7 Biggest WrestleMania rises and falls from year to year

WrestleMania Rise: Steve Austin

Steve Austin

WrestleMania XII-WrestleMania 13

Steve Austin deserves a place on the Mount Rushmore of the WWE, but his career in the company didn't start with such promise.

Austin debuted as The Ringmaster in late 1995 with Ted Dibiase as his manager and was even given the Million Dollar Championship to boot.

At Wrestlemania 12 in 1996, Austin defeated Savio Vega. While the match was solid, it was a far cry from what would be in store for Austin at the following year’s event- a Submission Match against Bret Hart.

Steve Austin faced Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13 in a Submission Match

By March of 1997, “The Ringmaster” was gone, and “Stone Cold” was undeniably here to stay.

Austin’s match with Hart is arguably one of the best matches in WrestleMania history. Not only was the in-ring work top-notch, but it was also notable for being the final step in turning Austin into the anti-hero babyface that would catapult his career to the next level. It also provided the unforgettable visual of Austin “bleeding like a stuck pig” while in the Sharpshooter but never giving up.

Austin was a made man following WrestleMania 13. His momentum would reach a crescendo at the following WrestleMania in 1998 when he became the WWF Champion for the first time.