Inspired by a TV special on serial killer/mob hitman Richard Kuklinski (known as "The Ice Man"), Austin created his new "Stone Cold" persona, which would see him become a cold, ruthless, and violent wrestler who showed no compassion or humanity for his opponents.

Austin 3 16 T Shirt - Etsy Australia Austin 3 16 T Shirt - Etsy Australia

All great things start small, maybe as an off-the-cuff comment or idea and then they evolve and grow into something larger than anyone could have imagined. In a move of marketing genius, Austin then designed a t-shirt to capitalize on his popular new catchphrase. Stone Cold" Steve Austin cuts his iconic "Austin 3:16" promo with Dok Hendrix at the 1996 King of the Ring, courtesy of WWE.Austin was brought into the WWF in 1995 as The Ringmaster, a gifted technical wrestler who barely spoke and was managed by " The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase.

Austin 3:16 Shirts - Etsy UK

It's the total package; his abilities, his look, and his promos, that are all so deceptively simple.

As we all know, Austin would soon after become wrestling's greatest antihero character and become the industry's most popular talent ever, leading the industry into its greatest boom period in history and making wrestling a legitimate part of the entertainment world. It takes time and a lot of work to perfect each of those things, but when they finally come together in a complete package, an icon is born. Choose your favorite Austin 3 16-inspired shirt style: v-neck or crew neckline; short, baseball or long sleeve; slim or relaxed fit; light, mid, or heavy fabric weight. A range of t-shirts sold by independent artists featuring a huge variety of original designs in sizes XS-5XL; availability depending on style. Now totally clad in black, Austin incorporated some of his own personality into his new character, giving him a heavy metal edge.