10 Most Heated Matches In WWE History

6. The Hart Foundation Vs. Steve Austin, Ken Shamrock, Goldust & The Legion Of Doom - WWF In Your House: Canadian Stampede

Cena Rob Van Dam II
WWE

1997 was a revolutionary year in the WWF. Never had the line between hero and villain been subverted to such rich effect.

Bret Hart's 1997 bitterness was directed towards American fans; he felt that they had betrayed him where his fellow Canadians, and Europeans, stuck by his side in the wake of the attitudinal sea change crashing through the Federation.

He ratcheted up his Canadian patriotism - and created a unique divide across North America in the process. Tensions boiled over at In Your House: Canadian Stampede on July 6, 1997. His new Hart Foundation were greeted as heroes - and their American opponents, faces in their homeland, were jeered en masse.

The reaction was as novel as it was resounding. Ace in waiting Stone Cold Steve Austin, in particular, was vilified - and, in an exceptional character performance, he revelled in it. By smashing every Hart member he could find, whether they were competing in the match or were stationed at ringside, he expertly dialled up the volume inside the Calgary Saddledome.

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!