Wrestlemania Flashback: Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

“I’m laying in a pool of blood. This is the greatest feeling in the world."
-- "Stone Cold" Steve Austin --

Wrestling Lockup with Brandon, brought to you by Triple Threat CLE, is back with another blog entry. It's Wrestlemania season, so in my fifth blog of 2016, I'll be talking about a match that is definitely in my top 5 of greatest Wrestlemania matches of all time. I'm talking about Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, at Wrestlemania 13, in a No Holds Barred, Submission Match. I recently went back and watched this match on the WWE Network and I was reminded of how much I really loved this match. I then dove into the media world and dug up some interesting facts and rumors that helped lead to one of the greatest matches in WWE history. Now any hardcore wrestling fan like myself probably already knows everything I put in this blog, but so what, there are always other noobies that might not know any of this.

- A Match That Almost Didn't Happen: Imagine what would have become of Bret Hart and Steve Austin's careers if this match didn't happen like originally planned. Many stories have circulated over the years about the original plans for Wrestlemania 13. Bret Hart had just come off of a loss in an "Iron Man Match" at Wrestlemania 12 to the "Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels. Stories from past backstage employees and wrestling writers have stated that the original main event for Wrestlemania 13 was supposed to be Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels in a rematch from their prior Wrestlemania 12 match for the WWE World Title. This however, was during the time frame when Shawn Michaels basically hated everyone in the WWE, thought he was god's gift to the WWE and was the rumored backstage jerk and trouble maker.

According to stories, the storyline was written a year in advance where Hart dropped the belt to Michaels at Wrestlemania 12 and then Michaels would return the favor at Wrestlemania 13 and drop the belt back to Hart. Michaels, who had just defeated Psycho Sid at the Royal Rumble to win the WWE World Title, now refused to do the deed and job to Bret Hart at Wrestlemania 13. At this time, whether true or not, Michaels suddenly suffered a knee injury, claimed to have lost his smile and vacated the WWE World Title. Many, including Bret Hart, stated that Michaels faked the whole thing and found a loop hole to get out of facing Hart at Wrestlemania. So now an "injured" Shawn Michaels just ruined the Wrestlemania main event that was planned out a year ago and now one of WWE's top baby faces, Bret Hart, had no match on the biggest stage in sports entertainment. This would turn into a good thing, however, for the WWE.

- Setting Up The Match, Hart and Austin's Opinions: Just three weeks before Wrestlemania, Vince McMahon, decided to revisit a past feud and go with Bret Hart facing Steve Austin in a "No Holds Barred, Submission Match". Austin recently commented on his podcast that he was sitting at home in San Antonio watching RAW, with a knee injury, when McMahon made the announcement. Austin stated that he was extremely pissed off about the announcement because it was a submission match and Austin didn't have many if any submission holds in his arsenal. Bret Hart also commented recently that he wasn't happy about the match either, because he and Austin made an agreement that their first Survivor Series encounter would be the one and only time they'd face each other. Hart wasn't comfortable with how well of a match he and Austin could perform at Wrestlemania, because they put all their ideas into their Survivor Series match thinking it would be their one and only meeting. Hart and Austin were worried, but what they didn't know was they were about to have one of the greatest matches in WWE history.

- Special Enforcer Ken Shamrock: The WWE decided to add another special attraction to what was already a special stipulated match. WWE got in contact with former UFC fighter, Ken Shamrock. The nicknamed "World's Most Dangerous Man" would end up playing a good part in the match, as the appointed special guest referee and helped in making the Bret Hart heel turn at the end believable. This turned out to be the beginning of what was a decent WWE run for Ken Shamrock, as he went into a full time WWE wrestling schedule after this match. WWE I think used Shamrock the correct way in this match as well and didn't have the spotlight on him too much. There were times watching this match that I forgot that Shamrock was even the referee because the WWE did a great job focusing on the stars of the match, Hart and Austin. WWE did, however, let Shamrock get a little bit of recognition. Go back and watch the end of this match, as Shamrock picks Bret Hart up like a rag doll and slams him down when Hart refuses to let up on Austin and becomes a heel.

- Fighting In The Crowd: Both Bret Hart and Steve Austin commented on their brawl in the stands and through the crowd to kick off the match. Hart and Austin came up with the idea, but were afraid Vince McMahon would shoot down the idea of fighting in the crowd. Vince surprising agreed to the idea only because he 100% trusted two guys like Hart and Austin to pull it off without causing any injury to a fan. Fighting through the crowd wasn't a very common thing in wrestling back then, maybe except for ECW, but this opened the door to other organizations using this as a great match time waster and climax build up to the match finale. Funny part of this was right when Bret Hart gets tossed over the barricade, a security guard gets kicked right in the back by Bret Hart on accident. Good thing it wasn't a fan.

