This is the third rivalry in the UnWrest Focus series since rebranding the title. And we're now looking at one of the most renowned rivalries in the history of professional wrestling, The Rock vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin. Make no mistake about it: This was a truly once-in-a-generation (if we are all lucky) happening: two mega superstars evolving and working with the same company at the same time.
Stone Cold Steve Austin was simply The Man in pro wrestling in 1998. His popularity and position as the face of WWF's Attitude Era propelled the company back into competition against WCW, and by the winter of 1998, WWF was now beating WCW most weeks during the Monday Night Wars. The Austin vs. McMahon storyline, in particular, drove a lot of people to their TVs every week to find out what Austin and McMahon would try to do to each other next. Austin was the representation of the every-man, blue collar worker who was disgruntled with their lot in life and often butted heads with their employer on a conscious or subconscious level. Austin's popularity saw the WWF gain exposure in local convenience stores, shopping malls, department chains, and even televised shopping networks. This is not to mention the media's new found fascination with everything wrestling. WWF (along with WCW's continued ratings success in 1998 at least) was the talk of the wrestling world, and that was due to the rising pop culture star that was Stone Cold Steve Austin.
However, around this time, another star was starting to shine from the midcard to the main event. From the ashes of Rocky Maivia emerged The Rock, a cocky, arrogant, Third-Person self-referencing superstar who believed himself to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. The fact is though... he was right. Lol. The charisma that exuded out of every action of The Rock captivated audiences. And for the first year of his new heel persona, The Rock was successful in making audiences hate him. In fact, The Rock and Steve Austin had a couple month feud at the end of 1997 that was an example of what was to come between the two. But by the summer of 1998, the fans were starting to cheer on The Rock as momentum had shifted to appreciation for all of the gifts that The Rock had. And at In Your House: Break Down 1998, The Rock recieved a thunderous ovation from the Canadian crowd as he went on to win a triple threat cage match against Mankind and Ken Shamrock.
The paths of The Rock and Steve Austin were about to collide once again. As the fall went on, The Rock became another center of WWF programming with the focus being on determining a new WWF Champion at Survivor Series. The Rock was a second victim of Mr. McMahon's anger due to his love of the people. The Rock even attacked Mr. McMahon on the final episode of Raw before Survivor Series. But it was all part of the plan as The Rock emerged victorious at Survivor Series to become the new WWF Champion as The McMahons revealed that The Rock was their "Corporate Champion." The Rock remained the equivalent of the game boss at the end of the journey for Austin. Austin had to overcome Buried Alive matches, a Royal Rumble where literally everyone was out to get him, a debuting 7' giant, and Mr. McMahon's scheming to get to WrestleMania XV.
The hype for this match was incredible including this classic moment in Raw history just days before WrestleMania XV:
Austin Gives The Corporation A Beer Bath
If that doesn't get you hyped up for this match alone, nothing ever will.
Without any further delay, let's get to it already!
WrestleMania XV
WWF Championship
No Disqualification Match
The Rock (c) vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin
As the show went on, the question was who was going to be the guest referee. Mankind had won a match against The Big Show earlier in the night to be the guest referee, but he was too injured to do so and had been supposedly taken to the hospital. Vince McMahon says that he'll be the guest referee. But before the match, WWF Commissioner Shawn Michaels comes out and says that only HE can appoint a referee. Therefore, Vince will not be the referee, and The Corporation is banned from ringside.
The Rock comes down with the WWF Championship belt on his shoulder looking like a true first-class heel champion. Austin comes out... with a shirt on. No vest. Just a T-shirt. Austin tries to do his customary corner poses, but The Rock cuts him off. Austin goes to go around Rock, but he blocks him. And THE FIGHT IS ON! The bell rings.
They exchange rights and lefts. Austin gets backdropped over the top to the floor. They're brawling around ringside. Rock is choking Austin with his gimmick shirt. Both men are back in the ring. Rock knocks down Austin and starts laying the boots in. Austin is firing back, but Rock cuts him off. Austin throws Rock over the top to the floor. Now they're going through the audience and brawling. (It's definitely an Austin main event in the Attitude Era.) They're literally going through the stands. Austin hits a double ax handle off a level of the stands and gets Rock with another one as they come back over the barricade.
Now, they're going into another section of the audience! Rock avoids a clothesline and clotheslines Austin himself over the barricade and back into ringside. The Rock chokes Austin with cable wire. Now they're heading back down the entrance way and over towards a set of fans. (I know this doesn't sound like much wrestling, but think about it: If you are in those sections, you don't get to see much up close. NOW, two of the biggest stars in the company are coming towards you to engage you into what they're doing. This way, when they do go back into the ring, you are just as invested as the guy who paid $1000 for a front row seat at ringside. That's a smart strategy during an era where fan participation was crucial to the success of the company.)
