The history of Steve Austin at WrestleMania created some of the most beloved matches in WWE history. A standard with WWE booking throughout the years is that they always tried to showcase the biggest stars in important matches at WrestleMania. Austin found his way in ten matches as a competitor or a special guest referee after retirement.
We will look back at all the matches to involve Stone Cold at the biggest event of the year. The best ones changed WWE forever as it set the foundation for the company’s future. Unfortunately, Austin would have a few stinkers associated with his WM record as well. Find out just how the track record of Stone Cold was at the most important event. These are all the WrestleMania matches from Steve Austin, officially ranked.
10 Jerry Lawler vs Michael Cole With Steve Austin as guest referee (WrestleMania 27)
The worst WrestleMania match involving Steve Austin came at WrestleMania 27, when he was the guest referee for a match between broadcasters Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler. Cole was playing a heel character with Lawler finally getting a chance for revenge.
WWE did a horrible job booking this card, as Cole vs Lawler was one of the longest matches of the night. Fans strongly disliked the match as Lawler scored a victory before the Raw Anonymous General Manager reversed the decision. Austin hitting everyone with stunners after the match was the only positive memory.
9 Goldberg vs Brock Lesnar w/ Steve Austin as guest referee (WrestleMania 20)
Another horrible match Steve Austin would serve as the guest referee for featured Goldberg vs Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 20. WWE booked the match as an attraction between the two most dominant forces on the entire roster.
Unfortunately, both men would make the decision to leave the company after this date and fans found out. Madison Square Garden heckled the match as neither wrestle could get into a groove. Austin stunning them once again was the only saving grace.
8 Umaga vs Bobby Lashley w/ Steve Austin as guest referee (WrestleMania 23)
The one slightly tolerable match officiated by Steve Austin came at WrestleMania 23. Austin was the guest referee for the battle of the billionaires’ match between Umaga and Bobby Lashley. Umaga represented Vince McMahon and Lashley represented Donald Trump with both billionaires putting their hair on the line.
The match was solid with Lashley scoring the win for Trump. McMahon was forced to shave his head in the aftermath as Austin hit stunners on both billionaires for good measure. None of the matches Austin officiated were in the same league as the Wrestlemania matches he actually fought in.
7 Steve Austin vs Scott Hall (WrestleMania 18)
The only bad singles match from Steve Austin at WrestleMania came at WrestleMania 18 against Scott Hall. WWE brought in the New World Order with attraction matches of Austin vs Hall and The Rock vs Hulk Hogan as two of the three main events.
Rock and Hogan had an all-time great match, but Austin and Hall unfortunately disappointed. Hall was not in the best shape at the time leading to him failing to live up to expectations. Austin also seemed to be checked out as 2002 was his worst year in WWE.
6 Steve Austin vs The Rock (WrestleMania 15)
The first of three matches between Steve Austin and The Rock at WrestleMania came in the main event of WrestleMania 15. Vince McMahon handpicked Rock as the man to lead The Corporation faction and helped him win the WWE Championship.
Austin climbed his way back up the title picture to get his shot at WrestleMania 15. The match was highly entertaining with Austin coming out on top. Rock would see his standing in the company rise after his first WM main event went well.
5 Steve Austin vs Savio Vega (WrestleMania 12)
An underrated good match in Steve Austin’s career came at WrestleMania 12 against Savio Vega. It was the feud with Vega that helped WWE realize Austin’s potential was stronger than they realized. Austin and Vega always had fun matches together in various scenarios.
WrestleMania 12 was the biggest show for their rivalry, and they delivered another strong performance. The show was dominated by the Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels Iron Man match, but Austin and Vega had a great undercard bout to add to the show depth.
4 Steve Austin vs The Rock (WrestleMania 19)
Steve Austin’s final WWE match allowed him to go out in grand fashion facing off against his top rival on the big stage of WrestleMania. The Rock was playing the Hollywood heel version of his character when coming back from Hollywood.
Austin was at the end of the road, with his neck issues resurfacing and adding a huge risk to wrestling more matches. WrestleMania 19 was the stage for their third and final Wrestlemania match together. Rock finally won against Austin in an exciting duel that saw them stealing each other’s finishers.
3 Steve Austin vs Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 14)
The crowning moment for Steve Austin in WWE came at WrestleMania 14 in his first WM main event. Austin challenged top heel Shawn Michaels for the WWE Championship after dominating the year’s Royal Rumble match months earlier.
The addition of Mike Tyson as the special enforcer made this program must-see television for the tension between Austin and Tyson. Fans would be overjoyed when Austin defeated Michaels in a very entertaining match to win the WWE Championship for the first time. Tyson counting the pin and raising Austin’s hand immortalized the moment.
2 Steve Austin vs The Rock (WrestleMania 17)
Many WWE fans consider the match between Steve Austin and The Rock at WrestleMania 17 the biggest attraction in company history. Both men were red hot at their peak helping break ratings records as the two faces of the Attitude Era.
Austin and Rock worked a tremendous match in front of a loud crowd. The match went back and forth with every move feeling like it held great significance. This felt like the wrestling version of the Super Bowl or Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Austin won with a shocking heel turn, when Vince McMahon helped him beat Rock to win the WWE Championship.
1 Steve Austin vs Bret Hart (WrestleMania 13)
The match that cemented Steve Austin as a top superstar in WWE came at WrestleMania 13 against Bret Hart. Austin had a stellar performance months earlier against Hart at Survivor Series 1996 to start a feud between the two giving him his first chance in the main event picture.
A few canceled plans would see Austin and Hart face off against at WrestleMania 13 in a submission match. It was a work of art with the bloody results leading to a double turn of fans now loving Austin and hating Hart. Despite the fact that Bret won the match, Austin had a star-making performance that elevated him to the top of WWE.