Calgary Region, Fourth Round: Iron Man: (1) Steve Austin vs. (4) Vader

[klunderbunker]

The following contest is a fourth round match in the Calgary Region.

This match takes place in the Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

It is an Iron Man Match.

Rules: There will be a sixty minute time limit. The most decisions earned in that time period will be victorious. A decision can be earned via pinfall, submission, countout or disqualification.

#1 Steve Austin

Vs.

#4 Vader

This contest is one fall with a 60 minute time limit. The match will take place in a 16 x 16 ring with no ramp leading to it. Any traditional managers for either competitor will be allowed at ringside.

As for voting, vote for who you think would win this match based on the criteria you choose. Some suggestions would be (not limited to): in ring ability, overall skill, their level of influence at the highest point in their career, ability to connect with the crowd, experience in major matches or simply personal preference etc.

The most votes in the voting period wins and in the case of a tie, the most written votes wins. There is one written vote per user, meaning if a poster make ten posts saying Bret should win that will count as a single vote. In the event of a second tie, both men are ELIMINATED, no questions asked. Only winners advance.

Voting will open in 48 hours and will be open for five days and all posts must be non-spam. You may use the 48 hours to present your cases as to why either competitor should/should not win.​

 

[IrishCanadian25]

Vader gets overlooked a great deal when it comes to his endurance. He won is first World Title in Japan by winning 4 matches in roughly 30 minutes.

Even still, this is a bad draw for my boy. Be can, unquestionably, get a few fall son Austin in the first 25 minutes. I could see the score being 2-1 Vader after the first half hour.

As under rated as Vader's endurance is by stupid fans who just simply gawk at the fact that Vader is "fat" and ignore all other evidence that the man is an awesome athlete, even I can admit that he's not keeping up with Austin for 60 minutes. Austin, in his prime, was is fantastic shape, and unlike guys like Ultimate Warrior, he only expended large amounts of energy when he needed to. He's not going to make the mistake of gassing himself out by trying to push around and slam Vader. It just won't happen.

While there are damn sure matches that Vader would and should best Austin in, this isn't one of them. It alo makes me regret pushing so hard to get Vader past Lou Thesz now, because Thesz would beat Austin in this match, and I'd rather have Thesz in the next round than Austin. Vader vs Austin in a 60 minute match isn't compelling, and I don't expect the voting to be close, nor the discussion to be hot.

 

[TheOneBigWill]

Steve Austin's only hope is that 40 minutes in, Vader remotely begins to tire. Austin is all about trying to start fast and end quick. He doesn't have the stamina anymore than Vader, to make matches go beyond the 30 minute mark.

The problem with Austin trying to start fast, is the fact that Vader isn't going to lay down easily. He'll fight power with power, and more so. He'll contest brawling with brawling, but better.

Unless someone can prove where Austin has defeated someone of Vader's size, and power, in a lengthy period of time (or easily enough that it'll make me believe he could pick up multiple victories before tiring himself out) then my vote is locked for Vader here.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I'd say Vader would probably control much of the first half of this match, probably even get a few falls during that time here and there. But the fact remains that Vader just isn't built for a match like this. While Austin isn't exactly known as an endurance wrestler himself, the fact that he's some 200 pounds lighter than Vader is going to give him an advantage in the long run.

It wouldn't really bother me to see Vader get the win here because there are certain kinds of matches in which it's perfectly reasonable to believe Vader would win against Austin. For me though, this just doesn't seem like a likely one. If Austin can last long enough to take what Vader gives out and tire Vader out simultaneously, Austin can win this. I haven't made up my mind yet, though I'm leaning more towards Austin here.

The voting for this match probably won't be even close, however. Austin's popularity is too much for Vader to overcome.

 

[wrestlingfan]

Even though Austin may have the endurance and the chances of Vadar getting tired, Austin ahs chances of getting tired too as he goes against Vadar. Vadar's power game iwll last long even when tired. I don't think Austin willl last long against someone of Vadar's size. My vote goes to Vadar.

