100 Greatest WWE Matches Of All Time (Ranked)
83. Owen Hart & British Bulldog vs. Shawn Michaels & Steve Austin (Raw, 26 May 1997)
Looking back, the fact that natural rivals Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin spent time as WWF Tag-Team Champs feels like a bit of a fever dream. The pair would go on to work a memorable (if lower quality in-ring than expected due to HBK's back injuries) main event at WrestleMania XIV the following year, but so many people seem to forget that they were unlikely and uneasy allies first.
Their union threw up one of the best tag-team bouts in Monday Night Raw history on the 26 May 1997 episode. Reigning tag champs Owen Hart and The British Bulldog were thrown off their lofty perch by HBK and 'Stone Cold' in a riotous main event that saved an otherwise dire card. Bouts like Ahmed Johnson vs. Vader and Triple H vs. Rockabilly had hardly been essential viewing!
Austin and Michaels winning the tag straps in the headliner more than made up for those. The silky quality of Owen's in-ring work and ability to punctuate matches with Davey Boy's powerhouse flurries helped, but so did the odd couple dynamic between Shawn and Steve across the ring. Honestly, even if this era of Raw isn't your jam, don't miss out on seeing this bout at least once.
The title change elevated it as a historical piece, and so did HBK vs. Austin at King Of The Ring '97 the next month, but this was a cracking piece of work on its own. It could be considered a bit of an under-rated gem in the archives. Now, finally, it's getting some richly deserved praise.
Tag. Team. Wrestling.