Wrestling Forum banner

20 Years Ago Today; One Of the Greatest Matches In History Happened

5K views 42 replies 32 participants last post by  Yeah1993 
#1 ·




It is the greatest WWF match in history IMO. A perfect blend of high action mixed with some of the best storytelling you're ever likely to see.

Bret/Austin were made for each other and if their Survivor Series match didn't convince anyone of how great they were together (it should have of course, it's a classic on its own), this sure did. It's even more interesting when you watch both matches back to back too tbh. SS is more of a 'technical' bout, where WM was all about two blokes doing anything they could to ultimately win, any way they could.

Not sure if it was Bret or Austin, or both, that came up with the decision to blade, but I'm glad they did as the ending visual is as good as it's gets. Bret was equally fantastic in his offense and how he sold the turn at the end.

Shout out to Shamrock as the ref as he added his own character to the match and was also pivotal in the post match too.

A worldwide wrestling classic that I'll be watching again tonight. I was 16 at the time and Bret was my favourite wrestler and I loved the whole Austin feud. It was perfect for both and Austin esp came out of it looking like a made man.

A match that will still still be as great and fresh 100 years from now.

You can even watch it with Austin commenting over it (audio taken from his podcast);

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2...restlemania-13-with-austin-s-commentary_sport

I ALSO IMPLORE EVERYONE TO READ THIS TRULY ASTONISHING ARTICLE ON THIS MATCH AND THE FULL HISTORY BEHIND IT AND THE WRESTLING HISTORY THAT PROCEEDED IT;

https://medium.com/@ChrisBrosnahan/...years-later-long-read-f4e595bf6237#.i0qawbve5

:banderas just doesn't do it enough justice tbh.​
 
See less See more
2
#31 ·
WrestleMania 13 is the best match Austin & Hart wrestled in their illustrious careers. I wrote a review on the match (and rivalry) a few years ago. I'll share my thoughts again @Brock



Submission Match
WrestleMania 13

March 23, 1997



The intensity level between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Bret Hart had reached its pinnacle by this point. Through battles in the Royal Rumble Match and in the Final Four, through screw jobs and all-out brawls around arenas, this molten hot rivalry would climax at WrestleMania in a Submission Match.

Ken Shamrock was appointed special guest referee for this no holds barred war. How fitting to have this credible MMA Ultimate Fighter call a match between two of the fiercest competitors in pro wrestling when the objective is to make your opponent submit by any means.

Austin’s glass shattering entrance is one of the most iconic entrances ever at a WrestleMania. Stone Cold may have broken through the glass as a despicable heel but most of the fans in Chicago were highly entertained by his personality that exuded unadulterated attitude. Austin is edgy, abrasive, but more importantly he is uncompromising. Whether he is a no good son of a bitch or a vicious rattlesnake, many people appreciate that charismatic quality.

Bret Hart’s character has been compromised. He is bitter about being “screwed” out of championships and opportunities to fight for championships. Bret is disgusted with the emergence of attitude because he is a wrestler whose standards were rooted in respect and tradition. As Bret stepped over the shards of glass so did he pass what was left of his era. Due to Bret’s whining and complaining during the Road to WrestleMania, he receives a mixed reaction from the boisterous Allstate Arena crowd instead of the complete admiration that was once so strong with the fans.

When the bell rang there was no stare off this time. There weren't any wrestling exchanges as they immediately brawled all over the arena. This rivalry had moved far past proving who is the best wrestler. This fight is about ravaging the other man’s body and his will. It is about beating the other man into submission – the ultimate defeat.

Bret eventually targets Austin’s injured knee to set him up for the Sharpshooter. Straightforward wrestling psychology effectively added to the story of the match. I love how both Austin and Bret sold Austin’s desperation hit of the Stone Cold Stunner. Austin’s injury was being exploited and he had to pull out the big gun to stop Bret, but it wasn’t necessarily enough to put the Hitman down for long. It literally just stunned Bret and he sold the effects well without completely shaking off Austin’s finisher before going back to controlling the match. The Figure Four on the ring post was a cool spot that caused the crowd to erupt. The immediate viciousness from both men was visible in every move they delivered.

