The Rock Vs. Steve Austin | Wrestling Timelines

November 10, 1997 - The First War Of Words

Steve Austin 1997
WWE

On Raw, the Rock and Steve Austin engage in their first ever verbal spar. It’s apt that it happens just 24 hours after Montreal. The company feels like it’s imploding; in reality, it’s about to explode in popularity, and the two men responsible for the boom light the fuse.

It is not exactly a high point of what is a sensational year creatively, if not commercially. Maivia just gets through a shaky and robotic promo in which he announces himself as the next contender for Austin’s Intercontinental title.

Austin’s gleeful face is interesting; relishing Maivia’s pauses, it’s as if he is waiting for a young pretender, earning his first bit of praise, to falter. Austin always was paranoid.

Austin himself isn’t having his best night - he tells Maivia to get a decent haircut to a barely amused reaction - but it is a day after Montreal, in his defence. Everything is fraught backstage.

It’s not a crisis, but it certainly feels that way.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!