Finally, it was time for the Austin/Bret contract signing. Both Austin and Bret came out alone, a departure from usual events involving either man. Once they were both in the ring, they stood at the table, silently staring each other down as Vince waited. Austin took the mic first.

"Well, Bret, I'm here. I'm alone. I ain't gonna pull any shit. I ain't gonna have Brian or Hunter blindside you, and it seems you ain't about to have Bulldog or Owen do the same. That's real nice of you. So let's get down to some goddamn business. Vince? Did you pick the stipulation?"

"Uh, no, Austin. I allowed Bret to choose."

"Alright then. Allllright then. What'd you choose, Bret? Submission? Iron Man? Or maybe you wanna take it to me on my turf? Maybe it's a cage match, a strap match, or some other match where I can beat the piss outta you. Come on, now, we're on live TV, start talkin'!"

"I picked a ladder match, Austin. It's the perfect compromise. My submission holds and your brawling prowess are on equal ground. But of the two of us, I'm the only one who's actually had a ladder match before. Not a lot of people know about it, it was only ever released on Coliseum Video, but it was myself and the Heartbreak Kid. No stakes, no reward, just showing that it could be done. That we could do it. And we did. You ever do anything like that? Do something new and out of the ordinary just to show you can? No. You just stick to punches and cheating, because you're not good enough to do anything else. I'm gonna sign this contract and walk out of here, and I dare you not to hit me. I dare you to do the sportsmanlike thing."

Bret signed the contract, and so did Austin. Bret got out of the ring and walked to the back, never once breaking eye contact with Austin. Neither man flinched, and Raw enced on the icy stare of Austin as he leaned on the ropes, seething with hatred.