Long before Stone Cold Steve Austin became a defining figure of WWE’s Attitude Era, he was a Texas student who fell for a girl on the tennis courts at Edna High School. That student was Kathryn Burrhus, his longtime sweetheart and eventual first wife. They married in 1990, during the earliest years of his wrestling career, but their marriage ended in 1992—well before Austin’s most famous persona emerged. Her story is best told through the few details that can be reliably documented, rather than guesses about her life today.
Who Is Kathryn Burrhus?
Kathryn Burrhus is best known as the first wife of professional wrestler Steve Austin. The two met as teenagers at Edna High School in Texas and maintained a relationship through their college years. They married on November 24, 1990, and their marriage was annulled on August 7, 1992, according to Austin’s IMDb biography. She is not known to have pursued a public wrestling career.
Kathryn Burrhus Biography and Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kathryn Burrhus |
| Also called | Kathy, in Austin’s recollections |
| Known for | Steve Austin’s first wife |
| High school | Edna High School, Texas |
| College | Southwest Texas University |
| Marriage | November 24, 1990 |
| Marriage ended | August 7, 1992 (listed as annulled) |
| Children with Austin | None publicly documented |
| Birth date and current age | Not reliably established |
| Profession and current residence | Not reliably documented |
How Did Kathryn Burrhus Meet Steve Austin?
The clearest account comes from Austin himself. In The Stone Cold Truth, his 2003 autobiography, he recalled being a freshman at Edna High School when he noticed Burrhus, who was a junior. She played tennis, and he found an opportunity to spend time around the courts after a coach invited him and a friend to play.
That introduction grew into a relationship. The story is documented in PEOPLE’s March 2025 retrospective, which draws on Austin’s memoir. It is his recollection, not a published account of Kathryn’s own feelings or memories.
Where Did Kathryn Burrhus Go to College?
PEOPLE reports that Kathryn attended Southwest Texas University and completed a degree. Her major and graduation date have not been reliably established. Meanwhile, Austin played football at Wharton Junior College and later attended the University of North Texas on a football scholarship.
Kathryn Burrhus and Steve Austin’s Marriage
Their relationship lasted approximately a decade in total, but their marriage did not. IMDb lists their wedding date as November 24, 1990, and the end of the marriage as August 7, 1992—a period of about one year and nine months.
Descriptions of a “ten-year marriage” confuse their dating years with their legal marriage.
Why Did Kathryn Burrhus and Steve Austin Separate?
Austin connected the strain in their relationship to his growing commitment to professional wrestling. As PEOPLE recounts from his book, he said Kathryn was not a wrestling fan, while the sport increasingly captured his attention. This is Austin’s perspective, not a joint account.
IMDb describes the marriage’s ending as an annulment on August 7, 1992. Other articles sometimes use divorce more casually, but annulment is the terminology in IMDb’s spouse listing. The grounds for annulment are not established.
Was Steve Austin Famous When He Married Kathryn?
Not in the way fans know him today. Austin was just beginning his professional wrestling career around 1989–1990 and later joined World Championship Wrestling in 1991. The Stone Cold persona became widely recognized several years after the couple separated. WWE’s official Austin profile records his 1996 King of the Ring victory and later championship achievements. Kathryn knew Austin before his superstar years.
Did Kathryn Burrhus and Steve Austin Have Children?
There are no publicly documented children from Kathryn and Austin’s marriage. After their annulment, Austin married wrestling manager Jeanie Clarke, also known as Lady Blossom, in December 1992. Austin and Clarke had two daughters, and he adopted Clarke’s daughter from an earlier relationship. Those family connections should not be attributed to Kathryn.
Clarke is also the former partner associated with the origin of Austin’s “Stone Cold” nickname. Kathryn is not credited with creating it.
How Old Is Kathryn Burrhus, and What Was Her Career?
No dependable public record reviewed for this biography confirms Kathryn’s full date of birth, so a precise age would be guesswork. Similarly, her work history and any career outside the entertainment industry are not sufficiently documented. She should not be described as a wrestler, actress, or business owner without independent evidence.
Where Is Kathryn Burrhus Now?
As of November 2026, reliable public reporting does not establish Kathryn’s present residence, occupation, remarriage status, or social-media accounts. There is also no independently verified estimate of her personal net worth. Austin’s earnings cannot establish her wealth.
Kathryn Burrhus and Steve Austin: Timeline
| Period | Event |
|---|---|
| High-school years | Kathryn and Austin meet at Edna High School |
| College years | Kathryn attends Southwest Texas University |
| 1989–1990 | Austin begins his wrestling career |
| November 24, 1990 | The couple marries |
| 1991 | Austin joins WCW |
| August 7, 1992 | Marriage annulled, according to IMDb |
| December 1992 | Austin marries Jeanie Clarke |
| 1996 | Austin’s Stone Cold era gains momentum |
| 2003 | The Stone Cold Truth is published |
Frequently Asked Questions About Kathryn Burrhus
Was Kathryn Burrhus Steve Austin’s first wife?
Yes. Kathryn was Steve Austin’s first wife and his high-school sweetheart.
When did Kathryn Burrhus marry Steve Austin?
IMDb lists November 24, 1990, as their wedding date.
How did they first meet?
Austin recalled meeting Kathryn through the tennis courts at Edna High School in Texas.
Was their marriage annulled or divorced?
IMDb lists an annulment dated August 7, 1992, although some media reports use the word divorce.
How long were Kathryn and Austin together?
Austin described a relationship of about ten years, including the years before their marriage. They were legally married for less than two years.
Did they have children?
No children from their marriage are publicly documented.
Did Kathryn become a professional wrestler?
There is no reliable record of her having a professional wrestling career.
Did Kathryn Burrhus remarry?
Her later marital status is not independently verified in dependable public sources.
Where is Kathryn Burrhus today?
Her current residence, occupation, and personal circumstances are not reliably documented.
Conclusion
Kathryn Burrhus was part of Steve Austin’s life before the world knew him as Stone Cold. Their relationship began at Edna High School, continued through college, and led to a brief marriage from 1990 to 1992. Austin’s recollections supply the most substantial account of those years. Beyond that history, responsible biography writing means acknowledging what the public record does not reveal about Kathryn’s life.
