When you think of Stone Cold Steve Austin, you picture beer-chugging, the iconic Stone Cold Stunner, and the rebellious anti-hero who defined WWE’s Attitude Era. But before the fame, before the championship belts, there was Kathryn Burrhus—the high school sweetheart who knew Steve Williams long before he became wrestling royalty.
Kathryn Burrhus was Steve Austin’s first wife, married to him from November 24, 1990, to August 7, 1992. Unlike many celebrity ex-spouses who chase headlines, she made a different choice. For over three decades, she’s maintained complete privacy, building a life away from cameras and crowds. Her story reveals the human cost of fame and the strength it takes to walk away from the spotlight.
High School Sweethearts in Edna, Texas
At Edna High School in Texas, Kathryn was a junior when she met freshman Steve Austin, then known as Steve Williams. The age difference made him nervous, but he wasn’t about to let that stop him.
Steve joined the tennis program specifically to get close to Kathryn because she played tennis. According to Austin’s memoir “The Stone Cold Truth,” his determination paid off. They started talking and discovered a genuine connection that would last nearly a decade.
Their relationship grew through high school and into college. While Kathryn attended Southwest Texas University, Steve went to Wharton Junior College on a football scholarship before later attending the University of North Texas. Despite attending different schools, they maintained their bond through regular visits and constant communication.
Friends noticed how they balanced each other—her calm thoughtfulness steadied his ambitious energy. What started as a teenage romance matured into an adult partnership as they supported each other’s dreams and navigated life’s challenges together.
Marriage During Wrestling’s Early Days
After nearly 10 years of dating, the couple married on November 24, 1990. The timing was significant. Steve was just beginning his wrestling career, training under Chris Adams at the Dallas Sportatorium. He was working small shows, earning barely enough to survive.
Kathryn was often seen supporting her husband at wrestling events as he wrestled for World Class Championship Wrestling. She stood by him during the most uncertain phase of his career, when success was far from guaranteed.
The newlyweds settled into married life with hopeful hearts. Like many young couples, they faced financial struggles and uncertainty. But they faced these challenges as a team, united by years of shared history and genuine affection.
The Strain of a Rising Career
In 1991, Austin signed with World Championship Wrestling and gained recognition as “Stunning Steve Austin”. His career started gaining momentum, but success came with a price.
The wrestling industry in the early 1990s was brutal. Frequent travel, physical demands, long hours, and unpredictable paychecks became the norm. According to Austin’s memoir, “We were good for 10 years. Then I got this wrestling bug, and Kathy was not a wrestling fan. That was the beginning of the end for us”.
Kathryn preferred a quiet, private life away from arenas and fans. This divergence in lifestyle and interests created growing tension. The demands of Steve’s budding career took precedence, and maintaining their emotional connection became increasingly difficult.
The Marriage Ends
Reports suggest that Steve Austin began an extramarital affair with Jeannie Clarke, a wrestling valet known professionally as “Lady Blossom”. Clarke would later become Austin’s second wife and was instrumental in developing his “Stone Cold” persona.
The marriage was annulled on August 7, 1992, while Steve was working in Japan, less than two years after their wedding. Just months later, on December 18, 1992, Austin’s 28th birthday, he married Jeanie Clarke. The quick remarriage suggested his emotional ties had shifted well before the divorce was finalized.
Despite the painful ending, Kathryn handled the divorce with dignity. There were no public attacks, no messy tabloid battles. She simply stepped away from a relationship that no longer worked for her.
Who Is Steve Austin?
Steve Austin, born Steven James Anderson on December 18, 1964, later changed his name to Steven James Williams after his mother remarried. He would eventually become one of the biggest names in wrestling history.
Austin is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time and was integral to the development and success of WWE during the Attitude Era in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His rebellious personality, the iconic “Austin 3:16” catchphrase, and his anti-hero character made him a cultural phenomenon.
But before all that fame, before the sold-out arenas and championship belts, there was Kathryn—quietly supporting him during the most uncertain phase of his career.
Life After Divorce
Following her divorce, Kathryn Burrhus stepped away from anything related to celebrity life and has not granted interviews, written a tell-all memoir, or appeared in the media. No verified statements or photos of Kathryn have surfaced since the early 1990s.
There have been occasional rumors that she remained in Texas and may have been involved in local businesses or charitable work, but none of this has ever been confirmed. Her complete absence from public life is remarkable in today’s age of social media and constant exposure.
Unlike many ex-spouses of celebrities who capitalize on their connections through reality TV appearances, tell-all books, or media interviews, Kathryn went in the opposite direction. She made a conscious choice to live quietly and privately—a choice she has maintained consistently for over 30 years.
The Age Controversy
There is conflicting information regarding Kathryn Burrhus’s birth year, with some sources listing 1952, which would make her around 12 years older than Steve Austin, while other sources suggest 1964 or 1965, placing them much closer in age. Because she has maintained strict privacy, her exact birth year cannot be confirmed.
