WWE In 1997 | Wrestling Timelines

17. May 26 | Austin On The Rise

Steve Austin Shawn Michaels 1997
WWE.com

Another device that WWE will use forevermore is pioneered when Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels attempt to co-exist in their shared ambition to topple the Hart Foundation stable. In 1997, this isn’t a useless and mandatory attempt to engineer friction in an all-babyface feud; it’s a superb attention to detail. Austin does not like nor trust anybody. Austin and Michaels are asked the question by Jim Ross: can you co-exist? 

Austin begins by saying “Since I’m the captain of this team…” before Shawn interjects, wondering aloud who made Austin the captain. Austin’s deadpan is hilarious; he simply says “Shut up” before immediately launching back into his promo. 

Deeper into the night, Austin and Michaels take on WWF World Tag Team champions Owen Hart and the British Bulldog. The match is incredible, belt-tight and all action, everything that the lazy WCW main event style isn’t. The action slows so that Michaels can sell his ass off, building the sort of pop so deafening that we’ll shortly name it after Stone Cold Steve Austin. 

Austin in one night draws a laugh by ridiculing Shawn before saving his “sorry ass” in the match. Austin and Michaels win the belts. In storylines, they are peers; in reality, Austin is now clear as the second biggest babyface in the company behind the Undertaker. It feels only nominal at this point, however. 

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick (Creative Writing BA Hons) is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over a decade of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential UK 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 AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and 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!