Austin joined the WWF after Kevin Nash and Jim Ross helped convince WWF's owner Vince McMahon to hire him in late 1995. He debuted on January 8, 1996 episode of "Raw" and was awarded the Million Dollar Championship by his manager, Ted DiBiase. Austin had his debut match on January 15 episode of "Raw" where he defeated Matt Hardy. Initially, Austin wrestled as The Ringmaster, but his full name was acknowledged by announcers, although it was not part of his official billing. While making his first pay-per-view appearance at the Royal Rumble on January 21, he was scripted to be among the final four wrestlers in the ring, which could have given him an early push; however, Austin failed to hang onto the ropes after Fatu clotheslined him over and slipped out of the ring early. Austin wrestled Savio Vega on March 11 episode of "Raw" to a double count-out, before defeating Vega in his first WrestleMania appearance at WrestleMania XII on March 31. At on April 28, Austin lost to Vega in a rematch. At on May 26, Austin lost a Caribbean strap match to Vega. Under the pre-match stipulations, DiBiase was forced to leave the WWF, allowing Austin to forge his path. Austin later told announcer Dok Hendrix that he had purposely lost the match to rid himself of DiBiase, who in reality was headed for rival promotion WCW.