Jim Ross, Jerry "The King" Lawler and Vince McMahon are on commentary tonight. Owen Hart rolled Austin up last month at Canadian Stampede to give the Hart Foundation a win in the main event. Austin wants retribution if he can't beat Owen he's going to kiss his ass. At the end of the video, Owen says ass, getting told off by Vince as Bret Hart tries not to crack. Owen makes his way to the ring first holding his Slammies in the air. Michael Cole tries to get an interview with Austin but in 1997 he was a dweeb so that didn't go too well. The crowd pop big for Austin as he makes his way through the curtain
OWEN HART © VS. STEVE AUSTIN (WWF Intercontinental Championship)
WWF Summerslam (3rd August 1997)
Owen Hart chop blocks Steve Austin to start the match, swinging Austin's own knee brace into his face on the mat. Owen wraps Austin's knee around the ring post before Hebner tells him to bring it back in the ring. Austin limps to the corner to stay steady on his feet. Owen kicks at the leg as Austin replies with right hands. Owen backs across the ring and desperately grabs a headlock but gets sent off the ropes. Owen Hart ducks a back elbow but runs into a Lou Thesz press. Steve Austin sends Hart from corner to corner and he does the Hart chest bump into the turnbuckles. Austin lifts Owen from the mat by his hair just to release him. Owen crawls to the ropes to try and get some time, but Austin chokes him on the middle rope. Owen avoids Austin jumping across his back but Austin stopped his own momentum. Owen gets cocky celebrating until he turns around into a clothesline. Austin covers but only gets 2. We see a replay of how Owen jump-started the match as Austin goes to the leg and gets another nearfall. Austin takes control of Owen's arm, picking him up and slamming him to the mat, Owen gets to his feet but it doesn't last long, Austin drops his knee across Owen's outstretched arm on the mat, Owen's shoulders are pinned to the mat, but he gets one up at 2. Austin gets another arm wringer, Owen rolls out of it in his usual athletic way but it's all countered with a simple thumb to the eye.
Steve Austin traps Owen in a standing armbar, Owen counters into a hammerlock, so they counter into one of their own until Owen tries to flip over Austin for a counter, Austin just drops Owen to the mat. Austin gets another standing armbar, pulling Owen's hair, well because he can, really. Austin gets sent into the ropes and runs into a jumping back elbow so he rolls out to the floor. Owen closes him down but Austin trips him from outside, pulling him towards the ringpost. Before Austin can do any damage Owen pulls him into the post instead, before joining him on the floor. Owen slams Austin's hand into the ring steps and stamps on it before taking it back to the ring, pulling and bending Austin's hand on the mat. Owen bites on Austin's hand as Vince and JR contemplate if Austin would have to kiss Owen's ass on a DQ. Owen even has `Slammy winner' on his singlet as he goes to an arm wrench, bending the fingers for extra pressure then starts biting again in the corner, he ties Austin's arms in the ropes and pulls at the fingers again then he kicks at a defenceless Stone Cold. Austin gets himself free as Owen picks up some speed across the ring, right into a stun gun. Austin sends Owen across the ring but he ducks a clothesline, a hurricanrana attempt by Owen is countered into a powerbomb, he gets to his feet and gets sent over the top rope with a clothesline, tumbling to the floor.
Owen Hart tries to walk away from the match as Austin tries to get some feeling back in his hand. JR says that if Owen gets himself counted out Austin must stick to the stipulation (hearing them say “butt” and “backside” kind of takes some of the sting out of their words. Austin gives chase and brings Owen back to the ring. Owen Hart begs off but is able to reverse an irish whip, catching Austin in a belly to belly suplex. Owen Hart hits a neckbreaker and a standing leg drop for a nearfall. Austin gets slammed into the mat in position for an elbow drop from the top rope, giving Owen another nearfall. Owen Hart cranks at Austin's neck on the mat as Vince mentions Austin's neck problems. Austin rakes at Owen's face to get free but Owen clocks him with a right as he gets to his feet. Steve Austin gets sent from corner to corner but explodes back out with a clothesline, Austin tries to lock in a sharpshooter but Owen pushes him away and knocks him down with a clothesline of his own. Owen Hart drops his leg over the back of Austin's neck and covers for 2. Owen sends Stone Cold into the corner as the fans chant for Austin, he headbutts Austin but gets sent across the ring, Owen lands on the middle rope and springs back with a cross body, but Austin rolls through covering Owen for 2. Owen Hart drops to his feet from a slam attempt and hits a bridging german suplex but Austin kicks out at 2. Owen and Lawler both thought it was three, but since it wasn't Owen goes to the camel clutch. Steve Austin is able to make it to his feet and elbows his way free. He sends Owen across the ring and ducks the attack, hitting a DDT on the rebound and covering for a close nearfall. Owen keeps Austin on the mat in a chinlock, but again Austin works himself free, he sends Owen across the ring but Owen runs through him with a shoulder tackle, Austin gets to his feet and gets a sleeperhold, but Owen immediately reverses into one of his own. Austin drops with a stunner to counter that. Austin jumps from the middle rope into a punch to the gut, a Russian leg sweep gets Owen a 2 count. Owen goes back to a sleeperhold on the mat as the fans facing the hard camera wave to there future selves. Owen positions himself so he can use the ropes for leverage, out of Hebner's sight. Lawler tells the referee to count even though Austin's shoulder is clearly off the mat. Owen goes back to using the ropes but this time gets caught and is forced to break the hold. Owen Hart argues with the referee allowing Austin to attack him from behind. Owen gets sent across the ring but counters a gutwrench attempt, landing on his feet he hits the sitout tombstone piledriver to Austin! Owen walks around as the referee checks on Austin and commentary try to figure out what's happening. He keeps pandering to the crowd until Austin slowly crawls towards him and rolls him up with a weak schoolboy.
WINNER: STEVE AUSTIN (NEW WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION)
Until the finish, this was a really decent match, with the added intrigue of Austin's stipulation revolving around winning the championship and Owen's use of shortcuts. The crowd were really behind Austin, just waiting for him to break through to the main event. The only problem with the match personally is that I spent most of it waiting for the finish, with it being such a famous moment.– WORKRATE: 2.75/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 2.75/5 OVERALL 5.5/10
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