Best Stone Cold match from 98/99?

[mcstoklasa]

The consensus on Austin is he was a great worker before the 97 neck injury and after that he had to change his style and become a brawler, but never again really reached the heights of his in ring work before the neck injury.

Those that know their wrestling will know that post neck surgery Austin actually had a banner year in the ring from his late 2000 return to the end of 2001, as rejuvenated from surgery, he was able to go all out.

However what were you favourite Austin matches from his time on top in 98/99? I know he was a little more limited, and although it was a lot of brawling, it did fit his character well.

I just watched a Rock Austin 1998 championship match on RAW and sure it's mostly a lot of punches and brawling, but Austin was still pretty quick and flying and brawling around the ring. I still enjoy his matches from that era.

Anyway my picks are

Rock Mania and Backlash 1999
The two Dude Love matches 1998
Kane championship match on RAW 1998
Vince cage match 1999
Triple H No mercy 1999

And probably at least one of his multiple matches Vs Taker was half decent

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

Actually I think Austin's chemistry with Big White Evil was f***ing atrocious

I came in to basically post the Dude Love matches, Austin and Mick had killer chemistry

Outside of that I guess the WMXV main event, and I remember liking the triple threat from Summerslam

[mcstoklasa]

Mar 18, 2024 12:45:11 GMT -5 "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay said:

Actually I think Austin's chemistry with Big White Evil was f***ing atrocious

I came in to basically post the Dude Love matches, Austin and Mick had killer chemistry

Outside of that I guess the WMXV main event, and I remember liking the triple threat from Summerslam

Haha that's why I didn't name a Taker match and said surely ONE of their matches was half decent. Actually their 98/99 efforts were better than that 2002 Backlash one. Yeeeesh.


Yes the triple threat was terrific actually.

[4real]

The Dude Love match from Over The Edge 98 was the first one I thought of. Such a fun match.

Vs The Rock at Backlash 99 is awesome too and the triple threat with Mankind & HHH at Summerslam that year.

[Doo Doo is Worse Than WCW 2000]

Over the Edge vs. Dude Love, which may also be Vince's greatest performance IMO.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

I'd go with his Backlash match against the Rock. It is crazy how he had many better matches though in 2001 post surgery.

[Lizuka #BLM]

It's not anything great but I always kind of had a soft spot for the Taker / Austin First Blood match for some reason.

[repomark]

Love the Over the Edge match with Dude Love. Truly excellent bit of business with everyone playing their roles perfectly.

[Citizen Snips Has Left]

Mar 18, 2024 14:24:40 GMT -5 "Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik said:

I'd go with his Backlash match against the Rock. It is crazy how he had many better matches though in 2001 post surgery.

It’s weird to think about how short Austin’s peak was. After the initial neck injury, he had 2 years between Survivor Series 97-99, took another year off for surgery, came back in late 2000 and was gone in spring 2002 (with really not much of note happening after the InVasion wrapped up). He was really only around for 3 years after his first WWF Title win.

[Wardlow on Wardlow 54]

I liked the Undertaker match on Raw the night after King of the Ring 99. Admittedly, it wasn't much, but as a kid, it was pretty cool, plus my parents let me stay up to see it at a time when my mom, in particular, hated wrestling.

The cage match with Vince was great, plus my Nana managed to talk my mother into letting me watch it when I was supposed to be grounded lol

The Over the Edge match with Dude Love and the Backlash match with The Rock are most likely the "correct" answers, however. Both relied on a lot of bells and whistles, as was the standard for Austin matches at the time, but they were great outings that hid his physical limitations and still put on a show.

[fw91]

Mar 18, 2024 14:23:35 GMT -5 Doo Doo is Worse Than WCW 2000 said:

Over the Edge vs. Dude Love, which may also be Vince's greatest performance IMO.

The ring introductions for Vince, Briscoe and Patterson as well as Lawler's commentary were hilarious. A rare Russo(I'm assuming) hit.

