‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin marked this year’s 3:16 Day by reflecting on the defining moments of his wrestling career, revisiting the promo that launched him into superstardom while also sharing thoughts on the current state of WWE and the athletes carrying the industry forward.
The annual fan celebration takes on extra meaning in 2026, as it marks the 30th anniversary of the famous “Austin 3:16” promo delivered after Austin’s victory at the 1996 King of the Ring tournament. During a recent conversation tied to the milestone, Austin acknowledged the enduring impact of that moment while noting that its cultural staying power still surprises him.
“Almost three decades, and it’s something for it to still be a thing,” Austin said to Sports Illustrated. “You can’t give yourself your own nickname and make it something real cool. You just get it bestowed upon you by your friends. So, I didn’t declare 3:16 Day as my day, but it just seems to be the case.”
The line that closed that promo—“Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass”—became one of the most recognizable catchphrases in wrestling history and helped transform Austin into one of WWE’s biggest stars.
Over the years, the Texas native went on to win multiple world championships and headline major events like WrestleMania 14, where he defeated Shawn Michaels to capture his first WWE Championship.
Reflecting on his career, Austin also revisited his memorable on-screen rivalry with former WWE chairman Vince McMahon, a feud that defined the Attitude Era. According to Austin, McMahon’s ability to adapt quickly to performing in the ring played a key role in making their storyline work.
“Vince was green. He’d never wrestled before,” Austin said. “For some reason, that guy just had an innate ability to perform, and he thrived on the reactions of the people.”
Austin also praised several fellow wrestlers from different eras, including Kurt Angle and Dustin Rhodes. Speaking about Rhodes, Austin described his in-ring instincts as natural talent. “He was just good, because he was just damn good,” Austin said.
The celebration of 3:16 Day comes amid ongoing speculation about whether Austin could appear at WrestleMania 42. Recent comments from WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross indicated that while Austin could still make appearances, a full in-ring return is unlikely as the legendary performer focuses on his health after decades in the ring.
Austin’s last match came at WrestleMania 38, where he defeated Kevin Owens in a No Holds Barred bout. More recently, he appeared at WrestleMania 41 in a non-wrestling role, arriving on an ATV to announce the event’s attendance before briefly losing control of the vehicle during the entrance.
Today, Austin spends much of his time outside of wrestling pursuing other ventures, including motorsports. He described the discipline of racing as similar to the early stages of a wrestling career. “You learn by repetition,” he said. “It’s just like being in the ring.”