100 Greatest WWE WrestleMania Moments
3. Steve Austin Won’t Quit (WrestleMania 13)
Bloody wrestlers desperately fighting to stay conscious wasn't something the WWF put in front of fans a whole hell of a lot back in 1997. The 'Attitude Era' hadn't properly kicked off yet - there had been little glimmers of a different direction on programming throughout late-1996 into '97, but blood-soaked canvases weren't frequent. That's one of the reasons why Steve Austin's enduring image at 'Mania 13 was so epic.
'Stone Cold' charmed the entire fanbase by fighting tooth and nail to keep surviving Bret Hart's deadly Sharpshooter towards the end of their 'No DQ Submission' based match. Claret trickled down his forehead into his eyes, nose and mouth as Austin grimaced then roared in pain before succumbing to the overwhelming strain of it all. Guest ref Ken Shamrock awarded the win to Bret, but a star was born.
This was something fresh for WrestleMania's glitzy, child-friendly 'dreams come true' atmosphere. Vince McMahon was willing to let Austin and Hart do their own thing. He trusted Bret, in particular, to come up with something that'd get people talking. Footage of Steve passing out in agony as blood poured from his wounds onto the WWF mats has become legendary for a reason.
It portrayed Austin as the toughest wrestler on the planet.
Truthfully, that's not the only moment worth pinpointing from WrestleMania 13's best match. There was another side to the submission finish that's well worth heralding as one of the famous series' most significant achievements. Even so, Austin going limp has been burned into the retinas of all who witnessed it.