10 Most Emotional WWE SummerSlam Moments

9. Steve Austin Breaks His Neck (1997)

Steve Austin SummerSlam 1997
WWE.com

Emotion comes in many forms, and there are few more painful moments in SummerSlam history than Steve Austin's broken neck in 1997. Right there in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Austin could be forgiven for believing his career was over. Hell, he was likely wondering if he'd ever walk again, never mind wrestle.

Fans picked up on the severity of the injury too. A hushed silence fell over the SummerSlam crowd as Owen Hart awkwardly tried to stall for time after recklessly dropping Austin on his head during a botched Tombstone Piledriver. For at least a minute or so, people were genuinely worried that Stone Cold's run had ended.

Austin would go on to greater heights the following year, but his in-ring work was never blessed with nimble quickness again. Forced to adapt post-injury, Austin was also clearly distressed as he tried to walk unaided out of the ring. Meanwhile, the realism sunk in with fans that a favourite was nearly left paralysed.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.