The Rock tries to whip The Rock into the side of the stands, but Austin reverses it and clotheslines The Rock as he bounces off. More brawling by both men. Austin drags Rock over to the entrance way and tries to piledrive him on concrete, but The Rock backdrops Austin. The back of Austin's knee goes right into the iron lighting contraction! Dang. He's wearing knee braces, but that won't protect against that. The Rock goes on the attack. Austin throws The Rock into the swinging camera and knocks him down. He now chokes The Rock with a cord. Rock rakes the eyes and tries to whip Austin into the steel sign at the entrance ramp, but Austin reverses and sends Rock into it. God, what hasn't Rock hit so far? Austin is dragging The Rock up the aisle way. He goes to suplex The Rock, but Rock reverses it sending Austin spine first against concrete. (The ring is so lonely, guys. It misses you!)
They still fight around the ring. They're back over by the announce tables. The Rock takes a bottle of water and spits it in Austin's face. Austin drops The Rock chest first against the barricade. He puts Rock on a table and drops an elbow on The Rock. The table doesn't break. So, AUSTIN DOES IT AGAIN! THIS TIME THE TABLE BREAKS! Austin gets the bottle of water and returns the favor. NOW THEY GET BACK IN THE RING! (I was starting to think this was a John Wayne match, pilgrim.) Rock slides out, grabs Austin's leg, and smashes it agains the ring post. Rock gets kicked back over the barricade into the crowd. Austin gets him back to ringside and slings Rock into the steel steps. They're back in the ring now! Austin goes to attack Rock, but ROCK BOTTOM! ROCK BOTTOM! 1-2-KICKOUT!
Rock slides outside and gets a chair. He goes to attack Austin, but Austin kicks Rock. Austin goes to hit The Rock, but he hits the referee instead. The Rock hits a swinging neckbreaker. The Rock gets the chair, but Austin goes for the Stunner. Rock pushes Austin off and hits a back elbow. Chair shots to the knees of Austin now. Now, a chair shot to the gut and the head of Austin. 1-2-AUSTIN BARELY KICKS OUT. Rock continues the attack on Austin. A headlock applied by Rock. Tim White is now the referee for Mike Chioda who was knocked out earlier. The Rock continues to stop any attempt at offense by Austin and reapplies the headlock. Austin gets out and starts striking Rock. Rock catches Austin with a Samoan Drop. 2.5 count. Rock gets angry at White and ROCK BOTTOM to the referee! STUNNER TO THE ROCK!!! AND THE ROCK FLIPS THROUGH THE STUNNER SELL AND LANDS HIS FEET ON THE TOP ROPE! Lol. Austin covers! No referee! Earl Hebner runs in. 1-2-KICKOUT BY THE ROCK! AUSTIN IS STUNNED!!!! (Pun intended.)
Here comes Mr. McMahon. There goes Austin for another chair. McMahon distracts Austin, and The Rock has enough strength to low blow Austin. McMahon comes in the ring. Hebner is in his face, but McMahon DECKS him and starts kicking with The Rock at Austin. HERE COMES MANKIND!!!! Mankind still rocking the referee outfit! Mankind DECKS McMahon!!!! The Rock is rolled up. 2 count! LOU THESZ PRESS BY AUSTIN!!!! ELBOW TO THE FACE! The Rock catches Austin with a punt kick and a clothesline. ROCK BOTTOM! The People's Elbow keeps the crowd in a frenzy! HE MISSES!!!! A stunner is blocked by Rock. Rock Bottom is blocked by Austin!! STUNNER! STUNNER!!! The Rock flips again in the sell! 1-2-3!!! The crowd explodes and McMahon's expression is PRICELESS as his plans to screw Stone Cold have exploded right in his face!!!!
Winner: Stone Cold Steve Austin (new WWF Champion)
Match Grade: B+. This wasn't so much of a match as it was a brawl. But then again, that's the WWF formula that won them a lot of money and ratings in the late 90s. Austin and Rock would go on to have better matches than this, but I'll admit to always having a soft spot for this match. Despite its reliance on brawling and minimum in-ring action, it was an electric main event that saved an otherwise abysmal WrestleMania from being an absolutely terrible show. Austin's journey to revenge has finally been completed, and The Rock's journey to equal footing with Steve Austin took a huge step on this night in my opinion.
After the match, Austin celebrates with Earl Hebner drinking beers. J.R. continues to put over Hebner and Austin as both representing the blue-collar worker. Again, this is a way to appeal to the massive demographic that WWF found in the late 1990s. The "every-man" (Austin) has just taken it to his boss (McMahon) and told him to shove it. What's not to love about this?
McMahon stops Austin from leaving ringside. He tells Austin that he doesn't deserve that belt. That's HIS belt. Austin decks him, throws him in the ring, STUNNERS him, and pours beer down on his fallen boss/mortal enemy.
_ _ _ _ _
This was a successful and entertaining main event, though it will never be considered among the greatest in-ring matches in WrestleMania history. Austin and Rock would continue to feud with each other off and on in the coming months with a rematch at Backlash the next month. But Austin would end up being out for a better part of a year in late 1999 to get a much needed neck surgery. When he returned, Austin would focus on other matters before winning the 2001 Royal Rumble and facing the newly minted WWF Champion The Rock at WrestleMania X-Seven.
And that's where we will pick up next time.
Until then, take care of yourselves and spread some awesomeness.
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