On April 1st, WWE will continue its recent pre-WrestleMania tradition of inducting a new class into the Hall of Fame. I’m absolutely thrilled to see Bret “The Hitman” Hart being inducted this year, as I’ve been a Hitman mark for years. Inducting Hart will be none other than his infamous nemesis from days gone by, Stone Cold Steve Austin.
TODAY’S ISSUE: Stone Cold Steve Austin versus Bret the Hitman Hart
Ten years ago, a major WWF feud developed between Steve Austin and Bret Hart. The stage was set for their epic war without paternity suits, stolen girlfriends, necrophilia, or bodily functions on display. In fact, it was elegantly simple: Hart, the honored former champion and stand-up guy, was away from the ring for several months following a questionable WWF championship loss to Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XII. Austin, the new bad boy in town, was looking to make a name for himself at Hart’s expense, wishing to use Hart’s legacy as a stepping-stone.
While Hart was away, Austin attacked him verbally for weeks. He insulted Bret’s legacy, his family, his fans, and even his choice of ring attire. “Pink and black tights? What the hell is that, Son?” Austin was relentless. “Best there is, best there was, and best there ever will be? What a load of crap!” He respected no one. He cared only about himself, and would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. His intensity and aggression made him quite innovative in 1996, as he seemed to be a true loose cannon.
Hart, on the other hand, had been the hero in a white hat for years. Once he turned babyface in 1988, he never looked back. A great wrestler and voracious competitor, Hart displayed sportsmanship and followed the rules, winning match after match and championship after championship. He was beloved by fans the world over, and in Canada, Hart was a hero on par with Superman himself.
This was a battle of the legend versus the young gun, the respected veteran versus the hungry rising star, and the old lion versus the young lion. Let’s take a look at a few key battles in the war between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Bret the Hitman Hart.
Survivor Series 1996: In a match that fans of both Hart and Austin were dying to see, the Hitman finally returned to face the evil Rattlesnake, and to close his mouth once and for all. The event was oozing with that “big match” feeling. Jim Ross was right on the money all match long, enhancing the quality of the story being told in the ring.
Hart was still the babyface, fighting hard and aggressively but clean. Austin was out to make Hart submit, wanting not only victory, but to humiliate the Hitman as well. The action was intense and the outcome fit perfectly in the context of the story. While being tough enough to take punishment and slug it out with Austin, in the end it was wrestling that earned Hart the victory. Bret used his skill and experience to reverse a Million Dollar Dream sleeper hold into a flipping pin cover, signaling to the world that he was back, and better than ever.
Now that the scourge of Austin was seemingly put to rest, the Hitman was focused on regaining his championship. His Survivor Series victory made him the number one contender for the WWF championship, and Hart got the opportunity at Sycho Sid at the December 1996 In Your House ppv, “It’s Time”.
But it was not to be for the Hitman on that night. Thanks largely to interference by Shawn Michaels, who was angry at Sid for stealing the title from him in Madison Square Garden, WWF champion Sycho Sid pinned Bret Hart, derailing Hart’s trek back to the top of the mountain for the moment. After the bout, Hart lost his temper and attacked Michaels on the floor. Bret’s frustration was really starting to build, and with good reason. He was getting the short end of the stick over and over.
Royal Rumble 1997: Entering the ring with an early draw, Stone Cold dominated the action. He eliminated everyone, then waited for a new entrant. One by one, wrestlers entered the match and soon found their way over the top rope. When Hart entered at number 21, Austin was once again alone in the ring, and the two familiar foes went at it tooth and nail. The crowd popped HUGE when Hart tossed Austin over the top rope and to the floor. Once again, Hart had vanquished his great nemesis, and it seemed his quest for the gold would continue anew. It seemed that way for a moment, that is.
Although Mick Foley and Terry Funk had both been eliminated from the match, they continued to battle outside the ring, diverting the attention of both assigned referees. Ever the opportunist, the Rattlesnake slithered back under the bottom rope and illegally eliminated Undertaker and Vader in one stroke, while Bret Hart was throwing the “Fake Diesel” Glen Jacobs over the top rope. When he dumped the future Kane, Hart was under the impression that he’d just won the match. Of course that’s when Austin snuck up from behind and shot Bret out of the ring and out of a title opportunity at WrestleMania XIII. Austin was therefore, however unjustly, declared the winner, and the Hitman was fuming. Obviously, the Hitman had a legitimate gripe, which was recognized by WWF President Gorilla Monsoon, which lead us to:
Final Four, February 1997: WWF champion Shawn Michaels vacated the title that he’d recently regained due to [ahem] injury, so this match would now determine the new WWF champion. As could be expected, Hart and Austin found each other immediately after the bell sounded. While Undertaker and Vader engaged in a bloody brawl all over the arena, Hart and Austin had a wrestling match. The first man eliminated was Stone Cold Steve Austin, courtesy of a fireman’s carry by the Hitman, and there was no question about it this time. Hart went on to win the match, and the WWF championship, mostly because an enraged Austin returned to ringside after being eliminated to take one more bite out of Hart’s hide. In the process, the overeager Rattlesnake distracted Undertaker, and Bret clotheslined him out of the ring for the win. Thus, things were back to normal for fans of the Hitman.
It wouldn’t last, because Hart defended the title against the enormous Sycho Sid less than 24 hours later and lost. The Hitman lost the rematch with Sid about a month later as well, prompting his famous temper tantrum in which he tossed Vince McMahon to the canvas.
Bret was once again out of the title picture, but the hatred between the Rattlesnake and the Hitman transcended championship, and refused to die.
WrestleMania XIII: Obviously the rivalry between Hart and Austin would be showcased at the biggest show of the year, and what better way than a submission match? Austin and Hart would pound each other mercilessly, until the battered Rattlesnake passed out due to loss of blood and intense pain. To his credit (and in a way, making his entire career), Austin survived the dreaded Sharpshooter submission hold for an eternity and refused to give up. In a now famous scene, Austin attempted time after time to escape the hold as his open wound stained the canvas below him. Bret won the match, but didn’t quite beat Stone Cold. What happened next would shape the direction of the WWF for months to come. Frustrated by the respect Austin was being shown by the fans, as well as all the injustices he endured for the past year, Hart’s anger finally boiled over. As the announcers begged for medical assistance, the Hitman attacked the knee of the unconscious Austin until special guest referee Ken Shamrock was forced to physically intervene. Hart’s slow descent to the “dark side” was now complete, and the fallen hero would embark on a war against the entire world from this point until the demise of his WWF career.
Although Hart’s heel turn at WrestleMania XIII was quite understandable, in some ways it signaled the end of his career. As Hart himself explained in the biography “Wrestling With Shadows”, he had nowhere left to go. Vince made Steve Austin the #1 babyface, and Shawn Michaels the #1 heel, so where did that leave the Hitman?
This all lead to the reformation of the Hart Foundation, bigger and better than ever, kicking off one of my favorite storylines in WWF history. Reuniting with his late, great brother Owen and the rest of his family, Bret’s New Hart Foundation became a dominant force to be reckoned with. Of course, the new heel faction kept the hated Rattlesnake in their crosshairs. Who didn’t love the classic t-shirt that read “OWEN 3:16 — I just broke your neck.”?
The feud between Austin and Hart had it all: great in-ring action, simple storytelling with believable reasons for the hatred between the two men, long-term storyline impact, and historical significance. They just don’t make ’em like that anymore. It will be an amazing moment when Austin inducts Hart into the Hall of Fame. Don’t miss it!
We now return you to your regularly scheduled reality.
p.s. – Is a “taxidermist” a cab driver who gets under your skin?
