10 Most Under-Rated Steve Austin Matches Nobody Talks About

3. Vs. Bret Hart (WWF Survivor Series 1996)

At WrestleMania 13, Steve Austin pieced together a brutally stunning 'No Disqualification Submission' Match with Bret Hart. Generally speaking, the match is considered the one during which Austin arrived as a true headliner in the company, but he'd done so even before then. Facing Hart at the Survivor Series 1996 Pay-Per-View, Austin showed his worth months before 'Mania. The match was a number one contender bout for the WWF Heavyweight Title. Going into the show, Shawn Michaels was the reigning champion. He'd end up losing to Sycho Sid in the main event, meaning the winner of this one would go on to face Sid at some point in the future. Fans were utterly transfixed by the action, which had an old-school feel perfect for the Madison Square Garden surroundings. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2m7ncl_wwf-survivor-series-1996-bret-hart-vs-steve-austin_sport At Survivor Series, there was no blood prevalent at 'Mania, but it wasn't needed. Claret was used to great effect in that bout, but it would have been forced here. The feud between both men needed more time to develop, and this bout was crucial to the overall story arc.