The Rock Vs. Steve Austin | Wrestling Timelines

March 29, 1998 - The Iceberg

Steve Austin WrestleMania XIV
WWE

A key battle is won in the WWF’s ongoing war with World Championship Wrestling. WCW still hasn’t unleashed Goldberg yet, but the savvier minds down south can already see the future. As later told by Kevin Nash in a shoot interview, WCW booker Kevin Sullivan describes the monumental buy amount of 809,000 and the momentum shift as an “iceberg called WrestleMania”.

Austin wins the WWF title from Shawn Michaels. The WrestleMania XIV main event is as good as it can be and as effective as it needs to be. Austin is not thrilled with it, but Shawn’s agonising back injury lowers the ceiling.

Underneath, the Rock retains the Intercontinental title when Ken Shamrock is disqualified. It’s a short, nothing match, but it doesn’t matter. Elsewhere, the Rock impresses in a pre-taped interview with Gennifer Flowers, who is in the news: sitting President Bill Clinton had in January admitted that he had experienced a sexual encounter with her back in 1977.

An inspired choice of celebrity cameo for the WWF’s new tone and direction, Rock maximises his minutes with the publicity. He is amazing, drenched in arrogance, casually exuding the energy of a man set to inherit the earth. It’s here that the Rock, referring to himself in the third person at every conceivable opportunity - and it’s funnier each time - effortlessly drops what would become his iconic catchphrase.

Asked how he would manage the judicial system, if he were “Ruler” of the United States, Rock says “The Rock would be a hung jury, if you smell what the Rock is cooking”.

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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!