Bret Hart's 10 Best Matches Ever
7. Vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin (Survivor Series 1996)
A few untelevised matches on international tours aside, Hart stayed out of the ring after WrestleMania 12. He would re-sign with WWE (the infamous 20-year-deal) that October, and was set to work with Austin at the following month's Survivor Series. Hart had requested to work with the rising star, knowing that together, they could make magic.
After putting the match together at Hart's house the week before, the two squared off in Hart's "return" bout, before an awed Madison Square Garden crowd. Instead of the knock-down/drag-out brawls that would become more common for them in "Attitude"-scented 1997, this was Austin brawling a little bit with Hart, while also keeping pace with him scientifically. In more than one aspect, Hart was helping display Austin as a true equal.
Hart narrowly won on a sleeper-reversal into a pin (a callback to WrestleMania 8), but so much was accomplished: Austin showed he could hang with one of WWE's pillars, while Hart proved that at age 39, he was still the same "Hitman" as ever. It was quintessential Bret, giving his opponent all the space in which to shine, while still telling a brilliant story on their collective physical merits.