10 Best "Passing Of The Torch" Matches In WWE History
4. Shawn Michaels Vs. Steve Austin (WrestleMania XIV)
Stone Cold Steve Austin had become WWE’s most important wrestler by March 1998, but he still hadn’t become WWE Champion. His iconic “Austin 3:16” promo and King Of The Ring 1996 victory had put him on a fast-track to greatness, and his aggressive anti-authority persona captured the Attitude Era’s unruly spirit like nobody else in the company. Still, the sport’s greatest prize continued to elude him, but he was granted another shot at glory at WrestleMania XIV.
WWE Champion Shawn Michaels was the New Generation’s top star, and Stone Cold was Attitude’s future icon. It was era vs. era in Boston, and the match was mired in controversy. Michaels, such is his reputation, was reportedly reluctant to drop his title to Austin ahead of the showdown, but he was soon straightened-out by The Undertaker backstage (reportedly). The result was the second career-making victory of Austin’s tenure, and his first WWE Championship.
This was the last match Michaels wrestled prior to his four-year retirement, while Austin became WWE’s anchor. Raw overturned WCW Nitro’s 84-week dominance in the ratings war shortly after Austin’s victory, and WWE never looked back. They became the undisputed number one wrestling promotion on the planet, and while this contest doesn’t quite stand as either competitor’s best work, it represents a significant transition of power both in WWE’s main event scene, and the business as a whole.