Jim Cornette Reviews WWE Rivals: Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin

From Episode 291 of the Jim Cornette's Drive Thru
Artwork by Travis Heckel!
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[@NorthWalesKid]

The image of Austin in the sharpshooter with blood streaming down his face is perhaps the most iconic in wrestling history

[@dominiquejones3805]

WWF Warzone Ps1 Days

[@williewest2998]

Facts

[@royalty843]

​@@dominiquejones3805 what a flashback

[@dreday5880]

Along with Mankind smiling as he returned to the Cell

[@johnmarr2695]

Now imagine that but Austin has a full head of hair again. Photo shop that and you'll get $150 from Jim. Brian wants nothing to do with it but Jim, well Jim's ready for that bloody hairy head 😅😅😅😅😅

[@prestonpfeiffer]

The contrast between this one and the Shawn Michaels one was what really stood out to me. Austin & Bret REEEEEALLY respect eachother beyond and Bret used everything in him to get Austin over. Shawn on the other hand did everything to get Austin un-over and almost bury him. The level of professionalism between Bret and Shawn was night and day.

[@anup7604]

It still is even today, shawn might say he found God, but Bret is still a better human being than both shawn and hhh, who buried talent long after they weren't main eventers

[@lunarianpaladin6980]

Well said

[@Rschr101]

Imagine if it was Bret vs Austin at Mania 14. Would have been an awesome culmination to their feud with Steve finally beating Bret for the title.

[@KingOfWinter]

Preston Pfeiffer Yeah he really put him over when he beat him in every match. Yes the matches are competitive but hogan had “competitive” matches with everyone and never put anyone over so what’s with the double standard there? Shawn talked a lot of crap that much is true but so did everyone who was a maineventer at that time but at the end of the day Shawn laid down flat on his back on the biggest stage of the business for Austin and Bret never did. After the Bret feud Austin was a tough SOB who had awesome matches, after the Shawn feud Austin was an unbeatable champion. So yeah Shawn put Austin over more than Bret ever did. Actions matter, not words. Does it matter now that hogan says he “liked” any of the numerous wrestlers he beat and wanted to see them get over? No, it doesn’t, so why does that matter for Bret? You guys pick and choose when something matters and when it doesn’t and the hypocrisy is laughable.

[@KingOfWinter]

Rschr101 If Bret was ever going to lose to Austin at Wrestlemania I doubt it would’ve been clean. It would’ve been a roll up or fast count or both either way Bret would’ve worked an out in their match for himself just like he did for all his loses. Say all you want about Shawn and his trash talking and backstage politics but when he had to lay down he did it flat on his back clean like you should when you really want to get someone over.

[@kellyremple8982]

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Owen Hart, Jerry Lawler, Shawn Michaels.... Everyone who worked a long term feud/storyline with Bret Hart was a made man. Bret could literally MAKE a wrestler a TOP guy. He did it better than anyone... Bret = GOAT

[@soumiranbanerjee8330]

Agreed. Waltman went from a glorified jobber to a beloved underdog as 1-2-3 Kid

[@xziggy_stardustx6786]

100% agree. Bret had a conviction about him that made you buy into his character -- on top of that he went for a hard-hitting, realistic style and was the best in-ring worker I've ever seen. Bret was the kind of guy who'd make you look like $1m even if you lost to him.

[@ALT_RIGHT]

His work looked the best. Very believable work.

[@bigolebot]

Shawn was a made man long before his rivalry with Bret you idiot lol.

[@janitorbiesel3183]

While I agree with you, Lawler was a top guy 20 years before he ever wrestled Bret. He's sold more tickets to professional wrestling events than Bret Hart ever has. So, Lawler doesnt really fit in with the others you mentioned.

