Editing Stone Cold Steve Austin (section)

====The Ringmaster and birth of "Stone Cold" (1995–1996)====
Steve Austin joined the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF) in December 1995.<ref name="slam" /><ref name="Fired">{{cite web |last=Zarka |first=JP |date=March 4, 2019 |title=Eric Bischoff Firing Steve Austin – 'Totally Disrespectful' |url=https://prowrestlingstories.com/pro-wrestling-stories/eric-bischoff-firing-steve-austin/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726121033/https://prowrestlingstories.com/pro-wrestling-stories/eric-bischoff-firing-steve-austin/ |archive-date=July 26, 2021 |access-date=June 20, 2021 |work=Pro Wrestling Stories}}</ref><ref name="cold123" /> He debuted on the December 18 episode of ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]'' under the ring name "The Ringmaster," a character introduced by [[Ted DiBiase]] and associated with the unsanctioned [[Million Dollar Championship]].<ref name="slam" /><ref>{{Citation |title=Steve Austin on the Brother Love show, WWF 1996 |url=https://www.bitchute.com/video/bOtNuZFBCCzE/ |access-date=September 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910022111/https://www.bitchute.com/video/bOtNuZFBCCzE/ |archive-date=September 10, 2021 |url-status=live |language=en}}</ref> Austin’s first televised match saw him defeat [[Matt Hardy]].<ref>Ted DiBiase: The Million Dollar Man, p.193, Ted DiBiase with Tom Caiazzo, Pocket Books, New York, NY, 2008, {{ISBN|978-1-4165-5890-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Steve Austin |url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=635&page=4&s=700 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122200533/http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=635&page=4&s=700 |archive-date=January 22, 2015 |access-date=January 4, 2015 |publisher=Cagematch}}</ref>

Unenthusiastic about the Ringmaster persona, Austin soon requested a character change. He adopted the moniker "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, shedding the more traditional wrestling gimmick in favor of a minimalist and cold, no-nonsense persona. With a shaved head, black trunks, and an increasingly aggressive demeanor, the "Stone Cold" identity began to take shape in early 1996.<ref name="MondayNightWars01-8">{{cite AV media |title=Monday Night War S01 E08: The Austin Era Has Begun |publisher=WWE}}</ref><ref name="StoneCold">{{cite web |date=October 2, 2020 |title=Steve Austin – How He Became "Stone Cold" in 1996 |url=https://prowrestlingstories.com/pro-wrestling-stories/steve-austin-stone-cold/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607075415/https://prowrestlingstories.com/pro-wrestling-stories/steve-austin-stone-cold/ |archive-date=June 7, 2021 |access-date=June 20, 2021 |work=Pro Wrestling Stories}}</ref> Austin entered a brief feud with [[Savio Vega]], defeating him at [[WrestleMania XII]] but losing a [[Professional wrestling match types#Strap match|strap match]] at [[In Your House 8: Beware of Dog|In Your House: Beware of Dog]]. As part of the storyline, DiBiase departed the company following the loss, and the Million Dollar Championship was quietly retired.<ref name="StoneColdMania">{{cite web |last=Kilbane |first=Lyle |date=March 15, 2021 |title=Every Stone Cold Steve Austin WrestleMania Match Ranked |url=https://itrwrestling.com/features/every-stone-cold-steve-austin-wrestlemania-match-ranked/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624204658/https://itrwrestling.com/features/every-stone-cold-steve-austin-wrestlemania-match-ranked/ |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |access-date=June 22, 2021 |work=Inside The Ropes}}</ref>