The Texas Rattlesnake Stone Cold Steve Austin’s return to the squared-circle is the hottest rumour heading into ‘Mania
Stone Cold Steve Austin was one of the finest performers inside the ring during his time and his mic skills were exquisite, to say the least. Whenever he stepped out in front of the WWE Universe, he made them take notice.
Austin’s charismatic personality has been the reason why he has made so many appearances in WWE over the last 19 years, although, except for a few trademark stunners, he hasn’t wrestled in a match.
So when a legend like him is rumoured to be returning for a match at the grandest stage of them all, the excitement levels will undoubtedly go through the roofs.
Top 5 matches of Stone Cold Steve Austin:
Austin was forced to take a premature retirement owing to a serious neck injury but he had already delivered innumerable classic matches by then. We take a look at five of his best matches in the following segment.
5: Stone Cold v Triple H: Three Stages of HELL Match: No Way Out 2001
This was a unique match comprising of 3 separate matches – first match being a Regular one while the second was a street fight. The third was a steel cage match and the man who wins 2 out of the 3 matches wins the encounter.
Stone Cold rushed to the ring and both these men started the slugfest. Both superstars dealt each other with heavy blows. The match got physical in a jiffy. Stone Cold drew first blood as he used his finishing move – The Stunner to get the W.
The Game used a barbed wire bat to good effect as he pummeled Austin over the announce table. The Game went for a Pedigree on the table. Austin managed to avoid catastrophe and countered Triple H who fell crashing through the adjacent announce table. Triple H called upon his vintage sledgehammer, using it gleefully, and followed it up with a Pedigree to square things up at 1-1.
Heading into the steel cage match, things got even more physical as steel chairs and barbed wire bats, all were used, along with the steel cage itself. Both wrestlers used their finishers but it wasn’t enough. The actual finish to the match was dramatic. Austin hit Triple H with a barbed wire bat while The Game hit him with a sledgehammer, simultaneously. The referee counted to 3 and The Game won but Austin’s never-say-die attitude stayed.
4: Stone Cold V Dude Love: Over The Edge 1998
During the famous Stone Cold and Vince McMahon rivalry, Dude Love used to be one of the henchmen for McMahon. This match which saw McMahon doing the referee’s duties, was a brutal affair as Stone Cold faced severe adversity not only from his opponent but also McMahon who was partial and Stone Cold needed the help of The Undertaker to finally get the better of Dude Love. In the end, Austin himself held an incapacitated McMahon’s hand and counted to three to win the match. This was another match which established the already reputed in-ring performer in Stone Cold.
3: Kurt Angle V Stone Cold: SummerSlam 2001
This was a match for the ages and a lot was at stake. It wasn’t only for the WWE Championship but also a battle between Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Entertainment and the Alliance between World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling.
Angle had the responsibility to wrest the title away from Austin and restore power to WWE. Austin had the chance to further solidify the stranglehold that the Alliance had on the wrestling terrain.
The Olympic gold medalist fought through several Stunners and was busted open early in the match but he gave the performance of a lifetime. Angle was robbed by referee Nick Patrick, who disqualified Austin helping him retain the title. That match catapulted Angle’s credentials in the ring and Stone Cold was widely praised for putting in a monumental shift.
2: The Rock V Stone Cold: Wrestlemania 17
Stone Cold returning from a neck surgery after a 1-year layoff had the fans going mad in euphoria. He was pitted against The Rock, who was already the biggest star back then, especially when Austin was out due to injury. They faced each other in the main event of Wrestlemania 17. It is undoubtedly one of the best main events in the history of the showpiece event. Austin befriended McMahon to show the WWE Universe that he wanted to win the WWF Championship at any cost. He did so with interference from McMahon but the performance put in by the two men was memorable and the 15-minute grueling affair is etched in the memory of wrestling fans till today.
1: Stone Cold V Bret Hart: Wrestlemania 13
March 23, 1997 was the date when everyone in attendance was treated to something special. Two competitors who will forever be remembered as stalwarts of the squared-circle battled it out in a match termed by many as the greatest ever. It was an old-school submission match. Hart looked to soften the knee of Austin and eventually had the sharpshooter in mind to make Austin tap out. Austin though, was at his toughest best, defying odds. The match was beautifully thought out as Hart, the veteran, made Austin pay for the mistakes he made. Austin came back swinging without proper game plan like an inexperienced wrestler would. Hart used his signature move, the Sharpshooter, but Austin did not submit. He passed out, and this made the audience instantly fall in love with the grit on display by Austin. Hart won the match but Austin won the hearts. This match told a story and it made a hero out of Stone Cold, someone who would become the face of the company in the years to come. Hart turned heel, viciously attacking Austin even after the match had ended.
Meanwhile, Kevin Owens continued to belittle Texas on Raw this week. Texas, where WrestleMania 38 is scheduled to take place and it is also the home of Stone Cold Steve Austin. WWE continues to tease the Stone Cold versus Kevin Owens dream match at the greatest event in sports entertainment.
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