[@burntvirtue]

1997 was the pinnacle. The absolute peak of all Pro-Wrestling. It's been all down hill since. Slowly at first, and then very sharply

[@KnucklesWTD]

So why did 99-2000 have better ratings then

[@J.P.G.78]

​@@KnucklesWTD you know what he means

[@EmmanuelFreytes]

​@@KnucklesWTD raitings have nothing to do, something can be garbage and be watched more that something amazing that less ppl watch. They were hotshoting angles week in and week out by 99 and 2000's so thats probably a reason for that

[@wilcee238]

1999 with The Rock was the peak

[@KnucklesWTD]

@@EmmanuelFreytes well people tell me ratings mean everything 🤷‍♂️

[@PreacherJenkins]

Best double turn in history

[@alo4912]

I can't remember any others off the top of my head but this one is so memorable

[@randycrawford1132]

Oh Yes, because it was two amazing talents and Bret technically is one of the best if not the best along with Angle

[@TheLedonne3]

@@alo4912 Demolition and Powers of Pain at Survivor Series s the only other that comes to mind.

[@JCD489]

@@alo4912 rock/Mankind and Austin/Angle only two I can think of

[@dominiquejones3805]

Bret got nasty n this feud

[@rickjay2011]

This was a feud that I really believed was real as a teenager.

[@dominiquejones3805]

Real talk. When I found out they were cool , I was like no way

[@anthonybradley1555]

Stone Cold Steve Austin would never say I quit to Bret hart he would never give Bret the satisfaction of Austin saying those words that is how believable the Angle was, you really thought there was an intense hatred between the two.

[@the1317]

Bret's matches are like wine they get better with time and i love how stories are coming out about how Bret helped so many of the young wrestlers out and older guys saying they loved working with him because it was going to look good and be an easy night my guy finally getting some

[@edmondcarter9457]

This was a hell of a good rivalry. Bret pushed for SCSA to start getting into the main events. Bret knows talent, definitely one of the boys and one of my childhood hero’s.

[@Gothy420]

He put Austin over, who proved to be the straw that helped take Shawn's smile, and win the war over WCW (yes, I know it's a bit of a reach but Austin was a bigger draw than HBK was)

[@edmondcarter9457]

@@Gothy420 I totally agree with you bro, he was so over in 97. He was a heel that was shown so much love by the fans. The first time I seen him live was in 98 before he won the wwf championship against Shawn Michaels. He was in a handicap table match against the new age outlaws. The hsbc arena in Buffalo was so loud when his music started you could feel the excitement on the floor.

[@kamfisher1714]

@@Gothy420 You guys are hilarious. Bret had the same injury Shawn had “when he lost his smile” and Bret took 3 months off.

[@Gothy420]

@Kam Fisher couple things: Bret didn't implode from pressure or somas. Bret also didn't lose money as the champion. Also, Bret wasn't a whiny little bitch that exposed the business.

[@afdcg]

​@@Gothy420 Bret Hart never put Austin over. He beat him in all the matches.

[@duckhive]

on balance, Bret Hart is the greatest that ever was

[@imusingsocialistmedia3014]

Some reta ded freaks would lose the will to live reading this.

[@dominiquejones3805]

Bret could go over but legitimize u

[@jonathonholifield3166]

You goddamn right. Or he could put YOU over and make you look like you EARNED it

[@metalanarchy5186]

Hart is for sure in that convo Austin before the neck injury was amazing I know he is hated for good reason but Benito is up there Rick and Scott Steiner Steamboat Bob Backlund people don't relisze how good he was Mr Perfect Kurt Angel

[@202Kev]

I remember watching Survivor Series ‘96. Bret vs. Austin. The buildup, the entrances. Howard Finkel’s introductions. Two STARS in the business on display. When the light dimmed and Bret went to give his shades to the little girl in the crowd, that quick shot of Austin’s face was gold. Then JR said “We’ll he’s back. He ain’t no clown. He ain’t no trashman. He’s a wrestler, and so is Steve Austin. That’s what it’s all about. Wrestling, competition, intensity.” I’m not sure if this type of wrestling can or will be duplicated.

[@gammasmash1924]

And this was Austin pre-injury. While he certainly did a great job of adapting his style after he broke his neck, Heel Austin in '96 was, for me, peak Austin.

