THE STONE COLD TRUTH

THE
STONE COLD TRUTH

POCKET BOOKS, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
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Copyright © 2003 by World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

World Wrestling Entertainment, the names of all World Wrestling Entertainment televised and live programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans and wrestling moves, and all World Wrestling Entertainment logos and trademarks are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. Nothing in this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

This book is a publication of Pocket Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., under exclusive license from World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Pocket Books, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

Photos and letters on pages 10, 14, 19, 26, 27, 29, 34, 39, 42, 45, 49, 59, 67, 71, 94, 96, 106, 117, 161, 184, 201, 236 Courtesy the Williams family.

Photos on page 77, 80, 81 Courtesy of Buddy Meyers.

All other photos Copyright © 2003 World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

All rights reserved.

ISBN:0-7434-7720-0

eISBN: 978-1-4391-8811-8

First Pocket Books hardcover edition October 2003

10 9 8 7 6

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Steve Austin would like to thank Nicole Dorazio at WWE for making his life so much easier.

Dennis Brent would like to thank the following people:

From World Wrestling Entertainment, thanks to: Jim “J.R.” Ross, Stacey Pascarella, Barry Werner, Keith Greenberg, Dr. Tom Prichard, Michael P.S. Hayes, and Bob Clarke. Also much thanks to Mike Fazioli, Aaron Williams, and Brian Solomon from WWE Publications for their tremendous help in transcribing many hours of interviews.

In the photo area, thanks to: Anthony Cali and Frank Vitucci from WWE Photo and Buddy Myers, the ringside photographer from World Class Championship Wrestling in Texas.

Also many thanks to: Raven, Percy Pringle III, Skandor Akbar, Mick Foley, and Dutch Mantel.

Steve Austin’s family and friends were invaluable with background information on the Texas Rattlesnake. Thanks to Steve’s family, Beverly and Ken Williams, Jennifer (Williams) Weigand, Scott Williams, Kevin Williams, Jeff Williams, and Steve’s longtime friends, Rob Webb and Dr. Jimmy Baros. Beverly Williams, Steve’s terrific mom, provided all the great material from Steve’s career and life.

I would also like to thank my editor at Pocket Books, Margaret Clark, as well as Lynn, my wife, who was my constant editor/proofreader.

S
tone Cold’s success story is about being at the right place at the right time and having paid the right amount of dues to get there. It’s about having the right amount of audacity, work ethic and intellect to achieve levels of popularity that had never been achieved by any Superstar before.

However, Austin didn’t reach this zenith of popularity by himself He was very quick to understand the team concept, very adopt at establishing relationships—not just with other Superstars but with television production, merchandise and licensing and all-around management of the company. But Stone Cold’s most effective relationship has always been with the WWE fans.

In short, Stone Cold has “it.” He has the ability to relate to an audience and interpret its reactions, coupled with an insatiable desire to perform. These are but a few of the characteristics of the man known as Stone Cold.

This book is about a man who is like no other … as you will find in
The Stone Cold Truth.

—V
INCE
M
C
M
AHON

1
March 29, 2003—Saturday Night, Pre-
WrestleMania XIX

D
amn, I think I’m dying, dying for sure. I’m getting off the elevator on the twenty-seventh floor of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seattle, the night before
WrestleMania XIX,
and my heart’s beating so hard it feels like it’s going to crack a rib jumping out of my chest.