The Rock Vs. Steve Austin | Wrestling Timelines

December 7, 1998 - A Teaser

Mankind Undertaker
WWE

Steve Austin teams with old rival Mankind to take on the Rock and the Undertaker. It’s little more than a walk and brawl, almost impressive for how few bumps are taken in it. The crowd, high on star power, basks in the glow of some half-speed worked punches purely because these men are throwing them.

December 13, 1998 - Who’s The Man?

Rock Mankind Rock Bottom
WWE

The Rock is so over that he has a pay-per-view - Rock Bottom - named after him. Austin headlines it nonetheless. It’s getting harder to separate the two men.

Austin beats ‘Taker. Their Buried Alive match is ponderous. Much better is Rock’s WWF title defence against Mankind. It’s overbooked, gratifying nonsense; Rock loses, but Mr. McMahon overturns the decision because Rock passes out in the mandible claw.

It’s a terrible finish, one that contradicts the events of WrestleMania 13, but the entire point of Mr. McMahon’s character is to make up the rules as he goes along.

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Contributor
Contributor

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!