[@dewiwilliams4821]

Yeah also remember JR saying "if you love holyfield vs tyson, you're gonna love this!" The best wrestling matches imo allowed the best commentators to call it play by play as though it is real. Bret always gave heenan, gorilla and JR the opportunity to call matches at their best.

[@only1icon1801]

I thank God I grew up watching this as a young lad. Both are superior in their own right and created some of the best moments in wrestling history

[@dewiwilliams4821]

@only1icon1801 they are number 1 and 2 for me mate 👍

[@jamesmcshane1914]

Wow. Never heard or at least remembered that JR commentary. Absolute superb. Its actually clearly a dig at Vince and his gimmick obsession but easily deniable.

[@williamthomas5215]

The neck injury really robbed us of Austin’s ability to work. Not that he wasn’t an amazing worker and wrestler after the injury but those old clips were amazing his jumping and leap frogs and drop downs. Just insane how quickly he moved. Obviously his Stone Cold gimmick dictated a different pace but still.

[@KR1736]

100% agree. I love work rate Stunning Steve but really the punch kick brawling was perfect for the stone cold character. Plus when he got his neck surgery in 2000 he came back and had some bangers in 2001

[@Blackflame24]

His knee injuries as well. I enjoyed the run of Stunning Steve and The Hollywood Blondes in WCW because you actually got to see Steve as a good technical wrestler and utilize the training he got from “Gentleman” Chris Adams.

[@dantecarroll2435]

He still had great matches with Kurt angle and Chris Benoit

[@ryanmussell739]

Yes. But Owen got what he deserved.

[@dominiquejones3805]

People just don't know how good the Ringmaster was. Austin could go b4 the neck injury

[@MiniatureMasterClass]

Easily the best wrestling rivalry of all time. You legit believed they hated each other even though Steve Austin is one of the biggest Hitman fanboys you'll find. I'll die on this hill.

[@badmoon710]

I loved it but now and as a kid I loved Brett n Shawn’s rivalry more

[@Gothy420]

With Austin vs Hart it was more like two badasses against each other HBK was always the pretty prettyboy of wrestling as a kid to me. But I respect your opinion and respectfully disagree

[@manuelper]

@@badmoon710 I think if you remove all of the backstage shenanigans and dirt sheet stuff for Bret-Shawn, it pales in comparison to Austin-Bret. The storyline and matches as presented on TV and PPV only...it's not even close.

[@shawnkavanagh2951]

Bret had great rivalries in the 90s that seemed based on real, legitimate hate. His rivalries with Jerry Lawler was also one of my faves. Lawler made some legendary cracks about Helen and Stu lol

[@Gothy420]

@@manuelper it's sad the program went less than a year. I hated Canada for a long time because of wwf

[@Devypocalypse]

Favourite rivalry ever. Felt real as hell. The matches, the segments, the interviews, everything was 10/10 and intense. The fact they were good mates backstage shows how masterful at their craft they were. Best match ever at WM13 too. God imagine if Bret never left and what they could have done through the Attitude Era as a whole. God tier stuff.

[@only1icon1801]

There's an alternative universe I'm really fucking jealous of tbh 😂

[@polopopolo2197]

You just nailed it. It’s the realism that attracted us as fans. You actually felt these two are really going at it

[@reeseangle9621]

HBK vs Hart is the realest best rivalry ever

[@thepublichousebrandcom]

Vince shoulda let HBK go, and Bret couldve had gold matches with Austin, Rock, Waltman, HHH, Big Show, Angle, Jericho, etc...

[@xalba5245]

100% agreed, absolutely fantastic feud betweeen this 2 legends at their best, you,ve anything thats makes wrestling good (build up, promos, storytelling, and top matches, everything is high level) on this

[@lovelywaz]

Watching Bret being so proud to see Austin becoming THE guy and helping him to achieve it was just great. Bret called for some of the very important moves like Austin getting "colored", breaking fans' hearts to put back the Sharpshooter just when they thought Austin broke it and then the ultimate move to beat down the passed out "villain", it was all Bret Hart's calls after reading the live crowd and thinking on the fly what was best for business. 👌👌

[@xziggy_stardustx6786]

Austin was always gonna make it, but I don't think anybody else could've put him on the path to superstardom like Bret did. Once Austin caught fire there was no stopping him,

[@plonkersbro]

I remember in an interview Austin did that he said that the match he had at wrestlemania 13 with Bret made him "the guy" rather than winning the title at wrestlemania 14

[@user-wx4et7pd1d]

@@plonkersbro i agree he was the guy most of 97

[@stacyhamilton2619]

You mean color. Piper got "colored" at WrestleMania vs Bad News half Brown.

