Who passed the torch to steve austin? Bret Hart OR HBK

I found this interesting thread somewhere, but still it's an very good topic.

Who passed the torch to Stone Cold?

Bret Hart or Shawn Michaels

I'm pretty sure that I saw this already, but can't for the life of me find it so....
HBK and The Hitman both jump started his push, but who's impact or which match is most important.

WrestleMania 13 Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin (submission only) - In this match Austin walked in a heel and walked out a face. The match was excellent and the finish was perfect, having never submit. Austin won the Royal Rumble this year, but didn't face the Champion. Would Austin be different today If he faced Psycho Sid instead?

WrestleMania 14 Shawn Michaels vs. Steve Austin (wwf championship) - Austin again won the royal rumble and this time got his WM main event. Match was good, but kind of ruined when Tyson counted to 3 way too fast. This was also the start of the most popular era in wrestling. The Austin/Attitude Era.

So which won was more relevant to Austin's success in your opinion? And who do u think passed the torch to austin

i think Bret, cos HBK is still there, and by WM14 Austin was already considered the future

I dont think either 'passed the torch' because thay implies stepping aside, something Bret or HBK never did. But as far as pivitol moments in Austins career Bret helped elevate him to superstar status during that submission match. That is the clear and defining moment when Austin went from a new up and comer to a Legend in the making.

Brad Vicious wrote:

I dont think either 'passed the torch' because thay implies stepping aside, something Bret or HBK never did. But as far as pivitol moments in Austins career Bret helped elevate him to superstar status during that submission match. That is the clear and defining moment when Austin went from a new up and comer to a Legend in the making.

While you're probably right in this instance, you don't necessarily step completely to the side. Remember, this was at a point when WWE was utilizing their stars while making new ones - something they are doing a horrendous job at now.

I'm gonna say Bret helped more because he was helping Austing get face reactions when he was a heel: that plus their match got him over; and the rest is history!

Bret established him as a fixture

HBK established him as a main-eventer