8 Seriously Underrated Stone Cold Steve Austin WWE Matches

Stone Cold Steve Austin is considered one of the greatest professional wrestling of all time, and rightfully so. The WWE Hall of Famer and podcaster extraordinaire was the biggest star in the business between 1998 and 2002 and gave fans plenty of iconic moments that ensure he remains one of the most beloved WWE superstars ever to this very day.

When he wasn't flipping off the boss or getting into a skirmish with Mike F'N Tyson, Austin was going to work in that 20x20 squared circle and, more often than not, delivered the goods in there, as well. Indeed, Austin's penchant for creating incredible outside-the-ring moments is matched by his propensity to contest classic matches whenever the lights were on bright.

Austin versus Bret at WrestleMania 13, Austin versus The Rock at WrestleMania X-Seven and Austin versus Angle at SummerSlam 2001 are some of the best matches of all-time and have helped cement Stone Cold's position as one of the best to ever lace up a pair of boots.

Still, for all of the great Steve Austin matches we lionise, there are a bunch that are really, really good but simply don't get the kudos they deserve. Whether it's because they were overshadowed by a storyline, they happened on free TV instead of pay-per-view or Austin and his opponent bettered their efforts on another day, these matches are routinely overlooked despite their excellency.

Steve Austin shocked the world at the climax of WrestleMania X-Seven when he shook hands with Vince McMahon, signalling his turning heel for the first time in four years. As powerful a statement as aligning himself with the boss was, some were hesitant to boo him. It was only after he partnered with Triple H, destroyed The Hardys and Lita and began feuding with The Undertaker and Kane that the jeers began to materialise.

The Two Man Power Trip, as they were known, downed The Brothers of Destruction at Backlash in a a match with the WWE, Intercontinental and World Tag Team titles all on the line. At Judgement Day the following month, The Bionic Redneck and The Deadman clashed in the top-liner with the WWE Title once again at stake.

This was a predictably intense brawl, with Austin focusing on 'Taker's leg for much of the duration. Every now and then the action would spill to the outside of the ring, with one such trip seeing The Texas Rattlesnake put through the announce table with a chokeslam. Still the brawl raged on, with The Game, Kane and Vince McMahon all making appearances towards the end, as was the style at the time.

The finish saw Austin counter a Last Ride with a slegehammer shot to the face, as he just scraped the victory. 'Taker and Austin had many notable battles over the years, from their SummerSlam 1998 main event to their Buried Alive stinker at Rock Bottom later that year, but this one rarely gets a mention.

Shame, because there's some good stuff here and it was a worthy pay-per-view main event.