M.O.T.Y.? - Steve Austin vs Bret Hart - Wrestlemania 13

[IrishCanadian25]

Good morning Old School Fans! This new edition of our examinations of PWI's Matches of the Year brings us back 11 years to the Submission Match between "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Bret "Hitman" Hart. For those of you who look at the deeper meaning and influence of a match when determining if it was the Match of the Year will find this one right at the top of your list!

1997 was a HUGE year for professional wrestling in general, as new stars were being created, a prime time war was being waged, and a screwjob was in the works. But on this date, Wrestlemania 13, Austin and Hart took their long standing feud into a submission match which ended with Austin passing out due to pain and loss of blood in the Sharpshooter.

For one, this match was the setting of the now infamous "double turn" in which Bret Hart began his heel role and Steve Austin became a top face. Fans appreciated Austin's never-say-die attitude, and his willingness to bleed and pass out before ever submitting to his nemesis. The shot of Austin screaming in pain before losing consciousness, blood pouring from his cranium is etched onto the minds of wresting fans for all eternity, and is an almost iconic mental image.

But was it the Match of the Year?

Or was WCW's high flying duo of Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio Jr. who deserved the honor?

Perhaps the original Hell in a Cell between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker?

Or ECW's Three-Way-War between Terry Funk, Stevie Richards, and The Sandman?

You can help decide with a vote and a post. Interesting side note: 1997's Match of the Year award broke Shawn Michaels streak of four consecutive MOTY's, and he would not win the award again until 2004.

 

[klunderbunker]

I have to say yes. If you want to look at it on impact of the aftermath, or of the match itself it's this right here. This match launched Austin from the upper mid card straight into superstardom. I don't ever recall a double turn being pulled off otherwise, and this was simply perfection. Hart was the technical master of submissions and Austin was a brawler, but these two had such great chemistry in the ring. For the most part of the match, Bret is in control, but Austin gets in a few shots and takes the match over. For those few moments, you can see the Texas Rattlesnake come to life. That match for me showed me what Austin would become. The image of him with blood dripping down his face reaching for the ropes is among the most famous of all time. And if you go to the Vintage Video thread and listen to the crowd when he breaks the Sharpshooter, the crowd simply erupts. I dont think that had ever been done before, and it was a sight. This match also made Hart become heel, leading to the amazing Boarder War storyline that Summer, along with the Montreal Screwjob in the Fall. As for in ring, this match is hard to top. It wasn't about wrestling or getting a quick fall. It was the culmination of a great feud that had to be settled. Austin lost, but he went over huge in losing. That's difficult to do.

 

[xmoshx]

there no doubt that stone cold vs bret hart is the MOTY people still talk about this match to this very day without this very match would stone cold get as popular as he did or bret hart be the heel he turned into and as the post b4 me i dont recall a double turn before this. i think this one match made stone cold who he was as a face

 

[jmt225]

Man, I love this match, but it's nothing compared to HBK vs. Taker’s HITC match. It was the first time we saw a HITC match took place, and in my opinion, it is still the greatest HITC match of all time. I loved everything about it. The bumps were crazy, Shawn took what was probably the hardest chair shot of all time, and the ending was nuts. I hate Kane, but man was that an awesome debut and a perfect way to end a match of that caliber.

Austin vs. Hart was still awesome though; I just can't put it past HBK/Taker. In fact, it would rank third on my list. I would have to put Raven vs. Tommy Dreamer from Wrestlepalooza first, HBK/Taker second, and then the Hart/Austin match.

The Raven/Dreamer match was beyond epic. It was over two years in the making, and it was also suppose to be Raven’s last match in ECW. Dreamer went over in what is my favorite match of all time. But the reason this is my favorite match of all time and my MOTY for 1997, is not just because of the awesome battle took place, but the angle that followed is to this day one of the greatest angles that has ever taken place, in my opinion. If you haven’t seen it, then do a search for it right now. It was fucking awesome.

 

[Noif]

I think if you put Austin/Hart and Taker/Michaels alongside each other, there isn't a hell of a lot to choose between them.

