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The Bible and Pop Culture

Which professional wrestler’s Christian persona was eclipsed by another wrestler’s megalomaniacal persona?

In World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Steve Austin’s persona, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, defeated Jake “The Snake” Roberts in 1996. Roberts, whose wrestling persona was a Christian, was mocked by Austin, whose wrestling persona was not. Austin taunted, “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 ass!” This spawned a marketing frenzy of Austin 3:16 merchandise, including T-shirts, posters, bobbleheads, bumper stickers, and Christmas ornaments.