 

[justinsayne]

Steve Austin's only hope is that 40 minutes in, Vader remotely begins to tire.

That's assuming Austin can survive that long, I just do see anyway Austin racks up more falls than Vader in the first 20-30 mins. of this match, I see one of two things happening in this match, Vader racks up a shitload of falls early in the match, and forces Austin to try and play catch up later on, or Vader literally beats Austin into a coma and he can't continue, allowing Vader to pin him at will, and just take an easy for the last 20 mins.

I just can't see Austin winning this match, especially considering the fact that if he uses a steel chair or an "equalizer" to soften up Vader he'd just get DQ'd and give Vader the fall

 

[Loveless]

If you're looking for a reason to vote for Vader I'd suggest questioning what kind of shape Austin is going to be in after 30 minutes with Vader. How many Vader bombs can Austin withstand before ribs start breaking? If Vader is in charge for the 1st half, Austin isn't going to have much advantage by the time it gets past halfway, at best it's even after that point.

 

[Hulk Hogan's Brother]

Vader certainly has some experience when it comes to tournaments but even in tournaments he has been known to dispose his opponents off rather quickly. I am no expert on Vader but IC25 certainly is and as he has posted Vader won a tournament by defeating 4 guys in 30 minutes. That means that, on an average each match lasted 7.5 minutes. That is an impressive feat but it still means that Vader does not exactly specialize in long matches. He must have had breaks in between those matches. I just do not see Vader winning a match where it is neccesary to last out the entire 60 minutes outright.

Now let us talk about Austin. Some of the posters are talking about Vader destroying Austin in the first 30 minutes. That makes me wonder who people are talking about, some jobber or the biggest star of the Attitude Era. Austin never got destroyed, EVER. He has faced supernatural guys, madmen, super heavyweights, technical wizards and many more but he always came out on top. Vader is stiff but in a recent interview that Mick Foley gave and was asked to name his stiffest opponents, he named both Austin and Vader as the stiffest he has faced. I will try to find the link as soon as possible but some of you might remember it as appearing on the Wrestlezone. com main page. That means that Austin can play Vader's game too.

The next point is experience. Austin has won a KOTR tournament and has participated in numerous 2 out of 3 falls matches in WCW all of which were rather long affairs. He participated in a really long wargames match as well over there. Even in WWF post his neck injury he went over 40 minutes with HHH in a gruelling 3 stages of hell match up.

Also people point out generally in the case of Vader's opponents how they have never faced anyone of Vader's size and agility. Well Austin has faced Undertaker many times. It might not be the same as a Vaderbomb but in their Summerslam 1998 matchup Undertaker gave Austin a legdrop from the top rope onto the announce table. That is close to what a Vaderbomb might feel like. You know what, Austin still won that match.

Vote for Austin!!! He is the only logical choice here.

 

[The Crock]

There have been some very compelling arguments for Vader. He would definitely dominate the middle part of this match, just due to the fact that like you guys said, Austin starts off very fast. I see Austin's quick strike ability to be a very handy tool later on in this match, Vader could toss him around the ring as much as he wants, but Austin can pull a stunner out of anywhere and pick up a quick pin. He could most certainly beat Vader in this match, especially because he has beaten much stiffer competition before. That's not to say it wouldn't be a close contest. I could definitely see it only being a one fall difference.

 

[FitFinlay4Life]

I don't think the 60 minute time limit is really that big a thing here - I don't see it going that long. Neither of these guys are cardio kings and this will come down to one thing, who can decimate the other quicker? I'm edging Vader beating SC unconscious and winning via stoppage about the 40 minute mark of an absolutely brutal slugfest.

 

[Big Nick Dudley]

1. Vader is fat. Sorry, it's true. I love Vader as much as the next guy, but to say he's as physically fit as Steve Austin (in their respective primes) is insane. My eyes tell me otherwise.

2. Austin has faced, and beaten, large men (The Undertaker, Kane, The Big Show, Rikishi, and Yokozuna). Saying Vader is too big, and too strong is a complete crock of shit.