[@richardsmith9615]

@@user-wx4et7pd1d Definitely.

[@xziggy_stardustx6786]

This is my favourite feud of all time. Both guys brought so much to the table and they killed it on camera every time. It's almost poetic that the previous flag-bearer and greatest in-ring worker of all time broke the biggest star WWE ever had. Huge kudos have to go to both guys for creating such an enthralling rivalry.

[@Mathus1]

This was my favorite rivalry back when I was a kid.

[@FilmThePoliceFTP]

Same.I feel it didn’t ever get a good ending.

[@chrissymc886]

Mines was Jake vs addiction.

[@rickpowers3677]

I always liked the contrast between the 2. Bret mild mannered tactician. Austin loud, brash, brawler. The Midnight Express and the Road Warriors was not a double turn. The Midnight had been baby faces for a couple of months at that point when they fought against Arn and Tully for the tag titles. The Road Warriors had turn heel after turning against Sting in a 6-man a couple weeks prior to that match.

[@yoitsSmitty2004]

And Austin used to be a technical wrestler before the botched piledriver that fucked his neck up

[@aoisora1445]

tbh Austin was actually really good at wrestling in general as well, but after his injury he quickly adapted and switched to more brawling and less rolling around while doing it in a way that was still legit

[@42069LT]

Austin wasn't a brawler yet not until after Owen broke his neck

[@dominiquejones3805]

Heel Bret was where he shined

[@mattsharkey8437]

The rivalry that saved the WWE

[@baboracus]

AOL and Time Warner?

[@mattsharkey8437]

@@baboracus that's the dumbest comment of the day lol

[@mrkipling2201]

Austin was brilliant in the Hollywood Blondes as well. Him and Pillman took being put together as a tag team, when they weren't exactly happy about it, and made it work. In fact they did a lot more than just make it work. As for Bret Hart, when my friends were all fans of Hogan in the late 1980's, I was a fan of Bret.

[@falsedemocracy83]

Bret was by far my favorite wrestler in the 90's, but when I was a little kid in the 80's I remember one day I was wearing a Hogan shirt and one of my dad's friends asked if Hogan was my favorite wrestler? To which I replied, " no, I just don't have a Leo Burke shirt!" In the 80's in Nova Scotia, Leo Burke was the man!!

[@dominiquejones3805]

My first wrestling tape was WM5 I got from my uncle. U could see it n the tag match, Bret was ready. His mic work as a heel🔥

[@MilMaska]

"When I actually do it and take this lousy stinking hyena, Stone Cold Steve Austin and beat him to a bloody pull. You somehow find it in your hearths to abandon me and cheer for him" - Bret Hart

[@willjohnboy]

No jim the finish to the 96 survivor series match was a callback to the wrestlemania 8 match bret had with roddy piper I'm surprised Brian didn't catch onto that considering he's a bret hart fan and has mentioned and watched with Jim that match

[@gordonarmstrong2208]

This was so great to watch. And I love how much respect Hart and Austin have for one another, and the fact that they’re still friends now.

[@Blackflame24]

Me too. Bret is my favorite and Austin is right behind him. For people that say Steve Austin can’t wrestle, the fact that Bret Hart had come out and openly said he enjoyed every time he worked with him and has nothing but tremendous respect for Steve should tell you something. Bret takes the business seriously, and he doesn’t respect a whole lot of wrestlers outside his own family and inner circle. Outside of Steve, Undertaker, and Mr. Perfect, I could think of anyone else

[@gothard5]

I have been looking forward to listening to Jim review the most recent Rivals episodes with Bret, Shawn, and Austin because he was there working behind the scenes for both of them. he experienced both of these rivalries first hand.