Austin/Hart was such a good match because of its direction. It was percieved as such a personal angle, highlighted by the pre-match promo that aired, I believe it mentioned something about Bret falling out of favour and becoming jealous that a new star(Austin) was rising to the top and taking his spot. It was also ambitious because the announcers at the time hyped it during the match as being so unique, with the fact there were no disqualifications, something that wasn't too commonplace back then. The addition of Shamrock clearly added to the buzz(though I'd have liked to see a little more interaction with him from both wrestlers), and throw in the fact that it was WrestleMania....winner. The wrestlers involved had such a contrast in styles that no-one was sure whether it could work...a brawler taking on a submissions specialist? Both guys ended up playing their parts to perfection, and their styles meshed very well. The start of the match where they brawled into the crowd was brilliant, and the ending of the match was just awesome, because it let Bret have the win whilst not damaging Austin, in fact, it sent Austin skyrocketing to the top arguably.

HBK/Taker was a different kettle of fish altogether. Here we had two of the biggest stars in the business, in a feud. That straightaway tends to equal many buys, but the creation of HIAC just sent it to the next level. There's two incredibly gifted superstars...and a match type that's never been tried before. Think about the buzz that would create nowadays(no, do not think of TNA's, Terrordome, please). The match itself was just phenomenal, and THAT bump is one of the most replayed moments in the company's history. the fact that these guys had a good match whilst using a gimmick as well is a testament to their ability, and makes it a very deserving MOTY candidate.

Unfortunately I can't really comment on the Three Way Dance because I wasn't really into ECW back then, but I think whatever its quality, it'd be pretty hard to shake either of the two aforementioned matches out of their MOTY spots, ditto the WCW match.

 

[Joaquim Akaem]

Well....what can i say?
Its already been said, Austin vs Bret was the match of the decade, not just of match of the year.
True, the Hell in a Cell was a great concept and a brilliant match, but the submission match at Wrestlemania13 was the best match possibly ever. The shot of Austin with blood pouring down his face, a double turn during the match is almost an impossible thing to pull off, yet it was done so well. This match also symbolized the passing of the torch to Austin.

You could play a tape of this match to any youngsters wanting to make it in the business and say "this is how wrestling should be done"

 

[Rated K for Kennedy... Kennedy!]

WEll as usual i'm shooting straight so here's my take:

HIAC Taker V HBK- really good gimmick match, nice spots and inventive finish, but a finish designed to further another storyline, not designed to improve the match!

Bret V Austin- I'm going to go on record here as never being a Bret fan, I also never bought into the whole 3:16 craze, so emotionally I wasn't that involved in the match, but for fairness's sake I have just re-watched it and I believe; really great match between the two men, undoubtably catapulted Austin to Stardom and looking back could have been the beggining of the end for Bret (he didn't like being a heel). It was a really great match, tense, physical and blow for blow, with a great ending. For me tho, there is one better:

Rey V Eddie from Haloween Havoc- now at the time I was just getting into WCW and the Cruisers were the main reason I did. I loved learning the Lucha tradition and the Mask V Title angle worked so well. AT the time Eddie was on a hell of a roll and Rey seemed too small to overcome, but with the odds stacked, and WCW Higher ups not caring if they went long, the two STOLE THE SHOW!!! Eddie rippign at the mask made it really personal and that over the top rope to the floor dragonrana was INSANE!

 

[Undercurrent]

I honestly believe that Steve Austin vs Bret Hart is one of the greatest matches in wrestling history. It did one thing that few matches have ever done completely right and that's tell a proper story. Who better to be apart of this match than the best storyteller of all time in Bret Hart and quite frankly having the best there was next to Bret at the time in Austin ,took it to the next level. The chemistry these two had together in the ring was unheard of as they completely complimented each other. The double turn was something unheard of at the time in professional wrestling which in my opinion lead to the most exciting feud of the 1990's. There are those who will claim the screwjob lead to the Attitude Era but I must disagree and say that this was the match that started it and what a way to kick it off.

Here was have the greatest match of the decade par none and if you haven't taken the chance to watch it then please do.

 

[The Dungeon]

I would have to agree on this one. The double turn actually had been tried before, but it had always been confusing and baffled the fans, and took weeks to get a clear cut view, on who was where. (Demolition/P.O.P comes to mind). But this was the first, (and only one) I can really remember, that was executed flawlessly and perfectly, and really helped opened the door, for the logic of "Attitude Era", storylines.

As for the match, it's all been said! But what I want to point out, is that, it really helped both men, give something back to one another!!! It of course, helped Steve get up to the next level. It revitalized and refreshed Bret Hart's character, and people were talking about him again!

Also, Bret had to work a style he'd never worked before, and he and Austin both made it work to utter perfection. There are very few perfect and flawless matches in wrestling, this is on the short-list.

