10 Forgotten WWE Matches That Came Right Before Iconic Moments
1. Owen Hart Vs Brian Pillman - Vince McMahon's First Stone Cold Stunner (Raw, September 22 1997)
Brian Pillman was a fabulously worthy addition to WWE's roster in 1996, and the company had to know. Having suffered substantial injuries from a car wreck coming at the peak of his industry-wide infamy, the 'Loose Cannon' could have been left to fester by the one organisation he'd been aiming before when he kicked off a remarkable personal arc in the throes of midcard WCW oblivion. Instead, his other gifts were to be monetised until his physical game was back to best.
He tragically passed away before the latter could even come to fruition.
A humongous loss to the world in 1997, the rechristened 'Ticking Time Bomb' brought an edgy charisma to the company, especially when he became the maverick fifth member of the despised Hart Foundation. A shared history with the illustrious family as well as their arch nemesis Steve Austin made him a perfect fit, even if the matches weren't ever destined to deliver on all the potential promise.
Such was the case mere minutes before 'The Rattlesnake' violated a 100ft restraining order to burst onto the scene and nail Owen Hart with a Stone Cold Stunner. The Foundation friends had gotten a little feisty with each other in an Intercontinental Title tournament match before Goldust ran-in to assault the pair of them. It gave Hart the cheap DQ win before Austin arrived to make some Madison Square Garden history.