List of WrestleMania 13 Pre-Event Build and Key Storyline Moments

King of the Ring 1996 — Austin's 3:16 Speech and Hart Taunting

June 23, 1996 — The Speech That Started Everything

Steve Austin won the King of the Ring tournament on June 23, 1996 and delivered the famous 'Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass' speech — taunting the absent Bret Hart and beginning the rivalry that would produce WM13's greatest match.

Bret Hart Returned in October 1996 — Accepted Austin's Challenge

Hart Returns — the Feud Is Official

Bret Hart had been on an extended hiatus from WWF television — his October 1996 return and acceptance of Steve Austin's challenge officially launched the rivalry that culminated at WM13.

Survivor Series 1996 — Hart Defeated Austin (First Match)

November 17, 1996 — First Chapter of WM13 Rivalry

Bret Hart defeated Steve Austin at Survivor Series 1996 — the first official chapter of their WM13 rivalry, where Austin's performance despite the loss began generating his babyface reactions.

HBK's 'Career-Ending' Knee Injury — Survivor Series 1996

HBK's Withdrawal Reshaped WM13

At Survivor Series 1996, Shawn Michaels announced a career-ending knee injury — the withdrawal from the planned WM13 Hart-Michaels rematch that inadvertently led to Austin replacing HBK as Hart's WM opponent.

Royal Rumble 1997 — Hart and Austin Were Final Two

January 19, 1997 — Controversial Finish Escalated Feud

At Royal Rumble 1997, Bret Hart and Steve Austin were the final two participants — Austin was eliminated but his feet touched the floor at the same time as Hart's, creating controversy that the referees missed, adding fuel to the WM13 build.

Raw Steel Cage Match — March 17, 1997

One Week Before WM13 — Sid Retained vs. Hart with Undertaker Interference

One week before WM13, Bret Hart challenged Sycho Sid for the WWF Championship in a steel cage match on Raw — Hart almost won, until The Undertaker interfered and helped Sid retain, keeping the Taker vs. Sid main event for WM13.