Edge and Christian open today’s show by speaking about Daniel Bryan’s return to in-ring action. Christian points out that it was evident that Bryan was not happy sitting on the sidelines, and he was going to do whatever he could to wrestle again. Edge agrees and adds that Bryan’s in-ring promo was fantastic on Smackdown this week.

Edge notes that after Bryan got cleared he was bombarded with questions online from people who were asking him if he’d be cleared for one more match as well. Edge notes that his injury is a completely different injury than Bryan’s, and he’ll never be cleared to wrestle again. Christian adds that he’s not sure if he’d be cleared at this point, but he’s 44 years old anyways, and he never wanted to be a guy that held on to the business too long.

Edge and Christian are both very happy for Bryan but more than anything they just hope that Bryan stays healthy. Christian points out that Bryan is smart enough to know when to shut it down, especially since he’s a father now. In any event, Bryan looked to be in great shape on Smackdown this week throwing multiple dropkicks and taking a powerbomb on the ring apron.

Edge and Christian were both big fans of the Ultimate Deletion on RAW this past week. Edge points out that this was so different than most programming we see from WWE and Christian agrees, mentioning that this segment worked exactly as it should have. Edge is sure that some fans might have hated this, but he thought it was a refreshing change for WWE.

Christian points out that you can’t do this type of thing too often because it could grow old quickly. Edge agrees, noting that Hardy also has to find the right opponent in order to make this type of programming work.

Edge and Christian inform that they’re very happy to be inducting The Dudley Boyz into the Hall of Fame Class of 2018. Christian notes that he appreciates all the fans messaging him, saying that he should be inducted into the Hall of Fame as well. He says that he doesn’t think about it all that often, and being inducted into the Hall of Fame is not a race. Both Edge and Christian are also very happy for Mark Henry who’s being inducted this year. They note that Henry has had a lengthy career and he really hit his stride with his World Championship run several years ago.

Edge and Christian welcome Bret Hart and Steve Austin to the show to discuss their iconic match from WrestleMania 13.

Austin informs that he was thrown off when Vince McMahon told him this was going to be a submission match. He wasn’t a submission wrestler and he voiced his displeasure to McMahon because he truly thought WWE was putting him in a bad situation. He admits to thinking that he and Hart were going to stink the joint out that night, but they did the exact opposite.

Austin also wasn’t sure about the finish, with him passing out in Hart’s Sharpshooter. McMahon guaranteed Austin that it would work, and he was right. Hart told Austin at that time that if he was going to pass out in the Sharpshooter, he needed colour (blood). There was a strict no-colour policy in WWE at this time and Austin didn’t have much stroke in the company, so Hart offered to do the job for Austin.

Hart points out that Submission matches are a death sentence. Submission matches don’t have the luxury of false finishes which really limits the fun. Somehow he and Austin were able to make this match work with a lot of physicality and realism.

Austin informs that there were six or seven things that they wanted to do in this match, but most of the match was called on the fly. He also points out that the commentary team was fantastic during this match. Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler were “on fire”, and he thought McMahon was great as well. He adds that a lot of people criticize McMahon’s commentary work as being over the top, but Austin thinks he’s a master storyteller.

Hart informs that it was a big risk for him to make the call to get colour in this match. He and Austin were actually discussing whether to proceed with that decision as the match was happening, and ultimately they decided to go ahead with it. Hart threw Austin over the guardrail, made the cut quickly and nobody knew the difference. The way Austin went into the guardrail it looked like he legitimately busted himself open. McMahon asked Hart about it after and Hart lied, telling him Austin was busted open “hard-way”.

Austin thought Ken Shamrock’s role as guest referee was very important to the eventual success of this match. Edge points out that it’s a testament to Shamrock that as a viewer you basically forget he’s the referee until he needs to be seen in a prominent light at the end of the match. Austin points out that being a referee is incredibly hard.

Hart believes that Austin breaking the Sharpshooter at the end of the match was the moment fans fell in love with Austin as a hero. He points out that nobody breaks the Sharpshooter, and when Austin propped himself up and broke the Sharpshooter as blood ran down his face that was the iconic moment. When Hart regained his balance and reapplied it, it was too much for the fans to handle because they wanted to see Austin break it at that point.

That sums up today’s episode of E&C’s Pod of Awesomeness. You can listen to the show yourself anytime here, and I’ll catch ya next week for another recap!