HONOURABLE MENTION: One match however, I think that often gets overlooked, is Bret vs. 'Taker from "One Night Only" in London, England (Sept.20.1997). It really proved to many naysayers, that 'Taker could work a technical style match. This match does get overlooked for 2 good reasons.

1) The PPV was only shown in England, and Canada.

2) Hell in the Cell was 2 weeks later (also a classic).

 

[Y 2 Jake]

If these awards appear to work in the same way the other ones do, then wouldn't it be between this match & the Screwjob match?

If it's the most significant match of the year it has to be between these two. Overall the Hart/Austin match was more important to WWE. But the Screwjob was more important to fans. So considering these awards are voted for by fans. But then again the argument could be made for the HIAC match. Without it, Mick Foley probably wouldn't have done the spot he did in 1998.

But match wise it's no contest. Not only was the match great. It birthed two great turns. There was only one thing as hot as Austin in the summer of 1997, and that was Bret Hart. It was also at a time when most fans were still following WCW more closely than they were WWE. So it's only really gained popularity over the past couple of years.

 

[Shocky]

Ew boy was 1997 one helluva year when it came to great wrestling. Amazing year, possibly my favorite year of them all.

Austin vs. Hart. I always had a hard time picking out one match to be match of the year, but the years certainly have been kind to this match. This match hasn't lost anything since it originally aired. This match single handedly makes WM 13 a must own DVD. As stated, the intensity, the culmination of the feud, and the very elusive double switch (Big Show/Mayweather did a damn good double switch too). This match solidified the direction the company was going to go.

Honorable Mentions:
Taker vs. HBK (Hell in the Cell) Amazing match to say the least. Both guys busted their ass in this match and made the cell seem dangerous in it's first incarnation. The interference from Kane at the end is what keeps this match from being MOTY. It was important, yes, but it takes away from the match just a little at the end.

Barely Legal: Raven vs. the winner of the Triple Threat.
I combine both of those matches into one match, because they flowed so well together. This match was a pretty damn good triple threat match, and Funk winning another world title after 20 years gave credibility to ECW.

Born to be Wired: Sabu vs. Funk.
Terrible match technically, obviously, but still a sign of the direction of the business as a whole as far as full scale brutality. I had always heard of barbed wire matches, but this was the first one I saw, and boy oh boy does it leave an impression. Sabu ripping the tape off of his forearm to tape back together his bicep that was hanging out of his arm is priceless.

Montreal Screwjob.
Honestly, does anyone need to go into this without it breaking into a fullscale flamefest?

Sting vs. Hogan:
God this match gets no love. The hype surrounding this match makes it easily one of the biggest and most important matches of all time. A year and a half of buildup culminated into this one match. Stings entrance was phenomenal and sent goosebumps. I feel sorry for anyone that didn't get to experience this match first hand because nothing before, or nothing since can begin to scratch the surfact of the build and wait for this match.

 

[The Reject!]

If we're talking hype here, then by all means, the Screwjob and Sting/Hogan got the win! But the match was absoloutely atrocious!

As for the Screwjob match, Bret & Shawn had matches 10 times better than that! The match was really good, don't get me wrong, but it left a lot to be desired, "ending aside of course".

But to me it's Austin vs. Bret all the way...it helped swing the door open for the Attitude era, and Bret worked a style of match he'd never worked before!

 

[MisterRob]

I don't think any match can touch Austin vs. Bret at WrestleMania. The simple story that's told in this match blows away the Hell in the Cell match with HBK and Undertaker. Austin has gone on record as stating that this match was probably the greatest match of his career, and definitely the most significant. That's saying it all right there. Anyone who knocks Bret Hart merely has to watch this match and the Ironman match with Shawn Michaels, two of the greatest matches in WrestleMania history, to know how well Bret tells a story in the ring. The build up to this match was great, the wrestling in this match was great, the story it told was phenomenal with perhaps the only example of a great double turn there is, and it ushered in a new era. It wasn't just a match it was the catalyst to an entire era and impacted the history of wrestling. How can any of these other matches really compare?

 

[1997RAWFan]

Hart vs. Austin at 'Mania 13 was an extremely good match. It's probably the match of the year during many other years besides 1997, but it doesn't take the cake for '97. Michaels vs. Undertaker is the greatest match of all time. It was a long time in the making after SummerSlam, you knew Undertaker would get his hands on Michaels without interference, the cage was wonderful for the first time, awesome storytelling and psychology, and a great ending. Some people say the ending takes away from the match because it sets up to build the best feud of all time (in my opinion, Undertaker vs. Kane 97-98), but I think that this helps the match and makes it better.