10 Reasons Why 1997 Was WWE's Most Important Year Ever

1. The Rise Of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin

The best thing about WWE in 1997 in general was the rise of several key players that would be main eventers in the company for years to come. We already looked at the debut of Kane as well as the change in the careers of Triple H, Mick Foley and The Rock. All of those guys were key factors in WWE's growth in 1997, but none of them could come close to Steve Austin becoming the most popular wrestler in the business. The biggest compliment that the wrestling business makes to Stone Cold is that they will always try to recreate what worked for him. The heel in power trying to hold down the babyface is the story that WWE always goes back to when they need something. Look at the WrestleMania 30 main event. Daniel Bryan isn't edgy like Steve Austin, but he had to fight against the heels in power to get to the top of the company. There will always be attempts to create the next Stone Cold Steve Austin, but it won't happen. Austin was the right guy at the right time. Every time he had a big match, he delivered. When he needed to cut a money making promo, that's what he did. Even when he dealt with a serious neck injury, he still made it on TV and came back quicker than most people expected. By the time WrestleMania 14 arrived, fans were ready to accept Austin as the unquestioned top guy in the business. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec_UN5vD_Vo Austin won over the crowd like nobody else before him or since. Ever seen the movie Gladiator with Russell Crowe? His mentor tells him to win the crowd and he'll win his freedom. The message was that once you have the people behind you, you can do anything. Crowe's character did it. Austin did it before that movie even came out. Nobody won over the fans more than Austin did. Stone Cold wasn't pushed to the top the way Hulk Hogan was. Hogan was a handpicked guy by Vince McMahon to be the face of WWE. John Cena is the same way. To Vince's credit, both of those decisions were smart. In Austin's case, it happened because of the fans and his performances in matches like WrestleMania 13 or moments like when he hit Vince with the Stunner for the first time. They didn't sign Austin in 1995 and expect him to be what he became. That's what is so special about it. When we look back on WWE in 1997, the first name that should come to mind is Steve Austin. He was the biggest difference maker of them all and that's the bottom line because...you know the rest.