Steve Austin Breaks Silence on WWE Hall of Fame Match Induction

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin has stomped plenty of mudholes in WWE rings, but now one of his most iconic battles is getting Hall of Fame recognition—and he’s finally speaking on it.

WWE rocked fans on March 28 by launching a new Hall of Fame wing called Immortal Moments, with the legendary WrestleMania 13 match between Steve Austin and Bret Hart as the very first induction. The 1997 classic is still considered one of the greatest double turns in wrestling history, and now, nearly three decades later, it’s finally getting its due.

Austin was asked about the honor during a recent autograph signing with American Icon Autographs—and true to form, the Texas Rattlesnake gave a straight-up answer. “Yes and no,” he began. “It was a hell of a match and we knew it at the time. I think it was good that it was in Chicago because Chicago is kind of a stronghold for me, but it would’ve worked anywhere with the fact that it happened with Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart.”

The WWE Hall of Famer also hinted that there’s more to the story than fans know. “There’s a couple behind-the-scenes stories that I don’t want to talk about, but it was a hell of a match and it’s cool for people to still remember it damn near 30 years later.”

Still, Austin made it clear the fans are the reason this match lives on. “Yeah, it means something to me because if it wasn’t for the fans, I wouldn’t be sitting here. So, the fact that match is relevant and it’s going into 2025 Hall of Fame for matches—and it’s the first match to be inducted—cool.”

When asked if there was another match he’d personally nominate to go in first, Austin didn’t hold back. “Man, I had a hell of a barn burner with Steamboat, 30-minute broadway at the LA Forum 100 years ago but there was nobody filming it… god damn it was a good match.”

He also threw in some love for his trilogy with The Rock: “I always liked Rock and Austin at 17 in Houston at the Astrodome because we were cooking and that’s one of the best WrestleManias of all time. Everybody got off that night.” Austin even brought up his match with Owen Hart—yes, that match. “I always enjoyed that match with Owen Hart before I got dropped on my head… but we were having a damn good match up until that point.”

And just in case anyone thought Austin was all nostalgia and glory, he kept it honest. “There’s some ones where we completely shit the bed,” he said with a smirk.

With Triple H, Michelle McCool, Lex Luger, and The Natural Disasters already announced for the Class of 2025, the Immortal Moments wing just got a hell of a headliner—and fans are here for it.

Do you think Austin vs. Hart at WrestleMania 13 deserves to be the first inducted match? Or should another one of Stone Cold’s classics have gone in first? Sound off in the comments—we want to hear from you.