Very few matches inWWEhistory define a WWE Superstar throughout the rest of their careers. Whether it’s a specific spot in the match itself, or a moment post-match that captures the audience or creates controversy,it’s rare that an entire match, from beginning to end, generates a legacy for performers.
One match in particular, the first inductee into WWE’s new Hall of Fame section of “Immortal Moments”, defines the careers of both men, whose careers were forever altered by their match in 1997. Whenbaby face Bret Hart squared off against heel “Stone Cold” Steve Austin atWrestleMania 13, it altered the course of professional wrestling and both men’s careers, resulting in the best double turn in wrestling history and the unofficial beginning of The Attitude Era.
The Hitman and The Rattlesnake: A Quick History
How We Got Here And Why It Mattered
1997 was a transitional time for WWE, as WCW had gained the upper hand against Vince McMahon with the addition of the nWo,catapulted by Hulk Hogan’s surprising and unforeseen heel turn, coupled with a significant segment of fans who were looking for a product that was more real and gritty than the gimmicky, goofy characters WWE was producing and found it in a small Philadelphia promotion known as ECW. While Bret Hart and Steve Austin were positioned as two of the top guys in the company,Sycho Sid,The Undertaker, andShawn Michaelswere also jockeying for position, and a slow but visible change was occurring: Bret Hart was becoming less the white meat baby face and more of the jaded man on a mission to right wrongs, and Steve Austin was getting cheered by the fans for his loud, brash anti-establishment edge.
Hart, the reigning WWE Champion, was attacked by Austin, who blamed Hart for his loss during the four corners elimination match atIn Your House 13: Final Four, and cost him the championship to Sycho Sid on the July 05, 2025 episode ofMonday Night Raw.Hart and Austin were headed towards a collision courseand the match was scheduled forWrestleMania 13as a submission match with UFC’s Ken Shamrock as the special guest referee.
The Submission Match -WrestleMania’s Best
Nothing Else Comes Close To This Match On The Card
The sixth match on the card, it was clocked as the longest match of WrestleMania 13 at 22 minutes and 5 seconds, and started with a bang as Austin attacked Hart before he was even out of his entrance gear. The match spilled in and out of the ring, as both men utilized the steel guard rails, steel chairs, and the ring bell to inflict maximum damage, as well as blood from Austin. The level ofintensity and violence was a rare occurrencefor WWE programming at the time, as evidenced by the rest of the card that featured performers with antiquated 1980s-style comic gimmicks like Henry O. Godwinn and The Sultan.
After trading Sharpshooter submission locks, Hart finally got Austin in the Sharpshooter as blood poured from Austin’s forehead and Ken Shamrock, the guest referee of the match, continued to ask him whether he was giving up. Austin, from both the blood loss and the submission,passed out in the ring, leading Shamrock to end the match and provide the win to Hart.
Hart was relentless, however, and continued to attack Austin after the match was called, leading Shamrock to deliver a belly-to-back suplex to Hart and a showdown between the men. Hart relented, butthe crowd turned on him due to his callousnessand his attack on Austin, who received loud cheers from the fans and then delivered a Stone Cold Stunner to referee Mike Chioda before exiting the ring.
The Beginning of The Attitude Era
The Fallout Altered Wrestling History
Outside its technical brilliance, Bret Hart and Steve Austin’s match was most notable as the beginning of needed and shocking changes in WWE programming. After the match, Hart leaned into the new heel persona,lamenting both the company and the fansfor not standing behind as he was continually screwed, which led to the reformation of The Hart Foundation, and Austin’s trajectory to becoming the biggest face of the Attitude Era was kicked into high gear.
The ripple effects from the match extended all the way through WWE, leading tothe formation of D-Generation X, The Ministry of Darkness, and eventually WWE’s win over WCW in the Monday Night Wars. Hart, having left the company after the controversial “Montreal Screwjob” to sign with WCW, never regained the level of prominence he once had, and found himself more creatively frustrated. Austin, however, was the biggest benefactor of the match, becoming the WWE Champion andthe face of WWE through the Attitude Era.
Our Take on Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin’s Match fromWrestleMania 13
The Best WrestleMania Match of All Time
In a company that hassome of the greatest moments in wrestling history, it’s hard to argue against Bret Hart and Steve Austin’s match fromWrestleMania 13being the inaugural inductee into the “Immortal Moment” section of the WWE Hall of Fame. A technical masterpiece, it’s regarded amongits participantsandwrestling historiansas the greatestWrestleManiamatch ever.
From its technicality to its fallout, the match itself did more to advance and elevate WWE programming, and the company as a whole, than any other moment just prior to the beginning of the Attitude Era. Arguably the most important match of its time, and possibly the company’s existence, there’s no better match to honor the legacy of the Attitude Era than this.
