I wrestled Stone Cold Steve Austin in WrestleMania masterpiece but hardest was Iron man match against WWE star in his prime
Few wrestlers get to sample the grandeur of Wrestlemania in their careers and even fewer get the opportunity to put on five-star matches.
The ‘Showcase of the Immortals’ is widely regarded as wrestling’s ceiling as fans from across the world unite across four nights for unparalleled action and a celebration of stars who paved the way for today’s talent.
As the event enters its 40th Anniversary in April, matches from bygone eras are rarely forgotten and for one Hall of Famer, back-to-back show-stealing matches at the star-studded extravaganza propelled him further into superstardom.
Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart’s battle with Stone Cold Steve Austin at Wrestlemania 13 is regarded by many as the best match ever to take place at the showpiece.
Austin was fresh off the back of his King of the Ring victory in 1996 and quickly picking up momentum due to his outlandish behaviour, use of derogatory language and rebellious nature, which was taboo in WWE at the time.
Hart picked up the victory after putting a bloodied Austin in the famous sharp shooter, only for the Texan to ‘pass out’ leading to the referee calling for the bell.
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For the legendary Canadian, his tussle with the ‘Rattlesnake’ ranks as one of his greatest accomplishments, compared to his other WrestleMania duels.
"The match with Steve, that's the greatest song I ever sang," Hart said. "When I watch it back, I wouldn't change a thing. I still love seeing that spot where I'm punching the daylights out of Steve in the corner and he kicks me in the groin.
“It was a beautiful, violent piece of art. Working with Steve was easy, it was fun, and it was memorable. We put a lot of heart into that match. It captures every element you see in a back-and-forth UFC fight.
“I loved the psychology of my match with Steve. I think of the expression, 'No animals were harmed in the making of the movie.' There were some hard falls and good shots with Steve, a fight between two warriors."
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For Hart, the responsibility of being face of the company in the mid-90s handed him the gruelling task of a 60-minute Iron Man match against a buoyant Shawn Michaels 12-months earlier.
The 'Heartbreak Kid' was vying for Hart's spot as the face of the company as well as his WWE title.
The pair went head-to-head in the main event of Wrestlemania XXII, a match Hart calls the hardest of his career.
Hart also revealed his regret at being unable to create further in-ring memories with Austin and Michaels, due to his controversial exit from the company in late 1997.
“As far as the Ironman match, that was the hardest match I’ve ever had,†he added. “And Shawn, as I knew, was going to bring everything, and he brought everything, and I was prepared for everything, and it was two of the best wrestlers in the prime of their lives giving the match of their life.
“So I can never take anything — it’s a flawless, absolutely perfect match. Same as WrestleMania 13, for sure, my two greatest matches. Both guys, Shawn and Steve, I wish if I could have gone back and never gone to WCW. I wish I’d stayed there and worked with those guys just a bit more and Undertaker, and it’s a shame that history played out the way it did.â€
Iron Man matches have always been an acquired taste particularly in the modern day preference of fast-paced action and engaging storylines, leaving 60-minute tussles a less frequent booking option, often reserved for wrestling purists.
But Hart’s battle with the ‘Heartbreak Kid’ for the world title in 1996 still tops the list of the all-time greatest Iron Man matches, despite the Calgary native tasting ‘sweet chin music’ before dropping his title to Michaels.
And now, as fans look towards the upcoming Survivor Series, there will be more nods to days of a bygone era as Randy Orton returns - out of nowhere - at the age of 43 to thrill fans.