10 Most Fascinating Stories In WrestleMania History

9. The Double Turn

Shamrock, Bret Hart, Austin
WWE.com

Steve Austin's ascent to the WrestleMania main event happened in two of the shortest years in company history. His march, powered by a once in a generation talent and the unshakeable belief he had in it, was unassailable.

He wrestled Savio Vega in a humdrum effort at WrestleMania XII. This wouldn't do; their Caribbean Strap match follow-up at In Your House: Beware of Dog was so ferocious that it convinced Vince McMahon to crown Austin as the 1996 King Of The Ring. Austin was so single-minded in his determination to reshape the Federation is own image that compelled the audience to root for his stoic, wise-cracking badass character. The problem was that Bret Hart, the old image of the WWF, stood in his way.

With the momentum turning, Vince hatched a plan sound in logic but astonishing in its ambition: Austin and Hart were to switch allegiances over the course of a single match.

That WrestleMania 13 match remains the best and most momentous in company history. Austin, drenched in blood and heaving thick spittle, turned face following the most gritty performance slack-jawed fans of the cartoonish WWF had ever witnessed. Hart, intensifying his strategy just into the realm of the desperate, vindictive ar*ehole, turned heel in a performance so subtle that it never once resonated as blunt pro wrestling scripting. It felt far more real than that.

The company itself turned, in a bold new direction from which there was no going back.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!