10 Screw Ups That Led To Huge WWE Moments
1. Owen Hart Breaks Steve Austin's Neck
The Screw Up: Steve Austin didn't want Owen Hart to sit on his ass during their planned piledriver spot at SummerSlam 1997. Ignoring Austin's concerns, Owen did it anyway and ended up breaking Steve's neck, almost paralysing him permanently and shelving 'Stone Cold's' mega push towards the top of the WWF.
Oops.
The Moment: Austin showed real toughness by finishing the match, making it to his feet and briefly lifting the Intercontinental Title high above his head. Then, on the 22 September '97 Raw, he returned to a huge pop in MSG (sensing a pattern?), beat the snot out of Hart and hit that very first Stunner on a helpless Vince McMahon.
His work on that night heightened fan interest in Austin as a character, and showed he was a renegade anti-hero who wouldn't comply with McMahon's corporate way of doing things. Nobody could've known it at SummerSlam, but Owen's botch would actually enhance Austin's aura.
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What other screw ups led to huge WWE moments? For more like this, check out 8 Things We Learned From WWE’s Sting: The Lost Tape and WWE 2K22: 10 Things We Already Know!