When you think of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, you probably picture a man in black trunks standing on a turnbuckle, smashing two beer cans together while a sold-out arena loses its collective mind. He’s the blue-collar anti-hero. The guy who gave the boss a Stunner. But behind the glass-shattering entrance music and the "What?" chants, the man born Steven James Anderson (later Williams) has had a personal life that's been just as chaotic and intense as any main event at WrestleMania. If you’ve been searching for the story of the Stone Cold Steve Austin wife, you aren't just looking for one name. You're looking at four different chapters of a life lived at 100 miles per hour.
It’s complicated. Honestly, being a pro wrestler in the 90s was basically a recipe for domestic disaster. The travel? Brutal. The ego? Massive. Most people know about the high-profile drama with Debra Marshall, but that’s just one piece of the puzzle. Austin has been married four times. He's gone from a high school sweetheart to an international wrestling star to a quiet life on a ranch in Nevada.
The Early Years: Kathryn Burrhus and Jeanie Clarke
Before the fame, there was Kathryn Burrhus. She was his high school sweetheart. They got married in 1990, just as Steve was trying to make a name for himself in the regional territories. But let's be real—pro wrestling eats relationships for breakfast. As Austin's career started to gain traction in WCW as "Stunning" Steve Austin, the marriage began to fray. He was on the road. She was at home. It’s a classic story, and it ended in annulment by 1992.
Then came Jeanie Clarke. You might know her as "Lady Blossom."
Jeanie wasn't just a Stone Cold Steve Austin wife; she was actually a huge part of his career's trajectory. If you love the "Stone Cold" moniker, you actually owe her a thank you note. The story goes that Steve was frustrated with the "Ringmaster" gimmick in the WWF. He was drinking tea, and Jeanie told him to drink it before it got "stone cold." A lightbulb went off. They were married from 1992 to 1999 and had two daughters together, Stephanie and Cassidy. Jeanie has been very open in her autobiography, Through the Shattered Glass, about the struggles they faced, including the pressures of his rising stardom and his battle with injuries.
The High-Profile Era: Debra Marshall and the Headlines
By the time 2000 rolled around, Steve Austin was the biggest star on the planet. He was the face of the Attitude Era. It was during this peak that he married Debra Marshall, known to fans simply as Debra. She was a former beauty queen and a major character in the WWF herself. On paper, they were the ultimate wrestling power couple.
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The reality was much darker.
This is the part of the Stone Cold Steve Austin wife history that most fans remember for the wrong reasons. In June 2002, police were called to their home in San Antonio. Debra was found with bruises and a torn lip. Austin had vanished from the scene before the cops arrived. He eventually turned himself in and pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of domestic assault. He was given a year’s probation, a $1,000 fine, and ordered to perform 80 hours of community service.
It was a mess. A total PR nightmare for the WWE. They divorced in 2003. Years later, Debra went on Good Morning America and other programs to talk about "roid rage" and the culture of silence in the wrestling industry. It’s a heavy chapter. You can’t talk about Austin’s history without acknowledging this, even if it doesn't fit the "cool rebel" image. It’s a stark reminder that the people we see on TV are flawed human beings, sometimes deeply so.
Finding Peace with Kristin Feres
After the 2003 divorce and his retirement from the ring due to a broken neck and mounting injuries, Steve Austin changed. He stepped away from the spotlight. He stopped being the guy who had to be the center of attention every Monday night.
In 2009, he married Kristin Feres.
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This is the marriage that stuck. Unlike his previous relationships, Kristin isn't a wrestling personality. She isn't a public figure looking for the camera. They spend their time between their home in Marina Del Rey and the famous Broken Skull Ranch (which moved from Texas to Nevada a few years back). If you listen to The Steve Austin Show podcast, you’ve probably heard her. He calls her "The Warden" sometimes, but it’s clearly affectionate. They seem to have a dynamic built on mutual respect and a shared love for the quiet life. They hike. They hang out with their dogs. They live a life that is remarkably normal for a guy who used to drop people on their heads for a living.
What Most People Get Wrong About Austin’s Personal Life
People often assume that because Austin was a "hellraiser" on TV, he must be a nightmare at home. That's a bit of a leap. While the situation with Debra was a documented, serious failure of character, his current life with Kristin suggests a man who has done a lot of growing up.
- The "Lady Blossom" Influence: Most fans forget that Jeanie Clarke was his manager in WCW. She knew the business. Their split wasn't just a personal failing; it was the result of the "Old School" wrestling lifestyle where you were home four days a month.
- The Privacy Factor: Notice how little you hear about Kristin Feres? That’s intentional. Austin learned the hard way that mixing your professional wrestling persona with your marriage is a recipe for disaster.
- The Daughters: Austin has maintained relationships with his children, though it hasn't always been easy. He’s mentioned on his podcast how much he regrets the time lost during his peak years in the late 90s.
The Evolution of the Texas Rattlesnake
It is kinda fascinating to see the arc. You have the young kid in Texas, the traveling journeyman, the megastar, and now the elder statesman of the industry. Each Stone Cold Steve Austin wife represents a different stage of that evolution.
Kathryn was the pre-fame life.
Jeanie was the grind and the breakthrough.
Debra was the chaotic peak.
Kristin is the peace.
Honestly, it’s a very human story. We like to pretend our heroes are static, but Austin’s life shows someone who stumbled badly, particularly in the early 2000s, and eventually found a way to settle down. He doesn't shy away from his past, but he doesn't live there anymore either.
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Understanding the Legal and Personal Impact
When looking at the history of the Stone Cold Steve Austin wife timeline, it’s important to look at the legalities that followed the 2002 incident. The domestic violence charge was a turning point. It happened right around the time Austin "walked out" on the WWE because he didn't want to lose to a young Brock Lesnar on free TV without a build-up. He was at his lowest point, physically and mentally.
Critics often point to this era as a "dark spot" that the WWE tries to polish over. And they kind of do. When Austin returns for a cameo, they focus on the beer and the Stunners. But for those researching his life, the Debra years serve as a cautionary tale about the intersection of celebrity, physical pain, and domestic instability.
Practical Insights for Fans and Researchers
If you are digging into the history of pro wrestling or the life of Steve Austin, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Check the Sources: If you want the raw, unfiltered version of his middle years, read Jeanie Clarke's book. It provides context that WWE-produced documentaries often skip.
- Separate the Character from the Man: Steve Austin is a character played by Steve Williams. While the character is a "tough guy," the man has dealt with the same insecurities and relationship failures as anyone else.
- Respect the Current Privacy: While Austin is active on social media and his podcast, Kristin Feres largely stays out of the limelight. Respecting that boundary is part of understanding why this marriage has lasted nearly two decades while the others didn't.
- Acknowledge the Growth: It’s easy to judge someone by their worst day (2002), but the longevity of his current marriage suggests a significant change in lifestyle and temperament.
The story of the Stone Cold Steve Austin wife isn't just a list of names. It’s a narrative about a man who had to lose almost everything—his health, his first few families, and his career—before he figured out how to actually be a partner. He’s not the Ringmaster anymore, and he’s not just the guy drinking beer in the ring. He’s a guy who finally found home at the Broken Skull Ranch.
To get the full picture of Austin's life today, you should follow his official social media channels where he shares glimpses of his life with Kristin and their pets, or listen to his long-form interviews where he occasionally reflects on the lessons learned from his past mistakes. This provides a much more nuanced view than any tabloid headline ever could.