10 Best Booking Decisions In Wrestling History

6. The WrestleMania 13 Submission Match Finish

The Elite Comeback
WWE

It took a while to bloom, the WrestleMania 13 double turn, but the image of a blood-soaked Steve Austin writhing in agony and refusing to quit was vital in connecting him to an audience that, within a year, literally bought into him more than they did Hulk Hogan.

The Bret Hart Vs. Steve Austin Submissions match remains one of the greatest matches ever. It is probably the best display of crowd psychology. With zero exposition and the most subtle of work before the broad, visually iconic finish, Bret showed the audience, without telling them, that Austin was their new guy. The work was practically imperceptible at first. He leathered Austin in the leg with a bit more malice with which he usually worked his opponents over. Over the course of the match, he became increasingly more resentful and nasty.

The audience got it because wrestling fans are not stupid, and they wanted to get it. It was important that the fans were active in this story, as if they had made it happen. Hart takes himself seriously for a reason: the man was a genius.

If it gets old to read about, it certainly doesn't get boring to re-watch: in the throes of pain, blood pissing out of his face, it is impossible to think that wrestling is a work in that moment.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!