Every WWE Gimmick Match And The Wrestlers That Defined Them

12. First Blood Match - Stone Cold Steve Austin

The Undertaker HIAC
WWE Network

Stone Cold Steve Austin, probably, who headlined two main events under a risky stipulation that, of course, once made a cropper of LOLWCW.

The pitch behind King Of The Ring 1998 was stupendous Attitude Era fare. The audience was guaranteed one of two things: one guy is going to piss blood from his face, or one guy is going to set himself on fire. Kane of course wore a mask, adding cruel McMahon intrigue to the stipulation. Would Austin unmask Kane?

The hooks were preposterous and multiplied. The match didn't reflect the intrigue of the hype, but this was Steve Austin in 1998. Everything he did mattered. And, in contrast to the pulled promises of WCW, that audience knew the WWF was going to deliver.

The lunacy embedded in the Federation was intensifying by the week.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!