wrestling / Columns
The Contentious Ten 07.19.10: Stone Cold Steve Austin Matches
July 19, 2010 | Posted by
Today I’m spotlighting arguably the biggest superstar in wrestling history, one of the most charismatic, controversial and talented performers in the business. Stone Cold Steve Austin is one of the greats, a man who brought wrestling to unparalleled heights in the late 1990s. Like Hogan before him, Austin is the measuring stick for the next big star in wrestling; nobody will ever replace Austin, but will anyone reach the same kind of fame that he reached. Who knows? The future can’t be truly predicted, but the past is there to be told. So here’s a look at the toughest S.O.B. in WWE History, the Texas Rattlesnake, Stone Cold Steve Austin!
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Rocksize=6>
Wrestlemania XIXsize=4>
The first match on my list is the last match to date for Stone Cold. I was always told this was the weakest of the three Wrestlemania matches between these two, but after seeing Austin vs. Rock at Wrestlemania XV for myself, I have to respectfully disagree. This match had the very simple but very compelling story of Rock trying to beat Austin. To my knowledge, Rock had never beat Austin cleanly before this match, despite being his toughest opponent in terms of storyline. Obviously the subtext of their second Wrestlemania match is that Rock could have beaten Austin if not for Vince screwing the Rattlesnake, and with two more years of wear and tear on Austin, he wasn’t going to win this time. Austin retired from in-ring competition quietly and with a ton of class. It was emotional, but it wasn’t melodramatic. I wish all great wrestlers could retire like that.
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Savio Vegasize=6>
Caribbean Strap Match, In Your House: Beware of Dog 2size=4>
There’s a general rule that strap matches, bull-rope matches, and the like tend to suck, largely because they are uninspired and have the same basic finish every time. This one isn’t immune to that finish, although it has the slight difference in that Austin basically cost himself the match in order to get DiBiase off his back and become a star on his own merit. What sets this apart is the intensity and creativity. Saying that you had the best strap match of all time is kind of like saying you have the prettiest pig in the pen, but this is actually a pretty great match. One of the earliest signs of the kind of performer Austin could be for the WWF.
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaelssize=6>
WWF Championship Match, Wrestlemania XIVsize=4>
The “first world title victory” rule comes into effect. Obviously, the match was the official, tangible point where Austin became “The Man” in the WWF, and it was also Shawn Michaels’ last real match for over four years. HBK was feeling the effects of his back injury and the match wasn’t quite up to par with what it had the potential to be. However, Shawn’s courageous performance combined with the historical moment is good enough to make this a personal favorite. Austin was quite good here as well, although he would give several better performances.
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Kurt Anglesize=6>
WWF Championship Match, Summer Slam 2001size=4>
I am a firm believer that a horrible finish doesn’t completely negate the value of a match. Shawn Michaels and Mankind had a match that was virtually flawless before the DQ finish, and that is still one of the greatest matches of all time. While this match isn’t quite on that level, since Austin wasn’t exactly in his prime anymore and Angle was only just coming into his own as a performer, the principle still stands. If a match this intense happened today, we’d be raving about it and talking it up as a Match of the Year contender, but for some reason or another it has become something of a forgotten classic, even among “smart fans”. Austin MADE Angle in this match, and after this nobody questioned him as a main event talent again. If you haven’t seen this one, track it down.
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Dude Lovesize=6>
WWF Championship Match, Over the Edge ’98size=4>
Just so the age trolls have something to whine about, I happen to hate a good portion the Attitude Era (between Summer Slam ’98 and Summer Slam ’99). I find the storylines ridiculous and the wrestling lacking. It was an overbooked crash TV mess. That would also describe this match, but as far as overbooked crash TV messes go, you’d be hard pressed to find a better match. Foley and Austin are two of the best brawlers in wrestling history, and also happen to understand wrestling psychology. So if you like that sort of thing, this match has enough to counter-balance the shenanigans. However, this is one case where I think the shenanigans, due to being original at the time, actually don’t hurt this match. It’s a big popcorn match, and honestly, I think it is good to have a match like that every once in a while. Steve Austin had about a thousand matches like this, but I definitely prefer this one.
