10 Greatest Final Two Competitors In The WWE Royal Rumble

For such an exciting period of wrestling, ‘98’s Rumble is surprisingly limp. A ton of particularly underwhelming midcarders are the supporting act for Mick Foley’s fun triple shift, but the headliners of the event, and the company’s next several years, are all too clear to see: The Rock, and a white hot Stone Cold Steve Austin.

The Rattlesnake’s ongoing feud with Vince McMahon is the Rumble’s throughline – there’s a bounty on Austin’s shaved head, and the event is a bit of a non-starter until he finally enters. The denouement is worth the wait, though - two greats tearing into each other with haymakers, before a final stunner dizzies The Rock enough for Austin to send him flying to the crowd’s delight.

The inevitability of Austin’s win does nothing to tarnish the sheer power generated by throwing these two together in a ring. Even if the clash itself lasts under a minute, the excitement value of Rock and Austin together at the climax of a Rumble outstrips the entire rest of the event – and the best was yet to come.