Ex-WWE Star Turned Down Famous Steve Austin Gimmick

A former WWE star has recalled being pitched Steve Austin’s initial WWE character.

After being fired by WCW, Steve Austin arrived in the WWF in December 1995 via a short spell with ECW.

Upon signing with the WWF, Austin was named The Ringmaster and paired with the Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase. During his debut on Raw in January 1996, Austin was given the Million Dollar Championship and went on to use the Million Dollar Dream as his finisher.

Austin famously hated the character even before he made his debut, but realised going along with the WWF’s plans initially was his best way to get a foot in the door.

However, it seems that someone else was nearly The Ringmaster years before the name made its way to Austin.

During an appearance on Road Trip After Hours with Teddy Long and Mac Davis, Bryan Clarke looked back on his career, and numerous runs with the WWF/WWE. After a short run with Smoky Mountain Wrestling, Clarke had a couple of try-out matches with the WWF before eventually debuting as Adam Bomb in May 1993.

Interestingly, Clarke recalled that when he became Adam Bomb, he was also offered The Ringmaster.

“There were three (names he was presented with). There was one that sort of tied my military career to a character. The second one was Adam Bomb. The third one was The Ringmaster.”

He continued, “Back in those days, what they did is they trademarked a lot of names. Adam Bomb, and of course, Steve Austin’s gimmick later on, of course, but they sort of had that in the bank and they brought it out, but that was one of the names.

At the time, I felt of the three, I think that I could do the most with Adam Bomb, being a Three Mile Island deal with a nuclear monster. I felt like I could do a lot more with it. So that’s why I chose that one.”

Steve Austin Set For Surgery

Meanwhile, Steve Austin recently revealed that he needs to undergo surgery “pretty quick.” Austin explained that the issues went back to a serious knee injury he suffered while playing football in college.

The legend added that the well-documented knee problems that dogged him throughout his career, began with that ACL tear.

Austin hasn’t appeared on WWE television since a cameo on the second night of Wrestlemania 38, but he’s previously teased involvement at WrestleMania 41.

H/t to WrestlingNews.Co