10 Fascinating WWE WrestleMania 13 Facts
5. Austin Almost Reconsidered The Blade Job At The Last Second
It's one of the most enduring images throughout WWE's existence: the sight of Steve Austin groaning and grunting within the clutches of Hart's Sharpshooter, as rivulets of crimson streak down his blood-soaked face. The blood only added to Austin's rugged veneer, as he refused to surrender in spite of the dual pains of a submission hold and an open wound plaguing him. Without the blood, maybe Austin doesn't quite look so studly.
Austin and Hart both attest that "Stone Cold" was hesitant in the moment to let Hart cut him - blading was still forbidden in WWE, and they had previously agreed to do it, believing that Hart could nick him subtly without anyone being the wiser. Hart even recalls Austin muttering, "Maybe we shouldn't..." just before the throw into the guardrail that preceded the blood-letting.
Neither man was punished for the incident. Given that Austin's bloody mug made the cover of his forthcoming VHS release, McMahon must not have minded it too much.