- Austin Comments On Bleeding: The idea of having blood (aka color) in the match was all Bret Hart's idea. Austin stated that he was a little worried about doing the blade job because he never bladed before. Hart came up with the idea that he would hide the blade and do the honors on Austin's forehead when the match called for it, which would eliminate Austin being worried, because he was afraid he'd cut himself too deep. The idea worked tremendously especially when it came to the matches finale. Austin being trapped in Bret Hart's sharpshooter, in a pool of his own blood and face completely crimson masked is one of the greatest flashback moments in WWE history. Bret Hart recently stated that he was willing to put his career on the line if the blade job went wrong and if he would have caused tremendous injury to Austin. When it was all said and done, Austin said it was one of the greatest moments in his career.

- Double Turn: The closing moments of the match we began to see what would be called a double turn. Bret Hart entered the face (good guy) and Steve Austin entered the heel (bad guy). By matches end Hart began to get booed by the fans and Austin got "Austin" chants and cheers for his "refuse to submit" attitude. Hart made the fans hate him even more by refusing to let up on Austin after the match, forcing Ken Shamrock to step in and rag doll slam Hart. This time frame was also when Bret Hart went into a "What about me?" and "I'm getting screwed" gimmick. A week leading into Wrestlemania, Bret Hart had a huge temper tantrum after getting screwed out of the WWE World Title. Hart grabbed a microphone, spat on Vince McMahon and cut a curse filled promo that would've made CM Punk blush. Many felt that this was the real moment when Hart went heel and many fans wanted to see the heel Austin destroy Hart at Wrestlemania.

- What Could've Been: Supposedly stories have stated that Vince McMahon was so happy with the way Hart vs. Austin turned out, that he had already penciled in a heel Bret Hart vs. a face Steve Austin at Wrestlemania 14 for the WWE World Title, a year in advance. At Wrestlemania 14 Hart would go in as the champion and Austin would finally get the win on his arch enemy and take the WWE World Title for his first run as champion. Unfortunately, backstage politics, Bret Hart's unhappiness with the WWE's Attitude Era direction and Hart's eventual jump to WCW at the end of 1997 ended that idea. Steve Austin, as we all know still went on to Wrestlemania 14, but it was Shawn Michaels he defeated for the WWE World Title instead of Bret Hart.

So there you go, those are the stories and rumors I heard about one of the greatest matches in WWE history. Hope you enjoyed the blog, as I personally enjoyed going back down memory lane and doing research on one of my favorite Wrestlemania matches of all time. If I ever made a list of must see Wrestlemania matches, this match would definitely be in the top five.

Now go do yourself a favor and watch one of the greatest Wrestlemania matches of all time!

Thanks again for reading, you can follow me @B_Rock1978 and also please follow @TripleThreatCLE. We post about Cleveland sports, all sports in general, wrestling and entertainment news.

Wrestling Lockup with Brandon, 10.20.15: #RAW Recap

By @B_Rock1978

Wrestling Lockup with Brandon, brought to you by Triple Threat CLE. It's time for this week's RAW recap. 

- RAW was live this week in Dallas, Texas and served as the go home show to this Sunday's WWE Hell In A Cell. Some highlights to this weeks show included: The Legends! Hall of Famer's "Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and "Nature Boy" Ric Flair were in attendance. The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar had one last face to face before they step inside the Hell In A Cell together on Sunday. The Authority put Corporate Kane on suspension. Main event time saw The Wyatt Family face off with a one time only forced Shield reunion. All that and a lot more, let's get to some RAW recap.

- Stone Cold, Stone Cold, Stone Cold!!!: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin kicks off RAW inside the ring. Austin plugs his podcast with special guest, Brock Lesnar, tonight after RAW and then calls out The Undertaker. Undertaker arrives and says he'll make Brock Lesnar's worst fears look like heaven at Hell In A Cell. Lesnar's music hits and out comes "The Beast" and Paul Heyman, onto the stage. Heyman says it's ironic that both Taker and Lesnar are going into the cell looking for revenge. Taker says that when you take everything from a man, then he now has nothing to lose. Lesnar heads to the ring and hops onto the apron. Heyman is able to talk Lesnar down and Lesnar backs off to end the segment.

- The New Day defeated John Cena and The Dudley Boys, by pinfall, in a Six Man Tag Team Match: The match closes out with Big E landing a sidewalk slam on Cena, fighting off a Cena drop kick and then dropping Cena with a belly to belly. Cena hot tags Devon, after Big E misses a splash. Devon cleans house, until Xavier Woods sneaks in a roll up for the pinfall. After the match, Cena hits an AA on Woods. The Dudley's and Cena finish off Woods with a triple power bomb through a table.

