You didn’t miss a book of The Bible, don’t worry—it’s actually a professional Wrestling quote. In fact, it’s one of the most influential phrases in wrestling history.
On June 23, 1996, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin defeated Jake “The Snake” Roberts to win the World Wrestling Federation’s King of the Ring tournament. Austin was a defiant, brash villain; Roberts, once a villain like Austin, was now a sympathetic character and a born-again Christian. During his post-match interview, Austin made sure to rub it in Roberts’ face.
“You sit there and you thump your Bible and you say your prayers, and it didn’t get you anywhere,” Austin said. “Talk about your psalms, talk about John 3:16—Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your a**.”
Seems like simple wrestling trash talk by today’s standards, but in 1996, it resonated with a wrestling audience that had grown tired of the goody-two-shoes wrestlers that had headlined events since the ‘80s. Fan-made Austin 3:16 signs popped up in the crowd immediately, and Austin became an antihero; largely on the backs of edgy performers like Austin and The Rock, wrestling entered a new boom period in the late ‘90s; the Austin 3:16 shirt eventually became one of the best-selling wrestling shirts of all time.
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Austin's genuine rise to superstardom began on June 23, 1996 in Milwaukee, where the 1996 King of the Ring pay-per-view took place. Austin began using his trademark finishing maneuver, the Stone Cold Stunner, which had been taught to him by Hayes, and with this new technique he won the King of the Ring tournament, receiving the push originally intended for Hunter Hearst Helmsley. After toppling Marc Mero in the semi-finals, Austin defeated Jake "The Snake" Roberts in the final.[23] After the match, Austin cut a promo during his coronation, telling Roberts:[24]
“ You sit there and you thump your Bible, and you say your prayers, and it didn't get you anywhere! Talk about your Psalms, talk about John 3:16... Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ***! ”
"Austin 3:16" ultimately became one of the most popular catch phrases in wrestling history and is often regarded as marking the beginning of what became known as The Attitude Era. Austin later turned face, as spontaneous fan support for him grew larger by the week.
Christ founded no churches, no State, no laws, no government; he transcribed the law of God in the hearts of men so they'd govern themselves. Newton Lev Tolstoy The Law of Love and the Law of Violence
And 3:16 says I just kicked your ass. That was what he said when he first used the phrase at the King of The Ring.
It is a stupid wrastlin quote that Steve Austin dreamed up. Sacrilegious statement that is quite offensive to devout Christians.
It means imma beat u UP in Austin at 3:16 come prepared u don't wanna lose because I WILL put u in the hospital.