10 Classic Wrestling Matches New Fans Need To See
3. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin, WrestleMania 13
It was the second match on the card, and nobody wanted to follow it. Stone Cold Steve Austin and Bret "The Hitman" Hart's iconic submission match turned the biggest babyface in the WWE heel and catapulted the Texas Rattlesnake into tip-of-the-spear stardom.
As is the case with most classic matches, context matters. Bret Hart was the established face of the company and Steve Austin was on the rise. While WCW was reaching the height of its popularity, WWE was changing its identity. This match was a cornerstone of that change.
The rivalry that had been brewing between the men pulled off the best trick in pro wrestling; It felt real. To give the match legitimacy, WWE even brought in real-life submission expert Ken Shamrock as referee.
In the Pantheon of iconic wrestling imagery is Steve Austin, face covered in blood, grimacing through Bret's sharpshooter. Rather than submit, The Rattlesnake passed out, forcing Shamrock to call for the bell. The genius of this match is that it was not only a hugely successful double turn, but neither man's status was hurt by the finish. Austin never quit, living to fight another day and take the mantle from Bret as the new top star.