[@jeremymcgill4053]

Bret also did that same roll up at Wrestlemania VIII against Piper as he had the sleeper on Bret and he used the turnbuckle kick off of and roll him up

[@iVtheDemonKnight]

I am shocked I had to scroll THIS FAR down to find this comment... I was watching that ppv live and as soon as Hart started walking up the ropes in the Million $ Dream, I yelled out "MANIA 8!!!!!!", lol... I just remember that ppv so clearly bc it was one of my favorite WRESTLEMANIAs

[@jeremymcgill4053]

@@iVtheDemonKnight it’s just crazy that so many don’t remember that match, as it was on of his greatest matches during his 2 runs with the intercontinental championship. Also include the fact that Piper put him over clean and he rarely ever did that for anyone.

[@ginoongsilvino]

Also the ring bell. Piper used it to become a babyface while Bret used it to become a heel.

[@FredBeatsdotcom]

My favorite feud ever , the best ever these guys knew what they were doing I still watch the old matches from this feud on Peacock 5 stars ... wrestling needs to do this again NOW!!!

[@adampatterson5475]

I wished we could of seen Austin vs pillman . rattlesnake vs lose cannon

[@8thaccount535]

"Pillman's Got A Gun" is one of my favorite episodes of Raw ever.

[@nixrob6145]

Austin introduces Brian Pillman Jr to WWE Universe

[@Weezy232]

Do another watch along. I know they did their Mania match. I’d love Jim and Brian to do Shawn and Taker mania 25

[@wray2real]

You know Jim Cornette is a legend when he makes the advertisement entertaining.

[@Hypno_BPM]

the montreal screw job and the curtain call were two huge butterfly effect moments in WWF history.

[@ryanstrong1167]

Wow. Very I sightful lmao😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@brandonjames7462]

"Ringmaster sucked but it was my foot in the door." One of my most favorite things Steve has ever said out of character.

[@AtownOriginal]

This video has been saved to my favorites purely for the manscaped ad at the end. Amazing.

[@I_Am_Hateful]

popcorn and a beer time boys

[@EViLGrEEn42090]

Awesome enough said about this rivalry. Shame we didn’t get more. But it was perfect.

[@tiyastiyas]

One of the greatest feuds in pure wrestling terms...great story line...great wrestling

[@philcollins7269]

SCSA is one guy Bret Hart has never had a bad word to say about.

[@soulofanerd9364]

41:57 The end of this manscape promo.....🤣🤣🤣🤣😭

[@kellyremple8982]

The only part I disagree with Jim on. The fans were NOT behind Steve by the end of the match. I was there. When Hart won the building erupted. It was when Bret a) kicked Austin when he was down, and b) when he backed down from Shamrock especially, the fans booed the shit out of him. But until the VERY end the fans were 80% with Hart.

[@brendanwilliams106]

I love this rivalry just for Austin's promos and interview segments 😅. The in studio interview in October '96 was incredible and the post rumble '97 raw clips I always go back to.

[@TheJoaniejoancansew]

I love this rival. I also liked Brett Hart and Jerry Lawler rival. And yes, Brian. Tele Savalis is cool not stunning. Austin was at the right place and the right time. Remember when The Kliq broke kayfabe? That messed Hunter and Shawn up, and opened opportunities for others

[@televiper11]

Jim nails everything that has gone down the tubes with wrestling since then.

[@leeberry689]

I barely watched WWE back then but I must admit, those promos Austin did leading up to their matches got my attention because they were flat out the best I've seen in awhile.

[@dominiquejones3805]

They really made u believe they hated each other come 2 find out they were cool

[@xalba5245]

Austin promos and interviews during the build up of their WM13 match are pure GOLD. Hilarious stuff but felt 100% real at the same time, Stone Cold talking trash and acting over aggressive during late 96- half 97 was over the top material, even better than later larger than life promos against Vince.

