10 Fascinating WWE Backstage Facts About 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin
4. He Hated His WrestleMania 14 Match Against Shawn Michaels
Steve Austin wasn't just a badass "S.O.B."; he was also a WrestleMania machine, producing some utterly epic showdowns at the Grandest Stage of Them All. His battle against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 14, with Mike Tyson as the guest referee, is one of his most iconic and even scored him his first World Title. That's why it is so surprising to hear that he hated it.
The beer-drinking icon discussed the match during his appearance on UpUpDownDown, where he claimed, "I hated that match. I love Shawn. I have the utmost respect for him, but I don't consider that to be a good match at all." Austin even gave it a two out of five rating, describing it as "lackluster." This is, obviously, a strange way to hear someone describe the match that jump-started the Attitude Era.
A major gripe he had with the bout was Mike Tyson's quick count at the climax. He lamented the speed of his hand hitting the mat and wished it had that "slow championship pace."
Austin also stated that he went back behind the curtain and told Vince that the match "sucked." But McMahon assured him not to worry and said they would "start fresh tomorrow," with the pair eventually creating the beloved Austin vs McMahon feud.