- Michael Cole and the announce team inform us that Randy Orton is MIA and think that The Wyatt Family may have had something to do with it.

- Backstage, Dean Ambrose now needs a new partner with Randy Orton missing, but says he'll go it alone if he has to.

- Nikki Bella and Alicia Fox defeated Naomi and Sasha Banks by pinfall: The match closes out with Nikki Bella going for the Rack Attack on Naomi. Naomi escapes, but gets sent into the corner by Nikki. Nikki finally hits the Rack Attack and scores the pinfall.

- Michael Cole and the announce team inform us that The Authority have suspended Corporate Kane for his actions running RAW last week.

- Shawn Michaels and Seth Rollins Go Face To Face: The "Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels is in the ring hyping up Hell In A Cell. Seth Rollins interrupts and says Michaels was sent to the ring to introduce Rollins, complains about Michaels talking about other Hell In A Cell matches besides Rollins' and Rollins considers himself Shawn Michaels 2.0. Michaels says it's funny that people all want to be like Shawn Michaels, cause when Michaels was coming up, he was worried about being the best professional wrestler to ever live and not try to be like someone else. Rollins says he's done talking and goes to leave the ring. Michaels tells Rollins not to go to far cause he has a match with Ryback, right now.

- Seth Rollins defeated Ryback, by pinfall: The match closes out with Rollins hitting a suicide dive that sends Ryback into the announcers table. Ryback regains offense, hits a back body drop and a tilt-a-whirl slam on Rollins. Ryback has Rollins by the hair, however, Rollins lands a solid boot to Ryback's gut. Rollins hits the Pedigree on Ryback, covers and scores the pinfall.

- Rusev, King Barrett and Sheamus defeated Dolph Ziggler, Cesaro and Neville, by pinfall, in a Six Man Tag Team Match: The match closes out with Ziggler getting a near fall Fameasser, then misses a super kick, as Barrett blocks it. Ziggler reverses Winds of Change into a crucifix pin for another near fall on Barrett. Ziggler lands a super kick and Cesaro boots Sheamus. Rusev thrust kicks Cesaro, but gets tossed to the floor by Ziggler. Sheamus hits a Brogue Kick out of nowhere on Ziggler, allowing Barrett to score the pinfall.

- The Nature Boy, Roman Reigns and The Wyatts: Ric Flair is in the ring for a promo. Flair hypes up Wrestlemania 32, which takes place in Dallas, Texas. Flair next announces that Roman Reigns will team with Dean Ambrose, tonight, against the Wyatt Family, sincsyiye Randy Orton is still MIA. Roman Reigns arrives and is ready to go. Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman suddenly arrive with a returning Eric Rowan, making them four now. Reigns sets up two chairs in the ring, one for him and one for Bray Wyatt to sit in to talk things out. Reigns says Bray is a bully, picks on people when they're down, is scared, can't go it alone and surrounds himself with the other Wyatts. Reigns says he's ending this at Hell In A Cell and Bray should be afraid. Reigns shoves and lands a punch on Bray, then lands chair shots on Rowan and Strowman. Dean Ambrose hits the ring and helps Reigns fight off the Wyatt Family.

- Backstage, Seth Rollins criticizes to Triple H and Stephanie McMahon on what Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose just did. Shawn Michaels stops by and suggests Rollins teaming with Reigns and Ambrose against The Wyatt Family, tonight. Triple H is hesitant, but Michaels says Rollins is treated like a baby. Rollins agrees to the match and says he's going to be Mr. Show Stopper.

- Charlotte defeated Brie Bella, by submission: The match closes out with Brie landing kicks to the chest of Charlotte. Charlotte grabs Brie's leg, lands chops, clotheslines, a forearm, a corner splash, a neck breaker and spear. Charlotte applies the Figure Eight and Brie taps out. After the match, Paige is watching backstage on the monitor.

- Backstage, Paige denies attacking Nattie Neidhart and claims it could have been anyone that hates the Divas Revolution. Maybe it was Lita, or Alundra Blayze.

- Kevin Owens defeated Mark Henry, by pinfall: The match closes out with Henry landing an irish whip and a kick to Owens' ribs. Henry hits a big splash in the corner and looks to put Owens away. Owens, however, lands a super kick and the pop up power bomb, covers and scores the pinfall. After the match, Ryback hits the ring, but Owens escapes to the floor. Henry grabs Owens and sends Owens back into the ring. Ryback grabs Owens and plants him with a power bomb.