When Bret introduced a steel chair into the match to attack Austin’s knee and attempt to shatter his ankle like Austin did to Brian Pillman, I thought that was a fitting callback to Austin’s first vile act of the feud in his attempts to awaken the Hitman to come fight him. Austin did awaken the Hitman but this is a more ruthless Bret Hart. When Austin was in control of the match battering Bret with the steel chair, each shot caused roars of excitement and approval from the fans. The tides of the match were not only turning but so were the fans, so were Bret and Austin...

You can see the outstanding character progression of both men as the match builds. When Austin attempted to lock Bret in the Sharpshooter, Bret used the dirty tactic of raking Austin’s eyes to escape instead of the honorable way of outwrestling the other man with a wrestling counter like he used to do. When Austin raked Bret’s eyes or punted him a low blow, the fans loved him more for it.

The fans accepted Austin for who he is and that is one bad motherfucker who is going to do what he wants to do. Austin’s not the man who preached about honor and whined about getting screwed. He’s the guy that says he’s going to kick Bret Hart’s ass with no hesitation about it. Austin was inspiring in his blunt acts of defiance such as giving referee Ken Shamrock two middle fingers in reply to the question of quitting. Before the match Austin had already vehemently stated “I ain’t got no quit in me at all!” Austin’s perseverance throughout this punishing match was proving his words true.


AUSTIN NEVER GAVE UP!

Austin’s performance is quite possibly the most inspiring wrestling performance ever - the blood gushing out of his temple as he resisted the pain, his refusal to quit, and giving it his ALL to attempt to escape the hold are all honorable actions. Austin’s body may have technically submitted because it passed out to the pain, but his will was never broken by Bret Hart.

Bret’s spiteful attack on Austin after the match and walking away from a confrontation with Ken Shamrock further established that he did not stand for honor and respect anymore thus solidifying the double turn. The double turn is one of the most riveting feats ever accomplished in wrestling storytelling. To have a once beloved hero descend in character as he stands in victory, and at the same time have this bad ass outlaw who in defeat ascends in the eyes of the fans by way of intensity, blood, and grit is absolutely remarkable.


Match Rating: ★★★★★




An image that not only displays the brutality of this match, it also defines the character of Stone Cold Steve Austin - "The World's Toughest Son of a Bitch!" This gruesome shot of Austin's face full of pain, dripping blood is one of the most memorable images of all time. Austin rose from the blood soaked ring and WALKED out of the arena. During this powerful moment, the fans showering him with their cheers christened Stone Cold Steve Austin as THE ANTI-HERO of the World Wrestling Federation. Austin’s defiance to quit in this match made him the most admirable man in the industry. Stunning a referee and refusing help further displayed his indissoluble pride and toughness.

Hart decisively defeated Austin but the story isn’t about Bret Hart’s victory. Austin’s performance and what he gained was more transcendent than a simple win in a match could have meant for him. If the “Austin 3:16” speech at King of the Ring '96 was the seeds planted for the birth of a new era, then Hart-Austin at WrestleMania 13 is the emergence of that harvest. After this match Austin skyrocketed from this performance as the hottest wrestler in the company. The official kick off of “The Austin Era” would begin a year later. This WrestleMania 13 classic is widely regarded by wrestling fans as the greatest match in WWF history. A match as exceptional in quality and significant to an entire generation of wrestling fans deserves such recognition.​
 
#2 ·
HBK/Taker might have an issue with the GOAT statement...
 
#15 · (Edited)
HBK/Taker HIAC '97 is my favorite match of all time, as well. But that doesn't have anything to do with this thread. If you're going to post, you should at least post about the thread topic.

Anyway, this is one of the best matches of all time covering all companies, not just WWE. The drama, the intensity, the psychology, the amount that they had the crowd into it without any high-spots are all things that are missing from today's WWE in-ring product and this is one of the matches that illustrates that perfectly.

Also, @Brock, I could be wrong, but I think I recall Bret or Steve saying once somewhere that it was Bret's idea for Austin to get some color and he talked to Steve during the day (of the match) about doing it, but Steve had never bladed before, so he told Bret he'd think about it over the next few hours, and get back to Bret about it later on in the day. So, Steve decided he thought it was the right call, but he didn't know how to do it, so Bret, who had done it numerous times in the past, did it for Steve and Steve was very nervous about the whole thing, but it all worked out and obviously added a good bit to the match.

