The Rock Vs. Steve Austin | Wrestling Timelines
January 21, 2001 - Royal Rumble
Austin wins one of the better Royal Rumble matches ever held.
The booking is so exceptional on the night that you wouldn’t know the boom is nearing its end. In a masterstroke, Kane - on his best ever night professionally - sets the record for most eliminations with 11. There is no direct reference to the 1997 Rumble match, but the contrast is staggering. The interaction between Kane, Austin and Rock is brilliant. Kane throws Rock out as Austin narrowly evades the same fate in a suspenseful sequence by the ropes.
Kane’s monster run idea is rewarded with a monster of a performance. When this version of the character is in such deadly form, there is no shame whatsoever when Rock is eliminated by him. Everybody is asking the same question. Who is the man, really?
Austin, or Rock?
Since neither man eliminates the other, the WWF, deftly, leaves it unanswered for another day.