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Austin's so good on the mic as a heel, but there is this undercurrent underneath everything that is just goofy. Austin feeling like Vince wants to replace him with Angle is perfect egocentric star shit. "A hug used to mean something" -- not so much.
The stare-down between Angle and Austin in the aisle to start the match is epic. Austin going into full bad-ass mode is just what this needed to sell Angle as a guy who can fight him. He's worth the skin off the back of the knuckles. JR's commentary is prime too. When Angle takes Austin down and starts pummeling him, JR simply states "Angle is trying to kick Austin's ass." That's some classic Mid-South choosing of terminology to position Angle in the viewers' minds as something to get behind.
Something I've noticed watching Bret Hart recently is how good he is at calling back to action earlier in the match. If the heel pulls him by the hair, he'll get that heel by the hair later in the match. Against Mr. Perfect at SummerSlam '91 is a great example of that. So is the Cage Match with Owen. I like how Austin chains together three suplexes, but then gets upped by Angle who rolls a billion Germans.
The Stunner out of nowhere is...an interesting touch. Modern eyes make it seem like just another spot where someone hits their finishing move randomly. From memory, the intention here seemed to be to make Angle look like a resilient son of a bitch for kicking out. His shoulder getting up just in time makes for a great near fall.
Austin hitting his second Stunner is bringing back memories, haha. Austin goes for the kill, and I remember as a kid thinking "C'mon, Kurt." Ha at Austin telling Earl Hebner to put Angle back in the ring. Angle's selling off the posting is great.
Oh, shit, that's right -- he goes into the post A LOT. Austin's heat in this match is vicious. Lots of cool spots and counters. Angle dragging Austin back into the ring is a thing of beauty. Austin looks good surviving as he does, and Angle takes so much punishment and keeps on fighting.
Great ending. The referees take better bumps than the guys today.
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