- Backstage, Seth Rollins says tonight is not a Shield reunion, he's just proving that he's the man and if need be he'll take out Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose both.

- The Wyatt Family defeated The Shield, by DQ, in a Six Man Tag Team Match: The match closes out with Reigns tagging in and landing a Superman Punch on Strowman. Reigns with a kick and clothesline to Rowan. Reigns hits the leaping apron drop kick on Rowan. Reigns sends Strowman into the announcers table. Reigns hits a samoan drop and a Superman Punch on Rowan. Ambrose gets dumped to the floor as Strowman applies the Bear Hug/Sleeper combo submission on Reigns. Ambrose grabs a kendo stick and cracks Strowman with it, causing the DQ. After the match, Reigns and Ambrose brawl with The Wyatt Family. Reigns hits a spear on Bray and Rowan to close out this weeks RAW.

The Weekend 3 Count 10/6 - 10/12 #WWE #TNA

By @BSA1978

The Weekend 3 Count is brought to you by Triple Threat CLE.

*** WWE News and Rumors ***

- "Stone Cold" Steve Austin making a come back? That's what rumors have been stating. Austin, himself, has even said on his podcast that he's been training for a comeback. Sources have said that Austin wants to have a huge involvement with WWE in 2015.

- Where's the Deadman? The Undertaker was spotted at the Wizard World Austin Comic Con in Austin, Texas this past week. Questions about Wrestlemania 31 and Sting were asked to the Death Valley Demon. Taker stated "never say never" about Wrestlemania but had no plans. As for Sting, Taker hasn't really thought about having a match with the Stinger.

- Happy Birthday Smackdown!! WWE Smackdown turned 15 this month. 15 years ago, Smackdown debuted on the UPN network with Triple H vs The Rock for the WWE Championship as the main event. Shawn Micheals served as special guest referee. I still have that show on VHS tape somewhere back when I used to collect matches on video tape.

- New Bray Wyatt followers? There have been rumors circulating that Bray Wyatt may be taking in NXT's tag team The Ascension as new Wyatt Family members. Which would explain why Bray is setting Erick Rowan and Luke Harper free in recent tv segments.

- If you don't want your luggage lost, than don't fly United Airlines. This week Dolph Ziggler's bags were lost, then found in Canada. What's interesting is that the WWE Intercontinental Championship was one of the items lost. Imagine finding a WWE title, how hard would it be to give back?

- After this Friday's backstage segment on Smackdown between The Rock and Triple H, talk of a match has surfaced. The WWE may possibly go with The Rock vs Triple H as one of the co-main events at Wrestlemania 31.

- Rumors are circulating that WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Brock Lesnar, won't return to defend his title until the Royal Rumble. What happended to the so called "30 Day Rule", where a superstar was stripped of the title if he failed to defend within 30 days??

- It has been officially announced that the 2015 Royal Rumble in January will be a 40 Man Rumble.

- Chris Jericho sent out a tweet on Twitter stating he'll be back in WWE in November.

- When you get time, check out this article written by Rob Simmons. It basically sums up how all of us feel about WWE's current product. Rob wrote a letter to Triple H and posted the link to it on Triple H's Twitter page. Very heart felt and very true.
Chair Shots Presents: Dear Triple H (A Letter From A Struggling 35 Year Fan).


- WWE's Hell In A Cell Card -
** John Cena vs Dean Ambrose
** "Hell In A Cell Match": Seth Rollins vs Winner of Cena/Ambrose

*** TNA News and Rumors ***

- Bellator MMA has officially announced that TNA World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Lashley will face Karl Etherington at Bellator 130, on Friday, October 24th.

- TNA recently made a play for the hottest free agent in wrestling, CM Punk. TNA offered Punk a Hulk Hogan type deal and promised him he would be the face of TNA. As of now, CM Punk, still has no interest whatsoever in wrestling again. TNA currently is denying this.

- TNA President, Dixie Carter, celebrated her 50th birthday this week.

- TNA recently announced new TV deals in Malaysia and Singapore. There has still been no word on if they are close to a new deal with a tv station to show Impact on in the U.S.

- After failing to win the TNA World Tag Team Championship this week on Impact, Bully Ray went to Twitter. Bully Ray stated that even though he and Devon failed to win the titles, they still have their sights set on winning their favorite titles. Rumors are saying that he is talking about the New Japan Tag Team Championship.

- More Kurt Angle free agent talk has surfaced. Sources have said that Angle would stay with TNA if they meet his requirements. Sources are also saying that Angle has also had a sit down with WWE and would be more than willing to return to the company that made him famous, if they give him a part time contract.

More news and rumors next week on Weekend 3 Count.

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