The Rock Vs. Steve Austin | Wrestling Timelines
May 11, 1998 - Vince Russo Overdrive
In a very strange match-up, Austin teams up with arch nemesis Mr. McMahon to take on the Rock and Nation stablemate D’Lo Brown. Lead writer Vince Russo’s vision - filtered through Vince McMahon - is in full effect. Wacky twists and turns supplant slow-burn booking as the WWF’s creative model.
Why does this match even happen?
It’s a swerve. McMahon is masquerading as Austin’s mystery partner, teased throughout the night as some debuting living God, in what is a glorified handicap match designed to weaken and screw him.
Jim Ross is amazing on the call. He puts over Austin constantly. “By God look at Austin, there’s no quit in him!” he cries, elevating a mere comeback spot in a TV match like he’s witnessing a super-heroic feat.
Such What-The-Hell? stunt matches are in vogue. Every week, an impromptu match happens that feels impossible. It invariably is impossible, leading to a cop-out finish.
This trend starts when, breaking WCW’s 83 weeks-long ratings win streak, a match between Steve Austin and Mr. McMahon is purported to take place on the April 13, Raw. It doesn’t happen. In an illustration of Austin’s awesome drawing power, the fans aren’t pissed. They actually flock from Nitro in the weeks and months to come.
The formula is exposed every week - the match you can’t believe you’re seeing is never how you picture it - but the fans are happy to get worked.
Good old-fashioned false advertising is an instrument of the WWF’s comeback.