10 Wrestling Matches We Didn’t Know Changed EVERYTHING

7. Steve Austin Vs. Savio Vega - WWF In Your House: Beware Of Dog

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WWE Network

Steve Austin arrived in the WWF, by the design of the creative team, as a dry technician in character and indeed name. Austin was dismayed; he had revolted against this exact perception in his hilarious, incendiary ECW stint, and petitioned for change. It was granted; drawing inspiration from the serial killer Richard “Iceman” Kuklinski, Austin evolved into a ruthless, indiscriminate badass complete with a more ferocious in-ring style.

Vince McMahon was taken with it immediately, and held tentative plans to crowd Austin as the King Of The Ring just six months into his WWF career. This was, of course, the back-up plan that resulted from the political requirement to scapegoat Hunter.

If Vince wasn't firmly convinced before the events of the ill-fated and fateful In Your House: Beware Of Dog pay-per-view, he sure as sh*t was throughout Austin's literally belting Caribbean Strap Match opposite Savio Vega. A match of immense physicality and intelligent drama, Austin brutalised Vega in such a convincing and ghoulish manner that Vince was unconcerned about the power failure and the imminent PR/scheduling headache. According to Bruce Prichard, he was simply too absorbed in the match in the moment.

In a blackened arena, Austin's clear star power illuminated everything, igniting the WWF's second, gigantic boom period.

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!