WrestleMania 13

The submission match between Stone Cold "Steve Austin" and Bret The "Hit Man" Hart was the best match of Wrestlemania 13. It put the high standards of all Wrestlemania's forever. The match involved a special referree Ken Shamrock, who is a submission fighter. Wrestlemania 13 produced a "double turn" as Bret Hart turned "heel" and Stone Cold turned "face" in the same match. Bret Hart rendered Austin unconscious using the Sharpshooter, while Austin was a bloody mess. We now get the famous close up of Austin bleeding while trying to power out. Austin trys to get out, but Bret refuses and locks it back on. Shamrock asking Austin if he gives up, but recognizing that Austin does not respond and suddenly with loss of blood, passes out from the pain. The famous picture of Austin being put in the Sharpshooter and with a bloody face, will forever be remembered as one of the greatest moments in Wrestlemania History.

In my opinion 1997 was one of the WWF's best years. So much happened during 1997. The Undertaker had some great matches. Ditto Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. The New Hart Foundation feuded with Stone Cold Steve Austin. Stars such as Mankind and Ahmed Johnson improved throughout the year and the tag team scene was phenomenal.

In the main event Sycho Sid battled the Undertaker. These two had wrestled in mediocre matches during late 1991/early 1992 but this match was brilliant and exceeded my expectations.

Bret Hart had an entertaining scrap with Stone Cold Steve Austin in a match refereed by Ken Shamrock. Great match but I've never understood why Bret was booed after the match.

Goldust and Hunter Hearst Helmsley had a good match too and performed above their usual standards.

There were many other great matches as well. One of my favourites pitted Davey Boy Smith and the late Owen Hart VS Vader and Mankind in a mega match.

This was a great event. For some reason even the mediocre wrestlers gave 110% and put on a good show for the fans. This event was the way things should be all the time.

I was at this Wrestlemania live in Chicago. As most wrestling fans know this was set to be the long awaited rematch between Bret Hart & Shawn Michaels from the previous years Wrestlemania. Shawn pulled out of the match some time earlier claiming a "career ending" knee injury. This may have been some kind of "blessing in disguise" as in it's place we had Steve Austin taking the place of Michaels,and one of the greatest matches in Wrestlemania history (if not THE greatest)ensued in a Austin/Hart submission match,with UFC veteran Ken Shamrock as special guest referee.

What was most interesting about this match was the infamous "double turn" of both participants. Hart was the baby face,or good guy heading into this bout,with Austin as heel,or bad guy. By the end of this match the roles had been reversed which is something not easily done over the course of one match.

While Austin's popularity was on the rise prior to this match,it was this night that he really cemented himself as a big time,main event guy.

Aside from this match there wasn't a whole lot else going on here,at least nothing of note,other than The Undertaker winning his second WWF title from Sid Vicious,with some assistance from Bret Hart.

Definitely worth viewing strictly for the Austin/Hart match,which really is one of the greatest matches in this events history.

When Wrestlemania 13 came along in 1997 the Wrestlemania magic just wasn't there. It was mostly filled up with mathes no one really cares about such As Fatu Vs Rocky, Goldust Vs Triple H and Sid Vs the Undertaker. Sid vs The Undertaker was the worst main event in Wrestlemania history. The match it self was slower then a game of chess. Also there was no build up to the match at all. The only good thing about this Wrestlemania was the Bret "The Hitman" Hart Vs Stone Cold Steve Austin. What really should of been the main event. Austin should of won the world title at the final four PPV and become a baby face right after that. And then Bret should of beat Austin for the World title at this PPV. But keep the match just like it was in this PPV with Bret turning heel and Austin turning face.

There seems to be some schools of thought in which WrestleMania 13 is the worst one the WWE ever produced. While I won't go quite that far, I will say that it is very "flat" all the way through and only saved by one iconic clash.

There is certainly some talent present at this WrestleMania, with characters such as Rocky Maivia (later "The Rock"), HHH (still in the "royalty" gig), Mankind, and Owen Hart. For the most part, though, none of the matches involving these individuals draw any excitement from viewers or fans. The card construction seems rather mathematical, in a sense, instead of excitement-based.

The finale, Psycho Sid vs. Undertaker, is a good example of this. The match itself isn't bad, but the pairing is odd and uninspired. One can tell from the opening bell (if not far before) that this combination is only present because they are both big men with big names thrown together. No heat behind the rivalry whatsoever.

The only thing that saves this card from being close to a complete disaster is the epic Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin submission match. Truly one of the greats in the history of WrestleManias. The legend of Austin continues to grow, while Hart really starts the heel turn that would ultimately spell his WWE end. This clash probably adds a full two stars to my ranking of WM 13 for how well-done and important it is to the grand scheme of things.

WM 13 will always be in sort of a weird place, sandwiched between two iconic WrestleManias until the end of time. It maybe isn't as bad as you remember it, but only because Hart/Austin really is "that good".