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Bret Hartsize=6>
#1 Contender’s Match, Survivor Series 1996size=4>
For most wrestlers, this match would be an easy #1, but Bret Hart and Steve Austin aren’t most wrestlers. This was Austin’s first real shot at being at proving his worth as a top player. Bret and Austin were different in almost every way possible; different personalities, different in-ring styles, their position on the card (Bret was on his way down while Austin was on his way up). But they both knew how to perform and how to tell a story. With nearly a half-hour to work, they were able to establish that Bret still had what it took to be a top guy, and showed that Austin could hang with the best of the best as well. Austin found victory in defeat, giving the performance of his career to that point and only being beaten by a surprise roll-up from the top guy.
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Chris Benoitsize=6>
WWF Championship Match, Smackdown 05/31/01size=4>
Austin’s heel run isn’t exactly fondly remembered from a creative standpoint, but from an in-ring standpoint, he was still delivering the goods. This match with Chris Benoit is, in my opinion, the best match on free television in WWE history. Obviously that is a subjective opinion, but I think you can watch the match and see that there is a case to be made. Both wrestlers, while having different styles, shared intensity and storytelling that made this match very special. Benoit was one of the most over performers in wrestling at the time of this match (regardless of revisionist history by “fans” who wouldn’t know good wrestling if it raped them) and Austin was obviously super-over. On this night, he was not the fan favorite, and on this night, we saw a glimpse of what could have been had fans been more accepting of the heel turn, and if WWE gave us better storylines with Austin at this time.
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Triple Hsize=6>
2/3 Falls Match (Singles, Street Fight, Cage Match), No Way Out 2001size=4>
This match would probably be in second place if it weren’t for the lethargic third fall, because the first two falls of this match feature some of the best Attitude Era-style action I’ve ever seen. After some convoluted sidetracks that I won’t mention here, Triple H was revealed as the man responsible for putting Austin out of the WWF for most of a year with a neck injury. Naturally, the hatred from Austin was overflowing, and the match definitely reflected it. I loved the booking of Austin winning Triple H’s “wrestling fall” and The Game winning the street fight that supposedly favored Austin. Triple H’s win was a bit of a shock as this was the blow-off to the rivalry and Austin was heading into Wrestlemania with a guaranteed World Title shot after the Royal Rumble. In the end, it served as a big part of the story of the next match on this list.
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Rocksize=6>
No Disqualification WWF Championship Match, Wrestlemania X-SEVENsize=4>
In many people’s minds, this match is the end of the Attitude Era. It certainly was the end of the “rebel without a cause” character that Austin is most known for, and the one we all love. The build up for this match didn’t start on the RAW after No Way Out, it started in 1996 when Austin debuted 3:16 and declared that he was going to tackle every start in the WWF. Or, if you want to go further, the ECW pseudo-shoot where Austin voiced his grievances with WCW and said that he would become the star he always knew that he could be. Here, he wasn’t the young guy coming up and taking the title; he had already held the title, he had been the biggest star in the WWF for two years, bringing the company to unprecedented heights of mainstream acceptance and commercial success. But now he was on his way down, and the prodigy that he easily put down at Wrestlemania XV was now ready to take his place. He was just as popular, but younger, healthier, and at this point better than Austin. But Austin refused to relinquish that spot and sold out to the devil (Mr. McMahon) to ensure that at the end of the day, he walked out of the biggest show of the year with the title around his waist. This paragraph doesn’t even scratch the surface of what I could say about this match, but we must move onward.
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Bret Hartsize=6>
No Disqualification Submission Match, Wrestlemania 13size=4>
If you are a regular reader of this column, you probably aren’t surprised to see this match in this position. It is a credit to the other matches that I had to think twice. I have often presented this match as an example of everything a wrestling match should be, and as one of the best matches of all time. Austin has called this the most important and best match of his career, and I agree with him on both points. I love everything about the match, from the action, to the storytelling, to the finish, and of course the outstanding double-turn. Steve Austin was a great wrestler before this, and on the verge of becoming a superstar, but this is where he turned babyface (well, babyface-ish) and truly embraced his bubbling popularity. After this, it wasn’t a matter of IF Austin was going to be on top of the WWF, but when. One of the true great matches of wrestling.
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