10 Wresting Title Reigns That Were Ruined By Injury
4. Stone Cold Steve Austin (WWE Intercontinental & Tag Team Championships)
Stone Cold Steve Austin is one of the all-time greats. He put together a body of work that stands up to any other wrestler’s throughout his WWE career, and his beer-drinking antihero character will forever be one of the industry’s most influential personas. Austin is responsible for some of wrestling’s most infamous angles, feuds, and matches, and he was never far from championship gold throughout his glittering career.
Unfortunately, Austin also suffered more than his fair share of injuries and disappointment. None were more significant than that which occurred in 1997. Austin and Dude Love became WWE Tag Team Champions after defeating The British Bulldog and Owen Hart that July, before Stone Cold branched-off into a singles feud for Hart’s Intercontinental Championship.
The rivalry came to a head at SummerSlam, and it ended in disaster. Austin fell victim to a horrifically-botched piledriver from Hart, and it was immediately clear that something was wrong. Austin was in real trouble, but he was somehow able to pull-through and secure the victory (thanks to Hart’s co-operation), though everyone’s worst fears were confirmed in the aftermath: Austin had broken his neck.
Stone Cold was forced to vacate both titles, but the injury had long-reaching ramifications. The Piledriver plagued his later years with a multitude of neck issues, leading to his eventual retirement in 2003. The incident was a source of much backstage conflict between the duo for years to come, though Austin ultimately forgave Hart, and helped pay tribute to the fallen wrestler after his 1999 passing.