[@meekcheeks]

In my opinion, this is the best feud. It had everything. I'll never forget Stone Cold's black and white Surviver Series Promo to Bret. It's my favourite promo of all time. Bret's wrestling improved just when you couldn't think it could be improved. Love every bit of it

[@meekcheeks]

@hollaatmeross Pink tights...what the hell is that all about Bret? This ain't no Ballet class...what a load of crap!

[@JMDogg]

"It's 3:16, Bret! Time to whip your ass!"

[@tytv1937]

This is the only show in the world where you look forward to the commercials because Corny’s advertising chops are hilarious 😂😂😂

[@AKSourGod]

Lmfaoooo that manscape ad was WILD 36:00

[@mattc060793]

The Travelin' Man gimmick is a hilarious idea. Reminds me of the Randy Orton gimmick when he sent in updates about his injury recovery.

[@AmateurBarbarian]

I thought the rivalry between Bret and Steve was more realistic than Bret and Shawn, which is funny because Bret and Austin respected each other and Bret and Shawn had some real heat!

[@rgwebb5165]

Thing about WM13 is, the double turn wasnt complete until Bret attacked Steve after the match and powdered to Shamrock. When the bell rang to end the match, the crowd popped for Bret initially.

[@realkb21]

The ad that they did was fantastic! 10 out of 10

[@papboybrooklyn77]

I wished Brett would’ve stayed in WWF instead of going to WCW so him and Austin could’ve had a longer feud can you imagine these two at wrestlemania going for the heavyweight title either if it’s Brett or Austin, it would’ve been a great heavyweight title match at that time 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Partyboy22]

The butterfly effect from that would've been astounding. Bret staying would've resulted in feuds with Jericho, Angle, Guerrero and Benoit in his prime and prevented him from getting the concussion from Goldberg. It also would've prevented Owen's death and maybe they would've had a run with the Tag Team titles against the Hardyz, Dudleyz and Edge & Christian.

[@manuelper]

@@Partyboy22 Bret staying also doesn't (probably) create the Austin-McMahon feud so unless Turner was still adamant about selling WCW, it's possible WCW stays on top or doesn't fall that far behing and they stay in business. A lot of shit would've played out differently with Bret staying home.

[@Partyboy22]

@@manuelper Exactly. It really makes you think whether it was for the best that the Montreal Screwjob went down if you're a WWE fan.

[@chrischar9428]

Didn't have a choice

[@falsedemocracy83]

I knew people who didn't like wrestling and didn't watch wrestling but they had a poster of Stone Cold's bloody, screaming face on their wall. Truly an iconic image!

[@rccomics]

Jim singing lyrics to “Words” by Missing Persons is a DEEP cut.

[@jmi84]

So much a&e didn’t show. The ambulance part, the prt when Austin was in a wheelchair and challenged Bret to a wheelchair match. So much great stuff. Bret and Austin had one of the best rivalries of all time

[@Halbared]

That ad was one of the best. Hair on the tip. :D

[@Luke.S2099]

Lol, I just watched this, and the Shawn Michaels episode earlier. Always found it interesting to see Austin's look and character change so much between WCW and WWF.

[@tigerboy1966]

Have to listen to it all to hear the manscape ad section which is fin hilarious.

[@adamlane6453]

Trav pulls through once again,!!! This thumbnail art is effing BRILLIANT. Id buy and wear it if it were a shirt.

[@sergiodoordie319]

They highlighted the stone cold's face when he heard Brets music

[@marqueswilliams345]

Damn I wished these guys would’ve had a year long program

[@korubi_eCSTatic]

Imagine if Vince wouldn’t have reneged on Bret’s contract, and if Owen hadn’t broken Austin’s neck, shit would be bananas.

[@dominiquejones3805]

Wish Bret stayed and we got a WM match between the 2 where Austin got his win

[@dominiquejones3805]

​@@korubi_eCSTatic imagine if Vince didn't back off The Black Hart character on Owen. It writes itself

[@johnjedennett2206]

I live in the UK I'm so pissed that I don't get to see these A&E documentaries!!!

