Background: In a first-time match, WWF Heavyweight champion Shawn Michaels took on the 1996 King of the Ring winner Steve Austin in a non-title bout.
Monday Night Raw
Hershey, PA
September 23, 1996
Shawn Michaels vs. Steve Austin
The commentators Kevin Kelly & Jim Ross were really putting this match over as one of the biggest in the show’s history. The early going saw the champ run circles around his opponent in the before the strength & size advantage of Austin allowed him to take over temporarily. Michaels went back to grappling in hopes of grounding his opponent, only for Austin to throw the first right hand of the bout. “The Heartbreak Kid” retaliated in kind, stunning Steve. They were back to grappling with Shawn utilizing the side headlock to his advantage. Pushing Michaels off the ropes to free himself, Austin landed a back elbow. Michaels recovered, only to be taken down by a Lou Thesz press topped off by some right hands to the face. A pinning combination exchange broke out, leading to Michaels going for the Super Kick when he back flipped out of a backslide. Austin rolled to the floor after avoiding the potential match-ending strike, dragging Michaels to the ringside to start a chase around and into the ring. Stun gun connected for Austin, giving him the chance to go for the Stunner. Michaels blocked the maneuver as the show enter a commercial break.
Michaels was rallying a comeback when the show returned, only for Vader to slip into the ring to cause the disqualification. A brawl broke out with Savio Vega and Sycho Sid getting involved.
Winners: Shawn Michaels (7:04)
Is It A Classic: Every great rivalry has to start somewhere and it’s incredible to see the different paths both wrestlers were on more than the match itself – which was a very simplistic outing of what could’ve been a pretty long match. This is the type of match to see just what it was like to have Michaels as the face of the company taking on the future face of wrestling.
