Happy 3-16 Day! AKA Stone Cold Steve Austin Day!

By Matthew Klink (@klinkmatt on Twitter)

3/16/2018

Stone Cold Steve Austin drives a Zamboni to the ring at Joe Louis Arena, Sept 1998. Courtesy of Youtube and WWE

While most people are getting psyched up for St. Paddy’s day or the NCAA Tournament, my kinsmen are looking back and celebrating the life and career of the most influential person in pro wrestling: Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Every March 16th (After Austin 3:16) I like to look back on a favorite moment. There are many and any one of them could be the moment that led me to writing for this blog and speaking on the podcast. They are moments that kept me loving wrestling. Even as I head into my thirties they represent how great this sport can be.

In keeping me closer with pro wrestling, Austin has kept me closer with my brother, given me a position to speak to the world and every couple of weeks, a chance to gather with friends and enjoy a pay-per-view. I owe a lot to pro wrestling, but probably wouldn’t be saying that if it weren’t for Stone Cold. For all of that and things I don’t have time to say: Thank you!

But, I did want to honor my favorite Stone Cold moment. So, here it is!

On September 28, 1998, Monday Night Raw was held in the well-known Detroit Arena named after Joe Louis. This was following a night that had Austin get screwed out of his WWF Championship. Both Kane and the Undertaker (the Bothers of Destruction) double choke slammed and pinned the Rattlesnake. On Monday Night Raw, Vince McMahon, who orchestrated the double-team, was going to award the title to who he felt was more fitting.

To make the presentation of this title more to Vince’s liking, he made sure the Detroit Police were on hand and were instructed to keep Stone Cold out of the building. Little did they know; Stone Cold wasn’t going to be stopped.

At the time, I was 9 and all of these superstars were like super heroes to me. Even though it was frowned upon and authority figures went as far as to make rules at school against pro wrestling, I was an eyebrow raising, crotch chopping, finger waving, son of a gun. On top of that, I was from Detroit. It meant two things: 1. I felt and still feel I have more ownership in that memory because Austin was riding a Zamboni with the logo of my favorite sports team in my favorite arena. 2. My parents made an exception for a show in Detroit and I was allowed to the watch the entire program. Normally, my brother and I would be sent off to bed to get ready for a long day of school, but I was lucky enough to be granted permission due to the scheduling.

I think seeing this spot live is part of what makes this so special. Sharing the moment with my brother makes it more so. I don’t know if this moment means as much to him as it does for me, but knowing we’ll be able to share this memory forever means a lot.

Anyways!

The previously mentioned Zamboni had begun its treacherous journey to the ring. As Vince was ready to award the WWF Championship, inside the ring, Stone Cold had revved the engine and plowed his way through the backstage area. The word treacherous and plow are used, because Stone Cold really handled this piece of machinery like a wrecking ball. Watching the video now I think to myself how much trouble the WWE got in for busting through gates, ruining cables, and getting lighting fixtures caught in the bottom of the Zamboni. I can’t imagine any of that was good for the Zamboni.

The rest of this moment was Austin smashing the Zamboni into the ring, climbing up to the top of ice cleaner, and hurling himself on top of Vince. All the while, the crowd was screaming in the arena and I was on the edge of my seat, my eyes darting between my brother and the screen. Both of us with wide and wild smiles. We had never seen anything like it and the both of us are yet to see anything executed so well, since.

The idea of this moment is funny when you really analyze it. From the moment we see the Zamboni and Austin driving it, it’s only a matter of three minutes of screen time. But in that three minutes Austin was able to get this crowd to explode with raw emotion, get about 15 good hits in on Vince, and then continue his verbal spat as he was shoved into the back of police cruiser. To think a man would go that length just to punch his boss a few times…man. I don’t even want work right now and am choosing to type this instead just to avoid the treadmill. Stone Cold put together an improvised plot that took a TON of effort, just to get in a few good licks on McMahon. It was and is pure Sports Entertainment gold.

The world hasn’t been spending too long celebrating 3/16 day for Stone Cold, but it should definitely be something special and fun to recognize for every wrestling fan.

Let me know in the comments what your favorite Stone Cold moment was and we’d be happy to share it on the podcast!

Matthew Klink (@klinkmatt on Twitter)

@BODPodcast for Twitter and Facebook