“Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s greatest WWE matches are the ones that changed his story as much as they tested him in the ring: his submission war with Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13, his title win over Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XIV, and his three very different WrestleMania battles with The Rock. This ranking weighs stakes, finish, rivalry context and career impact—not a universal score or claim that one wrestling style is objectively best.
1. Bret Hart vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin — WrestleMania 13
Why it stands out
The Submission Match between Hart and Austin on March 23, 1997, in Rosemont, Illinois, lasted 22:04, according to WWE’s WrestleMania retrospective. Hart trapped Austin in the Sharpshooter, but Austin refused to submit and eventually passed out. Special guest referee Ken Shamrock stopped the match.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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WWE: WrestleMania 39 | $20.45 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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WWE: Smackdown 20th Anniversary (DVD) | $16.37 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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WWE: Wrestling's Greatest Factions | $14.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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WWE: Legends of Mid-South Wrestling | $24.94 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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WWE: Greatest Stars of the '90s | $9.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The finish made the result more than a loss for Austin: his refusal to give in helped define him as a relentless antihero, while Hart and Austin began moving in opposite directions with the crowd. WWE’s retrospective calls it a defining career moment. In a WWE feature, The Miz summed up the impact this way: “It took him a long time to build to that moment, but he broke out, and WWE was never the same again.”
2. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels — WrestleMania XIV
A championship win that changed Austin’s standing
Austin challenged Michaels for the WWE Championship on March 29, 1998, with Mike Tyson serving as special enforcer. After the referee was knocked out, Austin hit Michaels with a Stunner; Tyson made the three-count. WWE’s WrestleMania XIV retrospective presents the win as a defining title milestone: Austin left the main event as WWE Champion.
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The match belongs on this list for what the result established. Austin had reached the top of the company in a high-profile WrestleMania main event, giving his rebellious character a championship platform.
3. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. The Rock — WrestleMania X-Seven
A great rivalry takes a shocking turn
Austin and The Rock met for the WWE Championship in a No-Disqualification main event on April 1, 2001, in Houston. WWE records the match time as 28:07. Austin won after joining forces with Mr. McMahon, a startling betrayal of the anti-authority identity that had made him a fan favorite. The WWE event retrospective says almost 70,000 fans attended.
The match’s importance rests on the collision between an intense title fight and its unexpected finish. Austin later told WWE that the contest before the turn was “easily one of the greatest contests I’ve ever been a part of, and the best WrestleMania battle The Rock and I ever fought, bar none.”
A separate WWE corporate release reported attendance of 67,925 for WrestleMania 17. The same 2008 release called it WWE’s highest-grossing live event at that time; that is a historical description, not a current ranking.
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Rank #3
- Factory sealed DVD
4. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. The Rock — WrestleMania XV
The rivalry’s first WrestleMania meeting
The Rock defended the WWE Championship against Austin in a No-Disqualification Match on March 28, 1999. Austin won after Mr. McMahon’s attempt to interfere failed. WWE’s retrospective on their WrestleMania rivalry treats the bout as a major chapter in one of the event’s greatest rivalries.
This first WrestleMania meeting set the template for their later clashes: a championship at stake, two contrasting stars, and McMahon’s presence complicating Austin’s path to victory.
Rank #4
- Factory sealed DVD
5. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. The Rock — WrestleMania XIX
A final chapter for the rivalry
Austin and The Rock met again on March 30, 2003, in what WWE’s Steve Austin profile identifies as the final match in their illustrious careers. The bout earns its place for that closing significance: unlike the earlier WrestleMania encounters, this one brought their in-ring rivalry to an end.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.6. Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin — King of the Ring 1996
A tournament final attached to a career-defining promo
Austin defeated Roberts in the King of the Ring tournament final on June 23, 1996. WWE’s Austin profile and its King of the Ring 1996 coverage connect the victory with Austin’s “Austin 3:16” speech, a moment that helped launch his rise. The match and the promo belong together in the story, but the speech itself was not part of the match.
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- Factory sealed DVD
How to choose a starting point
For a match that shows Austin’s character changing in the ring, start with WrestleMania 13. For his breakthrough championship milestone, choose WrestleMania XIV. For the most consequential Austin–Rock clash, watch WrestleMania X-Seven; for the rivalry’s first and final WrestleMania chapters, compare XV and XIX.
WWE’s WrestleMania 13 event page includes a “Where to watch” section, but availability depends on region and can change. Check the official page for your country before planning to stream. WWE’s Steve Austin DVD page describes a career retrospective and lists the King of the Ring 1996 final and WrestleMania 13 Submission Match among its extras; check a seller’s exact edition and contents before purchasing.
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