Every WWE Gimmick Match And The Wrestlers That Defined Them

17. Submission Match - Stone Cold Steve Austin

The Undertaker HIAC
WWE

It can only be Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Austin, having dropped the Million Dollar Dream from his act in order to evolve it, didn't even enter WrestleMania 13 with a signature hold. This, serendipitously, further cast Bret Hart as the embittered former hero that had alienated his fans; he entered the match with an advantage, and he still complained about the lack of respect afforded him.

Armed only with guts, balls, and fortitude, Austin endured countless, inventive variations of Hart's painful and protected Sharpshooter with claret pissing out of his forehead in the most quintessentially badass visual ever crafted in a WWE ring. A submission specialist has never before nor since applied a hold with such mastery and conviction, and a hold has never been sold with such pained defiance.

The match made Austin as a headline-level antihero; he, in turn, makes this match.

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!