10 Hidden WCW Gems To Watch On WWE Network

5. Steve Austin Vs. The Great Muta: Spring Stampede 1994

Jushin Liger Brian Pillman
WWE

Steve Austin and the Great Muta had actually already squared off two years prior, yet the pair's match-up at 1994's Spring Stampede PPV delivered something on a slightly different level to that admittedly entertaining '92 battle.

As the heel in this encounter, United States Champion Austin bumped his ass off for Muta's electric offence here once the match really got going. Seeing two names like Steve Austin and the Great Muta facing off would make this one intriguing enough to search out, yet this battle is ever more must-watch due to the sheer quality of the work on display - even if the DQ finish is frustrating.

By the time of this 1994 contest, Muta was considered one of the top five wrestlers on the planet. As for Stunning Steve, he was so, so good in his own right. Austin was so comfortable in the cocky prick role by this point, and just the way he peacocks around the ring is enough to make you want to boo him.

What's most fascinating about this match, is just how much Austin was clearly ready to be positioned as a main event act. This is somebody who was so comfortable in their gimmick and heel persona, was at the top of their game as an in-ring mechanic, had an undeniable charisma, and just carried themselves like a bona fide megastar.

Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main dayjob, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg.