Steve Austin is one of the greatest wrestlers to grace a WWE ring. The Texas Rattlesnake sustained a career-threatening neck injury at SummerSlam 1997 which unfortunately shortened his career. Nevertheless, the six-time WWE Champion featured in prominent matches at WrestleMania, and Austin became the second man after Hulk Hogan to win three WWE Championships at WrestleMania, which is a remarkable achievement.
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Austin's final wrestling match was at WrestleMania 19, but 19 years later, he came out of retirement to main event night one of WrestleMania 38. Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer has followed Austin's wrestling career for many years and he has given some generous and harsh ratings on Austin's matches at WrestleMania.
8 Steve Austin Vs. Scott Hall - WrestleMania 18 (1 Star)
Steve Austin clashed with the nWo's Scott Hall at WrestleMania 18, and it was an underwhelming wrestling match. Hall was a shadow of his former self which was a shame considering how well the four-time Intercontinental Champion operated in the past.
Kevin Nash was in Hall's corner, and he didn't hesitate to interfere whenever he saw fit. Hall stole Austin's Stunner, but he was unable to put him away with Austin defeating Hall with multiple Stunners in Hall's final WrestleMania match.
7 Steve Austin Vs. Savio Vega - WrestleMania 12 (2 Stars)
Steve Austin made his WrestleMania debut at WrestleMania 12 and he was pitted against Savio Vega. Vega was one of Austin's best rivals in the early stages of his WWE career, and they had a decent match.
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Austin was in control of large portions of the bout but Vega managed to get his way back into the match. Nevertheless, Austin's legendary WrestleMania got off to a winning start as he put Vega away with the Million Dollar Dream.
6 Steve Austin Vs. Shawn Michaels - WrestleMania 14 (3.25 Stars)
Steve Austin won the Royal Rumble match for the second year in succession in 1998, and he challenged an ailing Shawn Michaels for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 14. It was the Texas Rattlesnake's first appearance in a WrestleMania main event.
The Heartbreak Kid was unable to bring out his best as he was in an insurmountable amount of pain with a career-threatening back injury. Despite Michaels' efforts, he did the job with Austin connecting with the Stunner, and the Austin Era began as he captured his maiden WWE Championship with Mike Tyson counting Michaels' shoulders down.
5 Steve Austin Vs. Kevin Owens - WrestleMania 38 Saturday (3.5 Stars)
With WrestleMania 38 Saturday taking place in Steve Austin's home state of Texas, it was a no-brainer for Austin to headline WrestleMania. The WWE Hall of Famer competed in his first WrestleMania main event in 21 years, and his first match in 19 years against Kevin Owens in a No Holds Barred match.
Austin performed exceptionally well considering he hadn't wrestled for close to two decades. KO didn't go easy on Austin as he suplexed him onto the concrete floor. The pair had an entertaining match with Austin seeing off the former Universal Champion.
4 Steve Austin Vs. The Rock - WrestleMania 15 (3.5 Stars)
The legendary WrestleMania trilogy between Steve Austin and The Rock got underway at WrestleMania 15 with Austin challenging the Corporate Champion for the WWE Championship in the main event. This bout doesn't get a lot of love compared to their other two WrestleMania outings, but it was still an excellent wrestling match.
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Rock and Austin took their fight to the outside of the ring, and Rock was close to retaining the WWE Championship. Ultimately, Austin secured the WWE Championship for the third time after he saw off The Rock with his patented Stunner.
3 Steve Austin Vs. The Rock - WrestleMania 19 (4 Stars)
For 19 years, Steve Austin's third and final WrestleMania encounter with The Rock at WrestleMania 19 was his final wrestling match. This time the WWE Championship wasn't at stake, and they didn't close out WrestleMania. That didn't matter as it was still a marquee match on the card with fans intrigued to see if Rock could finally get one over on his rival.
There's no surprise that the two legends managed to knock it out of the park in an instant classic. They resorted to using each other's finishers, but Rock managed to register a huge win over the Bionic Redneck with a trio of Rock Bottoms.
2 Steve Austin Vs. The Rock - WrestleMania 17 (4.5 Stars)
Steve Austin and The Rock's No Disqualification match for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 17 is undoubtedly the best bout in their series of matches. Austin had the hometown support with WrestleMania 17 emanating in the Reliant Astrodome in Houston, Texas.
As expected, there were multiple near-falls and false finishes with fans on the edge of their seats. However, there was a shocking turn of events with the chairman of the board Mr. McMahon marching down the aisle. He had a steel chair in hand and he formed a shocking alliance with Austin, who turned heel in the process. Rock could not withstand the barrage of chair shots that came raining down on him with Austin defeating Rock for the WWE Championship for the second time in three years at WrestleMania.
1 Steve Austin Vs. Bret Hart - WrestleMania 13 (5 Stars)
The best match on a dreadful WrestleMania 13 was the submission match featuring Steve Austin and Bret Hart with Ken Shamrock as the special guest referee. This was a violent match, and Austin was looking to level the scores in their rivalry after Bret defeated Austin at Survivor Series 1996.
Hart was at his very best and it was technical wrestling at its finest. Austin and Hart pulled off one of the most important double turns in WWE history with the Hitman turning heel and Austin becoming a babyface. Hart cinched in the Sharpshooter, and Austin bleeding profusely has become one of the most iconic images in the history of WrestleMania. Austin refused to quit, but his stock rose after this bout despite ending up on the losing side of things.
