10 Injuries That Altered WWE's Landscape

'Stone Cold' Steve Austin can also lay claim to having suffered one of the most significant injuries in WWE history.

Coming into SummerSlam 1997, Austin and Owen Hart had been feuding off the back of The Rattlesnake's epic clash with the latter's brother, Bret, at WrestleMania 13, and the match would also see Hart's Intercontinental title up for grabs.

In a moment that led to drastic repercussions for the rest of Austin's career, Hart attempted a piledriver and completely botched the execution of the move. Austin broke his neck and even became temporarily paralysed.

Austin eventually had to relinquish the title - which he won via roll-up on the night - but it was only further down the road that the true effects of the injury came to light and Austin had to drastically alter his arsenal in order to accommodate this ever-present reminder of just how dangerous pro wrestling could be.

Being forced to become an all-out brawler, Austin garnered a loveable badass persona which would see him become the biggest name in the company. Yet, his career was finally cut short by the injury in 2003. Austin admitted that any awkward or violent move to his neck could have resulted in a permanent disability or even death.

So, it was a wise choice for Austin to let his untouchable legacy speak for itself and leave the in-ring world behind, but this only proved just how consequential that injury six years earlier ended up being for both his career and the WWE landscape.