'Stone Cold' enthusiasm in Anaheim

Actor and ex-pro wrestler meets 1,000 of his most ardent fans in Anaheim.

ANAHEIM - Men, women, boys and girls snaked in a long line among the aisles at the Anaheim Plaza Wal-Mart on Tuesday – thick, black-and-gold World Wrestling championship belts slung over their shoulders and DVDs clutched in their hands, waiting for an autograph from "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, who appeared there to mark his DVD release.

Cash registers were humming as more than 1,000 fans bought "Condemned," the movie released Tuesday starring the actor and former pro wrestler.

"I'm here to meet 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin," said Juan Carrillo, 25, of Anaheim. "He was my favorite wrestler when he was still wrestling. He's just great. … He's always rebelling."

In the movie, Austin stars as Jack Conrad, a death-row inmate in a Central American prison. He is one of 10 prisoners purchased by a wealthy television producer to fight to the death on a desolate island for a brutal reality show.

"He's an ex-military guy," Austin said, explaining his character. "He's a survivor. He's a guy who's more action than words."

That action includes some serious beatings, and the folks at Wal-Mart were just as anxious to see Austin administer them on screen as in the ring.

Alfredo Peñaloza Jr., 13, of Santa Ana has been watching pro wrestling since he was 3. Standing in line with a blue wrapped cast on his right wrist and a thick championship belt replica over his shoulder, he extolled the virtues of Austin's Stone Cold Stunner and other wrestling moves.

"That's how he hurt his hand," said Alfredo's mom, Lora Peñaloza, as her son grinned proudly. "In the 'ladder match' outside the apartment. All the kids, they put the belt at the top of the slide and raced for it."