Anyway, this match made pulling off a double-turn look so easy that fans today who weren't fans back then always refer to this match when they think two wrestlers from today should have a double turn during a match, thinking that it's just so easy to convincingly pull it off, when it's actually very, very difficult. That's how great this match was and it absolutely deserves it's due and then some.
@Brock, I hope you do one of your great reviews for HBK/Taker HIAC '97 later this year, perhaps on the exact date of the 20 year anniversary of this match, October 5, 1997. I would really enjoy it.

Thanks for posting this.
 
#22 ·
Yeah i had a feeling it was Bret's idea tbh, given that he pulled it off previously in the Piper match. That ending image of Austin is so more powerful with him bleeding like a stuffed pig.

HBK/Taker is certainly on my list to do too. It's been a while since I've last watched it. (Y)
 
#20 ·
The greatest L in wrestling history and the reason that (sometimes) losing is WAY better for your career than winning is. Also this might be JR's finest performance as he sells the Sharpshooter as THE most dangerous move in wrestling and how no one has broken it, and he starts to lose his mind when it looks like Austin has actually done the impossible. GOAT stuff here folks
 
#27 ·
The greatest L in wrestling history and the reason that (sometimes) losing is WAY better for your career than winning is. Also this might be JR's finest performance as he sells the Sharpshooter as THE most dangerous move in wrestling and how no one has broken it, and he starts to lose his mind when it looks like Austin has actually done the impossible. GOAT stuff here folks
True. Though, there aren't many matches where the loss made the superstar - I can think of only a couple; this, and Shawn against Razor at Wrestlemania X.
 
#33 · (Edited)
My favourite match of all time and also the greatest WWF and pro-wrestling match in history IMO.

It was just the perfect match between two of my heroes growing up and had all the ingredients: intensity, heat, blood, storytelling, psychology, selling, great build up, action, finish, outcome and created a huge star. You couldn't ask for anything more. I have never seen a better double turn than that.

Bret and Austin always had great chemistry and never had a bad match together. It's a shame their other matches are overshadowed by this but it's also understandable why.
 
#19 ·
Most important I'll agree with, but that's ALL I'll say.
 
  • Like
Reactions: M.V.W.
#16 ·
Cliffs of this thread so far:


Poor Taylor Brock :(



Great match. I put it as my top in WWE history :D. I've watched it so many f'n times and it never gets boring. Coincidentally, I always get nostalgic for real cameras when watching this match when Austin does this:

 
#35 · (Edited)
@Clique Great review! Well written!


Nightrow said:
My favourite match of all time and also the greatest WWF and pro-wrestling match in history IMO.

It was just the perfect match between two of my heroes growing up and had all the ingredients: intensity, heat, blood, storytelling, psychology, selling, great build up, action, finish, outcome and created a huge star. You couldn't ask for anything more. I have never seen a better double turn than that.

Bret and Austin always had great chemistry and never had a bad match together. It's a shame their other matches are overshadowed by this but it's also understandable why.
The Survivor Series '96 match was top notch. I still gotta watch the IYH: Revenge Of The Taker one.
 
#36 ·
@Clique Great review! Well written!




The Survivor Series '96 match was top notch. I still gotta watch the IYH: Revenge Of The Taker one.
Yeah it's been a while since I've seen the IYH match tbh, but I remember it being good with Bret playing his heel role perfectly in the match. It was supposed to be Bret/Sid but Sid got injured I think so Austin stepped in.

Then Bret/Austin had that fucking awesome Street fight the night after IYH on Raw.
 
#10 ·
Before this turns into a flame war, this thread needs to be locked.
 
#11 · (Edited)
I created the thread to celebrate the match. I put ONE OF the greatest in the thread title and I put IMO it's the greatest match because it's just my opinion of the match in question.

I didn't create the thread for it to be a dick measuring contest involving wrestling matches.

I created it to celebrate the match on its 'birthday'.

You started it in your first reply tbh by saying "Nah another match is better". If it's just going to be a GOAT thread then fuck it, I'll bin the damn thing.

@Muta thanks for trying tho with an actual reply on the match.
 
#30 ·
Probably my favourite match of all time. featuring two people who would eventually become two of my favourites of all time. Its a great match told a great story all the way through. It's a guideline on how to work a good match. As close as to a perfect match WWE have had.
 
#32 · (Edited)
:banderas

I still remember your thread about their rivalry. Great write-up for such a well deserved match.

The start of the match is a great example of how to start a match that has this much heat behind it. Don't wait and then lock up like it's a normal wrestling match. More heated rivalries should follow this example tbh.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top