🕰️ Timeline: Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin (1996–1997)
🔥 Summer 1996 – Austin Targets Hart
Fresh off his King of the Ring victory and the birth of "Austin 3:16," Steve Austin sets his sights on the absent Bret Hart, issuing challenges and mocking him to provoke a return.
🎯 October 1996 – Hart Returns
After an eight-month hiatus, Bret Hart accepts Austin's challenge, setting the stage for their first major confrontation.
🏟️ November 17, 1996 – Survivor Series
Hart defeats Austin in a technical masterpiece at Madison Square Garden, countering a sleeper hold into a pin. This match elevates Austin's status despite the loss.
🔫 November 4, 1996 – "Pillman's Got a Gun"
In a controversial segment, Austin invades Brian Pillman's home, leading to the infamous "Pillman's Got a Gun" incident, intensifying his heel persona.
🏆 January 19, 1997 – Royal Rumble
Austin is eliminated by Hart but re-enters the ring unnoticed by officials, ultimately winning the match and further fueling their rivalry.
⚔️ February 16, 1997 – In Your House 13: Final Four
Hart wins the vacant WWF Championship in a Fatal Four-Way match involving Austin, Vader, and The Undertaker.
🪜 February 17, 1997 – Raw Is War
Austin interferes in Hart's title defense against Sycho Sid, costing him the championship and escalating their feud.
🩸 March 23, 1997 – WrestleMania 13
In a brutal Submission Match, Hart defeats a bloodied Austin, who passes out in the Sharpshooter. This match features a double turn: Hart becomes a heel, and Austin gains massive fan support.
🪓 April 21, 1997 – Raw Is War
In a street fight, Austin injures Hart's ankle with a steel chair, attacking him even as he's loaded into an ambulance, showcasing the feud's intensity.
July 6, 1997 – In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede
Hart's Hart Foundation defeats Austin's team in a 10-man tag match in Calgary, marking a high point in their faction warfare.