3. Want to talk about tournament/endurance-style matches? Fine. Austin won the King of the Ring and three Royal Rumble matches. Oh, and he's not 400-and-some pounds, leading me to believe he has much more gas in the tank than Vader.

4. Some are acting as if it's just common knowledge that Vader would dominate the first half of the match. Why should I buy into that? As I said earlier, Austin has faced big men before, and wasn't dominated for 20 minutes. Why is Vader any different than The Undertaker, Kane, Yoko, or any other big, strong guy? He's not. Saying Vader would obviously dominate the first half of this match is ridiculous. If Vader couldn't put Shawn Michaels away in 30 (or so) minutes at Summerslam in 1996, why should I believe he can do that to Austin (who was much more dominant than HBK)?

You can slice and spin this however you want, but I see no reason why Vader should go over Austin. The two men have faced off before, but there was never a clean victory either way. So, with the one-on-one component out the window, how do I judge who would win this match? Easily. Austin has beaten bigger men before, had great success in these types of situations, he's in better shape, he was the much bigger draw, and he's as resilient as they come.

Vader was a bad sum'bitch, but no way he beats Austin here.

 

[El Rev sXe]

1. Vader is fat. Sorry, it's true. I love Vader as much as the next guy, but to say he's as physically fit as Steve Austin (in their respective primes) is insane. My eyes tell me otherwise.

2. Austin has faced, and beaten, large men (The Undertaker, Kane, The Big Show, Rikishi, and Yokozuna). Saying Vader is too big, and too strong is a complete crock of shit.

3. Want to talk about tournament/endurance-style matches? Fine. Austin won the King of the Ring and three Royal Rumble matches. Oh, and he's not 400-and-some pounds, leading me to believe he has much more gas in the tank than Vader.

4. Some are acting as if it's just common knowledge that Vader would dominate the first half of the match. Why should I buy into that? As I said earlier, Austin has faced big men before, and wasn't dominated for 20 minutes. Why is Vader any different than The Undertaker, Kane, Yoko, or any other big, strong guy? He's not. Saying Vader would obviously dominate the first half of this match is ridiculous. If Vader couldn't put Shawn Michaels away in 30 (or so) minutes at Summerslam in 1996, why should I believe he can do that to Austin (who was much more dominant than HBK)?

You can slice and spin this however you want, but I see no reason why Vader should go over Austin. The two men have faced off before, but there was never a clean victory either way. So, with the one-on-one component out the window, how do I judge who would win this match? Easily. Austin has beaten bigger men before, had great success in these types of situations, he's in better shape, he was the much bigger draw, and he's as resilient as they come.

Vader was a bad sum'bitch, but no way he beats Austin here.

WOW! Unbelievable, I wasn't sure who gets the win here, but Nick has perfectly post his case. I'm going to raise hell, I mean I vote for Austin. The stamina factor favors Austin, like Nick said, the man after all won THREE royal rumbles and he wasn't the number 30. Yeah in one he was number 27 and 24, however in his second win (I think) he won being number FIVE. That takes alot of resistance! A close match, but Austin win 4-3.

 

[klunderbunker]

This is Austin by a mile and that's the case for four reasons.

1. Austin is a better conditioned wrestler. Consider Mania 17. He had a 30 minute war with Rocky and yet at the end he still had the energy to massacre Rock with that chair. He's won Rumbles, he's had long matches. Vader doesn't have that kind of stamina on his resume.

2. Austin can brawl with anyone. As was said he has faced off with monsters like Kane and Big Show and he's done fine. Austin is the king of the brawlers and I don't think a guy like Vader is going to scare him off. Austin knows how to fight, but he can also add in enough speed and technical manuevers to pull this out.

3. Austin is a very smart man. This is the most important thing of all here. Austin has rarely been one to charge headlong into something where he can't win. For instance in the 98 Rumble when everyone was waiting on him, he came through the crowd. When he was fighting the NWO, he picked them off one by one. Austin is more than smart enough to not go head on at Vader because he knows he wouldn't do that well at it. Instead he's going to make Vader miss and therefore use up energy, where Austin has the advantage. Austin is a brawler, but he's a very smart brawler.

