professional wrestling during the Attitude Era. They represented opposing personas and worldviews, with The Rock playing the self-absorbed, cocky, and witty villain, and Stone Cold playing the beer-drinking, anti-establishment hero. Their in-ring battles were intense and dramatic. They are often considered two of the greatest rivals in WWE history.
8 Biggest Ally: The Undertaker
During the Attitude Era, the rivalry between Steve Austin and The Undertaker was one of the best. The two were constantly competing for the WWE Championship. During one of their feuds, they teamed up to challenge Mankind and Kane for the WWE Tag Team Championship at Fully Loaded: In Your House.
They won the titles but lost them soon after in a fatal-4-way match. Despite their short reign as champions, it was a memorable moment to see two legends like Austin and Undertaker as Tag Team Champions, adding fuel to their feud. Austin also teamed up with The Undertaker for more matches in the WWE than any other wrestler.
7 Biggest Enemy: Bret Hart
Bret Hart and Steve Austin had several classic matches and intense rivalries in the late 1990s, making Hart one of the best enemies in Austin's wrestling career. Their matches were known for intense physicality and their ability to tell compelling stories in the ring.
One of their most famous feuds was during 1996-1997 when Austin was starting to gain momentum as a rebellious anti-hero and Hart was still seen as a respected veteran. Their matches at WrestleMania 13 and Survivor Series 1996 are considered two of the greatest in WWE history. Bret Hart's legendary in-ring skills and classic rivalries with Austin solidify his status as one of Austin's best enemies in his wrestling career.
6 Biggest Ally: Rick Rude
Rick Rude became famous in WWE but established himself as a main event fixture when he joined WCW in 1991. He was a key member of the Dangerous Alliance stable and held the titles of WCW International World Heavyweight Champion and WCW United States Champion. He participated in many tag team contests and paired up with a young Steve Austin in WCW as a member of The Dangerous Alliance. Although they didn't work together often, Rude was one of Austin's best early allies.
5 Biggest Enemy: Ricky Steamboat
In mid-1994, Austin was growing in popularity and at Bash at the Beach, he defeated Steamboat in a challenge for the United States title using illegal leverage. At Clash of The Champions #28, Steamboat regained the belt by countering a scoop slam into a small package, but his reign lasted less than a month due to injury and he had to forfeit the belt back to Austin at Fall Brawl.
Steamboat was one of the best foes of Austin's entire WCW career. Their feud was short, but, many argue, it was the first major step in Austin's long solo success in wrestling.
4 Biggest Ally: Triple H
Steve Austin and Triple H, once rivals, formed a powerful tag team in the Attitude Era of WWE. The team, known as the Two-Man Power Trip, formed on Raw after WrestleMania 17 with Austin being the reigning WWE Champion and Triple H holding the Intercontinental Championship.
They also went on to win the WWE Tag Team Championship from the Brothers of Destruction and were unstoppable with the support of Mr. McMahon. Their partnership was cut short when Triple H suffered a quadriceps injury, but it was one of the biggest clashes of talent on the same side during the Attitude Era.
3 Biggest Enemy: The Undertaker
The Undertaker had to adjust to the transition from a cartoonish style of entertainment to a more reality-driven one during the Attitude Era. His character became more associated with Satanic elements, especially during his feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin. He formed The Ministry of Darkness and conducted blood rituals with its disciples, even attempting to embalm Austin alive.
Despite The Undertaker's dark character in the feud, it was later revealed that Vince McMahon was the higher power behind The Ministry. The Undertaker then became McMahon's hired goon, but his actions in the feud with Austin were still considered groundbreaking and pushed boundaries. It was the first of a few major feuds between the Undertaker and Steve Austin. Taker was both one of the best allies and enemies of Austin's career.
2 Biggest Ally: Mick Foley
Throughout his wrestling career, Mick Foley wore three different personas, including Cactus Jack, Mankind, and Dude Love. He debuted the character of Dude Love in July 1997. A departure from his prior identities, Dude Love demonstrated Foley's range as a performer. He also partnered well with Steve Austin.
The pair went on to hold the WWE Tag Team Championships until Austin was injured and had to relinquish the titles. Austin also teamed up with "Cactus Jack" at WCW and with Mankind in a ton of untelevised tag team matches. Foley was an ally for Austin, practically, his entire career.
1 Biggest Enemy: Mr. McMahon
When many fans remembered "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, they remember his feud with Mr. McMahon. The two were perfect foes and their drama not only helped the WWE win the Monday Night Wars but also helped wrestling become one of the most well-known programs on television.
Steve Austin's famous heel turn after WrestleMania 17 was met with a mixed reaction from fans. It even further proved the point that Mr. McMahon could only serve Austin as an enemy. Mr. McMahon will always be remembered as one of the biggest enemies of Austin's entire career.