Stone Cold Steve Austin has faced some of the biggest names in WWE history, but when it comes to making professional wrestling look and feel real, he believes nobody did it better than Bret “The Hitman” Hart. The WWE Hall of Famer had nothing but praise for his former rival, explaining why Hart’s wrestling style remains in a league of its own.
During an appearance on The Wrestling Classic, Austin was asked about his legendary rivalry with Hart, particularly their unforgettable submission match at WrestleMania 13. The question brought back memories of one of the most important periods of Austin’s career, and he made it clear that Hart’s influence went far beyond what happened inside the ring.
Austin explained that Hart recognized his potential while he was still competing in WCW. When Hart returned from knee surgery in 1996, he specifically wanted to work with Austin, leading to a memorable match at Madison Square Garden. Their rivalry eventually produced the WrestleMania 13 classic that helped transform Austin into one of WWE’s biggest stars. While reflecting on their time together, Austin became emotional and admitted that Hart played a major role in his success.
“Bret Hart means the world to me and man, that’s almost got me emotional.”
Austin then recalled how Hart saw something in him before he became a household name, believing their different wrestling styles could produce great matches and compelling stories.
“Bret and I were very close. He saw me coming up when I was in WCW. He knew that I was the guy that he could work with and we could make money together and tell great stories and he was correct. When he come back from the getting his knee cleaned up in 1996, he picked me to work with at Madison Square Garden and we had an old school classic match and it was off the charts.”
But Austin’s praise didn’t stop with Hart helping his career. He turned his attention to the technical side of professional wrestling, explaining that Hart possessed a level of realism that separated him from other performers. Austin acknowledged that he appreciates wrestlers with different styles, but when it comes to believable action, athleticism and intensity, he considers Hart the standard.
“When you think of realism in the business of professional wrestling and sports entertainment, it don’t get any better than Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart. I like a lot of other guys with a lot of different styles, but if you want realism, determination, grit and an athletic presentation, it doesn’t get any better than him.”
Austin continued by making it clear that his admiration for Hart isn’t limited to his wrestling ability. Their years of working together created a personal bond built on mutual respect, and Austin has no problem acknowledging just how much he owes the former WWE Champion.
“I love the guy. I respect him. We wrestled all over the world and we have a mutual respect for each other. Bret Hart helped make Stone Cold in the largest degree possible.”
That respect has gone both ways for years. Hart previously expressed his support for Austin’s WWE return at WrestleMania 38, while their WrestleMania 13 submission match eventually received recognition as the first match inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2025.
For Austin, there is no separating his rise to superstardom from the opportunities Hart helped create. While WWE gave him the platform to succeed, Austin believes Hart was responsible for putting him on the map when it mattered most. And decades after their famous rivalry, he still considers The Hitman’s ability to bring realism to professional wrestling unmatched.
Do you agree with Steve Austin that Bret Hart set the standard for realism in professional wrestling, or do you think another wrestler deserves that distinction? Let us know your thoughts and leave your feedback in the comments below.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
