2. Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin - No 1 Contender For WWE Title (Survivor Series 1996)
There have been few stories in wrestling history that have pressed as many emotional buttons as the feud between Steve Austin and Bret Hart. Good Lord, the hate for Stone Cold. When he started talking you-know-what about the Hitman before Bret had even returned from his lengthy 1996 hiatus, he instantly joined the ranks of the top villains. He kept at it until Bret finally responded, I am the best there is, the best there was, and the best that there ever will beand at the Survivor Series, well just see who kicks whose ass!? In his pre-match promo at Survivor Series, Bret told Austin that, by matchs end, Austin would respect him. The respect was likely mutual after the best pure wrestling performance of Steve Austins career. In all other instances for the rest of his storied WWE tenure, he brawled his way to critical success. Depending upon your preference for wrestling style, Bret vs. Stone Cold in 1996, it has been argued, was better than the famous Mania 13 match. Without question, it was outstanding. If you look at the events that transpired from one Survivor Series to the next, you could make a case that it was the storyline issues with Austin that made it possible for the real life issues between Bret and others to boil over. Bret defeated Austin in 1996 and continually defeated him in head-to-head meetings well into 1997, but Austins rise to superstardom forced Bret to get out of his babyface comfort zone the one that allowed the WWE to continually call his number as the dependable top star that he was for half a decade. Austin finally took the spot that others had tried to take and failed. Historically significantincredibly memorablebest singles match in Survivor Series lore.
"The Doc" Chad Matthews has written wrestling columns for over a decade. A physician by trade, Matthews began writing about wrestling as a hobby, but it became a passion. After 30 years as a wrestling fan, "The Doc" gives an unmatched analytical perspective on pro wrestling in the modern era. He is a long-time columnist for Lordsofpain.net and hosts a weekly podcast on the LOP Radio Network called "The Doc Says." His first book - The WrestleMania Era: The Book of Sports Entertainment - ranks the Top 90 wrestlers from 1983 to present day, was originally published in December 2013, and is now in its third edition.
Matthews lives in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.
