10 Fascinating WWE Survivor Series 1996 Facts

It may not be quite the five-star classic from WrestleMania 13, but Bret Hart's battle with Steve Austin at the 1996 Survivor Series is in that greatness neighborhood. More of a technical battle with some angsty brawling thrown in, Hart and Austin pieced together a gritty classic before the Garden crowd in what was functionally Hart's first match back, in storyline canon.

Hart's WWE contract lapsed in the summer of 1996, during his sabbatical following WrestleMania 12. Hart had no intention of leaving, but would hear out WCW in case they made an offer that couldn't be refused. Ultimately, Eric Bischoff proposed a three year deal, worth $2.8M a year. Hart was floored, but also non-committal. He just wanted the best offer possible from McMahon, even if it was less money.

McMahon countered with a 20-year contract worth $10.5M, in which the bigger money would be on the front end (the later years were for Hart's proposed role as an in-retirement adviser to Vince). Hart was miffed by some shady last-minute re-wording in the deal, and actually had his WCW contract handy in his back pocket when he signed the WWE one, which was revised to his liking.