10 WrestleMania Myths WWE Fans Still Believe
8. Steve Austin Had Never Bladed Before (WrestleMania 13)
The grisly visual of Stone Cold Steve Austin splurting red like an examiner's exploded pen is one of the defining images of not just his career and WrestleMania, but the history of WWE. Without the surgical precision of Bret Hart, it may very well have never happened.
The commonly shared story is that the Hitman knew that if the pair were going to pull off the pass-out angle convincingly, Austin would need colour. Poor Steve had never been under the scalpel before, and presumably afraid he would accidentally lacerate his jugular, he entrusted his experienced opponent with the knife.
On the night, Hart perfectly sliced Stone Cold's scalp, creating the enduring, visceral visual we're reminded of each year to this day (albeit in black and white).
There is a slight snag in that story; Austin had bladed loads of times before, most memorably during WCW's WarGames '92 bloodbath. The actual reason for Bret taking the lead was that at the time, WWE strictly enforced a 'no blood' policy; Hart was prepared to take the responsibility of the rap in order to put their match over.
During his autobiographical recitation of his selflessness, the Hitman slightly misrepresented the facts, producing the myth which still endures to this day - despite the body of evidence directly contradicting it.