10 Biggest Turning Points For WWE In 1997

7. Bret Hart Blades Steve Austin At WrestleMania 13

stone cold steve austin vince mcmahon
WWE.com

EFFECT: Stone Cold becomes the undisputed hero of the new age

At that point in time, it was taboo to blade in WWE. It's possible that Hart and Austin could have been fined for conspiring to discreetly cut Austin during the course of the match, but chances are given how incredible the match was, McMahon would have let it slide.

Austin claims to have never bladed before, and expressed concern with Hart, but Hart ensured him it was the right thing to do. The enduring image of Austin's crimson-soaked face emoting pain as he tried to gut his way out of Hart's Sharpshooter did more to make him a star than his freedom to curse like a sailor had.

If Austin doesn't bleed buckets, the effect wouldn't have been as great for his prospects as a gutsy hero.

Contributor
Contributor

Justin has been a wrestling fan since 1989, and has been writing about it since 2009. Since 2014, Justin has been a features writer and interviewer for Fighting Spirit Magazine. Justin also writes for History of Wrestling, and is a contributing author to James Dixon's Titan series.