WWE: Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart and the Greatest Matches of All Time

The WWE has drastically changed for better or for worse. The wrestlers, feuds, and even storylines are all different from what it used it be.

Yet, one thing that does remain imminent is the entertainment that professional wrestling provides and the unique array of matches that the sport offers.

We have witnessed hundreds of great matches in the existence of the WWE, and when it comes to ranking the best, it is all a matter of opinion.

However, there are certain matches that no one will ever forget about and the following list reigns supreme over the others.

6-Man Hell in a Cell: Armageddon

When you combine a Hell in a Cell match with six of the premier talents in wrestling, it is bound to turn into something special.

The match was for the WWE championship and it was between Kurt Angle, who was the champion at the time, The Rock, Triple H, Stone Cold, Rikishi and the Undertaker.

It was one of the most brutal matches in WWE history that ended with a crafty pin by Kurt Angle, as he went on to retain his title.

Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels (3 Stages of Hell) Armageddon

Whether they are best friends or hated enemies, the saga of Shawn Michaels and Triple H has had some of the most barbaric moments in WWE history.

The pair has faced off in a number of prolific matches in their Hall of Fame careers, but the Three Stages of Hell match at Armageddon was one for the ages.

The three stages in the match first consisted of a street fight, which was won by Triple H. The second was a steel cage match that the Heartbreak Kid prevailed in, followed by a ladder match, where Triple H was victorious.

Having to wrestle in three no-DQ matches alone displays what kind of talent these two men have brought to the WWE.

Steve Austin Vs. Vince McMahon: St. Valentine’s Day Massacre

I may get some grief for putting Vince McMahon in one of the best matches of all time, especially considering he is not even a wrestler.

I will also go on the record to say that the match itself was actually even a bit boring at times.

However, the feud between McMahon and Austin as well as the implications of the match made for one of the most entertaining events ever watched.

It was a steel cage match and the winner would receive a title shot at WrestleMania. It also finally gave Austin a chance to inflict as much pain as possible on the chairman.

The biggest surprise from the match came when the Big Show made his WWE premiere by coming out through the middle of the ring. It was a stunning entrance in which the Big Show threw Austin into the cage allowing him to climb out and win the match.

From a wrestling standpoint there has definitely been higher quality matches than this one, but nothing was more indulging than McMahon vs. Austin inside a steel cage. 

Team Raw Vs. Team Smackdown: Survivor Series

The WWE just keeps coming up with more entertaining matches for its fans, and no match was more clever than when Team Raw faced off vs. Team Smackdown at the 2005 Survivor Series.

It was a 5-on-5 match for no belts but all the bragging rights. The teams consisted of:

Team Raw: Big Show, Shawn Michaels, Kane, Carlito and Chris Masters

Team Smackdown: Randy Orton, Batista, Rey Mysterio, Bobby Lashley and JBL.

Both teams were pretty evenly matched and the concept was whoever had the final survivor remaining would win.

It was only fitting that the match came down to Shawn Michaels and Randy Orton at the end. Orton ended up putting his signature RKO on the Heartbreak Kid, and Team Smackdown earned their bragging rights. 

Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant: WrestleMania III

Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan were one of the first friendships in wrestling that turned enemies. Both stars were best friends for years, however, to make a long story short, Andre was upset because Hogan was getting much more attention than he was.

So when the two faced off at WrestleMania III, it was the most anticipated match that the WWE ever witnessed.

Hogan was defending his title against Andre the Giant, who at the time had an undefeated record. Andre had the upper hand for most of the match, until Hogan finally managed to bodyslam the Giant. Hogan followed up with his signature leg drop and pinned the Giant for the win.

The fact that Andre the Giant was listed at 520 pounds instantly made this slam one of the greatest moments in wrestling history. 

Bret Hart Vs. Steve Austin: WrestleMania 13

The submission match at WrestleMania 13 between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Bret “The Hitman” Hart embodies everything that the WWE is about. There was blood and straight-up brawling going on, but also a tremendous display of technical and physical wrestling.

Both Austin and Hart were bad boys who were hard to root against.

Austin had the upper hand for a good portion of the match until “The Hitman” put him in a sharpshooter, which ultimately led to Austin fainting and Hart being victorious.

However, the most spectacular part of the whole thing was that Austin lasted a whole five minutes in submission and never actually ended up tapping out. No wonder where he got the name “Stone Cold.”

The Rock Vs. Mankind (“I Quit Match”) Royal Rumble

The Rock vs. Mankind’s 1999 Royal Rumble “I Quit” match was even better than advertised.

Both competitors were polar opposites, but also among the greatest superstars the sport has ever had.

The brutality of the match was so engrossing that you could not look away even if you wanted to. It was a bloody mess that had nonstop action from countless chair shots to Mankind falling through a table.

However, it is unfortunate that the match had to end with The Rock using a recording of Mankind saying the words “I Quit.”