5 Best Wrestling Matches of 1996

3. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin – Survivor Series 1996

Two legends squaring off for the first time

This was Bret Hart’s return match after an eight-month hiatus. Austin had spent months taunting Hart, claiming to be the new top star in the company. As a result, these two fantastic wrestlers clashed at Survivor Series with the goal of proving who was the better wrestler.

Any claim that Bret had ring rust was thrown out the window within the first few minutes. Bret still showed the same technical precision and perfect timing that had defined his career before his hiatus. However, Austin told a great story of being the more prepared wrestler because he was wrestling full-time.

Vince McMahon described this match perfectly as a ‘see-saw’ match, because the momentum and control shifted back-and-forth between Hart and Austin several times. Austin tried several different moves to try and put Bret away, including a flapjack into the ropes, a Texas Cloverleaf, and even a Bow & Arrow submission hold to try and beat Hart at his own game.

But Hart wouldn’t be denied as he kept digging down and kicking out of Austin’s biggest moves. This culminated in Bret pinning Austin while Austin had Bret locked in the Million Dollar Dream, which was yet another example of Bret’s perfect knowledge of ring psychology.

Although most people think their encounter six months later is the better encounter between them, this one is great in its own right and should be watched by anyone that considers themselves a fan of either wrestler.