Steve Austin

Steve Austin made a name for himself in WCW as member of the Dangerous Alliance and later with Brian Pillman as the Hollywood Blondes. When the promotion let him go after an injury, Austin went over to WWE and after a false start as the Ringmaster embraced the role of an anti-authority, beer drinking bad ass. Booked initially as a heel, Austin's persona caught on and he became the symbol for WWE's Attitude Era after beating Shawn Michaels for the WWE Championship at Wrestlemania 14. Long term damage to his neck forced him to retire before his 40th birthday in 2003, though Austin has continued to make appearances for WWE since.