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
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.