4. Bret Hart – 1997
The rivalry between Bret Hart and Steve Austin is one of the greatest in WWE history. Their feud escalated further during the controversial finish of the 1997 Royal Rumble match. The Excellence of Execution thought that he’d won his second Royal Rumble match in four years at Austin’s expense. However, the referee was distracted by Mankind and Terry Funk fighting on the outside. Austin snuck back into the ring, and he eliminated Hart to win the Royal Rumble for the first time.
Austin lost his opportunity to headline WrestleMania 13 in the WWE Championship match because of his controversial win. However, Hart won the WWE Title on the Road to WrestleMania 13. His fourth WWE Championship reign lasted one day, dropping the title to Sycho Sid on the February 17, 1997, edition of Raw. Nevertheless, Hart and Austin clashed in a high-profile bout at WrestleMania 13. Ken Shamrock was the special guest referee in a five-star epic. WWE pulled off one of the best double turns in WWE history with Hart turning heel and Austin becoming a face. The Hitman defeated Austin in their submission match, with Hart avenging his Rumble defeat.
