10 Loudest Pops In WWE Royal Rumble History
4. "Stone Cold! Stone Cold! Stone Cold!" (1998)
The Rock vs. Steve Austin is rightly regarded as one of the most important WWE feuds of all time, and it kicked off in November 1997. Stone Cold was Intercontinental Champion, and Rocky was gunning for the gold, which eventually led to Austin famously tossing the IC Title into a New Hampshire river rather than surrender it to the Corporation. A defiant move, and one clearly defined to free Austin of the midcard belt prior to his monster push.
This kicked off at the '98 Rumble. With his popularity surging, Stone Cold was primed and ready to become the era-defining star WWE needed to triumph in the Monday Night Wars. Fatefully, him and The Rock were the last men standing, and while the corporate hopeful almost had his way with 'The Rattlesnake,' the night belonged to Austin.
His victory was perfect. Stone Cold was exactly who the fans wanted to head up the company at the time, and they celebrated his triumph feverishly, their excitement mirrored in announcer Jim Ross' iconic "Stone Cold! Stone Cold! Stone Cold... is going, to WrestleMania!" call.
Austin was cemented as the company's undisputed 'top guy' by defeating Shawn Michaels two months later, winning his first WWE Championship in the process.