Bret Hart and Steve Austin had been involved in a long and bitter rivalry leading into WrestleMania 13. Austin had begun taunting Hart after winning the 1996 King of the Ring, leading to a number of matches between the two. Hart was victorious during most of the contests, excluding the 1997 Royal Rumble match, which Austin had won after illegally reentering the ring upon elimination. The two legends of the squared circle took their rivalry to a new level at WrestleMania 13, competing in a no-disqualification submission match with Ken Shamrock serving as the guest referee. Most of the action took place outside of the ring, with few technical maneuvers being used throughout the match. Austin was eventually busted open after smashing his head against the guardrail, causing a crimson mask unlike anything fans had seen before. Hart would eventually win after locking in the Sharpshooter and forcing Austin to pass out in one of the most iconic images in WWE history. This match would result in a rare double turn, as Austin would become a fan favorite, while Hart would become one of the most despised heels of the era. The match was gruesome, pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable television, and also established Austin as one of the top fan favorites of the Attitude Era.
Michael Hicks is a writer originally from Pittsburgh, PA. He has written for a number of websites about subjects ranging from professional wrestling to raw denim.
