History Of WWE's Attitude Era In 10 Matches
9. Bret Hart Vs. Steve Austin (WrestleMania 13)
There's something instantly contrasting about WrestleMania 13. Those red, white and blue ring ropes were still being used, the old logo was displayed on the screen, and the company hadn't yet embraced a more gritty feel in terms of overall presentation. Yet, the submission match war between Bret Hart and Steve Austin felt remarkably different.
Even the addition of UFC stalwart Ken Shamrock as special guest referee helped further that feeling of realism. Austin and Hart really seemed to hate one another, this was no ordinary wrestling feud. It was a million miles from limp issues like Hart pursuing cartoon heels for stealing his ring jacket (as had been the case in his dispute with Jean-Pierre LaFitte in 1995).
One of the absolute best matches in WWE history, Austin vs. Hart at 'Mania 13 had such a unique atmosphere. The double turn has become infamous, with Bret morphing from heroic babyface to stern-faced villain, and Austin becoming a tough-as-nails anti-hero that fans could live vicariously through.
In WWE's mind, the 'Attitude Era' hadn't quite come into effect, but the seeds were very much sown. That's precisely why most consider this period part of the era.