8 Wrestlers Who Worked Through Ridiculous Injuries
2. Steve Austin - Broken Neck
A broken neck would end most wrestling careers. Not Steve Austin's. As per established received wisdom, it made his.
The stipulation of Stone Cold's SummerSlam '97 match against Owen Hart - the latest in his simmering feud against the entire Hart Foundation - meant he'd have to pucker up to the King of Hart's backside in the event of a defeat. Luckily, he won, or else Owen would have had to disturbingly facesit his bare bum onto Austin's lips, thanks to a nasty injury suffered by the latter which left him almost immobile.
Fifteen minutes through, Hart caught Austin in a sit-down piledriver, but the usually tight technician grossly misjudged his opponent's position, viciously spiking him into the canvas. The results were as bad as they looked: The Rattlesnake had been left temporarily paralysed by a broken neck.
Amazingly, he was still able to contrive a finish, just about managing to roll over Owen for the win. After the contest, Austin was immediately (and literally) on ice. Crucially, he didn't remain off television, and his in-ring absence was attributed to his emerging antagonist Mr. McMahon. By the time Austin returned, fans were feverishly behind him and his odyssey against the boss.