[@rgwebb5165]

They didn't wrestle often or for long so it wasn't as great a rivalry as it could have been. But the short program between Bret's return and WM13 was legendary. Stone Cold vs Bret at WM14 would have been a fantastic payoff after having lost to Bret twice and getting hurt by Owen.

[@maxxdahl6062]

It was short but it was memorable as hell.

[@gunnarjordan6980]

My all time fave rivalry is Austin vs Bret Hart (& the Hart Foundation)!! It was pure magic! The BEST story telling in a d out of the ring ever!

[@aktatiracanal]

The term "character" is used in wrestling or sports entertainment. Bret Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin aren't characters. They aren't pretending to be something. They're genuine. They're both badasses and that's what resonated in the documentary. I imagine if a fan had jumped in the ring at that time during one of their matches, that person would be screaming for help because Stone Cold or Bret would be beating the hell out of them for fun.

[@johndavis48076]

I always prefer how some wrestlers say that who they are in ring is themselves pushed to 11.

[@dominiquejones3805]

They just amped up their personalities. Heel Bret was definitely coming from a genuine place

[@johnjagodzinski9878]

I love it "Traveling Man" cause I like being on vacation 😅😅😅

[@n8doggy733]

honestly, this was the best. better than Bret and Shawn or The Rock snd Stone Cold, this was the ONE in the 90's. These two guys actually resepected each other a lot, but it felt so epic and real when they faught. Kudos to both for putting on great performances.

[@drewstar8611]

I was 11/12 when I saw this feud and I honestly believed these 2 wanted to kill each other. Amazing rivalry!!

[@PREEM513]

One of the best rivalries hands down. Bret brought out the best in Steve.

[@TheDukeofMadness]

Bret Hart truly is the best there was, is and will be. He loves wrestling and was absolutely selfless in getting Steve Austin over.

[@jring49]

The match between Brett and stone cold at WrestleMania was probably my favorite match of all time. But a lot of people forget about that match at Survivor Series in 96. That match was just as good in my opinion

[@iVtheDemonKnight]

Jim, the Survivor Series Austin/Bret match, it may have ended like Stasiak & Morales, but the very second I saw how it ended, as I watched it live, I knew immediately it was the same as the end of the WRESTLEMANIA VIII Match between Hart vs Piper. Same finish.

[@LennyWu]

Died into laughter with the nose hairs 😂

[@SuRoFo]

10:28 IMO Austin would've gotten made regardless because Bret handpicked him for his comeback program which is what put him over, and Austin wasn't doing anything significant post KOTR anyway. However without KOTR there's probably no Austin 3:16 and Austin loses a massive marketing element.

[@Captain_Insano_nomercy]

It's crazy to speculate on because it comes down to one singular moment, however I think you're probably correct. I don't see Triple H magically becoming That Guy instead

[@HuntsDown]

I watched the Survior series match last night and I never knew that Steve Austin was so good at selling. I only ever saw Stone Cold as a kid

[@wray2real]

This was the greatest rivalry if all time to me because my best friend was a die hard Brett Hart fan and I was all about Steve Austin because I became a fan since his Stunning Steve Austin days.

[@jordan23912]

The Survivor Series finish was like Piper/Hart from Wrestlemania

[@benespinosa6725]

This was an amazing Episode of WWE Rival stone Cold Steve Austin Vs Bret Hart is my favorite Feud especially when Austin Challenged Bret on WWF Superstars to a match at Survivor series 1996 that was great their Match at Wrestlemania 13 and Revenge at the Taker in April 1997 was awesome this was a great episode.

[@williammitchell4417]

Bruce and Conrad had a Deep Dive about Steve. Even up to when Steve left the company.