[Renslayer]

Over the edge '98 might be the best match of the late 90s

[Andee9001]

I always enjoyed his Mania 15 match against Rock. Just a fun, wild brawl. I know i'm in the minority but i always enjoyed this better than the WM17 bout (the ending ruins it for me.)

The best Austin v Taker match was probably Summerslam 98 but even then Austin gets concussed early on so it was never going to get past a certain level.

[Duke Cameron]

The matches against Dude Love.

[mcstoklasa]

Mar 18, 2024 15:43:03 GMT -5 Citizen Snips Has Left said:

Mar 18, 2024 14:24:40 GMT -5 "Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik said:

I'd go with his Backlash match against the Rock. It is crazy how he had many better matches though in 2001 post surgery.

It’s weird to think about how short Austin’s peak was. After the initial neck injury, he had 2 years between Survivor Series 97-99, took another year off for surgery, came back in late 2000 and was gone in spring 2002 (with really not much of note happening after the InVasion wrapped up). He was really only around for 3 years after his first WWF Title win.

It's mind-blowing when you think how long guys like Miz, Sheamus, Rollins etc have been around for so much longer. Obviously never reached his heights.

[J. Hova]

Mar 18, 2024 18:44:13 GMT -5 Andee9001 said:

I always enjoyed his Mania 15 match against Rock. Just a fun, wild brawl. I know i'm in the minority but i always enjoyed this better than the WM17 bout (the ending ruins it for me.)

The best Austin v Taker match was probably Summerslam 98 but even then Austin gets concussed early on so it was never going to get past a certain level.

I think the SS match is also where Austin damn near tore Taker's ear off with one of his leg braces doing the over the rope throat choke spot.

[J. Hova]

Count me in for Over The Edge with Mick.

[Some Guy]

Mar 18, 2024 19:41:38 GMT -5 mcstoklasa said:

Mar 18, 2024 15:43:03 GMT -5 Citizen Snips Has Left said:

It’s weird to think about how short Austin’s peak was. After the initial neck injury, he had 2 years between Survivor Series 97-99, took another year off for surgery, came back in late 2000 and was gone in spring 2002 (with really not much of note happening after the InVasion wrapped up). He was really only around for 3 years after his first WWF Title win.

It's mind-blowing when you think how long guys like Miz, Sheamus, Rollins etc have been around for so much longer. Obviously never reached his heights.

If you want to imply a more strict timeline, the time between his first title win at Mania 14 and his last title loss at Vengeance 2001 is only 35 days longer than Roman's Universal title reign (presuming he loses at Mania).

[mcstoklasa]

Mar 18, 2024 20:49:03 GMT -5 J. Hova said:

Mar 18, 2024 18:44:13 GMT -5 Andee9001 said:

I always enjoyed his Mania 15 match against Rock. Just a fun, wild brawl. I know i'm in the minority but i always enjoyed this better than the WM17 bout (the ending ruins it for me.)

The best Austin v Taker match was probably Summerslam 98 but even then Austin gets concussed early on so it was never going to get past a certain level.

I think the SS match is also where Austin damn near tore Taker's ear off with one of his leg braces doing the over the rope throat choke spot.

I think that was 2001 Insurextion and Austin's gold knew brace cut Takers ear

[mcstoklasa]

Mar 18, 2024 20:52:41 GMT -5 Some Guy said:

Mar 18, 2024 19:41:38 GMT -5 mcstoklasa said:

It's mind-blowing when you think how long guys like Miz, Sheamus, Rollins etc have been around for so much longer. Obviously never reached his heights.

If you want to imply a more strict timeline, the time between his first title win at Mania 14 and his last title loss at Vengeance 2001 is only 35 days longer than Roman's Universal title reign (presuming he loses at Mania).

Man why did Owen have to drop to his ass with that stupid reckless piledriver. And why did he even do a tombstone anyway when it was one of their biggest superstars finish? And I've seen Owen hit the safer knee rather than ass version in WWF too. I always felt a bit robbed. We could have had Austin to about 2009.