It is hard to argue that there is no wrestler in the history of WWE that feels more like Stone Cold Steve Austin. As big as Wow is today and as great as some wrestlers are today, much of WWE’s current success would not be possible without the impact of stone cold Steve Austin.
The six-time WWE Champion was The biggest selling point and star during the Attitude Era, Revitalizing the company at a time when it was in danger of going under. Thankfully, Austin was able to help generate newfound interest in the product not just because of his charismatic, beer-guzzling persona or his captivating stories with the likes of Vince McMahon, but due to the fact that he has some of the ​The most must-see matches from that era. Here are some examples.
10
Stone Cold vs. The Undertaker – WWF Championship Match
In your house 15: A cold day in hell
This match deserves a mention for one main reason: it is the only memorable encounter between Stone Cold and The Undertaker. As two of the biggest faces of the company during its arguably most popular era, one would expect Steve Austin to have a similar number of great matches with The Undertaker as he did with The Rock and Triple H, but that was not the case. Both performers admitted that the chemistry in the ring is simply not there, but one match stands out as the exception.
This was Taker’s second title defense, and Austin was still at the best of his ring ability before the neck injury. The stakes were there, and the two superstars managed to click for one night, delivering what can be considered one of the hidden gems of the Attitude (or pre-Attitude, technically) era.
9
Stone Cold vs. Shawn Michaels
King of the Ring 1997
Most readers will remember Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 14, the match that officially rings in the Austin era. However, what most don’t remember is their contest from a year earlier in King of the Ring 1997. The match came when both men were very much in their prime, Months before Austin suffered his career-changing neck injury and a year before Michaels sustained his career-ending back injury en route to the same WrestleMania.
This makes a significant difference to their Mania contest and, despite a double DQ finish, it manages to be better than their celebrated match at the Showcase of Immortals. Both men’s chemistry is hypnotic, and it is clear that they are at the peak of their in-ring performances.
8
Stone Cold vs. The Rock Vs. Kurt Angle vs. Triple H vs. Rikishi vs. The Undertaker – WWF Championship Hell in a Cell match
Armageddon 2000
While this match may not be the best possible showcase of Stone Cold’s talents considering he’s there with five other men, This is the best possible showcase of the Attitude Era. The Attitude Era was Stone Cold’s backyard to thrive in, but of course, he didn’t thrive alone. All six men in this match hold notable positions in wrestling history, especially during this time, so in many ways, this feels like a time capsule.
If the Attitude Era and its main event scene could be summed up in one match, it would be this: blood, sweat, tears, chaos left and right, and death-defying falls from above (not unlike Mick Foley’s in Another Hell in a cell match).
7
Stone Cold Against the Stone (III)
WrestleMania 19
It’s rare to see a wrestler get the perfect swan song or retirement match, but until he returns for a WrestleMania match with Kevin Owens, Austin’s final match of his WrestleMania trilogy with The Rock was such a sendoff. He has the chance to fall on his sword one last time against his wrestling soulmate on the grandest stage of them all, and then quietly ride off into the sunset. He would return later in the year as a General Manager, but in saying goodbye to in-ring competition for 19 years, Austin could not have asked for a better finale to his wrestling career.
Although there was no such stipulation to the match or announcement previously claiming that this would be Austin’s final match, there was an atmosphere in the air that seemed to signal some kind of ending. Maybe not to Austin’s career, but perhaps thanks to the final pairing of the Attitude Era’s biggest stars at the turn of the Ruthless Aggression Era, It felt like the end of an eraAnd a satisfying one at that.
6
Stone Cold vs. Triple H – Three Stages of Hell Match
No way out 2001
On the road to WrestleMania, Stone Cold punched his ticket to the main event for the third time in his career and the first time in a year since his career-threatening injury. It became all the more evident that the Rock vs. Stone Cold II was on the horizon and at this point in their careers, it would be difficult to try to top the magnitude of this match. The only match that could come close is if the Texas Rattlesnake had, instead, played the game.
To tie up loose ends before Mania, he would do exactly that the month before, wrestling the man who (in storyline) orchestrated Austin’s year-long injury by hiring Rikishi to run him over with a car. The only way to settle this beef was with a Three Stages of Hell match. The stipulation proved vicious enough and the beef simmered deep enough for a true classic.