The conflicting reports reflect the challenge of documenting someone who has deliberately avoided public attention. What remains clear is that she was a junior when Steve was a freshman at Edna High School, indicating some age difference.
Steve Austin’s Later Marriages
After divorcing Kathryn, Austin married Jeanie Clarke in December 1992, and they had two daughters, Stephanie (born 1992) and Cassidy (born 1996), before divorcing in 1999. Austin also adopted Clarke’s daughter Jade from her previous relationship with Chris Adams.
His third marriage to Debra Marshall ended in controversy. In 2002, Austin was sentenced to a year’s probation, a $1,000 fine, and 80 hours of community service after pleading no contest to a domestic violence claim from Marshall.
In late 2009, Austin married his fourth wife, Kristin Feres, and has remained married to her for over a decade.
Kathryn’s Legacy in Austin’s Story
Kathryn Burrhus and Steve Austin did not have any children together during their marriage. She never publicly discussed their relationship or tried to leverage her connection to Austin’s fame.
Though their marriage was brief, her role in his life shouldn’t be overlooked. She knew him as Steve Williams—the person behind the “Stone Cold” persona. Those formative years together helped shape the man who would become a wrestling legend.
The support she provided during his early wrestling training and financially unstable years laid the groundwork for his future success. Perhaps most importantly, the end of their relationship coincided with Steve’s career taking a significant turn. Shortly after their divorce, he began developing the tougher persona that would eventually become “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
Why She Chose Privacy
In an age where privacy is increasingly rare and personal details are commodities, Kathryn’s decision to disappear from public view represents a powerful statement. She didn’t sell her story, didn’t leverage her connection to fame, and didn’t allow herself to be defined by a relationship that ultimately wasn’t right for her.
Her silence over the decades speaks volumes about her character and values. While Steve Austin went on to become one of wrestling’s biggest stars with multiple marriages and a very public life, Kathryn crafted a quieter existence on her own terms.
There’s something powerful in this contrast—a reminder that not everyone seeks or thrives in the spotlight. Her deliberate retreat from public life shows strength and self-awareness that many admire.
Where Is Kathryn Burrhus Now?
As of 2025, Kathryn Burrhus remains one of the most private ex-spouses in celebrity culture. No verified social media accounts or recent public appearances exist. Her commitment to privacy honors the choice she made more than three decades ago.
For those curious about her whereabouts, her absence from public life isn’t a mystery to be solved but a choice to be respected. She represents the unseen side of celebrity—the person who shared an important chapter in a famous person’s life but chose a different path.
The Broader Context
Kathryn and Steve’s relationship took place during a transformative era in professional wrestling. When they married in 1990, wrestling was still organized in regional territories. With their divorce in 1992, the industry was consolidating and growing into the national entertainment powerhouse we know today.
Their marriage coincided with wrestling’s transformation from a niche attraction to mainstream entertainment. As Steve Austin was learning the ropes in this changing landscape, Kathryn witnessed the early stages of an industry that would eventually make her ex-husband a household name.
The timing adds an interesting dimension to their story. Had they met just a few years later, when the demands and culture of wrestling were better understood, perhaps they might have navigated its challenges differently.
Comparing to Other Wrestling Relationships
Wrestling is a profession that notoriously complicates personal lives. Many wrestlers, including Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, and Ric Flair, have gone through multiple divorces and highly publicized breakups.
What makes Kathryn’s story distinctive is the normalcy and dignity with which she exited the narrative. Unlike other wrestling exes who’ve shared their side of the story through interviews, legal battles, or memoirs, Kathryn remained quiet. There were no legal spats, no accusations thrown in public, and no media interviews.
She simply stepped away, and in doing so, preserved her privacy and dignity. Her silence has contributed to the mystique surrounding her life and earned her respect from fans who appreciate her choice.
Final Thoughts
Kathryn Burrhus offers a refreshing counterpoint to typical celebrity ex-spouse narratives. Rather than capitalizing on her connection to fame, she chose dignity and privacy—values increasingly rare in our culture of oversharing.
While she may not be recognized with accolades or inductions, her place in wrestling history is both significant and worthy of acknowledgment. She was there during Steve Austin’s formative years, supporting him when his future in wrestling was far from certain.
Perhaps the most meaningful aspect of Kathryn’s story isn’t what she did after her marriage ended, but what she didn’t do. In an era of oversharing, her choice for privacy speaks volumes about her character and stands as its own kind of strength.
She represents a time before Steve Williams became Stone Cold Steve Austin—a reminder that behind every legend’s origin story are real people who loved, supported, and sometimes had to let go. Her decision to live life on her own terms, away from the spotlight, deserves recognition and respect.