4. Vader can lose in straight fights to average size men. Take a look at Flair vs. Vader at Starrcade 93. Flair not only won the match, but there are times where he beat Vader down with his bare hands. Vader is a big old monster, but he's beatable. Who do you think is a better striker between Flair and Austin? My guess would be on the bald man and I think you would agree. Vader can be beaten in a straight match and one way is to just hammer the guy.

Austin wins here and he does it going away.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

Early on in this match I could see Vader on top, using his size and strength to his advantage to take the lead over The Rattlesnake, and certainly acquire a pinfall or two in the opening 1/2 an hour. The match would be alot closer than some posters seem to think though, as this is Stone Cold we are talking about, the face of the Attitude Era and one of the toughest men in the business. However, I do think an in-prime Vader would manage to take the lead after 30 minutes.

He would need to be careful not to tire himself out through too much effort early on, as Austin is a tireless competitor and in far superior shape to Vader.

We all know about Austin being the toughest S.O.B in the WWE, and saw him refuse to tap out to Bret Hart's sharpshooter so he will not give in easily in this one, and I believe that in the latter 30 minutes, once Vader begins to tire we see the Austin fightback. He was extremely smart in the ring, much smarter than Vader and he would save enough energy to take the advantage in the 2nd half of this match.

I think this would be a close match, but I think Austin would manage to take a 4/5- 3 victory here.

 

[Dave]

This has been a great run for Vader but I have a feeling this is where it will end for the big man. Not least because I looked at the scores before I cast my own vote but also because he is simply never going to beat Austin in a Iron Man match... Well, not on here at least.

I feel sorry for him because having watched a lot of Old School stuff over the last couple of months, you could tell that this son of a bitch was hard as nails. In fact, I am pretty sure that he was harder. Nevertheless, the IWC is never going to put Vader over Austin and that is because Austin has made a name on being one of the toughest bastards to ever step into a WWE ring. The Iron Man match is usually no disqualification and that is where Austin takes the win, in my opinion. Vader obviously knows his way around a weapon or two but I feel as though the main failing is his stamina. I know that Vader was pretty agile for a bigger man but there is simply no way that his stamina matches Austin's.

For me, this match is pretty tight up until the last 5 or 10 minutes, when the superior conditioning of Austin comes into play and means that he can pin the tired Vader for the last time within the last minute to pick up the victory and move into the next round.

I also didn't want to feel as though my vote would count for nothing.

 

[Tastycles]

It's beyond me that Vader is consistently in the last 16 of this tournament, I've never really considered him to be in that kind of tier, but whatever, this is the end of the road for him. To begin with, Austin is a better professional wrestler than Vader by just about any measure: more championships, more popular, better feuds, bigger matches, the list is endless. In kayfabe terms, Austin was most in his element when overcoming strong odds, and has experience of beating men bigger than Vader and also more noteworthy monster heels. The stipulation kills it for Vader though. To my knowledge, he has rarely wrestled over 30 minutes. I'd expect Vader to build up a lead early on, only to be dragged back and eventually beaten by Austin.

 

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

Vader was awesome. When he wasn't scaring the crap out of Cory in Boy Meets World he was kicking ass and taking names in the ring. There is no doubt in my mind that Vader could go in a match with Austin, but unfortunately I'm going to have to give the Iron Man victory to the Rattlesnake. It's no discredit to the legacy of the big man, he's just no Stone Cold.

 

[AnvilForever]

When I think Iron Man I think of PAIN. How much pain will you take, and how much endurance do you have in you. For that, I pick Austin. As I write this, I'm thinking of Austin passing out from the pain of Hart's sharpshooter and of him winning the Rumble as the #5 entrant. Both of these instances show that Austin has no mental pain threshold and will take anything thrown his way and still have energy left in the tank.