5
Stone Cold vs. The Stone (II) – WWF Championship Match
Wrestling Mania X-7
At the time, this was promoted as The biggest WrestleMania Major event of all time Between two of the most popular, beloved babyfaces not only at the time but in the entire Attitude Era. Not only did it truly feel like the greatest of its time, but to this day, It still holds a place among the greatest WrestleMania main events. Two gladiators with years worth of history who share a mutual respect, but would do anything for the title that would crown them as the better man and the top dog of the wrestling food chain.
To loosely echo the immortal words of Paul Heyman, both men had everything to gain and could not afford to lose. This tagline would contribute to a controversial heel turn that continues to divide audiences, but is nonetheless a twist indicative of the unpredictable Attitude Era.
4
Stone Cold vs. Kurt Angle – WWF Championship Match
summerslam 2001
As with the Michaels match mentioned earlier, this ends in DQ. There are plenty of matches from the Attitude Era that would end in a disqualification, however It’s truly a testament to the athletes involved that the match would still be incredibly entertaining and crowd-pleasing despite the controversial finish.. This match is a prime example of this fact. Even if their rematch at next month’s Unforgiven would have a more conclusive, feel-good ending, this match remains the superior of the two.
Stone Cold’s performance in this match is also a testament to that point How good he wasEven when the heel turn was met with criticism. As beloved as he was during this era, even after the turn, he was able to capture the admiration of the WWE Universe in this match, cheering them on to an American hero who produced his own villain as a heel not long before SummerSlam .
3
Two-Man Power Trip vs. Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho – WWF Tag Team Titles Match
Monday Night Roy, May 21, 2001
This is another match that comes with an asterisk, this time mostly because of one of Stone Cold’s opponents in the match, for obvious reasons. Chris Benoit’s presence prevents WWE from so much as mentioning the match or showing highlights. This, to some degree, is a shame because This is a top contender to be the greatest match in Raw history, Triple H suffers a legitimate and career-threatening injury, tearing his left quadriceps, and still ends the match.
It arrived at a time when the team of Stone Cold and Triple H became the most dominant duo on the rosterAt one point held the World Championship, Intercontinental Championship, and the tag titles all at once. They were a row on every show and fans were ready to see them dethroned. On this particular night, the feeling was in the air that the crowd wanted the two-man Power Trip victory, and when that promise was delivered, it became one of Raw’s Best moments.
2
Stone Cold vs. Bret Hart – #1 contender for the WWF Championship match
Survivor series 1996
Before his first WWE Championship reign, before his big break at WrestleMania, and just months after his famous Austin 3:16 promo, the first time Stone Cold truly looked like he belonged in the main event picture was in Survivor Series 1996 vs. Brett “The Hitman” Hart. They say to be the man (woo), you have to beat the man. As arguably the best wrestler on the roster at the time, Bret Hart was the man to beat to cement his superstardom. Although Austin would not beat Hart on this night, He looked strong enough in defeat to kickstart the first seeds for the Austin Era.
The ending especially solidified this as a classic, as the Cobra Clutch reversed into a pin attempt was memorable enough to spawn multiple attempts to duplicate the finish in modern wrestling. Austin in his prime was one of the best technical wrestlers on the planet, and put him in the ring with the best technical wrestler on the planet? That’s hard to beat.
1
Stone Cold vs Bret Hart – WWF Championship Match
WrestleMania 13
And yet, somehow, Bret Hart and Stone Cold were able to beat that. All they need is to add Ken Shamrock as the special guest referee and add A stipulation for submission onlyAnd magic happened. If their match the previous fall was more of a technical masterclass, this match added more of a brawling element that better suited the bionic redneck character. This also caused A more violent, bloody contest that gifted the wrestling industry with one of its most iconic images.
Blood drips from Austin’s mouth as Jim Ross yells, “Austin will not surrender!” was all it took. just like that A star was born. Without this match, Stone Cold Steve Austin will probably not become the face of the WowThus launching the company into a whole new stratosphere for years to come.