[@benespinosa6725]

​@William Mitchell I was just listening to that episode a few days ago that podcast is awesome

[@garyhen2028]

Wakes up screaming and pissing the bed! That should be gargoyles new t shirt. Lol

[@AbdulAhad-wy3hi]

Their street fight at RAW is the most memorable to me The agony Austin put Bret in using Bret's own move (even stone cold used to put reasonable sharpshooter) For months he actually used wheelchair and walking sticks - only after full fall down of Kayfabe and autobiographies we know it was all work for Bret to actually get his knee operated Best rivalry ever for me

[@garyhall2770]

One if my favorite things about Brett vs Steve at Mania was the fan (when the action was in the stands) was able to rub both wrestlers heads.

[@danielwestwood]

One of my favourite promo's from Austin during this rivalry was "If you put the letter S in front of Hitman, you'd have my exact opinion of Bret Hart".

[@Hypno_BPM]

can someone tell me where these rival shows stream online ? peacock ?

[@IronDiva]

A&E

[@arjuken8]

28:24 His finisher was literally a submission - Million dollar dream

[@cash5627]

Lol Austin's nose hair best Segway into a sponsor and dog gone what a pitch I'm dying laughing

[@mindlessdroid3630]

The commercial endorsements on these clips are better than most pod cast contents 😂😂😂😂😂

[@grandpajoe91]

Two of the best match up matches

[@TravisTLCdrumming]

I’m only here for the arbitrary On Her Majesty’s Secret Service Blofeld reference.

[@pizzatime3421]

Jim is 100 percent right I literally shave because when I’m chilling at night watching KZbin it’s itchy I hate it. 😂

[@fatsexy1978]

Why is it that I hated when Brett Hart was champion? Now that I reflect, Brett was and is the excellence of execution.

[@WickedCool23]

Here’s a question, would it work in reverse? Like if Austin kept his hair, could he still embody the Stone Cold character?

[@dominiquejones3805]

This feud felt so real

[@chroniclesofnigeria1358]

Jim is getting his 4 pillar PPV

[@Justin-AL]

Eh we all knew that

[@wjl2068]

2:30 had me dying

[@shawnwhitman5482]

There will never be another Austin, Bret, Undertaker, Foley, Funk, Stevie Richards,ECT

[@jeffreygunn3150]

Best segue to an ad ever! 😅

[@russellshort810]

I'm bald and that comment was funny as hell

[@ScarletDuke]

Everything about the rivalries and analyzing about it was great but I always crack up during the ad segments when Jim is going completely off course and Brian has to reel him in.

[@SuRoFo]

22:50 The finish to the Survivor Series match was a callback to the finish of Bret's match with Piper at Wrestlemania. Piper/Austin had Bret in the sleeper, and Bret kicks off the turnbuckles to fall back on Piper/Austin to pin them since they were wrapped up in their own hold. It has been paid homage by other wrestlers since then.

[@nickash-crisler5773]

Bret recycled finishers a lot. He beat Bigelow with a victory roll at KOTR, then had it backfire when he tried it on Owen at WM10. He and Shawn had a Title match where HBK hit several top rope hurracanranas before Bret avoided it and caught him in the Sharpshooter. They used that same spot to end regulation in the Ironman Match at WM12.

[@devangpatel5227]

@@nickash-crisler5773 agreed. i thought the wrestlemania 12 spot was genius, bc bret kept saying in the run up to the match that you jus thave to wait for shawn to make a mistake. Shawn made the mistake out of desperation and bret caught him. Except this time, time ran out.

[@phenompy]

12:20 Man this really sounds exactly like what it's happening to LA Knight right now.

[@Jtaylor812]

I was such a Bret Hart fan in 97, I thought Shamrock was a heel for slamming Bret off of Austin.

[@JCD489]

I never really understood that Bret was a heel at the time. I 100% thought the American fans were the heels lol 😂

[@StephenJericho2203]

Bret Hart v Steve Austin from WM13 is still the best match WWF ever had to me, as good as HBK v Taker is from WM25, it can't touch this

[@metalanarchy5186]

In terms of straight wrestling this is one of if not my faviorte rivalry of alltime the Undertaker and Mankind was great to Cactus Jack and Vader DDP and Savage Austin and Vince Steamboat Flair there were so many great ones even Hart Michales but those were just of few of my faviortes that come to mind