The Rock Vs. Steve Austin | Wrestling Timelines

December 7, 1997 - The First Singles Match

Steve Austin DX
WWE

The first ever Rock Vs. Austin singles match happens at In Your House: D-Generation X. The dynamic is strange. Austin’s neck is still bothering him, so his return matches are smoke and mirrors. The Rock wears Austin’s stolen Intercontinental title to the ring; Austin drives to it in his pick-up truck.

This allows Austin to take all of two bumps as the Nation create movement for him. D-Lo Brown takes a wicked back body drop on the hood in the best stunt. Austin’s health necessitates a crazed level of creativity that awestruck fans connect with; after years of promoting do-gooders, the WWF has finally tapped into the dangerous-feeling counter culture that defines the decade.

To pad out the run time, Rock cinches in a chin lock - but then, he’s still green. He might have done this regardless.

Austin has outgrown the Intercontinental title already, but he wins. Vince needs to protect his investment; he’s about to make a significant withdrawal.

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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!