Why Bret Hart Vs Stone Cold Steve Austin Transformed The Wrestling Business

10. Best Laid Plans

Most wrestling fans are proponents of long-term booking and the advantages therein. The opportunity to travel through a well-crafted arc between two competitors is absorbing as a viewer, and usually aids an extremely satisfying culmination.

However, not unlike the genesis of Steve Austin's breakthrough itself, the WrestleMania 13 submission match became one of Vince McMahon's happiest accidents. Despite the outstanding contest between the two for Bret's 1996 return at November's Survivor Series, the rivalry was never intended to extend too far into 1997 as all energies moved towards the colossal rematch between Hart and Shawn Michaels.

Amongst a myriad of differing options (including at one point, a proposed hair vs hair ladder match) the Bret/Shawn tussle was definitely, definitely the design. That was scuppered when Michaels infamously surrendered his title and WrestleMania payday in February, citing a knee injury amidst strong suspicious he was ducking the high profile loss to the Hitman.

With tempers still frayed between Hart and Austin, the Submission match was hastily tacked on to the card only three weeks out from the 'Show of Shows'.

Reminding Vince McMahon that necessity is the mother of invention, he'd adopt more ingenuity towards his entire product off the back of this roaring success.