Say so long to “Stone Cold” and hello to just “Steve.”

Former(?) wrestling star href="http://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/stonecold/" target="_blank">Steve Austin is joining the slew of ex-grapplers who have gone from the ring to the theater. Austin stars in the new action flick The
Condemned, about a bunch of convicted killers put on an island and forced to fight to the death — the whole thing shown live on the internet. (Kind of a cross between Ray Liotta’s No Escape and Series 7.) Surprisingly, I find myself eager to see this film, if for no other reason than Steve Austin.

Can I get a “Hell yeah”?

Austin’s not the first wrestlemaniac trying to go from sleeper hold to sleeper hit. A number of professional wrestlers have turned in their tights to try their hand at acting — most recently, John Cena in The Marine. And Austin himself has a little acting experience under his championship belts, guest-starring in a handful of episodes of Nash Bridges in the late ’90s, plus a role in 2005′s remake of The Longest Yard.

The good news for Austin is that some ex-wrestlers make it on the big screen — most notably Dwayne Johnson, better known as “The Rock.” Johnson parlayed a bit part in The Mummy Returns into a full-fledged film career with leading roles in The Scorpion King, The Rundown, Walking Tall, Gridiron Gang, and an upcoming movie version of Get Smart.

The bad news for Austin is that some ex-wrestlers have absolutely bombed on the big screen — most notably Hulk Hogan with tinseltown travesties such as Suburban Commando and Mr. Nanny.

But I have faith in the Rattlesnake. I think he has a fighting shot at rising to the ranks of some of wrestling’s most famous alums. I’m willing to give The Condemned a chance.

And that’s the bottom line, ’cause Ethan said so!

Ethan Morris: “Not always right, but never in doubt.” href="mailto:goaheadandwrite@gmail.com">Go ahead and write me.